24: I want to be a salted fish
In
the classroom of Class 5, the teacher with curly hair and glasses for cultural
subjects stood on the platform, holding the book "Common Species of Beasts
in the Wilderness," and earnestly taught students about the
characteristics and basic cultivation experiences of plant-type Beasts.
"Most
plant-type Beasts are similar to ordinary plants. They need sunlight,
temperature, water... and they will root themselves in the soil, absorb carbon
dioxide, and release oxygen."
"These
Beasts are generally mild, especially in the one-star danger level wilderness
forests and secret realms, where 90% of the plant-type Beasts are of the
zero-tier. So, they basically won't actively attack... unless someone in your
group has something delicious on them, such as precious materials. Otherwise,
even if you step on their branches, they often won't bother to move."
"But
when you students go to the wilderness forest, don't intentionally trample on
them, or if you see their fruits looking pretty and insist on picking one to
taste."
The
cultural subjects female teacher held a red chalk in her hand, scribbling
quickly on the blackboard, and added a sarcastic comment, "In case you get
counterattacked and beaten or poisoned directly, don't say that I taught your Beast
class!"
"For
example, let's talk about the 72nd page we are going to cover next, the
zero-tier Black Umbrella Comb Mushroom Beast. They are a type of plant-type Beast
similar to mushrooms on Earth. If you encounter them in the wild, what you
should do is detour... because as long as you step on one, you will be
surrounded, and they will release spore skills desperately, using spores to
absorb your life force..."
The
cultural subjects teacher on the podium spoke seriously, and the students below
were taking notes while nodding attentively from time to time.
Just
like high school students on Earth, Blue Star high school students also need to
study Chinese, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology. Especially Blue
Star history and the constantly updated Blue Star geography map due to the
fusion with the Crack Wilderness are the focal points of their studies.
However,
subjects like English, politics, art, music, etc., have been completely
replaced by physical education and Beast-related courses. Even the two evening
self-study sessions on Earth have evolved into two Beast-related courses and
one evening self-study session.
In
this situation, high school students not only do not reject evening self-study
but even look forward to it every day.
Song
Yu sat in her seat, chin resting on her left hand, with a serious and solemn
expression. Her eyes were slightly squinted, eyebrows furrowed, as if she had
already immersed herself in the ocean of knowledge, carefully listening to
every word the cultural subjects teacher said. Occasionally, when the teacher
emphasized important points, she would nod in agreement.
However...
Facing
Song Yu, who seemed to be studying earnestly, her desk mate, Zhou Ting,
couldn't help but furrow her brows.
She
looked up at Song Yu, who was nodding again with a serious expression, then
glanced down at the "Common Species of Beasts in the Wilderness"
placed on the desk by the other party, with the pages clearly showing - Page 1.
Zhou
Ting's expression was blank: "..."
This
time, Zhou Ting was 100% sure that her desk mate truly possessed the skill of
sleeping with her eyes open!
Recalling
that it had been a whole week since the initial Beast distribution day, it
seemed that Song Yu had been opening this book, "Common Species of Beasts
in the Wilderness," and flipping to page 1 all along.
Zhou
Ting's eyelid twitched.
Well,
others might read one page of a book in a day, but she didn't expect her desk
mate to read one page for a whole week.
Zhou
Ting was distressed. Even if your Contract Beast Space level is low and the
initial Beast aptitude is poor, can't you, Song Yu, at least not give up on
yourself?
Even
if you really want to give up, it's been a week. Can't you study seriously by
now?
Most
importantly, Zhou Ting found that except for her, it seemed that no one in the
whole class knew about Song Yu sleeping with her eyes open. There were even two
occasions when the cultural subjects teacher praised Song Yu for listening
attentively after class.
Zhou
Ting: "..."
Zhou
Ting: I have a lot of complaints to express, but for a moment, I don't know
what to say.
Zhou
Ting even began to suspect that on the day of the initial Beast distribution,
Song Yu was eating during class not because of low blood sugar but because she
was greedy.
This
can't go on with my desk mate like this. She's beautiful, comes from a good
family, speaks nicely, and should study hard to get into a good university next
year!
So...
When
the cultural subjects teacher turned away, Zhou Ting reached over while she was
writing on the blackboard, grabbed Song Yu's right hand, and shook it
frantically.
Zhou
Ting, hating iron for not becoming steel: "Wake up, wake up! How can you
sleep in class when the teacher is teaching?!"
Zhou
Ting: "What if you encounter danger in the wilderness in the future? Wake
up and pay attention in class!"
Song
Yu was shaken awake, and as soon as she opened her eyes, her body movements
were much faster than the speed of her brain's reaction.
Before
she could figure out what Zhou Ting was saying, her mouth had already started
speaking on her behalf, "I wasn't sleeping~"
Just
waking up from a dream, Song Yu's voice was still a bit hoarse, but after she
realized it, she immediately adjusted her expression, lowered her voice, and
said seriously, "I was just a little mentally exhausted just now, a bit
distracted. I still had my eyes open. How can you say I was sleeping in
class?"
...Isn't
that so?
Even
if she was discovered, Song Yu wouldn't admit to sleeping.
At
least until she was economically independent, she had to pretend to be a
well-behaved child in front of her parents.
So.
Song
Yu blinked her eyes, and the emotions in her eyes had already been prepared.
She slightly turned her head, leaving Zhou Ting with a slightly shy cheek, and
said with guilt and embarrassment, "No, no. Actually, these days, I've
been looking at the first page because I couldn't remember it even after
looking at it for several days..."
"Moreover,
who sleeps with their eyes open? Right?"
"Mainly
because this book, 'Common Species of Beasts in the Wilderness,' is too
important. I want to memorize the whole book."
Song
Yu sighed sadly, "But even though I've been memorizing for several class
sessions, I still couldn't memorize the first page... Speaking of which, my
memory used to be okay, at least at the level of an ordinary person. But ever
since I had a high fever last month, my mind has often been in a daze..."
Song
Yu pretended to be dejected, lowering her head and speaking with a mournful
expression, "Zhou Ting, do you know what's going on with me? And these
days, when I go to school and go home, I always feel like I've forgotten a lot
of things. Even when I meet classmates, I can't remember their identities
immediately, slower than usual by two beats."
The
girl had delicate features, with soft cheeks complemented by slightly curled
long hair, expressing sadness, a furrowed brow, and a sense of dejection...
Immediately,
it made Zhou Ting feel as if she were back in her childhood, experiencing the
heartache and sorrow her parents described when Snow White ate the poisoned
apple.
Zhou
Ting: "???"
No,
this shouldn't be happening! Why am I feeling this way?
Most
importantly, who would believe such nonsense?!
How
could anyone spend a week on one page and still not remember it?!
But
Zhou Ting's mouth had its own thoughts, and like the pouring of beans from a
bamboo tube, it uttered another voice from the depths of Zhou Ting's heart.
"The
content of this book, 'Common Species of Beasts in the Wilderness,' is indeed a
bit extensive, making it not easy to memorize..."
"But
considering your situation, it's very likely due to psychological trauma
leading to cognitive impairment and memory decline,"
Zhou
Ting spoke with seriousness and sincerity, advising, "I've heard that in
such situations, you must maintain good mental and physical well-being.
Exercise regularly, sleep and wake up early to enhance your physical fitness.
Only when the mental stress is reduced and completely released can you truly
solve this problem."
Ah,
indeed...
It
seems that her desk mate has been under too much pressure over the years.
Although
the other party belongs to a wealthy family and seems to live a carefree,
affluent life, the pressure is not something an ordinary person can bear.
Children
from ordinary families, with a low Beast Taming Space level, would at most
become ordinary people like their parents.
But
for children from wealthy families, especially those like the Song family,
where grandparents and parents are professional Beast Tamers, the pressure is
even greater.
Oh,
she forgot, there's also that damn Zhou Wenchang, a guy who dares not continue
living in the first-level main city and only dares to act recklessly in their
third-level city.
Zhou
Ting suddenly stopped, remembering the upcoming physical education class.
Zhou
Ting patted Song Yu on the shoulder, encouraging her, "Song Yu, I remember
you always ranked in the top five in the class in the physical education tests.
The next class is a physical battle, and I remember our class is going to
compete with Class 2 and Class 3... You must make Zhou Wenchang regret
it!"
Song
Yu stiffened: "??"
Was
that Zhou Wenchang she heard? The ex-boyfriend of the original body?
"I
heard a few days ago that he contracted a high-aptitude Beast with a rating of
91, feeling very proud. We must suppress his morale during the physical battle
class! You have to give it your all and break two of his ribs. Let him know
that women are not to be trifled with!"
"Cough...
cough, cough!"
Song
Yu widened her eyes, almost choked by the saliva. She hammered her chest hard,
trying to alleviate the shock brought by this explosive news.
Break
two of his ribs? Wasn't it supposed to be the other way around?
Even
though a Healing Beast was helping with recovery now, it still
hurt...
Besides,
as a peace-loving Earth youth, although she had done fight scenes in movies,
they were all pre-rehearsed, and she had never truly battled with anyone.
Zhou
Ting didn't know what Song Yu was thinking at the moment and continued to pat
her shoulder, encouraging her, "Song Yu, don't be afraid! Although that
pretty boy was the first in Class 2's physical battle class last semester, our
school isn't like the elite schools. There's no distinction between elite and
regular classes... So his strength is similar to our class's first, Zheng Qin.
I remember you had a good exchange with Zheng Qin at the end of last
semester!"
Zhou
Ting: "He bullies you, and you can't let him off easily. In the next
class, I'll suggest to the teacher to have you two in the same group!"
"???"
Song Yu's expression froze; she was dumbfounded.
No, this can't be happening.
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