Chapter 324 - A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

Chapter 324 He was genuinely shocked. Only three people knew about this matter: himself, Ye Lin, and his father. Neither he nor his father could possibly have leaked the information. Theoretically, that left Ye Lin as the only option. But why would Ye Lin tell Su Bei any of this? Their private cooperation didn't seem to warrant informing Su Bei at all! "I have my own channels of information," Su Bei remarked offhandedly, waving his hand dismissively before leaving. Having obtained the answers he sought, he saw no need to waste any more of Li Shu's time. If Li Shu knew what Su Bei was thinking, he might have been infuriated enough to laugh. Su Bei had interrupted him earlier without any sense of apology, and now, having piqued his curiosity, he suddenly turned apologetic and left. How could someone be so exasperating? The police and government officials soon arrived, and Meng Huai saw no reason to stay there any longer. He summoned a silver dragon, instructing Mu Tieren and Qi Huang to sit on the black dragon's back while Su Bei and the others rode the silver dragon. The dragon's back was broad, easily accommodating the four of them as long as they didn't roll around. Of course, maintaining balance was their own responsibility—after all, they were flying, and even the steadiest flight couldn’t stop the wind from making the passengers a bit unsteady. However, for superpowered individuals, this was no big deal, and Su Bei and the others had ridden dragons before. Yet, watching the city's nightscape from a dragon’s back was a first for them. Below, the city was brilliantly illuminated, a hallmark of modernity with its relentless light pollution. Even from such heights, the city's lights shone brightly. The juxtaposition was surreal—an intensely modern cityscape beneath them, while they traveled atop a dragon through the night sky. This blend of reality and fantasy almost made them think they were dreaming. Upon returning to the Infinite Superpower Academy, it was already very late—nearly dawn. Meng Huai, refraining from criticizing them at that moment, shooed them away like flies, cigarette in hand: "Go to sleep. Tomorrow, after school, all but Li Shu report to my office. Don't forget your thousand-word reflections." A thousand words?! That final instruction hit them like a bolt out of the blue, leaving them in utter despair. However, Meng Huai's resolute demeanor indicated he wouldn’t relent despite any pleas. After a moment of silence, Mu Tieren was the first to respond sensibly: "We understand, teacher." Meng Huai nodded in satisfaction and left them to their own devices. As soon as he was gone, Lan Subing let out a desperate wail, "A thousand words... save me... I'm doomed..." "I've never written such a lengthy reflection in my life," Qi Huang gritted her teeth. "Actually, I've never written one at all!" She, who was practically perfect, was now being pushed to her limits by this school. Mu Tieren sighed, "It's okay, we have a whole day tomorrow. The reflections aren't due until after school." "Exactly, we have time to find templates," Su Bei agreed, searching for reflection templates on his phone as he spoke. Even though what they did was far from ordinary student behavior, at the core, it was essentially the same—disregarding the teacher’s authority, maybe with a touch of truancy. Searching in those directions surely would yield useful material. "Send me a copy of whatever template you find," Wu Mingbai requested, attempting to copy the "homework". Su Bei, far from being altruistic, immediately refused: "No way. If the teacher decides to compare our reflections, we’d all be in trouble." However, Jiang Tianming, always quick-witted, quickly offered a solution: "No problem, just send us the material. We’ll tweak the order around. As long as it looks different at a glance, the teacher won't scrutinize it." "What do I get in return?" Su Bei asked leisurely, "Like, say, I provide you with the materials, and you help me complete my thousand words?" Hearing his shameless proposal, Qi Huang was speechless: "Even dreams should have limits." "I can help too~" Li Shu offered with a smile to Jiang Tianming, "As long as you..." "No need." Jiang Tianming rejected the offer outright before turning to Su Bei, "Let's reconvene on your plan." In good spirits, they returned to the dorm building and ceased speaking, each retreating into their rooms. It was already four or five in the morning, and with school the next day, if it weren’t for Meng Huai's punishment, they surely would’ve taken the day off. Unfortunately, taking leave was not an option now, so they clung to the remaining three hours for some rest. Fortunately, being superpowered meant they were lively enough, and three hours of sleep would suffice to rejuvenate them. The next morning, during the first class, Su Bei checked the latest manga update on his phone. The manga, which started at the new school term, featured Zhou Min as a surprise element, sparking considerable reader discussion. Shortly into the classroom scene, Meng Huai dropped two bombshell announcements: an ominous hint of S-Class losing members in the next event, and the beginning of the current event, Li Shu’s withdrawal from school. "Why the reduction in members?” "Still sticking with this setting? The mangaka should be house-banned!" "I can't bear losing any of them!" "Is this still a shonen manga? What shonen manga reduces members for such reasons?" "Li Shu leaving? Why?" "Looks like the focus this time is on Li Shu's withdrawal! Especially since the other matter is a month away." With the ensuing plot, given his full involvement, Su Bei quickly flipped through the pages. [Jiang Tianming and two others, after moving alone, soon encountered Li Shu. Surprised to see them, Li Shu hadn't expected they'd find their way to the Li Family Island despite his attempts to have Meng Huai stop them. Before they were discovered, Li Shu intended for them to retrace their steps. When Jiang Tianming asked him about his withdrawal, Li Shu responded coldly, "Because you all are so annoying, I'm leaving."] At this point, the comments section exploded. Some readers believed Li Shu was being disingenuous—how could he suddenly act this way when he was so attached to Jiang Tianming before summer break? Others, despite understanding his facade, couldn't help but be upset. With Jiang Tianming being a highly popular protagonist in "King of Superpowers," being insulted like that was intolerable for some fans. [Jiang Tianming, ever the sensible protagonist, refrained from provoking any overblown drama typical of melodramatic stories. Instantly discerning Li Shu's true intentions, he calmly encouraged him: "We're already here, turning back isn’t an option. You should know you can't fool me, so it's better to be honest about the real reason for your withdrawal and let us help." Wu Mingbai followed up smoothly, "If you don't give us directions to help, we'll have to improvise." Lan Subing then highlighted the main character group's inherently "black-hearted" nature, speaking softly: "Li Shu, you know if they act on their own, it might cause unforeseen troubles." "Wow, you're pretty quick to exclude yourself," Wu Mingbai retorted, wrapping an arm around Lan Subing's neck, "When have we caused trouble without your involvement?" Fighting back laughter, Jiang Tianming coughed, resuming a serious demeanor toward Li Shu: "So, please tell us the truth, won't you?"] Reading this segment, Su Bei's eyes sparkled with appreciation. He indeed admired the straightforward manner of communication—it effectively minimized potential misunderstandings by refusing to let information disparity arise. Ultimately, Li Shu relented and shared the truth. To put it simply, he had discovered some vile dealings within his family, particularly the clan leader's use of the [Eight Infants blessing], encouraging clan members to have multiple children. These children were essentially transactional assets, with their rights, organs, and body tissues traded for the right price. They were individuals without official identities, whose deaths would go unnoticed. Hence, Li Shu wanted to bring them to justice, informing Meng Huai so he could have superpowered individuals remotely collect evidence while Li Shu personally visited the Li Family Island for proof. He didn’t want Jiang Tianming and the others involved to avoid entangling them in his family's mess. Clearly, his account contained omissions, at least as Su Bei saw it. He completely overlooked Ye Lin's role in this and failed to explain his sudden rebellion, only offering a surface-level explanation. Nonetheless, for the main group, this was enough. They didn’t mind Li Shu keeping minor secrets as long as the larger intent was just. Jiang Tianming and his team planned to gather testimonies from the children, seeking more witnesses. Under the aura of the protagonist, they encountered a little girl and inadvertently learned of her brother's scheduled surgery that day. In both the girl’s and her brother's eyes, donating an organ to the Li Family was an honorable duty. After all, the Li Family had raised them for so many years—it only seemed fair to offer some compensation. If someone were selected to donate an organ, they could leave Li Family Island with a hefty sum of money and start a new life elsewhere. The children could attend Li Family-funded private schools, and adults would be provided with jobs. The aftercare promises were full to the brim. Those who knew the truth about the Li family couldn't believe they were so benevolent. Jiang Tianming immediately phoned Si Zhaohua, asking him to investigate the school and company the little girl mentioned. Unsurprisingly, there was no such thing. Si Zhaohua found no trace of their existence. Meanwhile, Mu Tieren and Qi Huang found themselves in a tough spot, just as Su Bei had analyzed. While Jiang Tianming’s team took a more diplomatic approach, theirs was akin to a battle scene. Qi Huang's superpower ensured that once her presence was detected, total concealment was impossible. To repel enemies, she had no choice but to use her abilities, and the vibrant flames would inevitably attract more foes—a vicious cycle. The narrative then shifted to Su Bei, who nonchalantly hummed a tune, arranged a camera in the operating room, glanced at a photograph in the elder brother's room, located the clan leader's room with precision to use his powers and drive him out, and finally found the accounting book there. His maneuvers appeared seamless, as though everything was under his control. Su Bei wondered, "Did I really come off that cool?" Clearly, the author had trimmed and altered some of his actions for dramatic and character purposes, making it seem as though he’d long known about the Li family's secrets. Readers, unaware of the true events, naturally were swept along by the author's narrative. "Su Bei clearly knew about the Li family's secrets ahead of time, right? Gathering evidence was so smoothly executed..." "If I had a teammate like that, I'd wake from my dreams grinning." "Truly reliable..." "The ledger was found so easily?" "Seems like Su Bei can’t stand the Li family’s actions either." The story proceeded with Su Bei retrieving a video recording, which the author included, capturing readers’ surprise when Li Shu revealed his healing abilities, just as Su Bei himself had been at the time. When did Li Shu gain healing powers? How come they were unaware? A glint of insight flashed in Su Bei’s eyes. Though he couldn’t openly speak of matters concerning himself due to foresight restrictions, building some presence was still achievable. The most crucial content for him followed, as he flipped to the next page featuring his public display of prowess. The author, who had previously portrayed him as outstanding even when he wasn’t particularly remarkable, naturally wouldn’t downplay Su Bei when he genuinely became impressive. In the comic, he navigated through enemies with ease, like a breeze through flowers, untouched and unscathed. Occasionally, he'd tease those attempting to capture him with the ledger, fully embracing his playful persona. The ledger stayed securely with him from start to finish, despite numerous close encounters, without him performing any evasive maneuvers. Every reader could tell it was definitely his superpower in action. "Fate is truly formidable." "Can I say it? He's so cool!" "What ability is this of Su Bei’s? Has he used it before?" "Others' progress is visible, but Su Bei’s development is so subtle." "Such a tease, Bei! You’ve fooled no less than five people now." When Su Bei explained his newly devised abilities, it seemed perfectly in place in the manga, only leaving an impression that he’d become a bit more honest, for once openly revealing his ability without being coy. Seeing a comment reflect this observation, Su Bei couldn’t help but chuckle wryly. Given his history of evasive answers, it was no surprise that genuine attempts to respond wouldn’t be probed deeply. Su Bei knew that if he even dared to drop hints, Jiang Tianming and the others wouldn’t persist in seeking answers from him. What could he say then? Generally, their discernment pleased Su Bei, but in moments like this, it backfired on him. What goes around comes around, he mused, leaning back. For now, it seemed readers didn’t suspect him, which was good news. Though Su Bei had anticipated this, his heart wouldn’t rest until things were settled. Seeing the readers’ acceptance eased his mind considerably. Quickly skimming to the ending, there was no mention of Ye Lin in the manga, likely a seed planted for future events when she would betray them again. Though perhaps preemptively spoiling a bit wouldn’t hurt, right? Su Bei switched off the manga and opened the forum, immediately searching for discussions about himself. As expected, being a popular character in "King of Superpowers" and showcasing a new ability had sparked numerous threads. Browsing the titles, Su Bei saw none doubting him. Feeling relieved, he randomly clicked into one related topic. "Great News! Su Bei’s Power List Updated. Such an Incredible Ability, It Might Be Invincible Once Fully Developed" [Old Era Relic No.0: Though it's only usable defensively and in a passive form, this chapter alone shows how incredibly strong this skill is, right? By preemptively installing favorable destinies, there's nothing to worry about afterward. Since destiny is already set, the process is merely trivial. If actively deployable, its strength would be unimaginable. As long as the user possesses enough mental strength, it’s essentially an invincible skill. And the user boasts advanced mental power, being none other than Su Bei. Honestly, I suspect this skill's passive limitation is purely due to the author curbing Su Bei’s potential. After all, if a carefree character wielded invincible power, that’d be a bit terrifying.] [No.1: Truly strong, especially considering Jiang Jiang’s comment after Su Bei revealed the skill, indicating its ultimate form.] [No.2: Although the skill isn't actively initiated, it seems like such a cheat – how can it be this strong?] [No.3 replies to No.2: Actually, it’s not that overpowering; this was purely because the opponents were weak. If faced with stronger foes, Su Bei’s use of this superpower definitely wouldn’t be simplistic.] [No.4 replies to No.3: I agree. Su Bei's strength is due to his advanced mental power and mastery over his abilities. It’d be unimaginable for someone else to even attempt using it.] [No.5: It sort of resembles Bingbing’s [Verbal Incantation], both in terms of ability. Isn’t fate dictated through words too? Previously, Bingbing was so weak; even without social anxiety, she could only use a few words. But now, with experience and increased mental power, her abilities can fully utilize [Verbal Incantation] in battle. This skill’s the same.] [No.6: It’s a cheat, yet incomplete.] [……] [No.42: When do you think Su Bei acquired this ability?] [No.43 replies to No.42: Always had it?] [No.44 replies to No.43: Impossible, he’s only 15! Even if gifted, he couldn’t be that powerful, right?] [No.45: Listen, while I’m unsure when this skill was acquired, Su Bei has always been strong from the start. Don’t forget, he easily handled foes that both Jiang Jiang and Zhaohua struggled against during the first monthly exams.] [No.46: Su Bei's never shown this ability before, yet he’s known for suddenly revealing hidden abilities, so it’s hard to tell if it’s newly learned or simply newly displayed.] [No.47: It's all perspective. Those who think Su Bei’s been steadily progressing might see it as a newly learned ability. For those who believe he’s always been strong, this is just another ability he’s always had.] [No.48 replies to No.47: Either way, he’s amazing.] [No.49 replies to No.48: Well, it’s Su Bei, after all.] [……] [No.95: Support the original poster! The author better not nerf Su Bei.] [No.96: Doesn’t seem like the author’s nerfing him, more like balancing power levels.] [No.97: Su Bei’s already potent, and he keeps developing; I fear he might one day surpass the principal and become the top superpowered individual.] [No.98 replies to No.97: Hahaha, I would love to see that, but it seems unlikely. Su Bei, strong as he is, doesn’t quite fit the normal mold of tangible powerful superpowers. Not that he lacks the qualifications, but it’s unnecessary for his fate-based abilities. Existing outside conventional realms, not part of the five elements, beyond the six paths of reincarnation.] It's worth noting that his compatibility with his superpower is remarkably fitting, almost as if he's a third-party influence (?). [No.99 replies to No.98: Strangely put, but I get it.] [No.100: The author's character development for this role is indeed well-done. Whether Su Bei is positioned as a villain, a perpetual hero, or even an undercover agent, it always feels a bit off somehow. Being a third-party seems to be his best or most appropriate role. He’s meant to be nobody’s insider, always the outsider.] [No.101: Who can truly master destiny?] [...] [No.158: Isn’t anyone suspicious of whether Su Bei’s claims are entirely truthful? I don’t doubt his strength—after all, the results speak for themselves. But I’m curious whether he's disclosing all the drawbacks associated with this ability. He mentioned future improvements, indicating the ability is still in development. In any developmental stage, drawbacks are inevitable. He only mentioned one drawback when Jiang Tianming asked. So, are there others? For instance, it might be mentally taxing.] [No.159: Undoubtedly, there are drawbacks, but Su Bei wouldn't voluntarily expose his weaknesses unless someone specifically touched on them.] [No.160 replies to No.159: Indeed, who would willingly reveal their weaknesses for no reason?] [No.161 replies to No.160: I interpret it differently. I think Su Bei doesn’t mind making his weaknesses public because he can withstand them. He doesn’t speak about them simply because no one asks. Like, once Jiang Jiang asked, he brought it up, when typically that should be a hidden weakness.] [No.162 replies to No.161: That's what strong individuals do.] [No.163 replies to No.161: That's what playful individuals do.] [No.164 replies to No.161: That's what enigmatic people do.] [...]