Chapter 75: The Journey of Life

Chapter 75: The Journey of Life

Because of that last leap, Lezi, who initially had only one little red flower, successfully graduated from kindergarten.

Even so, Lezi, number 100, among the seventy-nine surviving exiles, remained the lowest in the journey of life.

Yes, previously the lowest position in the journey of life was held by number 4, but number 4 was stabbed to death by a robber who despised the wealthy.

Despite being a formidable level three exile, as a toddler, he couldn't survive even one round under the robber's knife.

After the death of number four, the lowest point still highlighted on the life map was number 100.

Chen Sijin looked at the position of number 100, marked only with full health at 20, while the other three attributes, intelligence, charm, and money, were all at 5, and couldn't help but internally criticize Xiao Lezi for being a brute with only strength, completely lacking in well-rounded development.

In contrast, the highest-ranking among the exiles was number 1.

The four main attributes marked next to number 1 were all at the maximum of 20, with money even at 1000.

These two were perfectly ranked according to their numbers, but it was uncertain how long this arrangement would last.

After all, following the final kidnapping incident, the surviving exiles all successfully "graduated."

[As time passes, your chapter of life is about to enter the elementary school era. It's officially time to start studying seriously.]

Chen Sijin had initially thought there would be a family gathering before starting elementary school to show off again, but fortunately, it seemed the old, undying family head didn't have that much free time.

Yuxi Dujia

So, all he needed to do was go to elementary school peacefully the next day. However, this peace was only relative—

"Jinzi, you're almost seven years old, how can you still be so picky about food?" His mother, who seemed even more critical and workaholic with age, looked at him disapprovingly:

"You must drink these two glasses of milk! And finish them in front of me! You haven't grown as tall as we hoped, your skin isn't fair enough, and your charm isn't high enough, how can this be acceptable?"

The boy over six years old frowned at the two large cups of strongly smelling milk pushed towards him by his NPC mother, thinking his parents were becoming too much.

Just as he was about to smile and respond, his stern father frowned and said, "Finish it now, don't bring it to school! The school's rule is that you can only bring a water bottle to drink water, nothing else! Going to school means acting like a student! We're raising you to learn, not to play at school."

The smile on young Chen Shijin's face stiffened.

He ultimately gulped down the two cups, feeling a bit nauseous afterward. However, the ceaseless lecturing from his parents finally stopped, and he was willing to trade that bit of discomfort for their silence.

"Good, I knew my Jinzi is the most obedient child. Mommy loves you! Now, button up your school uniform to the top, and soon your mom and dad will take you to school."

The stern mother's face suddenly brightened with a smile, as if she truly adored her child.

[Your parents are very pleased with your behavior, your money +100.]

Chen Shijin, observing his parents, began to understand the life challenges faced by children of affluent families.

Children from wealthy families need not worry about living expenses or tuition fees, but conversely, their voice in the household is significantly diminished, and they gradually become puppets controlled by their parents. Any form of rebellion is met with harsh reprimand, even financial sanctions.

Whereas children from impoverished families may face dire financial struggles from the start, if they endure and become outstanding, as their parents wish, they will gradually gain a voice and control over their lives without being dominated.

Yet, they might still bear the burden of their family's poverty, unable to escape it.

It's uncertain which type of family is better in the end.

Then, once again, Chen Shijin was dropped off at the elementary school gate by his affluent parents in their luxury car.

Unlike the Royal Kindergarten, although many luxury cars were also present at the Royal Elementary School, number 1 wasn't the first to enter, nor were the teachers and students of the Royal Elementary School greeting number 1 at the gate. Instead, students entered the school in the order they arrived.

Elementary student Chen Shijin raised his eyebrows at this scene, suggesting that "the influence of money has begun to wane."

However, when the head teacher mentioned they were in the key class, Chen Sijin knew that money and wealth still held sway at this moment.

Of the remaining seventy-nine exiles, forty-three from families ranked within the top fifty, who were well-off, were placed in the key classes, first and second.

Of course, Class One also had other children, even Xiaolezi was in Class One. But of the thirty-four children from the poorer families ranked in the bottom fifty, only five were in the key classes. The rest were in other regular classes.

"Welcome, children, to the Royal Elementary School. From today onwards, you are honored elementary students. You are the excellent children selected for the key classes. You must study hard, listen carefully, and achieve grades that make your parents proud!"

"If you cannot achieve excellent results in the final exams, then you would have failed the expectations of your parents and teachers. What face would you have to continue living in this world?"

Initially drowsy, Chen Sijin was jolted awake by the last sentence, noticing the other exiled children's faces turn serious and cautious.

Incredulously, Chen Sijin poked Xiaolezi, who was fast asleep next to him.

Xiaolezi, bleary-eyed, looked at him: "What?"

Sijin whispered: "Failing the exams might mean death, how absurd is that?"

Xiaolezi snorted: "Well, I'm not going to die, anyway."

Chen Sijin tugged at the corner of his mouth.

What a cursed life this is.

Fortunately, it's just elementary school grades. With his brain, he can handle it.

Then, on the first day's diagnostic test, Chen Sijin looked at his average score of 95 with mixed feelings.

[Your intelligence is at 18 points, and an average of 95 is your highest achievement. Please continue to work hard and keep all scores above 90.]

So, the exam doesn't consider actual IQ but relies on current intelligence? Isn't that a bit fatal?

So, how can one increase intelligence? Could he just verbally add some to try?

Chen Sijin thought about it and directly looked at his little green dot: [Add 2 intelligence.]

However, the number representing his intelligence didn't budge.

Clearly, the power of the ruler controlling the path of life firmly controlled the data, refusing such blatant cheating.

Chen Sijin: Hmph.

If it can't be added directly, then don't add. There must be other methods.

While Chen Sijin was annoyed at his word power being blocked, suddenly, an exiled elementary student sitting diagonally behind him called out nervously.

"How could I possibly have only 89 points? My intelligence is clearly 15!"

Chen Sijin sighed in front, intelligence at 18 averaging 95, and intelligence at 15 averaging 89, no issues there.

"Students, you need to take today's diagnostic test results home for your parents to sign. Additionally, I want to give special praise to Student Number One, Kong Ju, who scored perfect marks! He is very outstanding, let's learn from him!"

The rest of the children earnestly applauded, while Chen Sijin clapped speechlessly, looking at the event notification on the path of life map:

[Exile Number One (Elementary Phase) received commendation for excellent performance in the first diagnostic test. Intelligence +1, Charisma +1.]

Chen Sijin looked at the map of the path of life, where Kong Ju was already far ahead.

He looked from Number One's position to his own, gradually lowering his gaze.

The exiles who are behind always think they're still young and have time to catch up later, but how can they turn the tables when the gap widens?

In the journey of life, if you're a step or two, or three behind, can you catch up as quickly as on a regular road?

Then, on the same evening, Chen Sijin saw another event notification.

[Exile Number Seven (Elementary Phase) reprimanded by parents for low exam scores, losing 1000 in money. However, their parents hired an expensive private tutor for her, Intelligence +2.]

[Exile Number Thirteen (Elementary Phase) reprimanded by parents for low exam scores, losing 1000 in money. But his parents hired a private tutor for him, Intelligence +1.]

Several notifications in a row were about the top 50 hiring private tutors.

Subsequently came the announcements for the exiles ranked in the latter 50.

[Exile Number 51 (Elementary Phase) had average exam scores and was met with hopeful looks from parents, deciding to study an extra hour each day, Intelligence +2.]

[Exile Number 63 (Elementary Phase) had average exam scores, saw parents secretly wiping tears, and decided to study two extra hours daily, Intelligence +4, Health -1.]

[Exile Number 99 (Elementary Phase) had average exam scores and was beaten up by a drunken father, hearing his mother's cries. Health -3.]

……

Chen Sijin frowned involuntarily upon seeing the announcement about Number 99.

"Sijin, your exam scores are average. Study an extra hour tonight! You must score perfect marks next time! At the very least, average above ninety-eight! Here, have some milk to nourish your brain."

Chen Sijin, looking at the large cup of strong-smelling milk brought by his NPC mother who was intently staring at him, turned and smiled: "Thank you, Mom. Why don't you drink it for me? Pretend I drank it."

Then, Chen Sijin watched as the NPC of this world hesitated before genuinely finishing the milk.

"Then Sijin should get a good night's sleep. You still have to score high."

Chen Sijin nodded: "I will, Mom."

Indeed, although it's impossible to forcibly change the data of the path of life, some minor aspects can still be modified.

Yet, this still isn't enough to... make oneself number one.

And so, elementary school life began just like that.

And the life of the exiles was essentially:

[Day one, you studied diligently.]

[Day two, you studied diligently.]

[Day three, you studied half-heartedly. Intelligence -1]

[Day four, you studied with exceptional diligence. Intelligence +1]

Chen Sijin sat at his desk, watching as time passed in the form of these notifications.

At times, life felt like a game—sometimes real, sometimes frivolously playful.

However, by the fifth day, things finally took a turn.

Chen Sijin found himself standing in the bathroom, but rather unfortunately, it seemed he was surrounded by several children.

"What are you doing?" Chen Sijin asked, somewhat speechlessly. Surely, they weren't thinking of robbing him? In elementary school?!

"Sijin, your family's rich, right? Lend us some money to spend! Look at you, with your pretty boy face and all frail, what if you keep getting bullied without our protection? So, if you lend us the money, we'll protect you!"

Chen Sijin: "...But no one's bullying me."

The six-year-old boy blinked, his eyes sparkling, looking rather adorable.

The five chubby, taller boys surrounding him: "Uh, well."

"That kind of makes sense?"

"Yeah, he's so cute, how could anyone bully him?"

"I'd want to fight anyone who bullies him! He's really nice, nobody should bully him!"

"...So, are we still borrowing money?"

"But we really need the money!"

Then, the five towering elementary students saw the incredibly cute and likable Sijin blink his beautiful eyes: "Well, if you all need money, I can lend you some. After all, we are friends, aren't we?"

So, Chen Sijin took out 50 dollars.

He currently gets 100 dollars a day for pocket money. Giving away half was no problem at all.

Instantly, the five tall chubby boys' eyes sparkled, and they showed touched expressions: "Sijin! Good brother! From now on, we're the best of friends and brothers!"

"That's right, if anyone bullies you at school, just mention our names! We'll make sure they cry out in regret!"

"We can also protect you on the way home from school! From now on, we're brothers!"

In the end, Chen Sijin lost fifty bucks but gained five good brothers.

[You cleverly averted potential bullying with your charm, gaining five solid friendships. Charisma +10, Intelligence +3.]

Chen Sijin exhaled softly, smiling slightly as he saw himself taking another step forward on the path of life map.

However, as he advanced, a few others regressed.

[Exile Number Three (Elementary Phase) was bullied, successfully fled, leaving behind psychological scars, Health -5, Charisma -5.]

[Exile Number Five (Elementary Phase) was bullied, resistance failed, leaving behind severe psychological scars, Health -10, Charisma -5, Intelligence -2.]

[Exile Number 6...]

[Exile Number 7...]

Chen Sijin observed the life announcements and noted that almost everyone had been cornered by various bullies, either big or small, on this day.

However, two announcements stood out starkly in red among the others.

[Exile Number 99 (Elementary Phase) joined a bullying group, successfully bullied Number 14, Health/Physical Strength +10, Intelligence +1, Money +50.]

Chen Sijin's eyes narrowed sharply, Number 99!

The exile from a family where the father was a drunkard and keen on domestic violence.

He has started down a different path.

This is the way he chose to break the cycle.

It's also the path that the devourer of life's journey wanted him to choose.

The relationship between the exiles in the top fifty and those in the bottom fifty was already unfair and disharmonious, and it's about to get worse.

[Exile Number 100 (Elementary Phase) was bullied but single-handedly defeated five, then another five, and another five, totaling fifteen bullies, and successfully rose to become the leader of the bullies. Health/Physical Strength +20, Charisma +5, Intelligence +1.]

Chen Sijin, looking at this blazing red announcement that stood out from the rest, tugged at the corner of his mouth. Should he say, as expected of Xiaolezi?

Not to mention anything else, but this guy really can fight!

Then, just as Chen Sijin stepped out of the bathroom, he saw a crowd rushing over from the right, led by the strutting elementary student Xiaolezi, followed by tall and hefty chubby elementary students.

"Sijin! Has anyone bullied you? Just give the word, and I'll have them beaten to death!"

Chen Sijin: ...

He put on a forced smile, about to say something, when suddenly, another group came bustling from the left, all dressed in tailored suits and skirts, looking well-mannered and sensible, led by the princely Number One, Kong Ju, who walked to the other side with a slightly arrogant smile:

"Sijin, don't hang out with those bad kids. Come to our side. We'll report their bullying to the teacher so they get the punishment they deserve!"

Thus, with the school's heartthrob on the left and the bully boss on the right, Chen Sijin standing in the middle suddenly felt bewildered.

Wait, how did this suddenly become a choice of sides?

Making such a big deal out of this, do you even remember you're just elementary students?!

No wait, it seems only elementary students would engage in such childish acts.

Sijin: This bunch of unbelievable elementary squirts!