Ch. 338 - Wanting to Find Work for Classmates in Africa

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Time gradually ticked by.

Everyone's mental state had undergone a subtle transformation.

The entire class had become utterly drained of the will to live, tormented beyond recognition by Chen Shu.

Over the course of two hours, he had recounted his entire life story to them, and it sounded exactly like he was making it all up as he went.

"Bam! Faster than words can tell, I whipped a urea bag right over his head — really put a lid on that punk..."

"Enough!"

Qiao Yue finally snapped. If she let Chen Shu keep going, she was genuinely afraid she'd lose her mind.

"Chen Shu's self-introduction was absolutely riveting. My sincerest thanks..."

"Senior Qiao, I'm not done yet."

"Next time. Next time, I promise I'll give you the chance to finish!"

Qiao Yue rubbed her temples. "What do the rest of you think?"

The students below, the moment they heard Chen Shu was coming down, immediately raised both hands in approval. This guy was a literal torture king!

You bastard, this isn't a self-introduction — you're writing a goddamn autobiography up there!

In the end, Chen Shu sighed and reluctantly stepped away from the front.

In truth, the system had delivered his reward a full hour ago. Everything after that was purely because he'd gotten a bit addicted to it.

Aside from Chen Shu, everyone else was completely normal, simply giving their name and hometown.

"Wang Jue, what are you shaking for?"

Chen Shu and A'Liang turned to look at him. "You nervous?"

"No, it's just... my turn's coming up next. I'm feeling a bit... twisted... uh, I mean, flustered..."

"..."

Finally, the person before him returned to their seat.

Wang Jue was just about to stand up when Qiao Yue spoke first, and at an extremely rapid pace.

"Next up is Wang Jue, from Beiyuan City. He's very happy to be classmates with everyone."

"Next, Xie Fengyu!"

"..."

Wang Jue's body went completely rigid. Where the hell was my self-introduction?!

"Teacher Qiao, I haven't introduced myself yet!"

He spoke up, clutching a massive notebook in his hands — its thickness rivaled a dictionary.

Qiao Yue's body shuddered. Another one here to read a novel out loud?

"Next time. We're short on time today!"

Fortunately, she had kept her guard up. Could anyone sharing a dorm with Chen Shu possibly be a normal person?

Wang Jue was deeply disappointed. He'd been preparing this self-introduction since high school, and now it wasn't going to see the light of day?

Before long, the self-introductions finally came to an end.

"Alright! Today was just an opportunity for everyone to get to know each other!"

Qiao Yue smiled and said, "Also, the freshman military training will begin in a few days, so please be prepared!"

"There will be classes over the next couple of days. The goal is to let you all meet the teachers for each subject."

Even as Beast Tamers, they still had to take academic courses. Not only did it broaden their knowledge, but at critical moments, some pieces of knowledge could save your life!

In addition to the four subjects from high school, they'd added the study of contract spirits as well as practical combat courses.

Qiao Yue said, "That's it for today. Everyone can go eat now."

The students filed out of the classroom. Chen Shu and his two friends stayed behind until the end.

"Senior Qiao!"

Chen Shu raised an eyebrow. "How did you like the outfit I gave you?"

"..."

Qiao Yue's cheeks flushed slightly as she nodded.

A'Liang and Wang Jue's eyes darted back and forth between the two, their expressions deeply suggestive.

Wang Jue spoke up: "Bandit Bro, that's not cool. You didn't get either of us any clothes!"

"Cut the crap. I already gave you some! All three of your outfits came from the same batch!"

"The psychiatric gowns?!"

Wang Jue and A'Liang's eyes bulged. You are absolutely goddamn outrageous!

"Alright, enough of that!"

Although they were comfortable to wear, Qiao Yue had no desire to say so out loud. It was just too embarrassing.

"Senior Qiao, shouldn't our class have some class officers?"

Chen Shu finally voiced his real intention. "I'd like to be in charge of the class fund!"

"Oh, give me a break!"

A'Liang cut in directly. "By the time we're done, not only will the class fund be gone, every single person in the class will probably end up buried in debt!"

Wang Jue asked, puzzled: "How would that happen?"

"The class fund wouldn't even come close to being enough for him. He'd definitely use everyone's identities to take out loans!"

"A'Liang, don't you go slandering me. I, Chen Shu, would never do that sort of thing! At most, I'd help everyone find work in Africa!"[1]

"What do you mean 'find work in Africa' — you're just planning to sell the whole class off, aren't you? You're ruthless!"

The three immediately started fighting over the position of class fund manager.

"Alright, alright..."

Qiao Yue's mouth twitched. "Class officers will be decided later. You three, get going!"

In her heart, she'd already made up her mind. There was absolutely no way these three could be allowed anywhere near the class fund. At this rate, the entire class would probably get sold off.

...

Over the next two days, Chen Shu's trio actually got into the groove, attending classes seriously.

Especially the academic courses. They'd assumed they'd be mind-numbingly boring.

But Chen Shu found himself listening with fascination.

University-level knowledge covered every aspect of the world, gradually unveiling its mysteries to everyone.

The third day. High noon.

"Chen Shu, get up already! This afternoon is our first Practical Combat Mega-class!"

The three groggily got out of bed, got ready, and headed to Beast Taming Arena No. 1.

By now, the arena was packed with several hundred people.

Everyone was buzzing with excitement, waiting for the teacher to arrive.

The Practical Combat Mega-class was attended by the entire grade — all five hundred of them.

Fortunately, Huaxia Academy's Beast Taming Arena was the best in the country, easily accommodating such a crowd.

Chen Shu's trio ambled leisurely into the arena.

The previously rowdy atmosphere quieted down. Everyone's eyes held defiance, but no one stepped forward.

Because of Chen Shu, each and every one of them was desperate to reach Black Iron rank and settle the score!

"Hm?"

Seeing everyone's expressions, Chen Shu's eyes lit up with amusement.

Noticing the teacher hadn't arrived yet, he walked straight to the very front of the formation.

"It looks like quite a few of you aren't too happy!"

Chen Shu clasped his hands behind his back. "Little Yu Yi, you seem a bit displeased? Want to have a go?"

"Hmph! You're singling me out?!"

Yu Yi clenched his fists but didn't dare actually challenge Chen Shu to a fight.

"No, no, no!"

Chen Shu grinned. "I'm not singling you out. I'm saying everyone here... is trash!"[2]

In an instant, the entire arena glared at him with fury. They'd been putting up with Chen Shu for far too long!

"In the world of Beast Tamers, everything comes down to strength!"

Chen Shu remained perfectly calm as he continued:

"Anyone want to fight me? If you win, five hundred credits — with both hands!"

"But there's a ten-credit registration fee!"

Chen Shu said with a grin, planning to reuse his high school routine — scoop up a batch of credits first.

Five hundred people. Even if only a hundred greenhorns took the bait, he'd net a thousand credits!

"What's wrong? No takers?"

Chen Shu's eyes darted around. Ordinary provocations clearly weren't cutting it anymore.

After a moment, he let out a sigh and said:

"Truth is, it's not that I want your credits. It's my advisor, Liu Feng — he's the one who wants them, but he's too embarrassed to ask directly."

"If you don't cough up a few credits, he might just... fail you all in his course!"

As his teacher, taking a little heat now and then was only fair, right?

The moment those words landed, the entire arena fell deathly silent, everyone mulling over whether Chen Shu was telling the truth.

The threat of failing a course was indeed a powerful deterrent for university students!

Just then, the arena doors were pushed open, and a buzz-cut man strode in.

Chen Shu's pupils contracted. He instantly dove back into the formation.

Liu Feng had arrived!

"Hello, everyone. I'm your Practical Combat Mega-class instructor, Liu Feng!"

In that instant, the students' expressions all turned deeply strange.

Liu Feng looked puzzled. "What's wrong, everyone?"

One student mustered up the courage and repeated everything Chen Shu had just said.

"I'm gonna...?!"

Liu Feng's expression flared with rage. His eyes immediately swept the crowd, hunting for Chen Shu.

"Can't see me, can't see me..."

Chen Shu was flattened against the ground, preparing to slip away at the first opportunity. If he stuck around any longer, there'd be another round of cremation danger.

Right at that moment, a figure appeared in front of him, blocking his path.

Chen Shu lifted his head slightly and was immediately greeted by Liu Feng's savage expression.

"P-Professor Liu..."

Liu Feng reached out and hauled Chen Shu up in one grab.

"What are you crawling on the ground for?"

"I... I wanted to feel the earth's breath, to achieve the supreme state of unity between heaven and man..."

"Cut the crap!"

Liu Feng's smile didn't reach his eyes. "What those students just said — was it true?"

Chen Shu looked utterly bewildered. "What did they say? Beats me!"

"You've got some nerve, kid. Two days as my student, and you're already using my name to swindle and extort people?"

Liu Feng took a deep breath. On the surface, he seemed calm, but inside, he was starting to panic.

It had barely been any time at all since he became Chen Shu's advisor.

And already, he could faintly sense the doors of the Spirit Suppression Bureau swinging open for him.

At this rate, after four years, wouldn't a Huaxia Academy professor like him end up straight in prison?

"As the saying goes: slaughtered pigs in a past life, doomed to teach in this one!"

Liu Feng said, "So I must have killed people in my past life, and in this one I'm stuck teaching 'Shu'?"[3]

[1] 非洲找活 (Fēizhōu zhǎo huó): A dark internet meme euphemism for human trafficking. Originated from scam rings recruiting victims with "overseas job opportunities" that turned out to be forced labor or worse. A'Liang's accusation — that Chen Shu would embezzle the class fund, take out loans in everyone's names, then "find them work in Africa" — escalates from fraud to trafficking in three steps.

[2] 我不是针对你，我是说在座的各位 (wǒ bùshì zhēnduì nǐ, wǒ shì shuō zàizuò de gèwèi): The iconic opening line from Stephen Chow's 1994 comedy film Hail the Judge (九品芝麻官). The original line finishes with "都是垃圾" (are all trash). Chen Shu deploys it as a mass taunt to the entire grade, perfectly in character.

[3] 上辈子杀人，这辈子教书 (shàng bèizi shārén, zhè bèizi jiāoshū): A folk saying among teachers — "Slaughtered pigs in a past life, doomed to teach in this one." Liu Feng twists it: "Killed people in a past life, so I teach 书 (Shū)" — a triple pun. 书 means both "books" (teaching) and is Chen Shu's given name. The joke: Liu Feng's karmic punishment isn't just teaching — it's teaching Chen Shu specifically.