Also, before the entrance exam for Wuke University this year, it seems our school invited a senior who got into Nanjing Wuke University last year to give us a speech..."

David Clark kept chattering on about gossip, but Brian Carter felt like he was listening to a foreign language.

Most of the gossip David Clark talked about was related to martial artists.

So-and-so might be about to break through, so-and-so is currently in seclusion.

Among them, there were some people whose names Brian Carter had heard before, not just from the business world, but also from the entertainment industry, and even politics.

From some of David Clark's casual remarks, Brian Carter could sense that martial artists held a highly respected status in this society. For those below the seventh rank, David Clark would add "master" as a suffix, and for those above the seventh rank, they were called "grandmasters."

Another thing was clear: all well-known figures seemed to be martial arts powerhouses.

Or in other words, if you weren't strong, you couldn't become famous.

During the conversation, Brian Carter casually asked, just how strong are these people?

David Clark replied bluntly, "Any random martial artist could beat us to a pulp!"

When the bell rang for class, taking advantage of the teacher not having arrived yet, David Clark sighed a little, "If you can't get into Wuke, if you can't become a martial artist, your whole life will just be like this. Being an official is nothing special, doing business is the same, it's hard for ordinary people to stand out!"

Hearing this, Brian Carter was stunned again.

And Ethan Brooks, who hadn't said much before, also looked a bit downcast and said in a low voice, "After all, martial artists are a minority. Besides, for us, whether in business or politics, we probably won't ever reach that level, so there's no need to care about it."

Through their conversation, Brian Carter vaguely sensed something.

If you don't become a martial artist, as he understood it, officials can't rise above the bureau level, and businesspeople can't expand their business beyond their own city.

He didn't know if this was a hard rule or just an unspoken social norm.

But either way, Brian Carter could feel the strong malice this society had toward him!

If you don't become a martial artist, if you don't become strong, even if you were reborn, you'd probably spend your whole life stuck at the bottom.

The key issue was, now Brian Carter seriously doubted whether he was really reborn at all.

Although his classmates' appearances hadn't changed, their names hadn't changed, and even those big shots and company names all matched up.

But with the sudden appearance of a high-energy profession, was everything else really the same as in his memory?

He wanted to ask a few more questions, but at that moment the teacher had already entered the classroom, and everyone went back to their seats, no longer chatting.

Besides, to everyone else, these things were just common knowledge, so Brian Carter didn't want to keep asking.

If he kept asking, these guys would probably start to suspect he had amnesia.

Thinking it over, taking advantage of a moment when the teacher turned around, Brian Carter quietly asked Ethan Brooks, "Our school... is there still an internet café nearby?"

Ethan Brooks gave him a strange look, but still replied, "Of course there is. Didn't you used to go to that Blue Sky Internet Café all the time?"

"Phew!"

Brian Carter let out a breath, nodded, and didn't say anything else. It seemed some things were still the same.

For example, that cliché-named internet café was still there. Since the café was still around, it meant some things hadn't changed. After school, he could go to the internet café to look up information and should be able to find the answers he wanted.

Seeing Brian Carter look relieved, Ethan Brooks kindly reminded him, "Even if we can't get into Wuke, we can't give up. If you do well in the liberal arts, you can still make something of yourself. Maybe you'll have a chance to become a martial artist in the future. The college entrance exam is coming up, so try not to go to the internet café too much..."

Brian Carter smiled and nodded. As a member of the "Ordinary Duo," Ethan Brooks didn't talk much, but since their situations were similar, he still cared about his deskmate.

...

After finally making it through the remaining classes of the morning, as soon as the bell rang for dismissal, Brian Carter hurried out.

At this moment, he was full of questions that needed answers.

Ethan Brooks saw Brian Carter rushing out, thought for a moment, and caught up to ask, "Are you going to eat or to the internet café?"

"Internet café."

"Come back early, the first class this afternoon is with the homeroom teacher."

Brian Carter responded. Since both his parents were at work, he always ate lunch at a fast food place near the school, so he didn't need to go home.

Taking advantage of the lunch break, his strong curiosity made him eager to get to the internet café and learn about things he didn't know.

Walking briskly, Brian Carter quickly scanned the surroundings along the way.

Just like in his memory, Yangcheng No. 1 High School hadn't changed at all. The students and teachers all seemed normal, and Brian Carter didn't see anyone leaping over rooftops.

If there was any difference, it was that the school now had some strange slogans and signs.

"Prepare for the college entrance exam, Wuke, here I come!"

"Fight with all your might, strive for Wuke!"

"Take the Wuke exam, come to Qingniao—Qingniao Martial Arts Tutoring Class, your best choice!"

"One Blood Qi Pill guarantees your admission to Wuke!"

"......"

If it weren't for these strange things openly appearing on campus, Brian Carter would have every reason to believe that some charlatans and snake oil salesmen had infiltrated the school.

But seeing how everyone took it for granted, Brian Carter understood that this was definitely not the world he remembered.

As for how big the difference was, he'd have to figure it out for himself.