On the screen, Chen Shu suddenly appeared with a solemn, earnest expression — and miraculously, he was speaking in complete sentences. An unprecedented event!
"Our class has Tang Lie, who comes from a prestigious family and possesses an A-rank contract spirit..."
One tragic figure after another appeared on screen. Down below, Tang Lie and the others sat frozen in their seats...
"CHEN SHU! YOU SON OF A BITCH!!"
Du Long was the first to shoot to his feet, eyes blazing with shock and fury.
Well, wasn't this just great. Now the entire city knew their lives were like a tea table — absolutely covered in cups.[1]
"Uh..."
Chen Shu hadn't expected this either. Out of the entire video, this was the ONE segment that could air normally...
Turns out he actually spoke proper Mandarin when he was complimenting people.
Facing the murderous glares from Tang Lie and the others, Chen Shu put on his most sincere face: "At least you guys are the positive characters!"
"..."
"I was praising you! Couldn't you tell?"
"Heh... heh..."
The group clenched their fists, barely restraining themselves from throwing punches right then and there.
Tang Lie in particular was boiling with rage. Chen Shu had actually told the entire world about the crotch fire incident.
Sensing the danger, Chen Shu casually fidgeted with his backpack, "accidentally" letting the corner of his urea bag peek out...
Tang Lie and the others felt their hearts seize. Sanity returned instantly.
"You... just you wait..."
Du Long dropped a single threatening line, then was the first to sit down obediently.
Tang Lie took a deep breath. "Don't look down on a young man just because he's poor!"[2]
With that, he and Wang Yun sat down as well.
Chen Shu flashed a grin and replied coolly: "No worries, Young Master Tang. We've also got 'Don't mock the middle-aged poor,' 'Don't mock the elderly poor,' and of course, 'Respect the dead'..."
On stage, the principal's jaw had hit the floor.
Who could have imagined? Tang Lie and the others — students hailed as geniuses — were getting beaten up on a daily basis.
Time crawled by, and the video segment finally ended.
The principal stood at the podium, his expression a complicated mess. He stepped forward and said:
"I'm sure you all saw Chen Shu's... uh... forget it. Assembly dismissed!"
"..."
The entire student body sank into stunned silence.
The principal's carefully prepared speech had been rendered completely useless. He'd expected Chen Shu to inspire the students with positive energy. The result was the exact opposite...
Besides the endless telegram beeps, all they'd gotten was a highlight reel of Du Long and company's greatest humiliations.
Shen Wushuang was about to lead the Special Training Class back to the arena when, unexpectedly, the principal called out to him.
"You all head back first. Self-study! Especially you, Chen Shu!"
Chen Shu shrugged. What do you mean "especially me"? I have the highest grades in the class, thanks.
The group returned to the Special Training Class.
Du Long and the others kept their eyes locked on Chen Shu.
If looks could kill, Chen Shu would have died a thousand deaths by now...
"I won't rest until I have my revenge!"
Tang Lie muttered to Wang Yun and the others under his breath.
He could practically feel the stares of strangers boring into his crotch...
Chen Shu met their glares with a level gaze. "Keep staring and I'll beat the hell out of all of you."
"..."
Du Long and the others twitched. This guy is unbelievably arrogant!
Of course, their brains could think whatever they wanted. Their bodies were far more honest — every pair of eyes immediately snapped forward, not daring to look at Chen Shu again.
...
"Teacher Shen, I think you need to get Chen Shu's personality under control. Our school is supposed to be producing outstanding students!"
The principal spoke with the weight of a man carrying the world on his shoulders. "I don't want Nanjiang Second High producing a bandit."
Shen Wushuang said nothing. He simply looked at the principal with a deeply meaningful gaze.
He didn't say a single word, but the message came through loud and clear.
Chen Shu's personality — you think that's something a person can change?
"The strong are allowed to be a little... eccentric. Maybe Chen Shu will make Nanjiang Second High's name ring across the entire country."
Shen Wushuang gave the principal a consoling pat on the shoulder.
Of course, whether that name would ring for good reasons or bad reasons was anyone's guess...
Eternal fame versus eternal infamy — Chen Shu was clearly better suited for the latter...
"Principal, look on the bright side. At least Chen Shu's grades are excellent. With his strength, he's guaranteed at least a spot at a top university."
The principal could only nod. At worst, Chen Shu would single-handedly raise this year's senior class average.
...
"Everyone, it's now November. I trust your practical combat abilities have improved considerably."
Shen Wushuang surveyed the class. "We're now entering the cultivation phase!"
"The cultivation period will last two months. There will be only one competition during this time — but with double the prize money!"
Chen Shu raised an eyebrow from below. Isn't this my weak point?
"Two months. Whoever improves their Beast Tamer level the most takes first place!"
At this announcement, fighting spirit blazed across every face.
Tang Lie and the others turned their gazes toward Chen Shu, their expressions screaming two words: NOT. SATISFIED.
At long last, they'd arrived at their area of strength!
Chen Shu's Beast Taming talent was only Common. His cultivation speed was laughably slow — he couldn't possibly compete with them.
And yet... everyone had conveniently forgotten that Chen Shu still held the highest Beast Tamer level in the entire class.
"The training location won't be here at the arena. The ambient spiritual energy here is far too thin!"
Shen Wushuang led everyone out of the Beast Taming Arena. A bus was already waiting outside the school gates.
"Don't tell me we're going to an Alternate Dimension?"
Chen Shu spoke up, a glint of excitement in his eyes.
"Fat chance. Frost Canyon is completely locked down right now. I wouldn't dare bring you there again."
Shen Wushuang's mouth twitched — a clear you know damn well why expression on his face.
An hour later, the bus rolled north, arriving at the suburbs on the city's edge. It finally pulled to a stop in front of a cluster of buildings.
Shen Wushuang led the group off the bus.
Chen Shu's eyes darted around. The first thing he spotted was a massive boulder sitting in front of the building complex. Painted on it in red letters:
"The Best Beast Taming Dojo in the City!"
Staring at this devastatingly literal name, Chen Shu was rendered completely speechless.
You really nailed it with the naming, huh.
"Let's go!"
Shen Wushuang led them into the dojo, said something to the receptionist at the entrance, and guided the group deeper into the complex. They eventually arrived at a cultivation chamber.
The chamber was completely empty. Vast and barren.
"Starting tomorrow, no more lectures. You have one task each day: cultivate!"
Shen Wushuang continued: "This is the highest-grade cultivation chamber in the city. The daily rental is a hundred thousand yuan! I hope you'll make the most of it!"
Every school's Special Training Class had a dedicated cultivation period, specifically for boosting Beast Tamer levels.
If you wanted to get into a Huaxia Academy, Level 9 Beast Tamer was the baseline!
Shen Wushuang then explained the dojo's various features and gave them a tour of the facilities.
By evening, the group returned to school.
Unlike everyone else's excitement, Chen Shu looked thoroughly deflated. His eyes radiated pure misery and despair.
Cultivating every single day — even a dog wouldn't do something this boring!