Chapter 44: Gaoji Academy (Nine)

Chapter 44: Gaoji Academy (Nine)

The third floor.

Yue Haiyang had already consumed the system's elixirs twice.

Breathing heavily, his clothing was now unrecognizable, thoroughly soaked with viscous blood that clung tightly to his body.

His right arm hung unnaturally at his side, while with his left, he moved the unconscious Tan Chen to a corner of the wall.

This was a study room where, evidently, many students would strive for a while before hurrying back to their dormitories just before the lights out.

The desks in the study room were cluttered with various study materials, looking no different than a regular school at a glance.

Yet, Yue Haiyang knew there was a difference... the temperature here was slightly higher than outside, and since his inadvertent entry into the study room, the student NPCs that had been relentlessly pursuing him seemed unable to track him, merely producing "thump, thump, thump" sounds in the hallway, with none actually breaking in.

The walls of the study room were adorned with rules to be observed within.

【1. Please maintain silence in the study room; no talking allowed.】

【2. Littering is prohibited in the study room; please uphold personal hygiene.】

【3. Quickly find and settle at your designated seat; those not assigned to this study room should not linger for an extended period.】

Indeed, the desks were labeled with students' names, and naturally, this dormitory study room didn't feature the names of teachers like Yue Haiyang and his colleagues.

This meant that this place could serve as a brief sanctuary, affording them a moment to catch their breath.

It remained unclear, however, what constituted an "extended period," and what consequences might ensue from overstaying one's welcome.

Just earlier, Yue Haiyang and Tong Xinxin found the unconscious Tan Chen on the second floor. Fortunate to be alive, she had only one NPC keeping guard by her, busy eating. After Tong Xinxin eliminated the NPC by her side, Yue Haiyang immediately administered a system elixir to her.

But soon, the trio found themselves encircled by NPCs once more.

No matter how many times these students were killed, they could reassemble and continue their pursuit.

For the first time, Yue Haiyang witnessed Tan Chen's individual skills.

This seemingly frail young girl possessed astonishingly fearsome abilities.

【Individual Skill: Flesh Bomb】

【Description: The human body consists of 206 bones, but do you know how much blood and flesh you carry?】

【Hint: Although your flesh may seem worthless, it appears to gain some value when it 'bang, bang, bang' explodes!】

【Effect: Even when only a single piece of flesh remains on you, you can choose to throw it, delivering your final blow.】

【Special Warning: Be cautious, as lost blood and flesh will not regenerate easily.】

With an impassive face, Tan Chen drew a blade across her own flesh, silently tossing chunks of herself without a flinch or grimace, an act so painful that even the bystander Yue Haiyang felt a vicarious agony.

But there was no choice; as time passed, their power waned increasingly.

Tong Xinxin, along with her puppet, managed to lure away the majority of the NPCs once more, allowing Yue Haiyang to flee in the opposite direction with the unconscious Tan Chen, who had lost too much blood.

Yue Haiyang administered another dose of the system's potion to Tan Chen, but this time, she did not awaken.

While her skill was potent, it came with substantial drawbacks.

Before losing consciousness, Tan Chen managed a smile, saying, "If it comes to that, just leave me behind. Better one casualty than three."

Tong Xinxin simply nodded solemnly in response.

After steadying his breath, Yue Haiyang could hear the increasingly clear and numerous "thump, thump, thump" sounds echoing down the hallway.

It seemed time was running out.

— Should he abandon Tan Chen?

Yue Haiyang hesitated momentarily.

In the past, he would not have hesitated.

After all, in previous instances, it was commonplace for players to use and be wary of each other.

But this time... Liu Hui and Tan Chen chose to face the danger without hesitation, with Tong Xinxin selflessly diverting most of the NPCs alone—despite being down to a single functioning eye in her puppet, leaving her practically blind in this place, at this critical juncture. Her determined silhouette as she departed, however, remained steadfast.

Since entering this horrifying game, Yue Haiyang felt like an ant constantly struggling on the brink of life and death, having long lost the dignity and temperament befitting a "human."

But it seemed some were still fervently clinging to life.

So... should he forsake Tan Chen?

Even amidst the profound emotions, Tan Chen had a point—it couldn't be that everyone perished together...

—Thump, thump.

The sound of the student NPCs approached from the entrance.

"Hello, teacher, are you in the study room?"

"Teachers aren't allowed in the study room, you know. This is a place reserved for us."

"Teacher? Teacher—we're coming in, okay!"

Almost instinctively, Yue Haiyang hoisted Tan Chen onto his shoulder once more.

He paused briefly, letting out a wry smile.

But immediately after, he muttered a low curse, "Damn this hellish instance," and without further hesitation, pushed off forcefully with his feet, darting through the dark building amidst the sharp claws reaching out for him.

Meanwhile, on the other side—

Liu Hui's right hand transformed into a bear paw, sending an NPC flying with a powerful swipe.

But this swipe drained almost the last of his energy, as the sound of the NPC crashing against the wall synchronized with his own collapse to the ground.

A few potion bottles lay scattered at his feet. Behind him, Guo Siming lay against the wall, while Tong Xinxin leaned against it, barely managing to stay conscious.

Her puppet had split into two, shrinking back to the size of a palm, which she then placed into her pocket.

She had become completely blind.

On Tong Xinxin's body, protrusions of blood spines emerged, transforming her into a formidable, hedgehog-like sphere.

"Liu Hui, run while you can!" she urged.

Her lungs were punctured, making her speech sound like air escaping through a malfunctioning bellows.

Liu Hui merely shook his head.

Run?

Where to? The dormitory building was only so big, and these NPCs seemed to have an uncanny knack for locating them within a very short span of time, as if guided by some kind of tracking system.

Liu Hui had already depleted his score points, the potion bottles lying at his feet were all exchanged for by Tong Xinxin.

He gulped down another bottle; although it restored his physical stamina and healed his wounds, his skills which were still in the cooldown period remained unusable.

Meanwhile, the NPC he had just sent flying shook its flattened head, then promptly returned to its original state.

Not only were the players weakening, but these NPCs were also growing stronger...

Realizing this, Liu Hui touched the bone flute hanging at his waist.

Was Miss Ah Mu also destined to remain trapped in this instance with him?

Seemingly resonating with his sentiments, the bone flute trembled slightly at his side, emitting a barely perceptible melody, urging its current master to use it once more.

Liu Hui pressed his lips together, and finally, before the NPC launched another attack, he whispered an apology.

"Miss Ah Mu... I'm sorry."

With that, Liu Hui moved his hand away from the bone flute, then gripped his weapon tightly, engaging in a fierce battle with the now strengthened NPC.

Tong Xinxin couldn't see anything, but she knew Liu Hui was nearing the end of his rope.

"This guy really is... from the Ronghua Guild, isn't he."

Overwhelmed by blood loss, Tong Xinxin slowly slid down the wall to a seated position.

Only one of her ears still had the ability to hear; the sound of Liu Hui battling the NPC gradually receded, clearly indicating that Liu Hui was leading the NPC away from them.

But just after Liu Hui had gradually drawn the NPC away, Tong Xinxin heard another series of "thump, thump, thump" sounds gradually approaching from a not too distant place.

...It was no use anymore.

Tong Xinxin coughed up a mouthful of blood, and even though she knew the end was near, she still summoned the last ounce of her strength, exhausting nearly all her blood to activate her final skill.

Unlike previous instances where her blood had primarily formed spines for attack, this time it manifested as a sturdy shell around her and Guo Siming, resembling a crystalline cocoon of ruby.

The fragile shell protected the individuals inside, emanating a despair-inducing sense of delicate vulnerability under the moonlight.

Yet, perhaps as a result of overusing her skill or maybe a hallucination triggered by the approach of death, Tong Xinxin inexplicably felt fine threads, constructed from someone else's blood, wrapping around her.

These threads, akin to a spider web, were exceedingly frail and minute, yet also seemed infinitely elongated.

So elongated that they seemed to traverse beyond the student dormitory building, reaching another place.

Meanwhile, as the life-and-death drama unfolded within the student dormitory, someone lay in a bed in the teacher's residence, calculating the time before finally sitting up.

He manipulated a thread so fine and red it was almost invisible, his eyes closed.

The red thread didn't allow him to visualize the events transpiring in the dormitory, but it granted him a sense of the movements of the person at the other end of the thread.

He nodded slightly, somewhat satisfied.

After charging out, Tong Xinxin initially seemed to have attracted all the NPCs to a specific location, subsequently eliminating them there.

Yet, without any pause, she began wandering swiftly through the dormitory building.

Her steps were somewhat chaotic, not the steady linear path of someone with normal vision who knows what lies ahead.

Considering the eye she lost during the day, it could be inferred that she had given one eye to the puppet, and lost the sight in the other during the recent battle.

Unable to see the path, her movements were distinct from a person with unobstructed vision, even with the guidance of the puppet.

This also suggested that her earlier battle with the NPCs was less than smooth, facing formidable opponents, she had sustained injuries.

However, even after sustaining injuries, she roamed anxiously within the dormitory, seemingly searching for something, or perhaps someone.

Could it be Tan Chen?

The two of them actually only met in this instance. Tong Xinxin was somewhat... how should one say, reciprocal in nature, primarily concerned with her own well-being first.

Unless someone took an action that convinced her it was worth risking her life for them.

This implied that someone had risked their life for her first.

Oh.

He understood now.

Perhaps Tong Xinxin triggered some sort of rule, and someone trying to save her had triggered the same rule as well.

This person might not be very powerful, hence Tong Xinxin was in a rush to find him.

It must be Tan Chen.

Soon, Tong Xinxin halted her steps, likely engaging in a battle with an NPC.

Afterward, her movements slowed for a period... possibly having encountered another player and engaged in a brief conversation.

They teamed up at some point, didn't they?

Because soon after, she seemed to have pinpointed a more precise objective, heading determinedly to the second floor.

The person accompanying her took on the role of her eyes, replacing her puppet doll.

The pair must have found Tan Chen, because soon, Tong Xinxin's previously frantic pace transformed into slower, more cautious steps of evasion.

But now that they are a trio, why don't they kill the NPCs if they can?

Are there too many NPCs, or do the NPCs resurrect after being killed?

Subsequently, Tong Xinxin paused briefly, the trio probably encountering someone else.

What followed was a chaotic sprint for their lives.

Just through the pace, one could tell that she initially possessed considerable strength. Yet, as time progressed, her actions became increasingly sluggish, clearly sustaining severe injuries.

Surviving such grave injuries, someone must be protecting her.

The one with greater strength within that building must be Liu Hui, right?

It's about time, too.

Any later, and death would be imminent.

The person sitting on the bed reached for the glasses on the bedside table and put them on.

He then got off the bed and hurried to the adjacent room, knocking on the door.

In the silent corridor, the sound of dripping water echoed from a distance.

A notice prohibiting movement after lights out was posted on the wall.

Zhang Dao'an, clad in his pajamas, knocked on the door once more.

From the restroom not far away, a bisected head extended out, both separated eyes looking in his direction.

Zhang Dao'an locked eyes with the halved entity, persistently knocking on the door, "Teacher Jie, wake up."

The door remained closed.

In the restroom on the other side, the bisected "person" had now opened its mouth.

"At night... one must not... wander the halls..."

As it spoke, it staggered towards him, leaving behind a long trail of blood.

Zhang Dao'an let out a sigh.

"My apologies."

He whispered an apology at the doorway, then reached into his pocket with his right hand, pulling out a thin piece of wire and inserting it into the lock.

In less than three seconds, a "click" sounded from within the lock.

The staggering half-entity was rapidly approaching, close enough that Zhang Dao'an could even detect a faint hint of the metallic smell of blood in the air.

He quickly twisted the door open, darted inside, and shut the door behind him.

Inside the room, Jie Fangcheng was deeply asleep on the lower bunk, his peaceful slumber resembling that of someone in the comfort of their own home.

However, when Zhang Dao'an's gaze rested on his face, the man seemed to sense it and abruptly awoke.

Jie Fangcheng looked at him with sleepy eyes, scratching his head in confusion.

"...Mr. Zhang?" He blinked in surprise, then realization dawned, "Can't sleep again?"

"No, that's not it."

"Huh? Then why are you in my room?"

Zhang Dao'an gave him a faint smile, "Mr. Jie, I need your help."

As if on cue, a loud "bang" resonated from the door, accompanied by a "scritch-scratch" sound of something clawing at it.

Jie Fangcheng got up groggily, picked up a stick lying next to the bed, and opened the door, then exclaimed in surprise, "Oh! This one is different from yesterday!"

Before he could finish his sentence, he had already swung the stick, sending the NPC flying from the corridor to the restroom area.

"Aaaaaahhhh-"

The NPC's screams faded into the distance, and after a swift "swoosh," it retracted and vanished at the restroom's entrance.

Jie Fangcheng yawned.

"Alright, you can go back to sleep now."

Generally, those who were struck by him would be left traumatized, certainly not daring to reappear for the rest of the night.

"Thank you, Mr. Jie." With that, Zhang Dao'an pointed in the direction of the student dormitory, "But perhaps, would you be willing to save a few more lives?"

.

Inside the student dormitory building.

On the fourth floor.

Liu Hui clutched her chest.

The entire corridor of the fourth floor was smeared with bloodstains, some belonging to Liu Hui, others to the NPCs.

Given the amount of blood lost, Liu Hui should have perished five or six times over already. Yet, with the aid of Tong Xinxin's potion, Liu Hui was still clinging to life, reaching into the system backpack once more...

It was empty.

His system backpack originally housed numerous items; albeit damaged or downgraded, it was still brimming with tools. Liu Hui, who had cleared thirty-seven instances, was no novice, and his pack had always been plentiful.

But at this moment, nearly all the usable items were depleted, and some he had given to Tong Xinxin.

Now, as he extended his hand again, the system backpack, which usually required a check to determine its contents, was barren, leaving only a few non-combative and non-functional household items.

...It seemed truly hopeless.

Yet, at the end of the hallway, the few NPCs that he had fought desperately to cleave into thirds were squirming, rising once again from the ground.

They exhibited a spirit of camaraderie, helping each other straighten their clothes.

These seemingly young students, who met a gruesome end, now burst into unified laughter.

"Hee hee hee, this teacher is done for!"

"In our prestigious academy, teachers with inadequate teaching skills are doomed to perish sooner or later. Why is he struggling so much?"

"No choice, these incapable teachers never repent, always attributing their failures to us..."

"Kill him! If we don't, he'll end up like those other teachers—"

"Kill him! Kill him!"

The student NPCs shouted, each bouncing on the floor, advancing towards him with a rhythmic "thud, thud."

Perhaps because death was nearing, Liu Hui seemed to faintly hear a tremendous noise coming from downstairs... as if the dormitory door had been kicked open.

This, of course, was impossible.

After realizing these NPCs were virtually immortal, they had tried various means to escape.

For instance, attempting to open windows and doors, believing anything outside was better than being trapped here to die.

But it was futile.

The lock on the door could not be broken, even though Yue Haiyang possessed a lock-picking skill.

This clearly breached the school's rule: no movement allowed during the night.

No mobility meant the dormitory doors should remain firmly shut.

Windows couldn't be opened or broken either.

They... were about to be trapped here until death took them.

In hindsight, it would have been wiser to not come, much like Jie Fangcheng. Regardless, that individual possesses formidable strength at the very least...

It is too late now.

Liu Hui struggles to rise from the ground, his grip on his weapon faltering.

Yet, if he could fight for survival even for a minute, he wouldn't give up.

With a clang, before Liu Hui's weapon could even reach the NPC, the foremost student NPC kicked him, sending him flying.

Liu Hui slammed into the wall, violently spewing a mouthful of blood, the bone flute hanging around his waist falling to the ground with a resonate tumble.

"Miss Ah Mo..."

Lying on the ground, Liu Hui stretches out his hand, his blood-stained fingers desperately trying to reclaim the flute.

It truly... seemed like the end.

The NPCs formed a circle around him, guffawing, their eyes fixed intently on him, as if eyeing a piece of meat.

Liu Hui felt as if every bone in his body had shattered.

This was the end.

He tightened his grip on the flute in his hand.

What a pity, Miss Ah Mo would remain with him in this instance.

Hopefully... if they find his corpse tomorrow, someone would take the flute out with them.

Miss Ah Mo holds great significance to the guild, a vital person who had accompanied them through numerous instances.

Her current strength has plummeted dramatically, not even matching the strength of a level one boss, no longer classified as a powerful tool.

But as long as the people from the Ronghua Guild hear of her whereabouts, they would undoubtedly spare no expense to retrieve her.

Please... make it back to Ronghua safely...

But at that moment, the previously trembling flute, striving to emit a sound, finally managed to produce a faint melody, mustering all its might without relying on anyone else.

Liu Hui was startled, immediately followed by a pained cry of "Miss Ah Mo".

A wisp of smoke, so faint it was nearly transparent, slowly emanated from one end of the flute, solidifying mid-air into the figure of a Miaojiang maiden.

She bowed her head, emitting a bizarre sound from her mouth.

One after another, small gu (a kind of mystical insects) emerged from her fingertips.

At her peak, these gu could fill the sky and cover the earth, capable of enveloping the entire school, leaving no individual or NPC unburied in a sea of insects.

But now, the gu could only form lines, one after the other, surrounding Liu Hui in a manner both aggressive and protective.

"Ahh, bugs! I hate bugs!"

"This woman is so annoying! Break the flute!"

The NPCs step into the lines of gu insects; what once were terrifying insects now dissipate with a mere slap of their hands, especially now that they're damaged.

The Miaojiang maiden continues to play the flute, the smoky aura around her becoming increasingly tenuous, and from her closed eyes flow streams of bloody tears.

As the NPCs shrieked, rushing forward to trample both her and the bone flute, Liu Hui mustered his last bit of strength to shield the maiden and the flute with his body, creating a final barrier — fragile yet steadfast — with his own flesh and blood.

The shrieks and laughter of the NPCs still resonated beside his ears.

"This teacher is so dumb, huh! Isn't this a quick way to die?"

"No worries, we'll kill the bug sister after him!"

"Teacher, teacher, what are you thinking about now?"

"Hehe, I'll take the first bite... Ahhhh!!!"

Liu Hui felt something skim past his head before a near-explosive boom echoed in his ears, causing the entire building to tremble with the resonance.

"Hey! Which class do you belong to???"

From afar, a familiar voice carried over.

Slowly, Liu Hui raised his head.

"Click."

The light above flickered to life, responding to the sound.

At the end of the hallway, having just ascended the stairs, was Jie Fangcheng, dressed in a purple pyjama adorned with luxurious floral patterns, his hair sticking out in all directions.

With sleeves rolled up, he displayed a visage of wrath.

"You bunch of students, depriving others of sleep in the dead of night, is it?! What did I tell you yesterday??"

As he spoke, the man moved... not exactly at a rapid pace.

To Liu Hui, who possessed personal skills of acceleration and a body enhanced numerous times by the system, this pace was indeed not swift enough.

Because it lacked agility.

If Liu Hui's running style relied more on reducing his own weight and increasing his bounce, each of Jie Fangcheng's stomping steps resounded through the entire building.

With every step he took, a deep footprint was left on the floor.

As Jie Fangcheng advanced with a tirade, the previously boastful and utterly malevolent student NPCs began to scream in terror.

"Ah! It's him! The one in that hideous purple pajama!! It's the person Xiao Zhou and the others encountered yesterday!!"

"Run quickly!!!"

"Whimper... wait for me, you guys—"

With the NPCs wailing in distress, Jie Fangcheng didn't even spare a glance at Liu Hui as he passed by, his gaze fixed intently on the slower ones, swiftly breezing past Liu Hui in pursuit.

Liu Hui remained stationary, still sheltering the flute and the Miaojiang maiden beneath him. He watched Jie Fangcheng blankly, letting out a stunned "ah" only when his figure vanished from sight.

Shortly afterwards, footsteps approached from the other end of the corridor, albeit a bit belatedly.

Yue Haiyang carried Tan Chen on his left shoulder and Guo Siming on his right, followed by the visually impaired Tong Xinxin... and Zhang An, dressed cleanly in pajamas.

Zhang An, the player with that name, evidently just woke up, still donned in his pajamas.

But unlike Jie Fangcheng, who managed to make a suit seem like pajamas, this person wore his pajamas as if it were a suit, maintaining a rigid and formal demeanor.

Seeing them, Liu Hui couldn't help but be moved: "You all are still alive."

Though Tong Xinxin was in a bad state, her vampiric abilities allowed her to survive as long as she had a breath left.

At this moment, she nodded, yet her voice carried a trace of gritted teeth for some reason: "Thanks to Teacher Jie... and Teacher Zhang."

As if not noticing, Zhang An nodded amiably: "You're welcome."

They were all smart; the moment Zhang An led Jie Fangcheng directly to Tong Xinxin's location, she knew he must possess some tracking ability.

Coupled with his lack of surprise at their tragic state upon arrival, it was clear: he had waited until everyone was in dire straits before bringing help.

But... it wasn't easy to articulate any grievances.

After all, they indeed saved everyone's lives.

It was a debt of life.

Zhang An was clearly aware of this, maintaining a calm and collected demeanor, even sighing in response to Tong Xinxin's expression: "Teacher Tong, it seems there's a bit of a misunderstanding. You never considered Teacher Jie and me as allies. Despite the potential risk of being chased by the NPCs in the faculty dormitory, I sought Teacher Jie to rescue you all. I believe I've done my part."

That was true.

No matter how one looked at him, his expression was quite displeasing.

However...

Indeed.

Had it not been for these two, the four of them would have perished here today.

Lowering her head, Tong Xinxin finally spoke: "Thank you for saving me today. If there's anything you need in the future, just say it."

Zhang An simply smiled: "No need to thank me, it's mainly Teacher Jie who is more enthusiastic. Even though you can't really assist him in any way, he was still willing to help you. Just remember this in the future."

Tong Xinxin had nothing more to say.

Liu Hui didn't have the luxury of overthinking at this moment. Having been rescued, he let out a deep breath of relief.

The Miaojiang maiden couldn't sustain herself any longer and retreated back into the flute. Treasuring it, he hung it back at his waist and gravely expressed his gratitude towards Zhang Dao'an.

"Thank you."

Zhang Dao'an nodded in acknowledgement.

Yue Haiyang, being in the best physical condition among the group, gently laid the two weakened individuals on the corridor floor, then began to keenly survey their surroundings non-stop.

"Where is Brother Jie? Did he actually go after the NPCs?"

Not long after this question was posed, Jie Fangcheng, bearing an irate expression and carrying his staff, reemerged from the staircase at the end of the corridor.

Zhang Dao'an inquired, "How did it go?"

Jie Fangcheng shook his head, his expression tinged with regret: "These NPCs are just too powerful."

Yue Haiyang was fervently nodding on the side.

Yes, indeed! These NPCs are truly formidable, he...

Jie Fangcheng continued: "They are too fast, simply impossible to catch up with."

Everyone: "..."

After coughing up some blood, Tong Xinxin asked, "What should we do now? Should we go back to sleep?"

She was referring to whether they should return to their dormitory in the student housing to sleep.

But as Jie Fangcheng looked at her, then at the other four who were covered in blood, he hesitated before saying: "Don't you all... want to take a shower first? Being in this state, can you even get some sleep?"

Tong Xinxin: "..."

Yue Haiyang replied earnestly: "I wouldn't dare to. Our abilities are somewhat lacking; I fear an NPC might show up while we are bathing."

"That's easily solved, I can stand guard by the bathroom door for you."

"Ah, won't that be too much trouble for you, Brother Jie...?"

"No trouble at all, just make it quick."

Yue Haiyang hesitated.

In the past when faced with such situations during dungeons, the most they would do was wipe themselves down with a towel.

Taking a bath?

Do you know that the most terrifying place in a dungeon is usually the restroom?

Having said that, Jie Fangcheng let out a yawn.

"Are you going to bathe or not? If not, let's go back to sleep."

Yue Haiyang responded promptly: "Bathing."

Daring to bathe even after triggering the death rule in the dungeon, just this alone could be something he brags about for the rest of his life.

The group found themselves back at the staff dormitory once again.

The bathing area was on the first floor. Yue Haiyang thought a quick rinse would suffice, but to his surprise, Jie Fangcheng adeptly knocked on a specific dormitory door first.

"Director Wei? Director Wei?"

His patience only lasted for so long. After knocking twice without any response from inside, Jie Fangcheng decisively lifted his leg and kicked the door open with a loud "bang".

Taking advantage of the corridor lighting, Yue Haiyang peered inside, spotting Director Wei sitting on the bed, wearing a highly complex expression.

Director Wei couldn't sleep, huh.

No one could sleep at this point!

Before retiring to sleep, that man named Jie Fangcheng, the teacher notorious for his poor teaching performance, blocked him. Armed with his staff, he strode grandly into Director Wei’s room and even exchanged polite pleasantries.

"Oh, the Director's dorm really is a class apart from ours, isn't it?"

Director Wei was filled with apprehension, yet tried to maintain his authoritative demeanor at this moment.

"Teacher Jie, mind your position!"

Jie Fangcheng slammed his staff down, shattering the table, and challenged: "What did you say?"

Director Wei: "..."

Director Wei inquired, "What brings you to my place?"

"Oh, the students in my class aren't performing too well academically. I came to discuss this matter with you."

A sense of covert joy blossomed in Director Wei’s heart.

See? Even the mightiest fear the repercussions of students performing poorly in their exams!

What good is immense strength in the end?

Before his joy could fully blossom, the man before him gestured towards him and said, "Come up with a solution for me, to ensure that the students in our class score at least... eh, not asking for much, six hundred points in the next exam. That's achievable, right?"

Director Wei: "???"

Director Wei wore a blank expression: "What did you just say?"

"I mean, elevate the class scores to six hundred points."

"Ordered by whom??"

"You, of course. Who else could it be?"

Director Wei: "???"

Such demands were previously only made by him to the teachers, weren't they??

How come now a teacher is making this demand to him????

Not just making the demand, Teacher Jie had additional conditions: "But I insist, no corporal punishment or demeaning the students. What's that term... yes, holistic education. Got it?"

Director Wei questioned: "Am I the teacher or are you the teacher?"

"I am."

"So... is it you who teaches the class or me?"

"I am."

"?? Then what does your class's performance have to do with me?"

Jie Fangcheng offered a sly smile: "The performance might not concern you, but your well-being certainly does."

As if worried that the threat wasn't formidable enough, Jie Fangcheng slammed his staff against the wall.

Following the thunderous noise, Director Wei exchanged bewildered glances with a neighboring teacher who had a bruised face.

Jie Fangcheng waved at the teacher: "Oh, what a coincidence."

The teacher screamed in horror.

Jie Fangcheng casually cleaned his ear, then reminded Director Wei: "I'm giving you three days to think it over. Come up with a plan for me."

Having said that, he left.

Director Wei was left insomnia-stricken.

Since the inception of his tenure at Gaoji Academy, even before the academy started prioritizing academic performances, Director Wei had never experienced such an event.

How could there be such a teacher?

How could this be happening?

... How could one possibly elevate a class that scores zero in language arts to a total score of six hundred points?

He was fraught with anxiety, unable to sleep, and his head felt like it was splitting open.

But Director Wei could have never imagined that on this late night, as he was tossing and turning unable to sleep, even after the lights had been turned off, his door would be kicked open again.

The similarly sleepless Teacher Jie stood at the doorway.

“Director Wei, I need to ask for your assistance with something,” he said.

Director Wei glanced at the staff on his shoulder: "...What is it?"

“Can you tell me where the water valve for our bathhouse is? Is there any hot water available?”

Director Wei: "..."

Director Wei exclaimed, "...I am the head of education here, not a boiler operator!!!"

Jie Fangcheng slammed his staff onto the ground, "Stop making a fuss and hurry up, it's already quite late..."

Before he could finish his sentence, tears suddenly streamed down the face of the middle-aged, balding NPC in front of him.

Jie Fangcheng: "..."

Jie Fangcheng closed the door.

He turned around to find the players behind him displaying vacant expressions, seemingly in a daze and not fully conscious.

Jie Fangcheng rubbed his nose, "How about we all just make do and take a cold shower? It's not winter yet anyway..."

.

After everyone had taken their showers, they floated back to their respective dorms, their faces wearing blank expressions, resembling philosophers who had just entered the underworld.

Yawning, Jie Fangcheng prepared to return to his room for some sleep, when Zhang Dao'an smiled at him, saying, "You've worked hard."

Jie Fangcheng shook his head, curiosity getting the better of him: "How were you able to open my door?"

"A personal skill."

"Tsk, tsk," Jie Fangcheng shook his head repeatedly, "All of you players can pick locks. If this were in the real world, you'd be jailed for several years."

Zhang Dao'an simply smiled in response.

"But it's quite strange," Jie Fangcheng scrutinized him, "you're quite enthusiastic."

Still smiling, Zhang Dao'an responded, "I didn't expect you to have a rather favorable attitude towards players."

"Why didn't you expect it?"

"After all, from your perspective, even though we didn't intend to, we could be considered as illegal immigrants, right?"

"Oh," Jie Fangcheng scratched his head, "I suppose so, but that falls outside my job description, so it's not my concern."

A diligent corporate drone only tends to the responsibilities within their own job scope, never voluntarily taking on additional tasks.

Moreover, one could easily surmise that handling these players after such a major event would certainly be a tedious task, with just the reporting potentially taking hundreds of years.

This was definitely not a task one should willingly shoulder.

Zhang Dao'an adjusted his glasses, concealing the look in his eyes.

Realizing the late hour, Jie Fangcheng yawned once again.

“Alright, it’s time to sleep.”

“Goodnight,” Zhang Dao'an said with a smile.

The next day, Jie Fangcheng stared blankly at Director Wei’s plan and the person seated in front of him.

“You mean to say... this Mr. Zhang will be co-teaching class seven with me?”

“Yes, yes, yes! He has already agreed!” Director Wei exclaimed with joy.

Not only did he agree, but it was also Mr. Zhang who had proactively proposed the idea.

See, this is what you call a confidant!

Helping to alleviate a major concern for him, isn’t this what true friends are for?

Moreover, with Mr. Zhang ranking first in the recent major examination, he already had the privilege to choose the class he wished to instruct, which is fully in line with the school's policies.

Director Wei believed this teacher to be a godsent savior, a stroke of good fortune sent to rescue him.

Jie Fangcheng turned his gaze towards Zhang Dao'an.

Wasn't this the man who had offered to collaborate with him just the other day, an offer he had refused?

Zhang Dao'an nodded at him with dignified politeness.

“Ensuring the students study diligently falls within my job responsibilities, Teacher Jie.”