20: I want to be a salted fish

With so many unfamiliar students staring at them in the auditorium, this group of boys felt a bit annoyed.

Foremost among them was the crew-cut boy who had expressed his intention to dig out the 'Eye of Rules' from the Qin family and install it on himself.

The crew-cut boy raised his eyebrows, suddenly stood up, and angrily scolded, "Are you crazy, woman? I'm just chatting here. What's it to you? Do I need you to teach me what to do?"

Song Yu widened her eyes, put her hands on her hips, and spoke with an air of righteousness, "This classmate, your words are as offensive as your bad breath! If you could do anything decent, I wouldn't need to teach you how to be a decent person!"

Song Yu raised her head, resembling a female soldier from a World War II film, and coldly said, "A hundred years ago, during the northern beast tide uprising, the Qin family blocked the onslaught of beasts outside the northern mountains. They also bought time for the northern residents to escape. Instead of leaving immediately, the whole family stood at the front lines. In the end, almost the entire Qin family, men, women, old, and young, died, with over ninety percent casualties! Only then could the beast tide be repelled."

"At that time, the outbreak of the beast tide was only a little over two thousand kilometers from Jianghuai City. Considering the speed of the beast tide, if no one had intervened, it would have reached Jianghuai City in at most two days!"

"If the Qin family hadn't bravely stopped the beast tide in the north, our Jianghuai City might have suffered calamity!" Song Yu's voice was full of emotion, and her tone was serious, much like a street committee aunt from a TV drama, staring at the crew-cut boy earnestly. "Forgive me for being straightforward, now that we live a peaceful life in Jianghuai, not everyone has to thank the Qin family. But at the very least, as heroes, they deserve respect!"

After all, she was a woman who had practiced professional 'voice acting' and had won awards for her performance.

Despite the rapid-fire delivery of her words, she was clear-spoken, eloquent, and could use rich gestures and facial expressions, making the surrounding onlookers feel like they were in the scene, evoking continuous admiration.

It seemed as if the woman in front of them was a survivor who had witnessed the Northern Battle a hundred years ago!

Song Yu spoke with passion and intensity, stunning the surrounding crowd.

It also angered the crew-cut boy, who already disliked her.

The crew-cut boy glared angrily, took a step forward, and forcefully pushed Song Yu while swearing, "Damn! What class are you from? Mind your own business!"

"Before, I didn't dare mess with the Qin family, considering they were one of the top four global aristocratic families. But now, their whole family has probably turned into a pile of ashes in an urn. What's wrong with me cursing them? Even if there were still Qin family members alive, even if I said I would dig up their eyes right in front of them or go to the Qin family cemetery, dig up their ashes and scatter them, what can you do to me?"

The crew-cut boy, looking down on Song Yu, sneered, "Now, there's not a single third-tier intermediate Beastmaster registered nationwide who is a member of the Qin family. I'm not afraid of this so-called top global aristocratic family!"

The crew-cut boy was full of arrogance. His family had two third-tier intermediate Beastmasters!

He wasn't afraid of the Qin family, which had long become nothing more than words in history books!

Quick! Quick, Bai Yuhan, look at this!

This scumbag who wants to dig out your eyes is starting trouble with me. We're definitely not on the same side!

Song Yu staggered and was almost pushed down, but the joy in her heart couldn't be hidden.

She maintained a dignified and serious expression on her face, raised her head high, patted non-existent dust off her clothes, and with clear black and white eyes, looked at the crew-cut boy compassionately, saying, "The reason we study history is not only to be grateful to our ancestors but also to inspire ourselves to create a new future."

"A hundred years ago, the Qin family might be just words on paper for you..."

"But the Qin family is the epitome of all soldiers and professional Beastmasters worldwide!" When Song Yu said this sentence, her voice was not loud but resonant, hitting everyone's hearts heavily.

"The soldiers of the military, the professional Beastmasters of the Beastmaster Guild... They risk their lives at the entrance of the Wilderness, near the safety line of the Wilderness area, to protect ordinary people in the city for a better and safer life. At the same time, it is also to allow their parents, relatives, and children to live in a secure environment..." Song Yu solemnly said, "But have you ever thought that when they are risking their lives in the Wilderness and the Secret Realm, you talk about dealing with their relatives, even wanting to dig up their family members' ashes and scatter them? How chilling is that?!"

Originally, there were many students watching the excitement around, even though they clearly saw a boy pushing a girl and the boy had a fierce look on his face. However, few had the intention to step forward and intervene.

They were even stretching their necks, hoping to see if Song Yu and the others would really start fighting.

In this highly martial world, especially at this impulsive age in high school, fighting was commonplace. Anyway, with a healing-type Contract Beast, even if a few ribs were broken, a couple of healing skills would usually restore them to their original state.

However...

When Song Yu said, 'The Qin family... is the epitome of all soldiers and professional Beastmasters worldwide,' many students who aspired to become professional Beastmasters, wanted to join the military, or had family members in the military, seriously contemplated with furrowed brows.

Upon careful consideration, they found it to be true...

Moreover, even a family like the Qin family, one of the top four global aristocratic families a hundred years ago, had sacrificed so many people for the northern defense. 

It was much more formidable than they were. Even if the Qin family was now reduced to a pile of words in history books, if someone said they would dig up the eyes of the Qin family's descendants, let alone in front of them, and even go to the Qin family cemetery to dig up their ashes, what could they do?

For a moment, many people looked at the crew-cut boy and his friends with a strange gaze.

The ice-cold gaze was like knives, continuously poking at the crew-cut boy and his friends. If not for the fact that a gaze couldn't kill, the crew-cut boy and his friends might have been poked with dozens of holes on the spot.

"This... I didn't mean that, I didn't mean it..."

Being stared at by so many people, the crew-cut boy and his friends were a bit flustered.

If a girl wanted trouble with him, he naturally wouldn't be afraid.

But now, in the entire auditorium, there are so many people, at least hundreds, and many of them are outstanding students in their classes. This makes people feel a bit timid.

In the crowd:

Someone sneered with a disdainful expression, "Huh, just a few reptiles, and they dare to talk about going to the Qin family cemetery and scattering the ashes of the Qin family? Do they even consider whether the people in Qin Province would agree? After the beast tide back then, to express gratitude to the Qin family, the province directly changed its name from Beizhou Province to Qin Province. If you dare to say such things in Qin Province now, I guarantee your head won't stay attached!"

Someone else moved their knuckles provocatively, "You want to hit a girl, huh? Should we, a few of our buddies, fight you guys?"

Someone lifted their chin arrogantly, " ’till now the one what I hate the most are those who only dare to bully the weak and never dare to make a peep in front of the strong. Pathetic losers."

Someone grinned but stabbed with every word, "Exactly, exactly. These people only dare to bark here. If they have the guts, they should go to the shop under the Ye Group next to the school now and say, 'I'm interested in your alchemy skills, don't underestimate me.' I would respect him as a man."

For a thousand years, the four globally recognized top aristocratic families were:

- The Qin family, naturally born with the Eye of Rules, capable of seeing the potential talents and levels of all beasts.

- The Ye family, with agile minds and high alchemical aptitude, dominating 38% of the global pharmaceutical market, especially skilled in improving the quality and success rate of medicines.

- The Jin family, a former ancient martial arts family with agile skills, strong physical strength, and robust physical abilities.

- The Yan family, affected by the Earth's catastrophe a thousand years ago, gained tremendous strength, and every member of the family was born with divine power, comparable to humanoid beasts.

While the Qin family had declined, the Ye family, still one of the top three aristocratic families, had expanded its pharmaceutical business globally. In Jianghuai City alone, there were three Ye family stores, one of which happened to be not far from the Jianghuai City No.1 Middle School, on the Beastmaster Street!

The crew-cut boy: "..."

The crew-cut boy's companions: "..."

Facing the siege and mockery of the crowd, the crew-cut boy and his friends felt embarrassed inside but remained silent on the surface.

They stood up reluctantly and planned to leave, but before leaving, they glared at Song Yu several times with malicious eyes to vent their frustration.

However, what they dared to do was only glare.

In the current situation, if they said another word, they would likely end up with seven or eight broken ribs today in the auditorium! Being kicked out horizontally!

Bai Yuhan looked at the crowd arguing in front of him. In his handsome brows and eyes, there was three parts of confusion and seven parts of trance.

His thick, ink-like eyebrows, combined with deep and profound black eyes, added a touch of mystery and steadiness to his already handsome features.

Bai Yuhan never expected that what seemed like an imminent conflict would suddenly reverse in just a few sentences.

The other side not only became a thorn in the eyes and a thorn in the flesh for other students but also left a deep impression on the educational bureau staff, professional Beastmasters, and teachers from Jianghuai City No.1 Middle School.

Perhaps it couldn't be seen clearly for now, but if there was an opportunity, the other party might suffer a big loss against these fellow students and teachers...

But compared to these, what surprised Bai Yuhan the most was Song Yu's attitude.

"Could it be that a person with split personalities would really have such a big difference between the first personality and the second personality?" Bai Yuhan frowned and pondered, feeling that something was not quite right.

On the other hand, the colorful parrot on his shoulder also stretched its neck, looking towards the commotion with great curiosity and amazement, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.

"Hey! What are you looking at, kid? Weren't you supposed to find a suitable Contract Beast before me? Why are you still in the auditorium?" Suddenly, a hand slapped on Bai Yuhan's shoulder. The familiar voice and tone belonged to Han Zhou, who was wearing a black T-shirt and had a crew cut. He extended his hand and draped it over Bai Yuhan's shoulder while whistling loudly to the armored violent dragon lizard hatchling on Bai Yuhan's shoulder, "Hey, Xiao Hei, you look really spirited!"

As a result, right after Han Zhou finished whistling, the colorful parrot hatchling squatting on his head immediately rolled its eyes, screeching and cursing the scumbag. It flapped its wings, smacking Han Zhou's head and leaving him seeing stars.

"Hiss!—" Han Zhou clutched his head in pain.

Bai Yuhan rubbed his temples, chuckled softly, and looked at Han Zhou, lowering his voice, "Originally, I planned to leave. Isn't there suddenly a quarrel in the auditorium? So, I stayed to take a look."

Han Zhou was surprised, "Huh? I didn't expect you, who usually doesn't care about anything, to actually enjoy watching people quarrel? I didn't notice that about you before."

Han Zhou, with a carefree expression, waved his hand, "I'm not as foolish as those guys. A few years ago, I read a history book, and it mentioned that the Eye of Rules from the Qin family can't be transplanted onto non-Qin clan members. Even if you have a ninth-tier healing beast, it can only maintain the activity of those eyes, but still can't use them like the Qin family members do."

Bai Yuhan's facial expression changed slightly, and he chuckled softly. Looking at Han Zhou, he lowered his voice, "Eat explosives? Do you think what Song Yu said is wrong, or... do you have other thoughts?"

Han Zhou had no idea what his high school buddy was thinking at the moment. He nonchalantly waved his hand and said, "I'm not as foolish as those guys. My dad is a detective, and he told me before... women and men are different! When men lie, they mostly like to touch their noses or avoid direct eye contact. Women, on the contrary, like to stare directly at the other person's eyes when they lie, increasing the probability of the other person believing them... But whether it's men or women, when they lie, they always emphasize what they've said, repeating similar sentences."

Bai Yuhan: "?"

Han Zhou, in a carefree manner, waved his hand, "That's why I said our school flower acted like she had just eaten explosives... When she was speaking, not only did she maintain eye contact, but she also repeatedly emphasized how powerful the Qin family is. In the end, she even tied professional Beastmasters and soldiers together with the Qin family..."

Han Zhou laughed, "Although the Qin family did make significant contributions to the entire country, it's been a hundred years. I can't believe the other side can really resonate with the Qin family from a hundred years ago. Especially since the Song family has been involved in planting and running health halls for many years, rarely venturing into dangerous wilderness forests and territories..."

Han Zhou raised his eyebrows, clapped his hands excitedly, "To say that she resonates with the Qin family that fought and died in the wilderness, I find it fishy!"

Bai Yuhan: "..."

Han Zhou confidently concluded, "In short, I think our school flower Miss has some issues. Because her Contract Beast's aptitude is too poor, she intentionally finds people to vent on!"

Bai Yuhan glanced at Han Zhou, his expression complex but faintly agreeing, "..."

PREV  -  TOC  -  NEXT