Chapter 4: The Rising Star's Challenge

Chapter 4: The Rising Star's Challenge

The morning haze had begun to thin, replaced by pale golden beams slipping through the cracks in the courtyard walls. The silence of Lei Feng's solitude was broken only by the soft hum of cicadas and the occasional rustling breeze that swept over the broken stone.

He stood in the middle of the training ground, shirtless, his chest rising and falling slowly as he stretched his aching limbs. His body wasn't bulky, but there was a quiet power in the way his physique had sharpened over the past ten days. His build was wiry, honed like a blade—not for show, but for survival. His skin had darkened slightly from exposure, and faint bruises marked his torso like war medals.

After a deep breath, he picked up the plain blue patient robe draped over a nearby pillar and pulled it on with practiced ease. He reached for a nearby towel, wiping the sweat from his neck and brow, ready to head back to his hospital room when the sound of approaching footsteps made him pause.

Three figures emerged from the morning mist.

Doctor Ryan Lee led the way, his white robe trailing behind him like a banner of authority. Beside him stood two women—one with gentle eyes and a warm presence, the other cold and distant, her arms crossed.

"Hello, Young Master," Ryan called out, his tone neutral but edged with subtle amusement. "Miss Ling Mei came to see you."

Lei Feng's steps halted.

These were the first people he had seen since his reincarnation. His eyes scanned them calmly, but inwardly, he was on guard.

Ling Mei… and Eira.

Ling Mei was dressed in an elegant blue gown. Her long raven-black hair cascaded down her back, framing a delicate face. Her tall figure exuded confidence, but her green eyes were filled with worry.

Eira, on the other hand, wore a black suit, her vibrant green hair tumbling down her back. She had a cold expression and a distant aura.

"Brother Chen!" Ling Mei stepped forward with a soft smile, her concern evident. "You've been training here so early? Are you… feeling better?"

"I'm fine," Lei Feng said simply, meeting her gaze.

She hesitated, her hands clasping nervously. "Do you… remember me now?"

He didn't answer immediately.

Should I continue pretending to be her brother? The thought passed through his mind like a shadow.

He had no way to explain that he wasn't the Ling Chen they once knew—that his soul had come from another world, reborn into this broken body.

To deny it would raise questions. To tell the truth would be madness.

"…Yeah," Lei Feng said, nodding slowly. "I remember."

Ling Mei's eyes brightened with relief. "Thank God…" She placed a hand to her chest. "I was so worried. Doctor Ryan told me you've been training non-stop these past days."

Her gaze turned serious, her voice trembling with emotion. "Brother Chen, why are you pushing yourself so hard? You'll get hurt…"

Lei Feng's jaw tightened.

"Don't call me that," he said flatly. "I'm no longer part of the Ling Family. It's been two years since they cast me out."

He raised his chin, his eyes sharp as blades.

"My name is Lei Feng. And yes… I've been training. Because I will grow stronger. I'll prove every last one of them wrong."

Ling Mei froze, her mouth slightly open. Shock rippled across her delicate features. Her lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out.

The silence stretched.

Then Eira scoffed.

She had been quiet until now, but the sneer on her face spoke volumes. Her arms still crossed, she tilted her head with an icy stare.

"You're really stubborn," she said coldly. "Still chasing a dream that's already dead."

Lei Feng looked at her, his expression unreadable.

"No matter how hard you train, you won't surpass level one," Eira continued. "You can't absorb mana. You can't use mana stones. And you think push-ups will take you to the top?"

She stepped forward, her tone sharper. "This… is what you've been doing for years. And what has it brought you? A little more muscle? A few bruises?"

She scoffed again, cold eyes narrowing.

"At best, you'll be a stronger version of a cripple. A pathetic level one. I don't care if you want to ruin your body—but don't make Ling Mei suffer because of your delusions."

Lei Feng's fists clenched behind his back.

Hmm. Just you wait, he sneered inwardly. Soon, I'll make you choke on every word.

Before he could speak, Ling Mei's voice rose, cutting through the tension.

"Brother Chen… No," she corrected herself, stepping forward with resolve in her eyes. "Brother Lei Feng, I believe in you."

Her voice was gentle, but her words were unwavering.

"You've always had the heart of someone strong. Even if the world says otherwise… I'll wait for the day you prove them wrong."

Lei Feng looked at her, surprised for a brief moment.

Then, slowly, he nodded.

"…Thank you."

For the first time since he'd arrived in this world, someone believed in him—not as a fallen noble, not as a broken failure—but as him.

Lei Feng stood in silence, watching the soft expression on Ling Mei's face as her words faded into the morning breeze.

Even after all this time, even after he had been pushed away… she still chose to stand by him.

He had memories of Ling Mei from the original Ling Chen's life, but they were not his, so he chose not to think about it. He was not Ling Chen. However, a warmth stirred faintly in his chest. Perhaps she was someone worth protecting in this life.

Ling Mei suddenly looked away, her fingers curling around the edge of her sleeve. "I actually came here for another reason too."

She reached into the folds of her robe and pulled out a folded parchment, the seal of Edenheart Academy pressed into the wax—a golden flame surrounded by three stars.

"I wanted to invite you to come watch the Rising Star Tournament."

Lei Feng raised an eyebrow. "Tournament?"

"It's hosted by the three great Awakener academies here in Volaris City," Ling Mei explained, her voice full of restrained excitement. "Edenheart Academy, which I attend, as well as Ironclad Academy and Stormridge Academy."

She paused, watching him carefully before continuing.

"The Rising Star Tournament is held once every three years. It's more than just a school competition—it's where powerful clans, guilds, and even noble families scout the next generation of elite Awakeners. Victors often receive direct invitations to special mentorship programs, sponsorship deals, or combat licenses. It's a really big deal."

She handed him the parchment. It was surprisingly heavy—thick with embedded mana runes that softly glowed. The seal pulsed once as he touched it, responding faintly to his aura.

"Thanks," he said, unsure how else to respond.

Ling Mei looked up, her expression soft. "You don't have to come, but… I thought it might help you get a feel for this world. And maybe… remember more about who you were."

At her words, a flicker stirred in Lei Feng's chest.

Level 18… Wind Mage Class… Edenheart Academy…

These weren't his memories, not exactly. They surfaced without warning, hazy but vivid—images of Ling Mei in her academy uniform, her wind spells whipping through training dummies, her grin after a perfect cast.

But they weren't his. They belonged to someone else—Ling Chen, the boy whose body he now occupied.

It was like glimpsing another life through fractured glass. Lei Feng didn't feel attached to these memories. They were more like reading someone else's journal.

Ling Mei… must've really cared about Ling Chen.

He glanced at her again. So full of hope. So certain.

He couldn't bring himself to shatter it. Not yet.

"I'll try to make it," he said instead.

Her smile returned, and for a moment, it was enough.

Eira let out a small snort from the side. "It's mostly just overhyped brat fights."

Ling Mei ignored her and turned her full attention back to Lei Feng.

"And this one's scheduled to begin in about three months and I… I'll be participating," she said softly, her voice just a little shy. "And I was hoping you'd come. I know you're focused on your training, but… maybe it would inspire you."

Lei Feng took the parchment, his fingers brushing the golden seal. Edenheart Academy... Rising Star Tournament.

A storm of thoughts passed through his mind. Three months. That was enough time—if he pushed beyond his limits, tapped into the strange energy now pulsing inside his body, maybe…

Ding!

A notification resounded in Lei Feng's head, but he ignored it. He turned to Ling Mei and said to her…

"I'll think about it," he said finally, tucking the invitation into his robe.

Ling Mei smiled brightly, clearly satisfied with just that.

"Alright, we'll leave you to rest," Doctor Ryan finally spoke again, having stayed respectfully quiet through the exchange.

"Don't overdo it," Ling Mei said with a last glance over her shoulder. "No more collapsing in the training yard."

Eira followed silently, but as she passed him, she shot one last look his way.

"If you want to waste your time chasing ghosts, that's your choice," she said coldly. "But don't expect the world to wait for you."

Just as the conversation was winding down and they were about to leave, Ling Mei turned back one last time, hesitating briefly before speaking.

"Before I go… let me have your number, Brother Lei Feng," she said, pulling out her phone expectantly.

Lei Feng blinked, caught off guard. "You know I don't have a phone… right?" he said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.

This is an urban fantasy world… and this Ling Chen didn't even own a damn phone, he grumbled inwardly. No cash, no belongings, not even a second-hand magic blade to inherit from him. I live like a damn ghost-level vagrant…

"Oh…" Ling Mei looked surprised, then smiled bitterly. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize…"

She reached into her coat and pulled out a small black card, handing it to him. The surface shimmered faintly with encrypted runes.

"This is my credit card. I'm gifting you 500,000 credits," she said softly.

Lei Feng's eyes widened slightly. Credits… the universal digital currency used throughout Volaris City and across most of the vast territories. Whether buying Awakeners' manuals, purchasing magic herbs, or paying for training facilities, credits were the lifeblood of any Awakener.

"You should probably open a bank account," Ling Mei continued, "and get yourself a phone. You can give the card back a week—I'll meet you here."

Lei Feng stared at the card in his hand for a long moment, feeling its subtle weight.

"…Thank you, Ling Mei," he muttered without thinking. The nickname slipped out from somewhere buried deep in Ling Chen's memories.

Ling Mei blinked in surprise, her eyes shimmering softly. Then she smiled.

"If you really want to thank me, then make sure you come to my tournament," she said warmly.

With that, she gave a small wave and turned away, following Doctor Ryan and Eira as they left the training yard.

Lei Feng stood alone again, the black card in hand and the Rising Star Tournament invitation tucked into his robe. The morning sun bathed the yard in light, but his thoughts were already racing ahead.

He clenched his fist.

"Three months, huh?" he muttered to himself. "That's all the time I need."

With a quiet smirk, he turned and walked back toward the training ground.

There was no rest. Not yet.

He would defy his fate. He would rise.