25: I want to be a salted fish

Holding a water bottle, Song Yu followed behind Zhou Ting, heading to the indoor gym downstairs.

Unlike in her previous life, where the physical education teacher would fall ill every week, the physical education teachers in this world not only never got sick but also made other teachers fall ill. 

They usually had high combat power and often extended class hours.

Typically, apart from Beast Taming practical classes, physical education teachers were considered the most powerful in the entire class.

They were often ordinary soldiers who retired from near the entrance of the Wilderness or the boundary of the Wilderness.

In some schools with stronger capabilities, professional Beast Tamers might even be hired for guidance.

Although Jianghuai City First High School was a key provincial high school, being a third-level city, the physical education teacher they recruited was still a retired soldier.

"However, I heard that the school spent a lot of money a few days ago to hire a major for an intensive physical training session, which delayed our progress by a few days. Otherwise, our physical education class would have returned to its original pace last week."

"A major? I remember that even in ordinary armies, promoting to the rank of major requires being a professional Beast Tamer... How could the military let them leave before they are sixty or seventy years old?"

As the students walked and chatted, they were full of curiosity about the new teacher who would soon teach them.

"I heard that he got injured in battle before, but he's still very powerful."

"But this new teacher is interesting; he directly arranged for the three classes to have a joint class, and it's a physical battle class at that. It seems he wants to see which class, out of the 200 or so students, has the best results in physical combat!"

"Hehehe, who do you think will be the first in this joint class with three classes? I wonder if this ranking will enter the statistics for the wilderness area combat training quotas in three months."

Song Yu followed behind the group, listening to their lively conversation.

There was no need for her to deliberately collect information; her classmates were like pouring beans from a bamboo tube, revealing all the information she wanted.

Song Yu's eyelid twitched.

Due to her lack of ambition to become a professional Beast Tamer from the beginning to the end...

Therefore, during these days at school, whenever it came to subjects related to professional Beast Tamers, she automatically tuned out, letting information go in one ear and out the other.

At most, she would listen to Blue Star's geography and history to understand and compare the differences between Blue Star and Earth.

The remaining time was almost entirely consumed by TV and film dramas. Every day, she would either be sitting on the couch watching TV shows or lying in bed watching movies, happy as a mouse that fell into a rice bin.

As an actress, the love for watching film and television works was ingrained in her genes. Especially when leisure hobbies and work were combined, it fueled her with motivation. Due to this reason, she hadn't trained at all at home recently.

Thinking about the upcoming physical education class involving combat with others, Song Yu felt uneasy.

In her mind, she tried to recall fragments of memories of the original body's battles with others.

It was like scenes being cut in a movie, with memories of the original body flashing continuously, making Song Yu's heart pound.

Freshman year of high school, first semester—the original body was punched in the face during a battle, three teeth knocked out on the right side, and the cheek swollen high. The right side of the face was also cut by the opponent's ring, leaving a 7-8 cm wound that bled profusely.

Freshman year of high school, second semester—the original body fought with a sturdy male student who was nearly two meters tall. The opponent threw her over his shoulder, and she fell to the ground, breaking two ribs in pain.

Sophomore year, first semester, sophomore year, second semester...

Song Yu didn't need to close her eyes. As long as she earnestly recalled in her mind, she could see vividly the cruel and bloody scenes of each semester's physical combat class, making them deeply memorable.

Song Yu swallowed her saliva, trembling.

If it weren't for the Healing-type contracted Beast, the original body, and probably every student in Class 5, wouldn't be able to stand here intact.

"Why are you walking so slowly today? We need to speed up; what if all the good positions in the front row are taken?" Zhou Ting pulled Song Yu's arm, urging her towards the indoor training room.

Forced to follow, Song Yu staggered, almost wearing a mask of pain.

Fortunately, the indoor training ground was not far from Class 5, just a few minutes away, and they quickly arrived.

The spacious indoor training room at the school was not luxurious but highly practical.

Various physical training equipment was neatly arranged by category, resembling a high-end gym—barbells, rowing machines, back muscle training devices...

Song Yu, who had seen all sorts of training equipment in the gym in her previous life, felt a bit overwhelmed.

However, at this moment, no one noticed her awkwardness. Instead, many students gathered around the six muscular teachers dressed in black training suits, chattering excitedly.

As the bell for class rang, the leader among them leaped onto a platform over a meter high and loudly addressed the crowd below: "Dear students! I'm Zhao Wu, a physical education teacher specially hired by the school this year to conduct intensive training for your physical education class. I'll also be one of the examiners in the next three months, assessing whether you have the qualifications to enter the wilderness forest for practical training!"

Zhao Wu's voice was loud, almost causing echoes with each sentence. "To qualify for entry into the wilderness forest, the physical fitness and combat power of the contracted Beast Tamer, their understanding of the wilderness forest, and the level of their contracted Beast's abilities are all indispensable!"

"I don't care about your grades in other subjects! But here, if you want to go to the wilderness forest, your physical fitness and combat power must meet the passing line! Otherwise, I will absolutely not let you go to the wilderness forest to die!"

Zhao Wu spoke resolutely, and his serious expression made some students who usually just hovered around the passing line for physical fitness anxious. They were afraid that this strict teacher, Zhao, would brush them off.

However...

Upon hearing Zhao Wu's words, Song Yu's eyes lit up!

Yes, exactly! Absolutely right!

For someone like her, a physical education class rookie running off to the wilderness area, wasn't that like serving a meal to the wild Beasts? Even delivery drivers aren't this enthusiastic! At least the delivery guy can't deliver himself into the mouth of a wild beast.

Song Yu breathed a sigh of relief in her heart, looking at Zhao Wu's stern face with a sense of familiarity.

See, this serious and just expression is the horn of my peace of mind.

Listen, this majestic and domineering voice is the comforting melody to my soul.

"All right! Today, the three classes will have class together. You don't need to line up as usual."

Zhao Wu took out a list from his pocket, staring at the serious students below and said, "Next, I will randomly call names to the combat platform for battles! I'll give you 5 minutes for each combat match!"

"The winner advances! The loser fails! If it's a draw, both participants are considered losers!"

"The top ten who successfully advance will receive an additional ten points in the final assessment three months later!"

Zhao Wu smirked, revealing a touch of a soldier's rogue expression. "You little brats, you must let me see the level of Jianghuai City First High School. Don't make me regret coming here to teach you..."

The last sentence from Zhao Wu was like suddenly pouring cold water into hot oil! It instantly stirred up waves!

In the age of youth, how could a group of passionate high school students not be stirred up by such provocation?

Exam scores don't matter; what matters is that they want this new teacher, Zhao, to see the strength level of their school!

In the crowded and excited crowd, Song Yu's face was full of shock, thinking to herself, "Wow! I've seen promises before, but I've never seen promises so skillfully made! For someone who can make it to the top ten in the physical combat class of three classes, would a mere ten points make a difference? What's the distinction between adding it or not?"

This is simply an empty promise! Unfortunately, except for her, it seems that everyone else is quite pleased and actively responding.

As the first group of 20 people went up to the platforms for battles, students from the three classes surrounded the ten platforms, cheering for their classmates.

Song Yu was pulled to one of the Class 5 platforms by Zhou Ting. The opponent she was about to face was a girl from Class 2.

The boys from Class 5 were tall and muscular, while the girl from Class 2 was petite with a double ponytail, exuding a similarly confident aura.

"Who do you think will win?" Zhou Ting whispered to Song Yu.

"Uh...?" Song Yu looked at the difference in stature between the two and couldn't help but think that the girl from Class 2, despite being smaller, should win. However...

Since she was going to act like a waste, why not go all out?

So, without hesitation, Song Yu squinted and said, "Definitely the girl from Class 2 will win. Although she's not as big as her opponent, she has strong leg muscles."

Song Yu glanced at the girl from Class 2's legs, which looked no different from an ordinary girl's legs, and made up something on the spot.

However...

To Song Yu's surprise, as soon as she finished speaking, Zhou Ting not only didn't refute but also nodded quite seriously. "Exactly, I also think the girl from Class 2 can win."

Song Yu was puzzled, "? ?"

She really wanted to ask Zhou Ting if she was crazy. Clearly, the boy looked much stronger.

Unfortunately, before Song Yu could ask, there was a 'whoosh!' on the platform. 

The girl with double ponytails took the initiative, pushing off the ground with her left foot, like a bullet leaving a string. 

She attacked first, her right leg, accompanied by a strong wind, fiercely kicking toward the tall boy's neck.

"Splash!—"

Song Yu could even hear the sound of the thighs cutting through the air!

Song Yu: "!!!"

Song Yu's eyes widened, and she felt that the girl with double ponytails was like a gust of wind.

But the next second, Song Yu thought about closing her eyes, afraid that the force would break the boy's neck.

Unfortunately, her eyelid reaction speed was obviously not as fast as the speed of the two people fighting on the platform. Before she could close her eyes, the boy had already taken action.

The boy grabbed the girl's right leg and tried to lift her, intending to slam her onto the ground!

This series of actions made Song Yu dare not even breathe heavily, fearing that her inadvertent actions might lead to blood splattering on the spot.

As powerful as Healing-type Beasts were, they were also classified by tiers! If someone died on the spot, even a ninth-tier Healing-type contracted Beast might not be able to resurrect them.

"Let go!" The girl with double ponytails, caught by her right leg, was not panicking. Instead, she shouted angrily. In an instant, she kicked her left foot directly towards the boy's face.

The tall boy's speed was slightly slower than that of the girl with double ponytails, and his attention had been focused on holding the girl's right leg with his left hand. This time, he didn't pay attention, and he was directly kicked in the face by the girl with double ponytails.

The girl's left foot hit the boy's face and nose directly!

"Crack—!"

Song Yu's teeth ached, standing next to the platform. She could even hear the sound of the boy's nasal bone breaking.

"Ring 6, Class 2's Wang Fang wins!" The teacher in charge of Ring 6, wearing black, announced loudly.

At this point, Rings 3, 7, and 8 also echoed with the results announced by several other teachers.

Song Yu blinked, tiptoed to check the situation on the other platforms. She could vaguely hear faint 'ouch' sounds and occasionally catch glimpses of flashes of crimson in their eyes.

Song Yu lowered her head in pain and silently swallowed her saliva.

Damn this highly martial world; it's too cruel!

These are just ordinary high school students, not to mention first-level entry-level professional Beast Tamers; they're already so brutal. Who knows how exaggerated real professional Beast Tamers can be?

Thinking about this, Song Yu was ready to slip away using her long-established skill of pretending to be sick.

She had already prepared her illness—menstruation?

Those days that come every month for girls, perfect for times like these.

However...

Two minutes later.

"What? You said you have a stomachache because of menstruation?"

Zhou Ting blinked inexplicably at Song Yu, pointing to an open space not far away, saying, "Since your stomach hurts, go quickly and find the Healing-type contracted Beast from the teacher. Every time there's a physical combat class, the school infirmary sends two Healing-type contracted Beasts here. Today is no exception. Why bother going all the way to the school infirmary?"

Song Yu: ?!

Zhou Ting kindly suggested, "But I remember that Teacher Zhou's Healing Sunflower needs five injured students to gather together to use the healing skill. Otherwise, it might not be able to treat all the students in the class at once. You can go wait now so that you don't miss the upcoming combat match."

Song Yu's face stiffened, took a deep breath, intentionally touched her stomach, and forced a smile. "I feel like... it's not as painful as before."

"That's good if it's not as painful." Zhao Wu, who knows when he stood next to Song Yu, nodded after looking at her and then at the list in his hand. Holding a megaphone, he shouted, "Class 5's Song Yu, Class 2's Zhou Wenchang, Ring 3! "

Song Yu: ? ? ?

Song Yu was confused, and her mentality was a bit collapsing.

No, she was standing next to Zhou Ting all the time, guarding against her going to find the teacher. How could she end up on the same platform as Zhou Wenchang?

Something's wrong!

More importantly, how did she end up on the platform?

If this goes on, Song Yu feels like she can't hold on. Under the pressure of everyone's eyes, Song Yu, helpless, had no choice but to reluctantly step onto the platform. Compared to Zhou Wenchang's graceful leap, Song Yu moved as slow as a small turtle.

However...

As the rising star of last week's forum at Jianghuai City First High School.

This former high-profile couple instantly caught the attention of many onlookers!

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—!"

Many students who were originally watching other platforms crowded around Ring 3.

Some students who were originally heavily injured even urged the Healing-type contracted Beasts, hoping they could generously heal themselves first.

Just coming down from the 6th platform after settling the opponent with two punches, Bai Yuhan also saw Song Yu and Zhou Wenchang on the 3rd platform.

 

Han Zhou, having dealt with his opponent, also came down from the platform, equally entering spectator mode.

 

"Who do you think will win between them? I think it should be Song Yu. After all, women seeking revenge have a spicy heart!" Han Zhou lowered his voice, but his tone was filled with an uncontrollable excitement for the spectacle.

Bai Yuhan glanced at Han Zhou, his expression unchanged. "Regardless of who wins, it has nothing to do with me."

"Huh?" Han Zhou looked puzzled. He thought Bai Yuhan would have some interest in the school flower, especially considering how beautiful she is and the fact that they had collided before. He thought there might be some fate involved.

"The brain is for learning, not for thinking about messy relationships between men and women." Bai Yuhan withdrew his gaze from the 3rd platform, preparing to do some simple strength training during the break between the matches.

Rather than wasting time in a place like this, Bai Yuhan would prefer to spend time improving his strength.

However...

Just as Bai Yuhan lifted his left foot, there was a sudden burst of commotion from the opposite 3rd platform!

The two opponents who were just facing each other, the girl was already lying on the ground.

The entire match from start to finish took just a short two seconds!

Bai Yuhan's steps halted, his brows furrowed.

He couldn't quite understand why someone who had awakened an SSSSSS-level Beast Space would be knocked down by someone who had awakened an A-level Beast Space. He had observed that people with exceptional physical abilities might not necessarily awaken powerful Beast Spaces. However, those who could awaken powerful Beast Spaces almost always had excellent physical qualities, over 99% of the time.

"Even if the combat technique is not good, as long as the physical fitness is sufficient, it shouldn't be so easy to be knocked down..." Bai Yuhan frowned and earnestly looked at the victorious Zhou Wenchang still standing on the platform.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind...

Could it be that Zhou Wenchang had been pretending about his strength in physical combat matches all this time?

Like those who hid in the shadows, concealing their awakening of a 4S-level Beast Space from others?

Bai Yuhan took two steps forward. At this moment, he really wanted to test a battle with this person who came from the Level 1 Main City.

 

*****

 

On the 3rd platform.

Song Yu lay on the ground pretending to be unconscious.

With hundreds and thousands of experiences in playing dead, Song Yu, at the moment Zhou Wenchang swung his fist towards her, made a resolute choice to act as if she had been hit before he actually landed a blow. It was just as the wind from the punch brushed past her clothes. She promptly chose to act.

She closed her eyes, and her whole body lay on the ground!

With a 300% bonus to acting skills, Song Yu even appeared pale at the moment, as if she had been hit in the chest and suffered internal injuries.

The students around, looking at Song Yu's face that seemed to be short of breath, were shocked and gasped for breath.

"Oh my God! Is Zhou Wenchang so brutal?"

"Mom! He still looks so handsome, but facing his ex-girlfriend, he actually used such heavy force?"

"I remember the post on the forum a while ago, it clearly stated... that Zhou Wenchang dumped Song Yu, got together with Huang Jiayan again, but how can he have the face to hit Song Yu so hard?"

"Hey, do you think that in the future... if Huang Jiayan and Zhou Wenchang break up, Zhou Wenchang will hit Huang Jiayan like this too?"

The onlookers were talking one after another, casting strange looks at Zhou Wenchang, condemning him as a scum.

Coincidentally passing by the entrance of the indoor training ground after finishing the Beast Taming class, Huang Jiayan's eyes widened. She hadn't expected her boyfriend to be able to hit his ex-girlfriend so hard!

Huang Jiayan touched her somewhat depressed chest, as if she herself had been hit on the platform.

In the hearts of most girls, being beaten up by classmates and being beaten up by a boyfriend are completely different concepts!

"Jiayan, although I'm your friend... I think Song Yu is really pitiful." A girl next to Huang Jiayan whispered, "Clearly, Song Yu is beautiful and comes from a good family."

"But just because her Beast Space talent is too low, and she hasn't done anything wrong, she was still dumped by Zhou Wenchang and now even beaten like this..."

The girl shivered and said in a low voice, "But Jiayan, even though you have an A-level Beast Space and have now contracted a high-aptitude Beast rated at 86, what if one day... you get stuck in advancing to the 1st-tier professional Beast Tamer? What if you get stuck at the 2nd-tier? Have you ever thought about what to do if you encounter these things in the future?"

The girl hesitated, her face full of confusion. "Although Zhou Wenchang came from a Level 1 Main City and has a broad view because of that, perhaps... if you can't reach the 5th-tier elite Beast Tamer in the future, maybe..." The girl didn't say the last few words, but Huang Jiayan and the few girls who usually played well with her all understood.

Huang Jiayan pursed her lips, looking at Zhou Wenchang on the platform with a complicated expression.

But what everyone didn't know was...

At this moment, Zhou Wenchang, standing on the platform, was the one who was truly bewildered!

Not only was his expression stiff, but he was also directly dumbfounded.

He clearly remembered not hitting Song Yu just now, so how did she end up lying on the ground?

Most importantly, looking at her pale face, full of sweat, she seemed to be seriously injured!

Zhou Wenchang was somewhat panicked...

No, no...

He had never thought of hurting Song Yu from the beginning!

Although he wasn't a good person, he wasn't a scumbag who would beat his ex-girlfriend to a serious injury!

In fact, Zhou Wenchang still had some feelings for Song Yu.

But a good horse doesn't graze backward, and Zhou Wenchang had no intention of getting back together...

However...

He really didn't hit her hard just now!

Looking at the condemning eyes of the surrounding students, Zhou Wenchang was dumbfounded!

He had no idea how to explain.

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