The professor, who had been standing at the door since who knew when, clapped his hands and attracted the attention of the students.
“It’s time for class.”
Someone stood up, disgruntled.
“Professor Ji, why didn’t you intervene just now? Is violence against fellow students allowed?”
A girl also stood up.
“That’s right. Why was this humiliation of a fellow student allowed to go unpunished?”
Ji Yan set the textbook on the podium. His gaze swept past the students before him.
“It seems you guys haven’t realized the rules here.”
He tapped the podium with his teaching stick and sighed tersely.
“Freshmen, your psychic powers will soon stabilize, correct? Once this time passes, the freshmen protection period will come to an end. Yet you still know nothing about this place and only see its superficial peace.”
“Here, you are either the hunter or the prey. Even that little dude from Class A just now needed to bow his head to his senior, the President.”
Ji Yan had arrived halfway through the altercation, but he didn’t step forward to intervene. Not only him, as long as it didn’t affect the lesson or lead to casualties, any teacher would do the same. Every rule of the Academy encouraged competition, including allowing an appropriate degree of violence.
At the Academy, the nobles and the civilians were opposing factions incompatible like fire and water. Yet no one has ever thought about what gave those talented youngsters with no background the confidence to go against the noble children with powerful connections.
This was a place where one’s background and connections didn’t matter. The concept of class was redefined. If you wanted to retain your dignity, then you needed to fight your way up the ladder.
Ji Yan’s ambiguous answer wasn’t acceptable for these naive children. They defiantly retorted.
“Are the people of Class A really all that?”
“So they’re allowed to trample on our dignity at will just because they have better grades than us? Like they’re superior to us in some way?”
In the classroom where tensions and emotions ran high, there were a few students still seated who had accepted reality quite calmly.
Ji Yan didn’t recognize them, but their surnames were familiar, either often in the news or on the list of military deployments.
Ji Yan had his own thoughts about the way the powerful educated their own. These children were steadfast to the point where they lack the impetus of youth. Youngsters should not have so many adult worries. They should not so submissively lower their heads. He shook his head.
“Although this is Class D, you should at least know this much. It seems that I haven’t been a good teacher to you all. I own up to that. Then let’s have a lesson today to familiarize you with the rules.”
He raised his voice and spoke sternly.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Open your terminals. Do you see your points? After studying for most of the semester, each of you has accumulated a large number of them. You should all know very well what they are used for.
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“So have any of you noticed how the standings for the other years are publicly available in real time? How the rankings are ever-shifting?”
“I suspect you haven’t ever thought about what that last bit represents. This act of point exchange is referred to as ‘The Hunt’ by the upper years. With the exception of first years like you, all able-bodied individuals are by default participants in ‘The Hunt’. There are many rules, but the saying ‘might makes right’ is an apt summary.”
Whispers instantly engulfed the classroom once more.
“Then we’re doomed. We don’t even have any Level As in Class D, right? So aren’t we just lambs to the slaughter?”
“First years are still in their psychic power development period. When that is finished, some of you will probably advance to Level A.”
“These rules are too brutal, no?”
Ji Yan let them draw their own conclusions.
“By the start of next semester, all of you will be visible on the psychic power and points leaderboard. The senior years all have their eyes on tender sheep like you, so have a little sense of urgency, freshmen.”
Looking at the cubs who seemed scared stiff, Ji Yan eased his tone.
“But there’s no need to worry too much. There’s still time. Your development period is not yet over. Only when your psychic powers stabilize will you truly be thrown into the thick of it.”
“Also, students who are not as naturally gifted in the psychic power department should not be discouraged. Our very own 3rd Legion Commander Gu Yixiao’s psychic power level is only C, but he still earned the respect of everyone with his outstanding capabilities. Intelligence and charisma are also forms of strength.”
Ji Yan took the teaching rod and leisurely flicked it. Several shapes were projected in the air.
“If you have been paying attention, you may have noticed the various factions and also societies that have formed among the seniors. Choose the right faction, defect to them, join them, and they will render aid to you.
Likewise, your joining will strengthen them. Every year new stars emerge and create legends, changing the balance between the various factions through their own might alone. Go ahead and try. I look forward to your part.”
As he returned to the podium, he suddenly whirled on Ye Muo.
“Ye Muo, tell me the number of times you logged into the simulation pods.”
“…Zero, Professor.”
The classroom went into an uproar. The teachers deliberately did not give a lot of practice time in class as it was an unspoken expectation that students would do so in their own time. No one here could confidently claim they could pass the exams without practice. And although Ye Muo wasn’t one of the best, he’s also never failed.
“I’ve seen your grades. They’re neither bad nor good. Very unremarkable, but that doesn’t help at this point. You’re already eye-catching in your own right. You’re a smart kid. If you understand, then take things a little more seriously.”
“Yes, Professor.”
Ji Yan nodded.
“Okay, let’s start the lesson…”
Just after class, Zhou Ran threw an arm around Ye Muo’s shoulders and grumbled as they walked out.
“Your big brother’s actually Ye He?? Why didn’t you say so earlier? He’s the god of the command department. My big sister’s also in there. You don’t even know how much she worships Ye He. Can you help me get an autograph? I’ll go back and sell it to her.”
Before Ye Muo could answer, Zhou Ran muttered to himself.
“Forget it, she’s not worthy. But your big brother really is good to you, coming all this way just to stand up for you. If it were my sister and I, she might just tug my ear and interrogate me on how I have the face to find her and cry when I lost.”
Ye Muo couldn’t help but huff in amusement. “En, your sister is very straightforward.”
Zhou Ran was about to say something else when someone nearby called out to him.
“I’ll be a bit. You go back first. I’ll bring you dinner tonight.”
He waved at Ye Muo and darted away.
Ye Muo returned to the dormitory and took off his jacket as soon as he entered the door. All classes required military dress code. Points would be deducted for improper dress, but wearing that uniform all day really was uncomfortable. At least he could never get used to it.
The nannybot that he’s been using since childhood rolled over from the corner and began to tidy Ye Muo’s clothes.
Ye Muo relaxed and fell onto the bed. His black hair spread out on the white sheets. He took out the terminal and lingered for a long time on the page to apply for use of the simulation pods. In the end, he backed out.
Although he felt apologetic for wasting Professor Ji Yan’s good intentions, he was quite satisfied with his current standard. He still wanted to plant plants in his spare time.
Getting along with plants makes Ye Muo feel relaxed and happy. From a very young age, his dream has been to buy a piece of land and open a flower shop.
Although it was humiliating to get beaten up, Ye Muo knew some things about ‘The Hunt’, and it wasn’t as cruel as Professor Ji described. When one’s points fell below a certain value, the remaining points would be automatically protected and the individual temporarily withdrawn from the competition. Although said value was not too high, it was just enough to meet basic needs.
At most he would get beaten up a few times. Losing points was no big deal either. He actually wanted to get to the minimum value where he couldn’t be challenged anymore. What was the use of all those points anyway?
Ye Muo happily opened the terminal, ready to continue reading about how to grow cherry tomatoes.
Yet the terminal he was holding suddenly beeped. A message popped up.
[I’ll be waiting for you with Ye Yun in front of the school next weekend. Also, I’m sorry for suddenly going to your class today.]
There was also an unread message from Ye Zhiyuan. Looking at the time, it should have come during class. It was just a brief, absentminded statement.
[It’s her birthday next week. The outfit for the banquet is already in your room.]
Ye Muo did not have to ask to know it was Lady Ye who reminded Ye Zhiyuan to send this. Ye Zhiyuan has never been so attentive.
He sighed. Since childhood, he’s had everything Ye He and Ye Yun have had. There was even a space in the Ye family garden that belonged to Ye Muo. It was Lady Ye who had the staff clear it out for him. Yet the better he was treated, the more guilt Ye Muo felt.
Ye Muo’s existence was very awkward. For the longest time, Ye Muo couldn’t find his own place in that house. He was the youngest child in the family, but also the scar that marred an otherwise happy and beautiful household. It was as if he shouldn’t be hated, but even more certainly shouldn’t be loved.
His every appearance tore at an already healed over wound, the fresh blood dripping out reminding everyone of its existence.
The only thing Ye Muo could do was to make the scar look as inconspicuous as possible. He wasn’t a child anymore. He was willing to grow quietly like a plant, as far away as possible. Yet he could not fully sever himself from the Ye family. At the same time everyone stamped the label of ‘illegitimate child’ on him, they firmly stamped ‘of the Ye family’ as well.
Ye Muo tossed the terminal aside and stretched. He silently rolled himself across the bed until he was touching the wall. Tilting his head, he peered at the pot of greenery on the desk. A tender yellow flower bud had sprouted at some point.
Only then did his mood take a turn for the better. He sat up with a tiny smile on his face.
“It’s blossoming.”
The robot who had finished up tidying up quickly rolled over with a tray of school-issued psychic power soothing agent.
[It’s time to drink soothing agent, dearie!]
“Already? It feels like I just drank it yesterday. Can I skip this dose?”
[If you don’t drink it, you can’t be a dearie anymore. After you drink it, I can lift you high up in the air!]
The robot rolled a few paces forward, lifting the tray in front of Ye Muo.
“Hahaha. Then nevermind. I don’t want to crush you into the repair shop just yet.”
This was the toddler nannybot Ye Muo used since childhood. Ye Muo refused to ever swap it out, so here it was. Even now, Ye Muo was the nannybot’s dearie.
Ye Mo frowned as he swallowed the liquid medicine.
The psychic power soothing agent didn’t have any taste, but Ye Muo heard others say that they felt very relaxed and light after drinking it. Yet all Ye Muo felt afterwards was a headache. His originally dormant psychic power would come alive, the dense feeling of gnawing ants descending upon him.
Author’s Corner
Ye Muo: Life planning – becoming a gardener
I’ve seen a reader say before that the authors she followed hustling for comments everyday made her feel like she was at work.
Me: Learned a new skill
Hustling for comments! Hustling for comments!
I wonder if those school rules are going to go through an overhaul once Tyrant-Daddy finds out his cub is being bullied. Also that “soothing agent” is suspicious. I won’t be surprised if it is suppressing Ye Muo’s full potential.
the attitude of the teachers and the school is really weird.
I agree. “Might makes right” may (maybe) be good for raising a handful of strong people but will eliminate anyone middling. An interstellar empire can’t be run/protected by a handful of people; middle management is key!
It’s very barbaric, but considering it’s wartime and stuff OR that’s just how military school works. Cause I’ve heard a lot of stories from military people
Right? What if u surpass a teacher. Does it mean u can beat them up?
hm, suspiciously squinting at the soothing agent >.> (and also this whole fighting system; Ye Muo has the right idea to chill below the disqualification line ah. plants are more important)
thanks for the chapter!
Definitely sus soothing drink (headache) but also the fight school seems set to rip apart his calm nature… Thanks for the update 🤣❤️🤣❤️🤣
I wonder if Ye Muo is truly Ye Zhiyuan’s child. Orrr is it posible to be both Ye Zhiyuan’s and Tyrant Daddy? 🤔 like a mistake in that machine. What is even the science behind it 🤣
You are my dearie too ye muo
thar soothing liquid seems shady as hell
so ummm….. if they want to weaken noble families…. perhaps there should be career options other than warfare? like… a society shouldnt just be people who are good at fighting,and schools shouldnt be run as might makes right. bc graduates are gonna live w that mentality. and it makes for a fucked up society
No can do, because the setting is no longer in earth, but a whole mega universes.. where resources are abundant and everyone want to claim all of it. So yeah, it’s an era of never ending war, it’s sad but, if we can go to the space, it certainly will happen to us too.
that medication is sus peeping
Boring. The MC is a pushover.