Chapter 10 - Xing Bi

[Cultivation in progress: Internal strength -1]

[Cultivation in progress: Internal strength -2]

[Cultivation in progress: Internal strength -1...]

Time flew by very quickly.

Under the watchful eye of his homeroom teacher, Chen Yu had no chance of lazing around. He had to gather his internal strength and set it in motion so that it could circulate in his body, round and round.

And allow his strength to dwindle, little by little, bit by bit.

Fortunately, he wasn't very talented.

That little bit of internal strength that was "lost" through cultivation could be eventually "gained" back with a few puffs of a cigarette.

At present, the only thing that required his attention was how he could secure his supply of cigarettes.

In his previous life, he would have bought some if he wanted to.

But in today's highly militarized world, cigarettes weren't readily obtainable.

And he couldn't always be sneaking around to buy cigarettes, right?…

"Well…"

Just as Chen Yu was deep in contemplation, his homeroom teacher slapped him in the forehead with a ruler, creating a loud "clap." Why so distracted? Cultivate! Circulate your Qi! Don't stop!"

"… Son of a b*tch."

Chen Yu silently cursed at his homeroom teacher, then temporarily cast aside all thoughts about cigarettes. Instead, he focused all of his attention on driving the circulation of his internal strength.

[Cultivation in progress: Internal strength -2]

The homeroom teacher nodded and said, "Not bad. Go on."

Chen Yu: "…" (speechless)

...

"Ring, ring, ring..."

The bell rang, indicating the end of the lesson.

But not a single student in the class stood up.

There were only 32 days left until the college entrance examination.

Most of the students in the Senior Three classes had given up on their recess time and were all desperately cultivating.

In a highly militarized world, there weren't any theories about how the "practice of martial arts" was useless.

But anyone with intelligence clearly knew what "strength" meant.

If a person didn't make it to university, then they were destined to remain at the lowest level of society forever, never to move up in the world.

In the context of the human crisis, it was very difficult to ensure the "survival" of the race.

As for human rights? Poverty alleviation? Care? Reducing the gap between the rich and poor? These were all unachievable fantasies.

There was no way anyone could "punish" warriors.

If a warrior killed an ordinary person who'd angered them, the greatest punishment the warrior would receive was a small fine.

And it was considered completely reasonable and legal.

Every warrior was an important force to protect all mankind.

And also an important "property" of all mankind.

From a certain point of view, the arbitrary sentencing of a warrior could be said to be damaging to the interests of all mankind!

Unless this warrior had committed a crime that was so heinous that the "benefits" he contributed were much less than the "harm" he'd brought.

This was why for all students, there was simply no other way out other than getting into university.

This was literally a situation where an extremely large number of people wanted to cross a bridge as narrow as a single wooden plank!

Everyone wanted to make it into university, to achieve astounding success in their examinations, and have a bright future.

If they failed to make it into university, they would be banished back to the world of mortals…

"All of these students are really so pitiful."

Hearing the bell go off, Chen Yu opened one eye and looked around at his fellow classmates, who were still cultivating, and couldn't help but sigh.

[Cultivation in progress: Internal strength -1]

"… in fact, I'm quite pathetic too."

...

"Attention to all teachers and students."

"Attention to all teachers and students."

"Now, can all homeroom teachers kindly lead the students in your class to the field and line them up in position."

"I repeat, now, can all homeroom teachers kindly lead the students in your class to the field and line them up in position…"

The announcement coming from the teacher's corner caused all students to open their eyes and look at their homeroom teacher.

The homeroom teacher subconsciously looked at the speaker from which the announcement sounded and waved his hand to signal for the students to get up. At the same time, he pulled out his phone to punch in an inquiry in the teacher's WeChat group.

"Oh, this is a pep rally by the college entrance examination committee." Putting away his phone, the homeroom teacher gave the class instructions on how they should queue up. "Line up according to height. Keep to a row on the right and head to Zone C3 on the field."

"Finally, I can take a break for a while…" Chen Yu stretched his back and quietly followed at the very back of the line.

Everyone walked out of the classroom and arrived in the corridor.

Only to realize that the entire Senior Three cohort had come out, making the hallway slightly crowded.

They arrived at the lobby on the first floor.

And realized that the Senior One and Senior Two students were not about to be left behind.

Thus, it got even more crowded…

And at this time, the importance of strength became apparent.

Several "troops" were bumping into one another, but the little weaklings from the Senior One and Senior Two classes were simply no match for the older and more experienced professionals from the Senior Three classes.

They were simply squashed all about.

When all the students in the school were finally and properly in their lines and standing in the field, it was already twenty minutes later.

The only view they had was of the row of leaders sitting on the podium in front of them.

Right in the middle was the principal of Green City's No. 2 Middle School.

An expert whose strength was at the peak of a Level 2 Warrior.

And within the education system of the entire province, his name was associated with a certain degree of fame.

Seeing that all the classes had arrived, the discipline master tapped the microphone and said: "Classes, report your numbers."

"Class One, Senior One!" all students of Class One, Senior One shouted.

"Class Two, Senior One!" all students of Class Two, Senior One took over.

"Class Two, Senior One!"

"Class Three, Senior One!"

"Class Four, Senior One!"

"Class …!"

"..."

"Class One, Senior Three!"

Finally, it was Class Two, Senior Three's turn. All the students of this class shouted loudly, except for Cheng Yu: "Class Two, Senior Three!"

In fact, Chen Yu also opened his mouth.

To yawn…

"Class Three, Senior Three!"

"Class Four..."

After all the classes finished reporting their class numbers, the discipline master nodded. Then, he leaned back in his chair and handed the "C" position to the principal.

The principal straightened his warrior uniform and, leaning forward slightly, spoke into the microphone: "Students, the final leg of the battle for the college entrance examination has begun. We are turning to the most important page in our lives."

"Maybe your life will become as poetic as a song."

"Maybe your dreams will become brilliant and colorful like a rainbow."

"Maybe you will be able to climb to the peak and see the limitless beauty of the scenery around you…"

"It takes ten years of sharpening your sword and a hundred days of riding your horse before you can break through all obstacles! All these preparations will just be for that one day in June when you'll sit for your college entrance examination and return with glory and pride to bring us good tidings!"

"I strongly believe that after this experience, our students…"

(Blah blah blah...)

(Blaaaah blah blah...)

(Blah blah burp...)

"Last but not least, Mr. Lu Xun once said, 'One should not feel ashamed of being the last. Even if one is slow, so long as he persisted in galloping ahead ceaselessly, he would definitely reach the goal he was heading for. We have braved through so many storms… (blah blah...)"

"In the end, we believe that we all are young at heart! We are in the prime of our lives! We have no fear! We are going to climb to the highest mountains with courage! We are the young and rising generation, but we will be the ones guiding and surpassing the old… (blah blah blah...)"

"Finally! One last word! Today, you are proud to be a student of No. 2 Middle School; come tomorrow, No. 2 Middle School will be proud of you! Thank you, everyone!"

"Clap clap clap!!!"

Instantly, thunderous applause resounded throughout the entire place.

And it woke Chen Yu from his sleep.

He looked at the podium in a dazed state and yawned.

After one full day and night without sleep, he was simply too "energetic."

He needed to sleep; needed to make himself a little "sleepy"…

...

"Next." The principal stood up, looked down the stage to the first row of seats, and said, "Let's welcome your senior, Xing Bi! Once a student of No. 2 Middle School, now a top-performing student at Capital University!"

"A student at Capital University?"

"Capital University... that school is on par with Tsinghua University!"

"Our school has a student who made it into Capital University?"

"Yes. All of us, Senior Three cohort, know. At that time, we are in our Senior One…"

At first, Chen Yu was ready to go back to sleep. The moment he heard the name "Xing Bi," he instantly felt wide awake.

When that woman by the name of "Xing Bi" walked onto the podium, Chen Yu finally had a clear view of her appearance. His expression gradually turned gloomy, and his eyes narrowed slightly into a squint.

Xing Bi.

Once the top student of No. 2 Middle School.

The top scholar of Green City's college entrance examination back then.

Who'd made it into Capital University…

The reason why Chen Yu remembered who Xing Bi was so vividly was not because of Xing Bi's excellent achievements.

It was rather because his sister, Chen Siwen, had been ruined by that very woman…

....