GCLA Chapter 9

Chapter 9: The Loser’s Alliance

 

Gradually, I found myself running onto an exquisitely spacious bridge. I had seen this bridge before on Xuan Yuanchen’s flying car; it was the bridge that led to the campus. And beneath it stretched the vast sky! Walking on it made my legs tremble. The inner walls of the bridge were adorned with numerous photographs, similar to those of scientists displayed in the school. I didn’t recognize any of them, but they all looked quite attractive.

 

As I reached a portrait of a woman, I unknowingly came to a halt. There was something familiar about the woman in the painting, and I couldn’t quite place it, but there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity and warmth. She had long, straight black hair, an oval face, and beautiful eyes and eyebrows. Although she wasn’t as stunning as the older sister I had seen earlier, being in her presence gave me a comforting feeling that I couldn’t quite describe.

 

Who could she be?

 

There were several portraits of women here, all seemingly from a celestial realm, radiating unparalleled beauty. However, it was only this particular portrait that resonated with me so deeply. Standing in front of her, I suddenly didn’t want to leave, as if her gaze was also fixed upon me. Her eyes were enchanting, her gaze tender, reminding me of my mother.

 

Unconsciously, I reached for the pendant hanging from my chest once again. Why did seeing this woman make me think of my mother? My mother didn’t resemble her at all. Could this woman be a relative of my mother?

 

Without delay, I looked at the name. My mother’s name was ordinary—Wang Ping—while this portrait was named Ren Ying, with a different surname. This woman was far more beautiful than my mother, clearly possessing a celestial allure.

 

Well, perhaps it’s her friendly appearance that makes me feel such affinity towards her. I need to focus on completing my first challenge.

 

With determination, I continued forward, taking a few steps, yet I couldn’t resist the urge to turn back and steal another glance at the portrait. I couldn’t quite explain it, but I felt an inexplicable fondness for that woman.

 

As I stepped off the bridge, an array of distinct buildings unfolded before my eyes. These standalone structures displayed diverse architectural styles, varying in height and scattered haphazardly, defying any conventional plane!

 

Some resembled modern villas, while others resembled ancient small buildings. There were those reminiscent of Roman palaces, and even a whimsical cottage straight out of a fairy tale. Oh, and that adorable pink Hello Kitty building was simply too cute!

 

Damn it! There’s even an all-red Iron Man edition!

 

And there’s Spider-Man too!

 

It’s truly magical!

 

But what’s even more astounding is their staggered heights! Yes, they were floating in mid-air! Moreover, as I looked up, their numbers diminished, forming a pyramid-like structure, with each building having a circular formation beneath it! It was likely the mechanism responsible for their levitation!

 

I wandered beneath these buildings, captivated by the closest ones to the ground, where signs or banners were proudly displayed in front yards.

 

“Welcome to our cottage, but you must be a member of the Yao race, oh~”

 

“Attention, members of the Aquatic race~”

 

“If you want to live here, show us what you’ve got!”

 

“I only accept handsome boys.”

 

“…”

 

And so on.

 

It suddenly clicked! I finally understood the meaning behind finding a place to stay in this dormitory.

 

As it turns out, these dormitories are somewhat similar to fraternities and sororities in foreign universities. You need their acceptance to become a member!

 

Oh no, I’m just a mere mortal! Those houses are floating in mid-air, and no matter how high I jump, I won’t be able to reach them!

 

Wait! I think I spotted one!

 

Among all the houses, at the very bottom and in the center, I saw an incredibly rundown house, but it was the only one grounded!

 

While the other houses formed a pyramid shape above, this solitary house stood out from the rest, distinctly unique!

 

Because all the houses were up in the sky, and only this one was on the ground, it had a remarkably large—no, a colossal garden.

 

I took a deep breath and resolved to go for it. Even if the house turned out to be haunted, I was determined to make it my home!

 

With confident strides, I reached the dilapidated door.

 

Despite its worn appearance, the house was surprisingly clean, with no welcoming signs or banners in sight.

 

I stepped forward and gave the door a gentle knock: “Knock, knock, knock, knock!”

 

“Is anyone there—”

 

“Creak—” The door opened a crack, revealing an eye, and I immediately recognized it: “Si Yino!”

 

The eye widened in an instant. Then, the door swung open, and three other young men appeared!

 

Huh! There are only male occupants here!

 

The guy standing behind Si Yino is…quite unique-looking…

 

The one on the far left is tall and thin, with a slender physique. However, his complexion appears pale, as if he’s been anemic for a long time, which doesn’t do justice to his potentially handsome face. His eyes also have a slight bluish tint, but considering the many supernatural beings I’ve encountered, I won’t dwell on his eye color.

 

He wears a small ruby earring in his left ear, which adds a touch of color to his overall appearance. In his right hand, he holds a bag of red-colored beverage and takes sips from it.

 

Next to him is a boy with a completely greenish-blue complexion. I mean…do the guys in this place come in various shades?

 

Nevertheless, he has a pair of beautiful golden eyes. Despite his untamed, disheveled greenish-blue hair, resembling a tangle of weeds on his head or a bird’s nest atop his scalp, his facial features are remarkably handsome. So, he doesn’t give off a monstrous vibe with a green face; in fact, the more you look at him, the more attractive he becomes.

 

The last one is a total rugged-looking dude! He has a thick beard on his face, and his eyebrows are especially dense, hanging down like those of a Schnauzer. His eyes are also a vivid blue color, accentuating the resemblance even further!

 

I didn’t want to stare at him for too long as it would seem impolite.

 

So, after quickly scanning them, I averted my gaze and addressed them, saying, “Are…are you all guys?!”

 

The four of them stared at me blankly.

 

Suddenly, the rough-looking guy on the far right timidly raised his hand and said, “I…I’m a girl…”

 

In an instant, my mind was bombarded with countless facepalms. Indeed, in this realm, you can’t judge someone’s gender based on appearance!

 

I felt a cold sweat running down my back, overwhelmed by embarrassment and discomfort.

 

“Sister Xiaolan…how did you know I was here?” Si Yino still seemed hesitant, tugging at his white hair, avoiding eye contact as he softly inquired.

 

Snapping out of my embarrassment, I looked at him awkwardly and replied, “It’s not that I knew you were here. I was actually looking for a dormitory…”

 

Upon hearing that I was searching for a dormitory, their eyes lit up! Even Si Yino raised his head.

 

I smiled at them and said, “Well, since this is the only place on the ground, would you…be willing to let me stay with you?”

 

I anxiously looked at them, but they seemed even more nervous, their gazes fixed on me!

 

Suddenly, the girl covered in fur jumped up with excitement, exclaiming, “Willing! Willing! Please come in! Come on in!”

 

“Yes, yes, please come in!” They almost swarmed around me, warmly welcoming me into the house!

 

The small house appeared much larger on the inside than it did from the outside. To be honest, from the exterior, it resembled a toy house. But inside, it was truly spacious. As I entered, there was a beautiful railing, and beneath it, a sunken circle of sofas adorned with various miscellaneous items. It had that typical student vibe of being a bit messy and chaotic, but…

 

I absolutely loved it!

 

“Xiaolan, let me introduce everyone to you,” Sino said excitedly, pointing towards everyone. “This is Jiang Qian, a member of the ancient Jiang clan. And these are Hou Qing, Ying Gou, and Han Ba, who belong to the same lineage. They are all vampires…”

 

“Vampires!” I exclaimed.

 

Jiang Qian immediately became nervous and waved his hands. “Don’t worry! I drink blood!” He hurriedly picked up his drink, and to my surprise, it was actually blood!

 

“Yes, Xiaolan, don’t worry. He won’t randomly drink blood,” Si Yino quickly explained, appearing particularly anxious as if afraid of scaring me away. “We have strict rules here, and anyone who engages in random blood consumption will be expelled. Besides, as long as they have enough blood supply, they won’t bite anyone without consent.”

 

I glanced at everyone, and they all nodded in unison. From their eager gazes, I could sense their sincerity and eagerness to invite me to join their dormitory.

 

“Do you really not bite people?” I asked again.

 

Jiang Qian nodded earnestly. “Actually, the idea of us biting people is a misconception held by humans. The higher-ranking vampires are even less likely to engage in random biting. And since I have an ample food source, I won’t bite you. You can rest assured.” He looked at me nervously, but ironically, it made me feel like I was the one being judgmental.

 

I smiled and patted his chest. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I’m just a human after all. Don’t take it to heart.” He seemed a bit startled by my gesture but relaxed and smiled. I continued explaining, “Who asked that god-like being to scare me by trying to bite me?”

 

“That god-like being tried to bite you!” Jiang Qian exclaimed, and the others immediately turned their gaze towards him. Jiang Qian furrowed his brows and looked at me seriously. “Perhaps… it’s because you’re a living human.” He said those words with a tinge of guilt.

 

I anxiously looked at him, hoping he wouldn’t randomly bite me just because I’m alive.

 

Jiang Qian avoided my gaze for a moment, blinked his green eyes, and looked elsewhere. He put the straw into his mouth, and the sound of sucking came from the otherwise quiet room. “Slurp, slurp, slurp…”

 

The atmosphere suddenly grew inexplicably tense.

 

Si Yino timidly glanced at Jiang Qian and then broke the awkward silence, “This is Qing Ming, a member of the Dragon clan,” he pointed to the boy with a green complexion.

 

“A Dragon clan member!” I exclaimed, finally understanding the vibrant appearance of Qing Ming.

 

Qing Ming slowly raised his hand towards me and greeted, “Hi.” Then, he fell silent.

 

I reciprocated the gesture, waving back and saying, “Hi.”

 

He smiled, a shy smile that added to the awkwardness of the situation.

 

“And this is Mao Mao…” Sino pointed to the girl with fur, “she’s a werewolf.”

 

“Werewolf!” I exclaimed once again, surprised. Realizing my overreaction, I quickly apologized, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m just a human who’s new here, so I haven’t seen much.”

 

Mao Mao didn’t mind and beamed with a smile, “It’s okay. We’re glad you’re willing to live with us. No one has ever wanted to live with us because…” Mao Mao’s face turned gloomy, and instantly, Qing Ming, Jiang Qian, and Si Yino followed suit, lowering their heads. “…because we’re considered losers… sigh.”

 

The atmosphere became heavy in an instant. Feeling the need to uplift their spirits, I smiled and said, “What’s wrong with being considered losers? I’m one too! I had the lowest score on the history entrance exam, dragging down the average for all the students in our school! Hahaha! If you think about it differently, am I not impressive?”

 

They looked up at me, stunned.

 

“In the future, you’ll have me to rely on for low scores, no worries! I have a positive mindset. Even if others look down on me, I still have to respect myself, right?” I smiled cheerfully at everyone, clasping my hands behind my back, while inside, my heart was crying. Xia Xiaolan, finding pride in being the lowest in the whole school, what a joke!