Chapter 61: Xi Yu: Routine Check
"My soul beast level isn’t C, it’s Super B-level. I’m the only one in our class who has a Soul Beast. The way our levels are categorized is... complicated."
Shen Gu gave an example. "Take Chairman Xi and Chief Ling. You don’t even have to think about it to know they have everything—Beast Soul, family background, status, money, grades, you name it!"
He then pointed to himself. "My family fell from grace a long time ago. As for my level... how should I put it? When determining levels, having a family with Soul Beasts is the biggest factor. You should know that, right?"
Shen Gu glanced away, looking at the person who had proactively taken his young beast to get in line for the inspection.
He nodded politely. "Thanks."
"Don’t mention it."
As the person walked away, Shen Gu continued his explanation.
"To get into the Incubation specialization, besides good scores in bio-genetics competitions, affinity is also really important. I don’t have money, status, grades, or family background. All I have is my Soul Beast and affinity, so I can only be a C."
’Why is there a sudden chill behind me?’
He caught a glimpse of fluttering black fabric out of the corner of his eye.
Shen Gu looked up slightly, meeting Ling Yanzhi’s eyes, which flashed with a deep crimson light.
His gaze shifted. Xi Yu was looking down on him, his tea-brown eyes staring at him just as intently.
He turned his head again. The entire class was standing behind Teacher Hu, lined up like a welcoming party.
’The upperclassmen on the forums weren’t lying. This is seriously terrifying.’
Teacher Hu offered a kind reminder, "With the interstellar competition approaching, to prevent any Soul Ghost Bodies from infiltrating, all students and faculty must cooperate with a surprise inspection."
It was like this every year. The academy would dispatch Awakeners to conduct inspections one by one.
What made this year special was that the ones conducting the inspection were two Super 3S Awakeners. Normally, it was hard to even catch a glimpse of them.
Shen Gu quickly stood up, his nervous expression much like Jian Yu’s.
"Chairman."
"Mm." Xi Yu nodded at his hand-picked Executive Director.
’His eyes look more like a baby’s than Qin Xianzhao’s, and he’s more useful than Qin Xianzhao, too.’
’It’s been half a month and still no news about that necklace.’
Xi Yu bent down and pinched Jian Yu’s upturned face.
He said with a look of utmost sincerity, "Baby is so attentive in class. I’m going to faint from Baby’s cuteness."
"..." Jian Yu’s ears burned, and she averted her gaze.
Many specializations at Weis Lan weren’t strict about classroom order, and the Incubation specialization was the most lenient of all. ’But does whispering back and forth count as being attentive?’
She uncomfortably turned her head, inadvertently observing her dumbfounded classmates in her peripheral vision.
Jian Yu thought blankly, ’If they keep their mouths open like that for so long, won’t they start to drool?’
Teacher Hu wore a benevolent expression; anyone who didn’t know better would think he was sending his daughter off on her wedding day.
Ling Yanzhi reached out and pulled Jian Yu to her feet.
A faint scent of white tea—the fragrance of a new shower gel.
The strong scent of phantom orchid was gone.
He glanced at Jian Yu’s bare wrist, didn’t think much of it, and leaned down slightly to hug her. "I got you excused from class."
Xi Yu, a step too slow, grabbed Jian Yu’s fingers and gave them a squeeze.
"Yes, yes, she’s excused." Teacher Hu grumbled inwardly: ’Asking for leave right in my face still counts as asking, I guess.’
He didn’t want to be so sycophantic, but reality was cruel.
Power reigned supreme, class reigned supreme, and profit reigned supreme. His performance review was excellent year after year, but he always got stuck, just lacking someone to put in a good word for him.
Others were afraid of suffering Xuzhou’s fate and didn’t dare come to this class, but he wasn’t afraid.
Whether he could get promoted this year all depended on this good student, Jian Yu.
Xi Yu looked up at the flock of quails behind Teacher Hu and gestured to Shen Gu. "Tell them to line up."
"Okay." Shen Gu walked away, feigning a cool indifference as he organized them to line up by student ID number.
Jian Yu had thought Xi Yu and the others came because they received her message.
She leaned drowsily against Ling Yanzhi’s chest. "Do I not have to line up?"
"Baby doesn’t have to line up. I’ll inspect Baby first." Xi Yu turned around, his cold voice switching to a clingy, tender tone.
He took Jian Yu’s hand, habitually playing with her fingers.
Eight long tentacles burst wildly from Xi Yu’s back. He snatched up a student and began the inspection.
Cries of shock mixed with sharp gasps, rising and falling one after another.
Jian Yu stared at Xi Yu’s face, desperately trying to calm herself. ’He’s still handsome, nothing to be afraid of. Maybe after another two times, I’ll get used to it.’
Her eyes might get used to it, but the sensation was still terrifying.
A clone of Yang Zhang leaped onto the back of her hand.
A tiny black octopus latched onto the surface of her skin and slowly snaked its way up her fair arm.
Its black tentacles whipped about, as soft as muck.
Jian Yu closed her eyes, her lashes trembling.
She could feel a cold, slimy sensation on her arm, repeatedly squirming and rubbing, as if measuring and scraping her skin.
A scene played out in her mind. Right now, they had their backs to everyone.
With Xi Yu unleashing his ultimate move, even Teacher Hu was a little flustered.
Ling Yanzhi’s frame was tall, his shoulders broad.
This meant no one could see her face.
"He’s just teasing you, Baby. You should ignore him tonight." Ling Yanzhi’s eyes were downcast, his gaze resting on Jian Yu’s soft, pale face.
His fingers slid across her forehead, his voice bewitching. "Baby, look at me."
"Mm." Jian Yu obediently opened her eyes. She glanced at the thing crawling on her arm, then let her gaze drift into the distance, deliberately making her eyes well up.
She held her breath until her cheeks flushed, turning five or six parts fear into a perfect ten.
Her other hand gripped Ling Yanzhi’s clothes tightly, wrinkling the fabric.
A large teardrop fell from her beautiful, moist, round eyes, wetting her lashes and making the long, dense, curled hairs look drenched.
’The main thing is, there wasn’t a single bit of snot!’
’Absolutely perfect.’
Jian Yu gave herself a high score.
"Is it done yet?" She unnaturally buried her face in Ling Yanzhi’s chest, her voice slightly nasal.
"Almost." Ling Yanzhi raised an eyebrow slightly. The girl in his arms was limp and pliant, more wonderful to hold than ever before.
He lowered his voice, murmuring by her ear, "I had Sheng Yue remake the bracelet. He’ll bring it over in a bit, then we can go."
Jian Yu’s voice was faint and weak. "Okay."
That smoke had appeared so strangely. She had messaged them because she didn’t dare wander around. After all, Lin Yu wasn’t the only S-Level at Weis Lan.
Besides, Jian Yu couldn’t guarantee that she would be able to retract it back into her body so easily the next time it appeared.
Although she was surprised they hadn’t told Duan Feiye about her situation, it was actually better for her if fewer people knew.
Jian Yu constantly reminded herself of the inequality in this world.
The Alliance’s laws were biased toward the aristocracy and Half-awakened, and they served the Awakeners.
Xi Yu and Ling Yanzhi’s immunity to prosecution for murder applied to killing aristocrats, Awakeners, and Half-awakened.
If an aristocrat or a Half-awakened killed an ordinary person, in most cases, they could just pay money to avoid responsibility.
Even Awakeners of Level S or higher had immunity for killing ordinary people.
’Thinking about it that way, Xu Jianjuan’s efforts in her past life were truly like an egg hitting a rock.’
Weis Lan didn’t permit physical altercations. Anyone who caused a death would be expelled from the academy, blacklisted by the Alliance, and their relatives would be barred from holding mid-to-high-paying jobs.
The interstellar world was a clan-based society. In the story, Xu Shaoqing almost became a traitor to her entire clan just to target Xu Jianjuan. It was hard to even comment on that.
Her mind gradually grew weary, and Jian Yu’s eyelids became heavy.
She pulled away slightly and glanced at the students behind them being treated ’rudely’.
She struggled to keep her eyelids open.
’So this is what an inspection is like? Compared to this, mine felt more like teasing.’
Ling Yanzhi kissed the reddened corner of her eye. "You can take a little nap, Baby."
He shifted her into a more comfortable position and gently patted her back.
Xi Yu’s eyes showed a hint of confusion. He noticed that the scent was gone from Jian Yu.
But with so many people around, he didn’t pay it much mind. It was better that the fragrance was gone anyway.
’This way, maybe Ling Yanzhi won’t fight with me over Baby anymore.’
Ling Yanzhi was thinking the same thing.
He turned his head. "Finish up."
Xi Yu, displeased to see Jian Yu nestled in the other’s arms, tugged on her hand, leaned his handsome face in, and planted a couple of quick kisses on her lips.
Ling Yanzhi knew Xi Yu well and moved quickly to block everyone’s view.
He raised his right eyebrow, looking smug.
Jian Yu’s fingers curled as she squeezed her eyes shut.
"Incubation Class 1, inspection passed." Xi Yu retracted his long tentacles.
The Star Brain hidden beneath his skin slowly emerged, flashing with a subtle blue light as it automatically recorded and verified the inspection results.
Shen Gu spoke up, "Thank you for your cooperation."
Ling Yanzhi took Jian Yu’s hand and started to leave.
Xi Yu followed.
Teacher Hu stepped forward with a smile. "Jian’s Star Ridge Beast Egg that she hatched—the assessment report just came out. Would the two of you like to hear it before you go?"