Chapter 317 - A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

**Chapter 317** The next chapter of the manga updated quickly. Su Bei skimmed through it. The main content this time was about how Jiang Tianming managed to rescue everyone under the watchful eyes of the "Black Lightning" organization. Undoubtedly, having recently received enhancements, Wu Mingbai naturally had a shining moment. They were taken to a transit station located on a sizable island. Although it was termed a transit station, it's clear that such a large island couldn't serve solely as that. Additionally, a student training base was constructed there to cultivate future members of the organization. The manga disclosed that Mo Xiaotian spent his elementary and middle school years at this place. It was hard to evaluate. Su Bei had a complicated expression upon reading this. These days, even a villain organization has a youth training camp? In a way, it's quite visionary. Yet allowing them to continue training students was impossible. Wu Mingbai seized an opportunity to directly dissolve the island using his [Earth Element] ability. Yes, he dissolved the entire island. As for the students there, they were evacuated by the "Black Lightning" staff stationed on the island, much like disaster relief efforts, while Jiang Tianming and his group successfully used this chance to escape. From the manga, Su Bei viscerally felt Wu Mingbai's significant progress. Previously, his [Earth Element] would never have been able to control such a vast island, let alone precisely avoid the areas where Jiang Tianming and others were, targeting only the "Black Lightning" facilities. Aside from this, the main plotline touched upon the increasingly undeniable collaboration between the "Black Lightning" organization and Nightmare Beasts, and the attitudes of Gong Yuzhi, Ye Lin, Cyril, and Li Xiang toward this matter. As the so-called "Four Heavenly Kings" of the "Black Lightning" organization, even if the leader wanted to keep his intentions hidden, they could more or less sense something. After all, if outsiders could guess it, it'd be implausible for them to remain oblivious. Cyril was firmly against it. Both before and now, he utterly detested Nightmare Beasts and was a staunch humanist. Clearly aware of this, the leader had taken measures to restrict and sideline him. Currently, Cyril's position within the organization wasn't looking good. Li Xiang fully supported all of the leader's decisions, or rather, he seemed to lack any personal opinions, merely serving as a weapon in the leader's hand. The direction of this weapon's edge depended entirely on the leader. Gong Yuzhi's stance was quite interesting. On the surface, she appeared similar to Li Xiang, an unconditional supporter of the leader. Yet lately, she's been evading tasks, especially those related to Nightmare Beasts, finding ways to have others take these on instead. This seemed like the behavior of someone who knows their company is about to collapse and thus doesn't plan to work hard. Nonetheless, she still completed other tasks efficiently, such as the capture mission involving Wu Mingbai. Su Bei could readily understand Gong Yuzhi's thinking. After an organization's fall, powerful superhumans like them usually had a chance for redemption due to their abilities. After all, superhumans were rare, and eliminating them without distinction would be a loss. However, collaborating with Nightmare Beasts was a different story. The primary, if not sole, responsibility of superhumans was to eradicate Nightmare Beasts. To collaborate with them was to entirely forsake the identity of a superhuman, and if uncovered, there would be no tolerance. Gong Yuzhi was clearly paving a way for herself! Ye Lin had a similar mindset, but her approach was to secretly connect with Meng Huai, leveraging her connections to have opportunities for change. She stayed in the "Black Lightning" organization mainly for her sister's sake, and whether the organization achieved its goals or continued, she’d ensure a good life for her sister. But the current situation forced her hand; she couldn't truly live or die with the "Black Lightning" organization. Nonetheless, they only contacted once. As Mo Xiaotian mentioned, the organization was conducting strict internal checks lately, and even she dared not cause a stir during this period. As for Mo Xiaotian, he still hadn't realized anything amiss, believing everything to be as before. Despite sensing the changed internal atmosphere of the organization, he attributed it to his grandfather's recent foul mood, thinking it would pass. Poor child! Su Bei shook his head and sighed; Mo Xiaotian was bound to be heartbroken when the truth came out. Yet it was fortunate he wasn't like Cyril, driven by the mission to eliminate Nightmare Beasts. His grandmother was currently in Nightmare Beast form, so the leader had to be insane to groom him likewise. Mo Xiaotian seemed to favor familial ties, indifferent to justice, only caring for his loved ones. In this regard, he resembled Ye Lin somewhat. The dilemma for him was that eradicating humanity inherently contradicted his beliefs. His loved ones were all human! Su Bei was certain Mo Xiaotian would not want to follow his grandfather’s plans of reuniting with his grandmother in Nightmare Beast form. But those were the issues for others to worry about, and Su Bei had no concerns over this matter. He wanted to simply enjoy his vacation, sincerely hoping that nothing else would occur during the remaining half-month. When Jiang Tianming and the others returned to their country, Su Bei received a thank you from the king of the African nation. He wasn’t as petty as Su Bei had imagined, or perhaps it was because Su Bei had already returned home. Regardless, the king rewarded Su Bei handsomely for his rescue efforts. Besides a vast amount of gold and jewelry, he supplied plenty of items useful to superhumans—well-prepared mental crystals, superpower tools, and more. They were indeed valuable, but didn’t hold much significance for Su Bei now. Perhaps the heavens heard Su Bei’s wishes, as the rest of the summer break passed without incident. Not only did Su Bei enjoy peace, but so did Jiang Tianming. Summer vacation flew by, and before long, they were back to school. On the first day of school, Su Bei dawdled his way to the academy. Attending school was truly an unpleasant task; it was hard to fathom how some could arrive so full of energy. At the school gate, Su Bei noted the youthful faces filled with exuberant excitement—obviously the new first-year students. Rarely, he felt a bit out of touch. In a blink, they were in their second year, now seniors to others. Su Bei couldn’t help but reminisce about his own first days as a first-year. Back then, he had just awakened his superpower. Although it was a weak one, landing him in the F class, he was quite happy to become a superhuman and explore a whole new world. Sadly, fate didn’t grant him much joy. On the very first day, he plunged into world-saving duties due to a certain incident. Yet surviving the entire year amidst such tight plotlines was quite an achievement! A smile finally broke on Su Bei’s face. "Su Bei... senior!" A girl's voice abruptly called from behind. It sounded familiar, but he couldn't immediately place it. Turning, Su Bei’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. His strong memory provided her name instantly: "Zhou Min?!" Zhou Min, the second daughter of the richest family in Changsheng Town; the only survivor aside from Officer Zhou in the entire town, and the fortunate soul who became the sole beneficiary of the array instead of the ancestor. Now, she was vastly different from when Su Bei first met her. Back then, she was deathly pale, clad in a black dress, akin to a patient with one foot in the grave. Now she stood before him, her face radiant and smiling, clearly healthy with a well-lived life. After a brief pause, Su Bei's eyes flashed with realization. After leaving Changsheng Village, he had advised the teacher overseeing the incident’s aftermath to check Zhou Min’s superpower. Later, the manga confirmed his speculation—Zhou Min did indeed possess a superpower. Her enrollment in the "Infinite Superpower Academy" was only logical. "You remember me!" Zhou Min’s eyes brightened as she took a few quick steps forward. "Long time no see, thank you for having the teachers come to test my superpower back then." She had replayed their potential reunion many times in her mind, eager to express her gratitude. Following the incident, out of fear of complications, she intended to keep her superpower a secret. If it weren’t for the teachers' intervention, she might have never had the opportunity to openly practice superpowers at the academy. Had Su Bei known her thoughts, he might have shown a baffled expression. He hadn’t suggested the test out of goodwill, but rather to prevent her from potentially using her powers maliciously. "No need to thank me," Su Bei tilted his head slightly, casually asking, "So, what is your superpower?" With no intention to hide it, Zhou Min happily replied, "It's [Walls Have Ears]. I was placed in Class D. Su Bei, what's your superpower?” Having relied on [Walls Have Ears], she was able to learn about the ancestor’s plans ahead of time and exploit them. Su Bei's superpower wasn’t a secret in the superhuman community, so he responded directly, "[Gears of Fate.]” "Sounds powerful," Zhou Min said, unsurprised. From his demeanor, Su Bei had never struck her as an ordinary person. Although reuniting with an old acquaintance, aside from the initial surprise, Su Bei didn't feel much else emotionally. Just as he was about to bid farewell, Jiang Tianming and his trio suddenly approached. "Su Bei!" Jiang Tianming called out cheerfully upon spotting his classmate from afar. However, he hesitated when he noticed the girl standing with her back to them, "And who might this be?" Judging by her back, it was clear she wasn't a classmate from their class. How come they were unaware that Su Bei had such a friend? Lan Subing’s gaze darted between Su Bei and Zhou Min, her curiosity barely hidden. Sensing their thoughts, Su Bei shrugged. "You guys know her too." Just as he finished speaking, Zhou Min turned around, smiling with her hands behind her back. "Long time no see, do you guys remember me?" "You're..." Jiang Tianming hesitated, the memory slowly coming back to him, "Zhou... Min?" Since he hadn’t spoken much with Zhou Min before, his impression of her was vague. Had it not been for Zhou Min’s incredibly good luck and the miraculous turn of events after the Changsheng Village incident, he wouldn’t have remembered this girl. Zhou Min nodded vigorously. "It's me!" "Who is she?" Wu Mingbai asked curiously. Lan Subing also looked at Jiang Tianming with an inquisitive expression. Jiang Tianming briefly explained that Zhou Min was someone they encountered during a previous mission, while blinking heavily at them, suggesting there was more to the story, which he'd recount later. Lan Subing and Wu Mingbai immediately got the hint and refrained from asking further. After Zhou Min left, they listened with interest as Jiang Tianming recounted the experience. Noticing they were heading towards their usual classroom, Su Bei quickly stopped them. "We're in second year now; our classroom has changed." Meng Huai had mentioned in the group chat a few days earlier that their second-year classes would be in a different building. Lan Subing sighed thoughtfully, "Following these students subconsciously, they're the new first-years, right?" "Seems so," Wu Mingbai chimed in, echoing Su Bei's earlier sentiment, "We’ve become seniors now." Becoming seniors in elementary or middle school never had as much significance as it did at the "Infinite Superpower Academy." That's because in other schools, even first-year students don't experience much difference, with variations only in subjects taught. Each grade is rather independent, with little interaction between seniors and juniors. However, it's different at the superpower academy. Except for students like Su Bei, who were strong enough to take on missions from the start, other students generally needed senior guidance for missions. Moreover, senior students at the superpower academy genuinely have the duty to protect juniors, fostering closer relations than those at ordinary academies. The shift in identity was distinctly felt. Lan Subing voiced her concern, "I wonder if we'll need to mentor juniors..." "No worries. Even if there’s a need, it won't be one-on-one mentoring." Jiang Tianming, knowing her worries, reassured her with a targeted response. Chatting along the way, they arrived at the new classroom. It wasn't much different from the old one, though the wall materials seemed to have changed. What was once an ordinary plaster wall now... Su Bei touched the wall, feeling it seemed much sturdier than before. Yet, he resisted the urge to test its durability with his gears, knowing full well Teacher Meng would likely reprimand him for it. Classmates trickled into the classroom, leaving one absence — Li Shu. Since half the class entered the classroom, Su Bei had been wondering if Li Shu would return today. He recalled Li Shu's portrayal in the manga, clearly foreshadowing a storyline for him. Given that he hadn't shown up yet, Su Bei, familiar with manga tropes, suspected that Li Shu would undoubtedly trigger the first event of the new term. Sure enough, once Meng Huai entered the classroom, he announced two bombshells directly: "Li Shu has withdrawn from school, leaving fourteen students in the class. Per S-Class's requirement, in a month, the class needs to maintain ten students. There will be a thirteen-to-ten elimination battle, so be prepared." The twin shockwaves left everyone momentarily stunned, unsure which piece of news to focus on first. Li Shu's abrupt withdrawal or the sudden announcement of elimination trials both left the group reeling. "Wait, Teacher, why did Li Shu withdraw?" Jiang Tianming was the first to react, asking the more pressing question on his mind. Compared to class transfers, dropping out of school entirely was far more severe. Though Jiang Tianming sometimes found Li Shu's persistence annoying, it didn't stop him from considering Li Shu a friend—one he genuinely got along with in S-Class, albeit with a slightly peculiar friendship dynamic. Now, Li Shu's sudden withdrawal without prior notice felt off to Jiang Tianming. Meng Huai’s eyes held a hint of unspeakable meaning as he shook his head. "It's a personal decision. The academy only requires confirmation that it's his own withdrawal request and parental consent." Hearing this, Jiang Tianming didn't press further, though his expression clearly showed something was amiss. He seemed intent on getting to the bottom of this. Next to raise his hand was Zhou Renjie, for whom whether Li Shu stayed or not was secondary. His focus was on the serious matter of potential elimination from S-Class: "Teacher, is the elimination real?" "Do I look like I'm joking?" Meng Huai’s smile was enigmatic as he glanced at him. "Besides, this was something you all should’ve known from the start." Indeed, they had known about this from the beginning, but as time passed and with the matter being unpleasant, everyone had naturally assumed the academy wouldn't actually kick them out of S-Class. Who’d have thought that now, in second grade, the rule would come into effect so abruptly? "...What does the elimination entail?" Mu Tieren asked, pressing on the crucial detail. Meng Huai didn’t withhold information and generously responded, "I don’t know, the academy hasn’t decided yet. You’ll find out at the end of the month." Expecting something useful, only to be told this? Already disheartened by the news, Wu Mingbai couldn't help but let out a snort. "Still not used to it? That's 'Infinite Superpower Academy' for you, all free and democratic." In every exam, they were never pre-informed of what would be tested. To outsiders it seemed more a test of their fortune-telling skills than superhuman examinations. Meng Huai was unfazed by theirs review of the academy, pausing for impact, then added with intrigue, "One more thing — you can voluntarily opt out. If four students drop out before the end-of-month exam, the test won’t happen." Having said that, he smirked, turned, and exited the classroom. Once he left, everyone's thoughts drifted. Typically, such news would spark discussions, but with the competitive nature of this situation, both strong and weak students felt reluctant to openly discuss, preferring to mull over things silently. Meng Huai had made it very clear: avoiding the exam would depend on getting four students to voluntarily exit S-Class. But the dilemma was that entering S-Class was no easy feat, and having been there for a year, it was hard to reintegrate into other classes upon leaving. In this light, who would willingly leave? Even Zhao Xiaoyu, who sensed she’d have a tough time passing the exam and had a prearranged position within the academy, was not eager to voluntarily leave S-Class. Failing the exam was one thing, but giving up one's rightful position proactively was entirely different. "Does it really have to come to someone quitting?" Ai Baozhu grumbled resentfully, "If it had to be only ten from the start, why select so many? And if they did, why wait a year for the elimination test? Isn’t that too harsh?" "Is there truly no room for negotiation?" Zhao Xiaoyu looked towards Wu Jin, seriously inquiring. Wu Jin shook his head, not in denial but in expressing his uncertainty: "I haven't looked into this matter, but I'll ask." Having someone with connections was indeed beneficial. If nothing else, it meant they could potentially get accurate answers. Despite the eventual outcome potentially not aligning with their hopes, knowing they appealed to the academy's highest leadership offered some comfort. What they didn’t realize was that someone in the class already knew the inside scoop. Su Bei looked out of the window, recalling Lei Ze'en's words at that time. The test was real, the elimination was real, but as long as they didn’t voluntarily quit, they wouldn’t actually leave S-Class. When Meng Huai hinted at them to voluntarily leave earlier, Su Bei almost rolled his eyes. Teacher Meng was indeed mischievous, so fond of entrapping students. Yet, clearly, none of them intended to leave voluntarily. Su Bei heard Zhao Xiaoyu persuading Wu Jin to discreetly find out more about the exam content, proof that she wasn’t planning on giving up either. "Did Li Shu block me?" Jiang Tianming's shocked voice suddenly echoed. Hearing this, everyone turned their attention to him, surprised by his words, their expressions mirroring his shock. Li Shu blocking Jiang Tianming? That’s indeed quite astonishing. The thought struck everyone simultaneously, prompting them to pull out their phones and try messaging Li Shu. Unsurprisingly, they found themselves blocked as well. Jiang Tianming remained silent for a moment before speaking. "Does anyone know where Li Shu's family lives? I want to visit him this weekend." The situation was too abnormal. Not long ago, they had been getting along perfectly well, so why suddenly block everyone and drop out of school? Even if he wanted to quit, there was no need to block them all. Doing so only made it seem like a deliberate move to conceal something. "It feels like a cry for help..." Jiang Tianming murmured gravely, then abruptly stood and headed out. "I'll go ask Teacher Meng." Had Li Shu not blocked them and given a casual explanation instead, perhaps Jiang Tianming wouldn't have been so insistent. But the suddenness of being blocked by Li Shu openly presented the issue, almost as if he were indirectly seeking assistance. Jiang Tianming couldn't ignore the clear message of a friend reaching out for help. Acting as if he didn't see it would lead to self-reproach. As he walked away, Qi Huang contemplated briefly before raising her hand. "I'll go with you then!" Despite appearances of differing temperaments, she and Li Shu got along relatively well. They'd been in the same class without any competition between them. While Li Shu had his quirks, they never targeted Qi Huang. Most importantly, when Li Shu's sarcasm annoyed Qi Huang, she would directly retort but not hold a grudge. On the other hand, Li Shu would retaliate with more sarcasm, all in good humor. It actually created a closed loop of interactions.