Chapter 20: Searching, Desperate Searching

He spent the evening leveling up alone, finally reaching level nine before returning to Donghai City. The first thing he did upon arriving home was to take out the exotic beast meat he had collected and enjoy a hearty meal. After consuming the meat from four different kinds of beasts, all his attributes increased by thirty points. With his current stats, if Xu Han were to encounter another scorpion, he could dispatch it effortlessly in an instant.

Meanwhile, in the presidential suite of the Lantian Hotel in Donghai City, Zheng Zucai sat smoking in his chair. The ashtray was overflowing with cigarette butts, and the room was thick with smoke.

A knock came at the door.

“Come in,” Zheng Zucai said impatiently.

The door opened, and a middle-aged man wearing glasses walked in.

“How is the investigation going, Old Wang? Any news about this Living Lei Feng?” Zheng Zucai asked, frowning.

Old Wang shook his head and placed a file in front of Zheng Zucai. “This is the list of students I gathered from the principals of each high school. I’ve gone through it at least ten times—my eyes are blurry from reading—but I didn’t find anyone named Living Lei Feng. I suspect it might be a fake name.”

Zheng Zucai scanned the file, reading at a glance what others might need minutes to decipher. Soon, he finished going through the entire list.

Indeed, there was no one named Living Lei Feng.

Old Wang continued, “I also asked the principals. None of them had any impression of that name. Could it be that this person isn’t even a high school student?”

Zheng Zucai stubbed out his cigarette, frowning. “Look into it again—maybe something was overlooked. This kind of genius must be recruited into Dragon Country University! Last year, Magic City University recruited a prodigy, almost monstrous in talent. If we can’t find someone of the same caliber, we might not be able to hold onto first place in this year’s Professional University Tournament.”

Old Wang’s expression grew serious and he nodded emphatically. Magic City University had coveted that top spot for years. With it came greater national support, more talented recruits, and a virtuous cycle that would only make the school stronger. If Dragon Country University lost its title, reclaiming it would be nearly impossible.

Zheng Zucai spoke slowly, “Here’s what we’ll do. Notify all the high school principals again. Tell them we at Dragon Country University are making a special recruitment of this student named Living Lei Feng. Also, if we can confirm which high school he attends, I’m prepared to personally donate ten million to that school as an incentive.”

Old Wang drew a sharp breath—this was serious. He nodded firmly, grabbed the list, and hurried out.

Soon, the notice spread to every high school in Donghai City. Principals convened emergency meetings.

It was already eleven at night. The meeting room at Third High School was brightly lit. The principal sat at the head of the table, with all the senior class teachers seated on either side. Everyone looked exhausted and sleepy—they had all been about to go to bed when the principal’s urgent call summoned them back.

With no other choice, they had all rushed back to school as quickly as possible.

The principal spoke gravely: “Is everyone here?”

He paused, then continued. “Yesterday, Mr. Zheng, who oversees recruitment for Dragon Country University, sent his secretary to our school.”

At once, everyone was wide awake, their eyes round with excitement. Such an important visitor could only mean one thing: a student had caught the university’s eye!

The principal went on, “You guessed right—they came about recruitment. However, they’re still not sure which school the student attends. The student’s name is Living Lei Feng. According to Secretary Wang, he once repelled the Ghost-Faced Ape King with a single punch, and personally slew the Ghost-Faced Ape King along with a group of elite Ghost-Faced Apes!”

Everyone gasped. To drive back the Ghost-Faced Ape King with one punch? That was a leader-class beast—difficult even for second-tier combat professionals. Was it really possible for a senior high school student to accomplish such a feat?

The principal cleared his throat and said, “I understand your doubts, but that’s exactly what Secretary Wang told me. So when you return to your classes, investigate carefully. If you discover anything, report to me immediately. If this Living Lei Feng is indeed a student of ours, the class teacher will receive a handsome reward. That’s all—meeting adjourned.”

The teachers filed out.

“Come on, how could someone like that be a student at our school? The principal is really letting his imagination run wild.”

“That’s right. If I had a student like that in my class, I’d have reported it long ago.”

“What do you think the principal would give as a reward if someone really found this student?”

“At the very least, a promotion, probably a sizable cash bonus too. You’d become his right-hand man—your future would be set...”

For a time, every senior class teacher in the city began looking into their students’ backgrounds, hoping to uncover a clue.

Meanwhile, at the Investigation Bureau, Dai Guoqiang addressed his subordinates. “Has the notification been sent out?”

“Yes, sir—it’s already on television and the internet. I think we’ll get results soon,” a subordinate replied.

Dai Guoqiang nodded slightly. Killing the Scorpion was a major achievement. Surely the anonymous hero would come to claim the reward.

The next day, Li Bin and his two companions had just slain a beast. While resting, Tian Fangchao suddenly said, “Did you see the notice from the Investigation Bureau last night?”

Li Bin nodded. “Looking for the hero who killed the Scorpion, right?”

Su Li exclaimed, “That person is amazing. The Scorpion was a third-tier combat professional, at least level sixty, wasn’t it? To kill it, the hero must be a third-tier expert or higher.”

Li Bin sighed enviously, “If only I could have killed the Scorpion! Second-class merit, guaranteed admission to any top professional university except the ten elite ones, and maybe a direct path to the Investigation Bureau after graduation—your future would be secure.”

Tian Fangchao flattered him, “Li, with your talent, you’ll earn second-class merit soon enough. When that happens, you’ll join the Bureau too. You’ll have to look out for us!”

Li Bin laughed, “Absolutely!”

Watching the two banter, Su Li shook her head helplessly and murmured, “I wonder how Xu Han is doing. Could it be him? No, impossible. How could he possibly kill a third-tier combat professional?”

Yet while everyone was searching for Xu Han, he was diligently leveling up in a training area north of the city, his experience inching ever closer to level ten.