Chapter 3: Chapter 3

The Strongest of the Grade, Mo Ying

A female teacher pretended to be shocked, her mouth agape and her face full of surprise as she watched Liushu and his students enter the training hall.

"You... you, you, you, you're Teacher Liushu?"

The female teacher pointed at Liushu and said.

"Is it necessary to make such a fuss, teacher Zhi Ying?"

Liushu replied, embarrassed.

"Of course it's necessary! Our Teacher Liushu—Jiuzhi Liushu, no less—actually walked into the training hall. Let me think carefully... The last time we met in the training hall was a few months ago, right? No, wait! It was a year ago! Back then, it was your students who dragged you here by force. So what's the occasion today? Oh! I get it. There must be a beautiful woman who invited you here for a date!"

Zhi Ying clapped her hands, as if everything had suddenly become clear.

"You understand nothing—what kind of beautiful woman would be blind enough to fancy me."

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Zhi Ying replied, pretending to be ambiguous.

"Ahem, let's not talk about that. Can you help me unlock a training arena?"

Liushu changed the subject.

"You want to train? I don't believe it."

"There's a new transfer student who wants to challenge Mo Ying from our group, so I brought them over."

"Challenging Mo Ying? Is this the fearlessness of a newborn calf, or is this transfer student truly confident?"

"I'm not sure about that. You can ask her yourself."

Liushu grabbed Shuang Yun by the shoulder and brought her to the front.

"Hello, student. I'm the supervisor of this training hall—Zhi Ying."

Zhi Ying introduced herself first.

"I'm the new transfer student, Shuang Yun."

"May I ask why you want to challenge Mo Ying? Mo Ying is the strongest in your grade."

"Well... I just want to know the difference between myself and the strongest."

Shuang Yun explained. Facing Zhi Ying's enthusiasm, she seemed a bit unaccustomed.

"I see, a child brave enough to climb the highest peak. I really admire your courage, but Mo Ying is very strong. Are you prepared?"

"If Shuang Yun loses, she has to join our group!"

Mo Ying, who had been hiding at the back, suddenly popped her head out and added.

Hearing these words, zhi Ying's expression changed instantly.

"Teacher Liushu, I know hardly any students want to join your group, but tricking a new student is just too much. Don't ruin her! I think Shuang Yun has a promising future. Don't sacrifice another child's future for your performance record."

Zhi Ying acted as if she were heartbroken and infuriated.

"Although my reputation is already terrible, you're really taking my words out of context, teacher Zhi Ying. I explained the situation to Shuang Yun."

Shuang Yun nodded quickly.

"You really didn't trick the new student?"

"Would I bother to trick anyone? Frankly, I wish we had no one in our group. That would save me a lot of effort."

"Well, you're not wrong."

Zhi Ying actually looked quite approving.

"I've been standing here for almost ten minutes. Can you arrange a match for these two students?"

"I will, I will. Don't worry."

Teacher Zhi Ying walked up to the control panel.

"Shuang Yun, just stand here. Mo Ying, go to the other elevator,"

Liushu instructed Mo Ying.

Mo Ying walked to the other side.

"In a moment, an elevator will come up. Just take it down when it arrives,"

Liushu told Shuang Yun.

Soon, a transparent elevator rose up. Shuang Yun hesitated for a moment, then stepped inside.

"This must be your first time participating in a simulated battle at the training hall, right? I'll explain the rules,"

Zhi Ying's voice sounded as the elevator descended.

"First, from the moment you enter the elevator, the training hall casts a defensive spell on you. This spell can block all physical and magical attacks.

"Then, there's an AI in the elevator that will provide weapons as you request them—knives, guns, swords, even handguns and explosives. Of course, you can use your own weapons, too."

"Winning the simulated battle is simple: keep attacking until your opponent's defensive magic shatters. Whoever's magic breaks first loses."

"There are few rules: first, no using external items; second, no borrowing anyone else's power—no one can break into the training area; third, you cannot tamper with the battlefield in advance. Anyone caught breaking these is immediately disqualified."

"And most importantly, you are forbidden from attacking further once your opponent's defense spell breaks. Otherwise, you will be severely punished, because with the shield gone, real injuries or even death could result."

Zhi Ying thoroughly explained the rules to Shuang Yun.

"Will you use your own weapon or select one in our training hall?"

Shuang Yun's weapon was a cherry-red longsword.

"Well then, please be careful—Mo Ying is incredibly tough."

Zhi Ying finished, and the elevator doors opened.

Shuang Yun stepped out with her weapon into a vast space.

Mo Ying appeared across from her.

Glancing around, Shuang Yun saw that they were inside a facility. Looking up, she could see Teacher Liushu in the viewing area above.

"In five seconds, the battle officially begins."

A robotic voice rang through the facility.

With the mechanical announcement, Mo Ying moved first.

"Do you think Shuang Yun stands a chance?"

Teacher Zhi Ying came up beside Liushu.

"Hard to say. Shuang Yun might have something special about her,"

"What does Student Xiya think?"

Zhi Ying turned to Xiya.

"It's tough—Mo Ying is very strong,"

"Who knows, maybe our new classmate will cause an upset."

Zhi Ying turned her gaze to the training ground.

However... from the very beginning, Mo Ying dominated Shuang Yun.

Within the arena, cherry-red and black sword lights flashed continually. Mo Ying totally overpowered Shuang Yun, both in skill and strength.

"Looks like I had too high expectations,"

Zhi Ying commented after three minutes; it was already clear that Shuang Yun stood no chance.

Facing Mo Ying's assault, Shuang Yun did her best to block, while Mo Ying remained at ease.

After five minutes, the defensive magic inscribed on Shuang Yun shattered, and with a sharp alarm, the battle was over.

Mo Ying had crushed Shuang Yun utterly.

Liushu said to Shuang Yun as she came up in the elevator, noting her sweat-soaked brow—evidence of how hard she had fought.

"Teacher... how was my performance?"

Shuang Yun asked for Liushu's opinion.

"You want to hear the Xiya style, the Lina style, the Wei style, or the Luna style?"

"Xiya style would be to praise you a little; Lina style, honest assessment; Wei style, very harsh; Luna style, super harsh—I'm worried it might hurt your pride," explained Liushu.

"I want to hear the Luna style—please give me your harshest feedback."

"If Luna were here, she'd probably say: 'Completely hopeless. That was hacking randomly—you can't even hold your stance. Even the old hen I used for soup yesterday would outdo you if handed a blade. Listen to me and stop trying to fight—maybe circus juggling would suit you better. With that performance, you'd get a lot of attention. And if you really can't stand that, just find yourself a combustible garbage furnace to lie in; when the fire starts, everything will restart for you.'"

"That's just cruel..."

Even Teacher Zhi Ying couldn't stand to hear this. It was true Shuang Yun had lost, but after all, her opponent was Mo Ying. That was too harsh.

"Luna would absolutely say that,"

Liushu said, indifferent.

"My immediate supervisor."

"Isn't Director Wei your supervisor?"

"That's another one."

"You really have it tough."

Zhi Ying patted Liushu's shoulder.

"Am I really that bad?"

Shuang Yun looked greatly dejected.

"Honestly, it's not so bad. For an average person, your performance is pretty good."

Liushu tried to encourage her.

"An average person..."

"So now, Shuang Yun, you're officially a member of our group," announced Mo Ying, who had run over from a distance.

"That's great—three beautiful girls in your group now,"

"Teacher Liushu, you're so lucky."

"Mo Ying, do you like Liushu?"

Zhi Ying asked Mo Ying.

Mo Ying answered bluntly.

Liushu admitted he was a bit hurt.

"Because I'm a super daddy's girl. I don't like any man except my father,"

"I admire your courage to admit that,"

"How could anybody like a messy old man like me? I wouldn't dare flatter myself,"

Liushu shrugged, unconcerned.

"No need to put yourself down like that."

"It's just the truth, not self-deprecation."

"Teacher Liushu, you sure are straightforward."

"Anyway, Shuang Yun is now one of our students. Shuang Yun, do you have any objections?"

Liushu looked at her.

Shuang Yun replied, having no complaints.

It was agreed before the match: If she lost to Mo Ying, she'd have to join Teacher Liushu's group.

She was simply following through—nothing more.

"That means from tomorrow we can play four-person games. Shuang Yun, do you know how to play mahjong?"

"Teacher Liushu! Could you please be more serious?"

Zhi Ying couldn't stand seeing Liushu act so irresponsibly toward his students.

"Oh, if you don't like mahjong, we can switch to another game. How about Monopoly?"

Zhi Ying felt she'd never be able to talk sense into Liushu.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

I don't know how to take it, but let's see where it goes...