Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Bai Fuling set the game to auto-grind and then exited the game. He lay back on his comfortable bed, casually scooping up an Octopus Doll from the pile beside him and giving it a squeeze.

Although he had exited the game, the excitement and joy from playing hadn't completely faded yet.

This game is quite fun... I'll go online and give it a shout-out, leave a five-star review, and help spread the word.

Thinking this, Bai Fuling picked up his phone.

The game app, downloaded at some unknown time, still appeared as a pure black square on the home screen, its label unchanged—a solitary question mark.

Perhaps it was a trick of the eye, but in a few fleeting moments, Bai Fuling caught a glimpse of tentacle-like shapes moving within the square icon of the game app.

Yet, when he looked more closely, it was just plain black again.

Was it an issue with his phone's compatibility, or something else? Why did this game have no name or icon?

Bai Fuling stared at it for a bit. He decided to give it a try and searched online for recently popular open-ended RPG pixel games, hoping to find the name of this glitchy game he was playing. However, none of the search results matched the one he was currently playing.

Bai Fuling then entered the nicknames of NPCs from the game, but the related searches that popped up were all over the place, none of it was familiar.

Oh well, this game probably isn't that well-known yet. Or perhaps it hasn't been officially released, and he just happened to get a beta key—he had filled out plenty of questionnaires and signed up for a bunch of stuff before; maybe this game was one of them. Bai Fuling thought casually.

He was really very tired. The initial enthusiasm to recommend the game online was gradually taken over by sleepiness.

Bai Fuling tossed his phone aside and wrapped his arms around the soft Octopus Doll by his pillow.

Half his face buried in the pillow, he slowly fell asleep.

...

Logging into the game again, it was morning inside.

Bai Fuling woke up in his dorm room, where he had set his AFK spot.

His dorm room was a single room—though this didn't mean he could always stay in a single room.

Bai Fuling had previously heard from the tutorial NPC Pang Chengyu that single rooms were a privilege for Class A students. However, new transfer students were granted a two-week grace period.

After that, dorm assignments would be based on class categories.

To be honest, Bai Fuling didn't really care how many people shared a room.

As a player, the dorm was just a spawn point. Even if it housed 100 people, its nature would be the same for a player.

Through the window, Bai Fuling saw the pixel sun outside shining brightly.

A sunny day meant it was time for watering. As Bai Fuling left his dorm room, he happened to see the familiar golden-haired NPC busy in the fields.

Spotting Bai Fuling, a smiley face popped up over the golden-haired NPC Pang Chengyu's head. He approached a few steps: "Good morning, Classmate Bai! I've already finished watering today."

"Let's go, we can head to class for attendance together." Pang Chengyu hid the watering can behind a flower bed, then stepped closer, lowering his voice, "Many students saw our plot of land when they went out this morning. They all had different looks on their faces."

Pang Chengyu felt fired up by this. Although farming had only just begun on a small scale, it was a major step forward in the spirit of rebellion!

Bai Fuling wasn't very concerned about NPC reactions, but seeing the golden-haired NPC surrounded by happy-looking pixel sparkles, he still offered a compliment: "Really? Then you must've done a good job."

Pang Chengyu grinned, tugging at the backpack on his shoulder: "If you have any other ideas, you can always come to me—I'm totally on board."

Transfer students always had lots of new ideas. Pang Chengyu believed that as long as he followed Bai Fuling, he would surely be able to test the limits of the school rules and eventually achieve the feat of challenging them!

"What are you planning to do today?" Pang Chengyu asked.

"Attendance, go downstairs, head out, find someone." Bai Fuling replied succinctly.

He remembered today's [Cat's Secret] quest. After rescuing Liao Zhiqiu last night, this quest could proceed. According to the agreement, they were to meet at the usual spot behind the school's back gate.

Although Bai Fuling didn't specify how he would go downstairs, Pang Chengyu's intuition had already vaguely guessed—the so-called "going downstairs" meant a straight-line jump from the building.

Because so far, he had never seen the transfer student use the stairs properly!

Uh, pure jumping from the building isn't something to follow... a surefire way to get yourself killed. Pang Chengyu thought silently. However, if it's sliding down a rope, he could try following the transfer student.

The two walked to the classroom together, timing it perfectly. The clock on the wall showed two minutes left until the 8 AM class started.

Bai Fuling stepped into the classroom without a second thought, greeted the teacher at the podium to report his attendance, then walked straight forward and pushed open the window.

"Wait—wait! Fresh Cabbage?! You, how are you here! You're okay???"

A dialog box suddenly popped up on the screen. Bai Fuling turned his head and saw the young teacher from last time standing there. A large exclamation mark appeared above her head.

"What's the matter?" Bai Fuling tilted his head.

Players taking the straight-line path between two points... the NPCs in the classroom already knew about that. Surely they hadn't reset after just one day, right?

"You—I just received news that you had an accident!" the young teacher exclaimed in astonishment. "Didn't you fall down a well and die!?"

An accident? Fell down a well and died?

Bai Fuling tilted his head, tapping through the dialog boxes. From the young teacher's jumbled explanation, he roughly understood.

Last night, after he catapulted himself from the wheelchair into the sewer, Luo Qingyue on the surface quickly called for rescue (Bai Fuling: NPCs are so smart and kind).

The rescuers arrived but found only a smear of blood on the ground below the well. They assumed the body might have been washed away by water, as survival from that height was impossible.

Finally, using the clue "Fresh Cabbage" provided by Luo Qingyue, they confirmed the identity. The only contact information pointed to Pelland Academy.

So they went to Pelland Academy and regretfully informed them of the sad news.

To this, Bai Fuling responded: "No way, teach. I'm unkillable."

*As a player, dying easily just isn't an option!*

—Unless the player themselves wanted to die.

"If I died, you all wouldn't remember me either." Bai Fuling continued.

After all, the world revolves around the player. If the player is gone, then the game would just reset. NPCs wouldn't remember the player after a save file deletion.

Hearing this, Pang Chengyu tugged at Bai Fuling's clothes from behind: "Hey, don't say that. I would definitely remember you."

*NPCs always say that kind of thing.* But in reality, it's only limited to one save file. Bai Fuling just smiled at this; he knew the drill.

Bai Fuling then turned to face the podium and typed: "Besides, teacher, if I can jump from buildings, what's jumping down a well?"

The young teacher, originally shocked by Bai Fuling's "coming back from the dead," stopped short at that and had to admit it made a weird kind of sense.

The transfer student had been jumping from buildings without a scratch since his very first day at school. Looking at it that way, jumping down a well wasn't a big deal... after all, that well couldn't possibly be taller than a four-story building, right?

"Oh. Oh." The young teacher responded instinctively, "That makes sense. Jumping down a well is no big deal."

"Right. Exactly." Bai Fuling nodded, emphasizing, "So, teacher, please don't cross my name off the list. I'm coming every day now!"

He couldn't let this incident ruin his title as a 'Law-abiding Good Student of Pelland Academy.' Losing his student status would be even more troublesome. Bai Fuling remembered that as a student of Pelland Academy, he benefited from the rule that school regulations overrode the law.

Otherwise, if he got accidentally caught again, he'd be thrown into a police cell instead of the school detention room!

Moreover, Bai Fuling was quite satisfied with the abundance of trash cans around the campus. And the stuff he planted hadn't matured yet.

In short, he wouldn't give up his student status at Pelland Academy!

Bai Fuling stated firmly, "Don't worry, teacher, as long as I'm alive, I will definitely come to school every morning to report to you!"

The young teacher: "...Um... well... thank you?"

She had no idea what to say, only managing to mutter a thank you.

Honestly, hearing the transfer student's words, besides having her mind blown, she felt a faint touch of emotion... Just like last time, she was inexplicably touched again.

Bai Fuling took out a rope from his backpack, tied it to the window, and slid down. After landing, clicking on the rope would retract it back into the backpack.

This time, before he could click the rope, he heard a call from behind him: "Bai... Classmate Bai!"

Bai Fuling looked up and saw a blond pixel character hanging from the rope above.

Pang Chengyu had also grabbed the rope, trying to slide down like him. But it seemed he was too scared or unsure how to slide down. He only slid a little bit before getting stuck mid-air.

Ah, great, a dumb NPC in need of player help!

Bai Fuling glanced up and sized up the situation. He clicked the rope, chose the 'Climb' option, and climbed back up to where Pang Chengyu was.

Pang Chengyu was nervous and embarrassed, his entire face flushed red. He had worked up the courage to follow the transfer student's lead, but that was as far as he got.

He really didn't know how to climb this rope... and he had never climbed like this before! The most dangerous thing Pang Chengyu had done before was driving without a license, but he now realized that was nothing compared to this.

Ah, why is the fourth floor so high, why is the wind so strong up here! How did the transfer student get down with just a thick rope??

Pang Chengyu's palms were clammy with sweat. He tightly gripped the rope, not daring to loosen his grip for an instant, nor daring to look down. Until the transfer student's voice came.

"Alright, I've got you." Bai Fuling thought for a moment and said, "Maybe it's better to be a back accessory, more convenient. Are you willing?"

Pang Chengyu: ?

Although he didn't understand what the transfer student meant, seeing the super-powered transfer student coming to his aid, he instinctively felt reassured.

So Pang Chengyu couldn't help but repeat, "Back accessory... back accessory? I'm willing."

The next second, he felt a magical force pulling him, and then he—he miraculously found himself on the transfer student's back!

Ahh, the transfer student isn't as tall or as strong as he is. This'll crush him! They'll both fall!

Pang Chengyu screamed internally like a groundhog, nearly stiffening into a golden hash brown.

Bai Fuling was very relaxed. He carried Pang Chengyu piggyback as a back accessory, then clicked 'Slide Down', smoothly descending to the ground.

After that, he turned off the back accessory mode, and Pang Chengyu fell to the ground.

Pang Chengyu's first reaction after falling was to scramble to his feet: "Sorry, Classmate Bai, are you okay? I'm too heavy, I'm sorry!!!"

Bai Fuling: "Not at all," he replied candidly. "No weight." After all, it was just a back accessory.

Pang Chengyu was deeply touched. He knew this was probably the transfer student comforting him... He'd been too impulsive today! He should learn rock climbing, bungee jumping, and zip-lining before trying this.

He hung his head, his fists clenching and unclenching, unsure how to respond. Finally, Pang Chengyu asked, "...Can I follow you?"

He wanted to see what the transfer student, who fired the first shot of rebellion, usually did. That way, he could learn!

"You want to follow?" Bai Fuling was surprised for a second, then nodded, "Oh, sure."

Players never mind having more party members. More NPCs mean more help. They can always be useful.

He agreed...!! Hearing the reply, Pang Chengyu was thrilled.

With the idea of further learning and imitation, Pang Chengyu followed Bai Fuling with enthusiastic steps as they exited through the campus back gate and met Liao Zhiqiu waiting there.

Pang Chengyu knew of Liao Zhiqiu. He had heard of this person's reputation but never actually interacted with him.

What was Liao Zhiqiu doing here? When did he get to know the transfer student?!

Pang Chengyu saw Liao Zhiqiu pull out a large handful of Cat Sticks from his backpack. Then Bai Fuling very naturally took the Cat Sticks from Liao Zhiqiu's hand and started eating them one by one.

Pang Chengyu: ...?

Huh? Is this also part of learning to rebel against school rules and discipline?

Although he had seen the transfer student seemingly eat a plate before, at least that was a cafeteria product, part of human food... But Cat Sticks really have nothing to do with human food!

Pang Chengyu tried to think. Thinking succeeded.

Understood. School rules and discipline require students to be human—so to challenge them, start with the inhumane pica of eating non-human food!

As expected of the transfer student, tackling the problem from its root! Pang Chengyu was once again amazed by the transfer student's wisdom and strategy.