Chapter 2 - This Curse Is Simply Too Fantastic

[Lazing in progress: Internal strength +1]

Dumbfounded, Chen Yu got to his feet, feeling the energy churning inside his body.

"That's right…"

"Seems like my strength has increased…"

"Holy crap…"

"It seems like this curse has a bug…"

After hesitating for some time, he raised both hands, gripped the horizontal bar again, and did some pull-ups.

[Bodybuilding in progress: Obesity +1; Weakness +2; Physique -1; Physical Strength -1; Endurance -1…]

His eyes flashing brilliantly, Chen Yu suddenly released his grip!

Under the influence of gravity, he immediately fell and landed heavily onto the muddy, dirty ground.

"Bang!"

[Hurt inflicted: Qi and blood +7; Health +1]

Chen Yu gradually started to breathe faster from excitement.

He got to his feet despite the pain he was in, patted the mud and dirt off his body, then leaned against the bar, where he simply stood like a fool.

More than ten minutes later...

[Lazing in progress: Internal strength +1]

"Awesome!"

"It's really possible!"

After confirming that the energy in his body had increased again, Chen Yu was flushed with excitement. Then, without hesitation, he took aim at his energy center and landed a punch!

"Dong!"

[Hurt inflicted to Sea of Qi: Internal strength +2]

"Ha ha ha ha burp…"

Chen Yu was so excited that he started to burp.

This was the so-called [Curse], and it actually had such a big BUG!

All states were inverted!

In that case, when a negative state was inverted, would it not be changed to a positive state?

When other people were stabbed by knives, if they didn't die from it, they would be seriously injured.

But if he was the one being stabbed, the more stabs he received, the more revitalized he would get… hehe…

When other people went on a hiatus for a year without cultivating, they would be ruined.

But if he were to laze around for a year, he would only get stronger…

"I can even turn the tables in such a situation? It's just too magical…

Chen Yu was so overwhelmed with joy that he landed another punch in his own energy center.

"Don't!"

[Hurt inflicted to Sea of Qi: Internal strength +2]

"Comfortable!"

"Feels so good!"

The energy center was the foundation of a warrior's strength.

Any slightest "turbulence" an energy center was subjected to could cause the gathered internal strength to disperse.

But in his case, the outcome would totally be the other way around.

The more vigorous the "turbulence," the faster the rate of increase of internal strength…

"Dong!"

[Hurt inflicted to Sea of Qi: Internal strength +2]

"Dong!"

[Hurt inflicted to Sea of Qi: Internal strength +2...]

Just as he was warming up to his "cultivation" with great enthusiasm and energy, a figure suddenly appeared and grabbed his fist.

"Mm?"

Chen Yu looked up in astonishment and found that it was his headteacher.

Headteacher: "…" (speechless)

Chen Yu: "…" (speechless)

Headteacher: "…" (speechless)

Chen Yu: "..." (speechless)

"Why are you torturing yourself?" The headteacher had a complicated look in his eyes. "If you have such fortitude and forbearance, can't you devote it to your cultivation?"

"I… I am cultivating, yeah…"

"Come, follow me into the house."

Grasping Chen Yu by the wrist, the headteacher half pulled, half dragged him into the school building. Then, he pulled him into the headteacher's office.

"Bang."

The headteacher tightly shut the office door and said expressionlessly, "Sit. Let's have a good, proper conversation."

"Teacher, there may be some misunderstanding…"

"Shut up and listen to me."

"… Alright, please speak your mind." Sitting back in one of the chairs, Chen Yu massaged his painful abdomen and started to think about other "cultivation" methods.

The self-abuse cultivation method was not that desirable after all.

After all, the act of beating yourself up probably seemed somewhat perverted to outsiders, even if it didn't hurt at all…

With his hands behind his back, the headteacher circled the room twice, seemingly organizing his thoughts and trying to find the right words to say. Then, he spoke up and said, "Chen Yu, in regard to Martial Arts, talent varies from individual to individual. You are not very talented, this is the truth. But talent cannot be completely equated with strength Do you understand this?"

"Yes, I understand. You are right. So, I will leave first…"

"Come back!"

The headteacher frowned and said, "I know. You're sulking on the inside, but is that going to solve the problem? Your problem now has nothing to do with your talent but your character! You're too lazy, and you don't take things seriously when it comes to studying or cultivating. And yet there are still people who are less talented than you in class, so how do they…"

"Are there people who are less talented than me? Who are they?" Chen Yu asked suddenly, interrupting the headteacher. "Well, I'm just curious."

"Of course there are! Let's just say that… Err… Mm…" The headteacher suddenly fell into deep thought.

Chen Yu: "…" Chen Yu was speechless.

And so was the headteacher: "…"

Chen Yu: "Goodbye, teacher."

"Come back!" The headteacher became angry and said, "Are we talking about talent? No, we're talking about hard work and effort! If you don't put in the effort, what's the use of being so talented?"

"…" Chen Yu dug his finger into his earhole.

If he added on the age he was before traveling back in time, he might even be older than this headteacher. A mere mouthpiece of a teacher dare try to "hustle" him into obeisance?

"…"

"… Sigh." After a moment of silence, the headteacher patted Chen Yu on the shoulder and said, "To be honest, even up to a moment ago, I still bore some dislike for you as a student. But the way you acted on the playground just now had quite a big impact on me. It seems like you do want to learn well too. So as your headteacher, I have an obligation to help you."

"Mm?" Chen Yu froze, vaguely sensing that something wasn't quite right.

"Starting next class, you'll be moved up to the first row. I'll keep an eye on you, one-on-one. We must increase your talent!"

Chen Yu: "??"

"Put that fortitude and forbearance you have in that self-abuse behavior into cultivation." The headteacher wore a serious expression as he said, "In regard to school matters, I can help you apply for accommodations. Every day, you can just stay with me in my room."

"??!"

"There are 33 days left until the college entrance examination. Other than sleeping, every day you have to spend your waking hours cultivating! I'm not afraid of getting tired."

"Bro, please stop kidding already…" Chen Yu was flustered.

The headteacher stood up straight and said in a serious tone, "I have not given up on you. And I hope you haven't given up on yourself either."

"Please quickly let me go…"

"Go." The headteacher pushed the door open and ordered, "Go to class. We'll go and change your seat."

...

Chen Yu came to realize that the headteacher was dead serious.

He followed the other party back to class, and the first thing the other did was switch his seat to the first row.

It was right in front of the podium, right under the watchful eye of the teacher.

"Sit down." The headteacher propped both hands on the podium and locked eyes with Chen Yu.

"Mm, I still need to fulfill my punishment of standing…" Chen Yu suggested. "Let's start tomorrow."

"Sit down!"

"Didn't you say that I have to be punished by standing outside the class and not being allowed to come back in for a day?"

"Now I am telling you to sit down and cultivate. Are you going to listen or not?" The headteacher adjusted his spectacles by pushing them up and said, "Don't disturb the other students."

The surrounding students immediately cast hateful gazes at him.

[Mental damage inflicted: Mental state +3]

Chen Yu: "…"

"Alright, alright." Chen Yu plopped into his seat, shut his eyes, and assumed a sitting posture. It was all just a front, though. He was merely pretending to cultivate.

[Lazing in progress: Internal strength +1]

The electronically synthesized voice resounding in his ears made Chen Yu happy. Subconsciously, he opened one eye and saw the headteacher staring at him unblinkingly.

"Are you fooling around with me here?" After a while, the headteacher picked up on the fact that Chen Yu wasn't actually cultivating and said, "You're not even gathering your Qi!"

"Slap!"

With that said, he slapped Chen Yu's shoulder.

[Hurt inflicted: Qi and blood +1]

Chen Yu: "…" (speechless)

"Cultivate!"

"… D*mn you."

Chen Yu was muttering all kinds of vulgarities under his breath, but he could only activate the flow of his Sea of Qi and make it circulate in his body.

[Cultivation in progress: Internal strength -1]

Chen Yu: "…" (speechless)

"Well." The headteacher nodded in satisfaction and commented, "Not bad."

"Not bad, duh!"

"Shut up! Cultivate!" the headteacher bellowed.

[Cultivation in progress: Internal strength -1]

"That's right! Keep it up, don't stop!"

[Cultivation in progress: Internal strength -2]

"I said, don't stop!"

"Slap!"

[Hurt inflicted: Qi and blood +2]

"…"

"Continue! Gather your Qi!"

[Cultivation in progress: Internal strength -1]

The headteacher said, "Very good. If you keep going on at this rate, you will become stronger."

Chen Yu: "… I would be the greatest fool ever if I believed you…"