Chapter 152 - 151: The Future of the Yang Family Army
The next morning, Yang Shen went to school as usual.
The attack at Jinshui Villa hadn’t been widely reported to the public. There were very few witnesses, and nearly all participants were dead.
The authorities had likely considered how much turmoil Jinshui had been through in recent months and suppressed the news completely.
On the bright athletic field that morning, the Yang Family Army trained their bodies in perfect unison. Every single one of them was extremely serious.
There were only six days left until the college entrance exams. In fact, their study leave would begin the day after tomorrow.
Every minute on campus was precious.
Yang Shen had been teaching them for nearly a month. The content was no longer limited to just the "Sixth Set" but now also included practical combat.
On the field, Yang Shen faced three opponents by himself. A 1v3 wasn’t his limit; he just needed to slow down the pace and focus on giving pointers.
Only someone whose skill far surpassed their opponents was qualified to instruct while fighting.
Cao Wei was the first to charge, attacking like a blur. Though she was on a balanced path and every move she made was graceful, her fighting style was completely different from her appearance—there was a certain recklessness to her.
Yang Shen focused mainly on dodging, offering a piece of advice from time to time. "Use your momentum to change direction, don’t fight against it."
Cao Wei obediently changed her approach, twisting instead of forcing the turn. Sure enough, it became much smoother.
Paired with her tall figure and long, black hair, her movements became even more elegant and beautiful, like a martial sprite.
Visual appeal was also a bonus for the college entrance exams—at least, a hidden one.
For the same result, a handsome and magnificent performance would ultimately earn some extra points from the examiners during the subjective evaluation, perhaps even a significant boost.
’You’re not going to get a higher score for fighting ugly, are you?’
Compared to Cao Wei, Wang Yang, who was on the speed path, was more direct. Under Yang Shen’s guidance, he had already changed his style, building his combat core around "supersonic passes"—hit and run, striking once and then disengaging whether he landed the blow or not.
He circled Yang Shen like a sharp sword, ready to strike at any moment.
The last one was a boy named Wei Xiaoli. He was steady and methodical, focused on defense and counter-attacks, never striking first if he could block instead.
The three of them each had their own specialty. It was like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each showing their Divine Techniques!
In the eyes of the other students on the field, those with lower cultivation levels couldn’t even see the movements clearly.
But even so, Yang Shen still handled it with a calm and leisurely air.
At the edge of the field, the spectating senior disciple, Yuan Rui, sighed with emotion. ’The gap between us and Master Yang hasn’t shrunk... it’s actually gotten wider.’
He couldn’t help but cup his hands toward the empty space to his upper left. ’Master is truly great and unyielding!’
The first time they’d sparred, even though Master Yang had defeated him easily, he could at least understand what was happening.
Now, he was starting to not understand at all.
Beside Yuan Rui, Huang Gang also stood with his arms crossed, his face expressionless. "Yeah... Hey, Yuan Rui, what score are you aiming for on the college entrance exams?"
Yuan Rui shot Huang Gang a sideways glance.
’Are we that close?’
’You just took the opportunity to worm your way into our circle of top students.’
’If this were before, and some slacker called me by my first name like that, wouldn’t I have dragged him into the bathroom and elbowed him for two whole class periods?’
But for Master Yang’s sake, Yuan Rui still answered him. "700-710, probably. I’m fairly confident."
Huang Gang smacked his lips. "You’re not planning to apply to ’Jiangti,’ are you?"
A golden light flashed in Yuan Rui’s eyes. "I am... Since years of hard work have already paid off, why not give it a shot?"
That place was a paradise for countless chosen ones, the best starting line for reaching the peak of one’s life.
Applying to "Jiangti" with a score of 700-710, you could say there was hope, but to say it was a sure thing would be lying to yourself.
However, Yuan Rui had already discussed it with his family. His first choice was Jiangti. He was going to go for it!
Yuan Rui said, "It’s not just me. Among our fellow disciples, Cao Wei has the same plan. Once we get into university, we’ll still have the chance to serve our revered master."
Huang Gang thought, ’If you guys are still going to act like this in college...’
’Won’t Yang Shen be incredibly impressive!’
’Damn, just thinking about it makes me jealous! Bringing your own disciples to college, how awesome would that be!’
As for the other members of the Yang Family Army, their scores were still a fair distance from what Jiangti required. But as nominal Jianghuai People, they would definitely prioritize good schools within Jianghuai City.
When the time came, the Yang Family Army would be spread out among all of Jianghuai’s top universities.
Huang Gang tsked twice. He was currently in the early stage of Bone Training, and it was hard to say if he could reach the mid-stage before the exams... At best, he’d be picking a good third-tier university... or a bad second-tier one.
He hadn’t decided which to choose yet. In any case, applications were submitted after scores were released, so he could figure it out then.
As for Zhao Mengmeng, after this recent sprint, she had already reached the level of a first-tier university student...
In reality, this was already the best possible future.
Unconsciously, everyone who gathered around Yang Shen had made great strides.
They were no longer afraid of the college entrance exams.
More importantly, their futures after the exams—college, and even graduation—were no longer hazy.
Having a clear core figure and a sense of identity made them feel that no matter where they went in the future, they wouldn’t be flustered.
"You’re right. Even after the exams are over, our bond won’t end. It’ll just be a new beginning..."
Yuan Rui thought, ’Who the hell has a bond with you!’
’What’s the difference between that and being leashed to a dog? Don’t I have my pride?!’
Huang Gang, acting overly familiar, clapped Yuan Rui on the shoulder. "When the time comes, you’ll build up your influence at ’Jiangti,’ and I’ll cultivate my trusted followers at a junior college! We both have bright futures ahead of us!"
Yuan Rui could only offer a dry laugh.
When a person is truly speechless, they really do laugh a little.
A moment later, Yang Shen shouted, "Alright! This group, take a break. Next group! Yuan Rui, Tian Zihan, Huang Gang."
Yang Shen emphasized, "Remember, don’t attack your teammates. Last time was too crazy."
During a previous three-person practical combat session, Yuan Rui, under the pretext that "Huang Gang is so bad he’s holding us back," had unexpectedly beaten up his own teammate right at the start.
Although it was true... it was also a bit too absurd.
...
After another intense practical combat session interspersed with instruction, it was almost time for class to start. Yang Shen began to exchange Supplements with a few of them.
In Yang Shen’s eyes, it was a "fair trade." In the Yang Family Army’s eyes, it was the "Master’s Loan."
Those who didn’t lack Supplements basically just went through the motions. In the end, eighty percent of it ended up with Tian Zihan, while the other twenty percent was drunk by Huang Gang.
Yang Shen had reminded Tian Zihan that if her cultivation was below the mid-stage of Marrow Refining, drinking too much would be toxic.
Tian Zihan said that with her Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin Route, she had a baseline resistance and her revered master didn’t need to worry!
Yang Shen took the towel Cao Wei handed him and wiped away his sweat. "I hear you’re also applying to Jiangti?"
Cao Wei nodded. "I want to try my best, so I can better serve you, Master..."
"Oh, right, Master, you probably won’t be used to living in a dorm in college, right? My... my parents bought me a house near Jiangti. If you wouldn’t mind... we could... we could live together..."
As she spoke, Cao Wei’s face turned red again...
Yang Shen quickly cut her off. "There’s no need. There are six people in my family, so we’ll be moving anyway."
"Then move into my house..."
"If we move into your house, where will you live?"
"I can sleep on the floor by your bed, Master... I promise I won’t move around..."
Her filial piety had never soured, because it was already tainted from the start.
Yang was speechless.
When a person is truly speechless, they really do laugh a little.
Still, with Cao Wei’s grades, she really did have a chance with Jiangti. The girl had sprinted hard in the last month or so, as if she had an endless supply of motivation to study... Her grades had already surpassed Yuan Rui’s.
Yang Shen thought to himself, ’Zhuzi and I are pretty much a lock. If Cao Wei and Yuan Rui also get in...’
’Nanliang High School’s ancestral graves would probably explode. Four students getting into Jiangti in a single year.’
After all, in previous years, the entire Jinshui District might not have had four students get in, even with all the schools combined.
Just as he was thinking this, he saw Director Liang in a formal suit at the edge of the field, smiling as he walked over.
His gaze was as benevolent as a farmer’s surveying his crops.
The harvest season was almost here!
Beside him was another old acquaintance: Director Liu, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time!
Director Liang called out, "Yang Shen, people from the Education Bureau and the Public Security Bureau are here. Director Liu is here too."
"Let’s all have a chat."
Director Liu’s hearty laughter echoed across the entire field. He pulled his little comrade-in-arms over, acting exceptionally friendly. "You see? I told you Yang shines wherever he goes! Look at this! He’s helping his classmates improve!"
"A good student like this, we absolutely must support him wholeheartedly!"
The person from the Education Bureau nodded agreeably. "Of course. Yang is an absolute model for the students of Jinshui District! A commendation for his courageous acts isn’t enough. We should support him!"
Yang Shen raised an eyebrow. ’Oh?’
’Support, you say? Do tell.’
==Teleportation Gate==
[Monthly Ticket]