Chapter 12 - 8: Rat Plague
"DING-A-LING-LING!"
As the school bell rang,
the classroom—just moments ago filled with the sounds of laughter, chatter, and students roughhousing—fell silent as if someone had hit a mute button.
The clamor quickly faded, and the students trickled back to their seats.
Lin Yi and Luo Qian also ended their discussion about the Pre-Qin Qi Cultivators. After all, such matters were too far removed from their lives. Right now, what they needed to do was study hard and get into a good university.
The two of them went to their respective seats and sat down.
The school day began.
In the current Martial Dao era, the high school curriculum was vastly different from that of the traditional age.
Subjects that were once foundational, like language arts, math, physics, and chemistry, were mostly covered in middle school. For a Martial Arts High School, where the core objective was to become a Martial Artist, these were considered mere embellishments or extracurricular interests.
There were only three types of classes here.
Theory, Martial Dao, and Cultivation.
After all, for a Martial Artist who had to fight and survive in a world teeming with monsters and frequent Red Moons, who would care about your ability to appreciate ancient literature or solve complex calculus problems?
Whether you could fight or not was all that mattered.
The morning schedule consisted of one theory class, followed immediately by a Martial Dao class.
The lecturer for the theory class was an old professor with graying hair and thick glasses.
His voice wasn’t loud, but every word was clear. He broke down complex topics into simple terms, analyzing the characteristics and weaknesses of monsters and Demon Beasts that appeared after the Red Moon, as well as the fundamental principles of Spiritual Qi circulation.
The content was profound, involving complex energy meridian charts and anatomical diagrams of monsters.
The students in the class listened with rapt attention, the scratching of their pens filling the room.
Lin Yi was especially focused. As the school’s top student in both theory and technique, he had an absolute advantage in this area. To him, the complex energy charts were as clear as a road map.
Not only could he keep up with the teacher’s train of thought, he could even occasionally deduce the next topic in advance.
"Lin Yi, do you have anything to add regarding the inhibitory effect of a Split Claw Beast’s talon toxin on Qi and Blood circulation?"
The old professor called his name.
Lin Yi stood up calmly and articulated his insights with perfect clarity, even citing findings from recent research papers not in the textbook. This earned him frequent nods from the old professor, whose eyes were filled with admiration.
Sitting in the front row, Liu Yang glanced sideways at Lin Yi, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. He then lowered his head and scribbled forcefully in his notebook.
After the theory class ended and a short break, it was time for the combat-focused Martial Dao class.
The location shifted to the spacious and well-lit martial arts hall.
Today’s practice was one of the core techniques of basic fist styles—the Basic Collapsing Fist.
The air was thick with the smell of sweat and the sound of low shouts as students exerted their strength.
The students paired up, repeatedly practicing the power-generation techniques of the Collapsing Fist on the padded floor.
"Hah!" Liu Yang let out a low roar, smashing his fist hard against his training partner’s protective gear. The dull THUD showcased his impressive strength.
He had just improved his Qi and Blood and was brimming with confidence. His movements were wide and powerful, tinged with a ferocity that showed his eagerness to prove himself.
His gaze frequently darted in Lin Yi’s direction.
Lin Yi, on the other hand, appeared much calmer and more reserved. He was originally the school’s best at this technique. However, because he had just transmigrated, he was still in the process of re-familiarizing himself with the original body’s combat Experience.
But as he practiced, his movements gradually became more standard.
His training partner was, naturally, Luo Qian.
Luo Qian grimaced, rubbing his arm as he looked at Lin Yi.
"Lin, your Collapsing Fist seems a lot weaker than before! What gives? Are you trying to set a trap for Liu Yang? You’re being too devious!"
"I reckon you’re going to be disappointed... Liu Yang isn’t an idiot; he won’t fall for your trick. Even though his Qi and Blood has surpassed yours, his Collapsing Fist technique is far weaker. Why would he challenge you just to get his butt kicked!"
Luo Qian assumed Lin Yi was annoyed with Liu Yang and was deliberately acting weak to bait him into a challenge, hoping for a chance to beat him up.
Lin Yi just smiled and didn’t bother to explain.
’This wasn’t him pretending to be weak!’
’He really was unfamiliar with the Collapsing Fist.’
’He had inherited the original owner’s memories after transmigrating, so in theory, he should have been fine. But he still needed to re-familiarize himself with these practical skills!’
’If Liu Yang really did challenge him right now...’
’There was a real chance he wouldn’t be able to win.’
’Because the school had Demon Qi detectors, he hadn’t brought his Mosquito Avatar with him; it was back at home, watching the house!’
Fortunately, the class passed without incident.
Everything went smoothly until the dismissal bell.
In fact, although Liu Yang was full of hostility toward Lin Yi and constantly wanted to prove he was stronger, it had never gone beyond a bad attitude.
The two had never had a major conflict, not even a verbal one.
After all, time was tight in their third year of high school. Everyone was going all out with their Cultivation, so who had time to stir up trouble?
So Lin Yi couldn’t be bothered to waste time on a background character like him.
After a morning of school life, Lin Yi gradually shook off the discomfort of having just transmigrated and began to get used to his new life, fitting in.
After a simple lunch in the school cafeteria, the afternoon was dedicated to Cultivation class.
In essence, it was actually a self-study Cultivation period.
The school had already taught the *Seven Steps Stance Technique* for two and a half years, so there was no longer a need for daily, painstaking instruction.
The students poured into the dedicated Cultivation Rooms, which were equipped with a large number of simple training devices and meditation cushions.
Inside the Cultivation Rooms was the faint scent of medicinal herbs. This was the Spirit Incense specially prepared by the school, which offered a slight boost to Cultivation.