Chapter 13: The Auxiliary Secret Manual—Log In for an Instant Reward! (Part One)

The other students were thrown into an uproar.

“Class Twenty-Eight?!”

“Isn’t that the trash class?”

“I heard there are a lot of troublemakers…”

“How could this happen? Why would someone be transferred to the trash class?”

Since everyone was asking so sincerely, how could the illustrious Nobody resist the chance to answer with a touch of benevolence? With an air of inevitability, he replied, “Roaring in class, assaulting teachers, and serious violations of school rules—this punishment is already quite lenient. The fact that he wasn’t expelled on the spot is only because Teacher Jia decided to let it slide. But honestly, I think him being sent to the trash class is a perfect fit.”

A perfect fit?

—No one had actually asked this, but Nobody read the question in their eyes. There was no need for his classmates to voice it aloud; the ever-enthusiastic Nobody had already learned to seize the answer.

“Of course it’s a perfect fit!”

“Sending trash to the trash… bin, isn’t that just the natural order of things? Those who don’t study, going to the trash—no, to the normal Class Twenty-Eight—is entirely reasonable. Anyway, the final exams aren’t far off, and with his abilities, it’s only a matter of a few days sooner or later.” Nobody turned to look at Shi Ironheart, his grin twisted and revolting. “Oh, sorry, sorry—I tend to speak my mind, just joking.”

“Hey!” His desk mate jabbed him twice.

But Nobody ignored it, still facing Shi Ironheart, baring his teeth like a mongrel. “If I hurt you, I apologize. But surely you’re not so fragile as to be unable to take a joke, are you… Valedictorian Shi?”

The whole class watched in silence.

Under their complex gazes, Shi Ironheart calmly packed his things, slung his bag over his shoulder, and walked toward the door. As he passed by Nobody, he stopped, turned his face to study him for a moment, his eyes as placid as an ancient well.

What was this situation? Shi Ironheart had weathered storms in the Orphanage of Lost Souls; what hardship had he not seen? A prime minister’s stomach can hold a ship—Shi Ironheart was destined to soar, his song would echo across the skies. Would he even spare a thought for such a petty character?

Well, to be honest:

I—

Damn it—

Will remember you!!

“Valedictorian Shi, is there something you want to say to me?” Nobody’s tone was twisted. “Or do you not know how to get to Class Twenty-Eight? Want me to escort you?”

Damn!

I—I really don’t know…

Got to throw out some tough words! No matter what, establish my presence before any fight!

Shi Ironheart finally spoke, his voice low and weighty like an immovable mountain, commanding respect without anger. “Starting today,”

Little bastard, you’d best get in the habit of keeping a diary from now on, so when you die you won’t blame me for not giving you time to write your will!

“Keep a diary.”

That was it.

—Damn it, my tongue’s not working, can’t get the words out! And I couldn’t even muster the right expression, I’m dying here!

Phew… No, I’m off today, my verbal artillery isn’t firing. If I stay here, I’ll explode. Go, just go, I’ll find that little bastard later for revenge!

So Shi Ironheart left, steady and composed, neither fast nor slow, his presence grand and imposing.

“Hey, Gu Shaohuai, isn’t that a bit much?” Nobody’s desk mate couldn’t help but say, “Being transferred to Class Twenty-Eight is already bad enough—why keep provoking him?”

“Stay out of it, you don’t get it.” To move up to the elite class after this semester’s finals, you have to be in the top two hundred in the grade. The top two hundred at Phoenix Song No. 1 High aren’t ordinary people; Gu Shaohuai only hovers around the two hundred mark himself, and any change in ranking could affect the outcome.

This Valedictorian Shi is a formidable rival; best to break his spirit, and then he’ll be out of the way. No, just a few barbs might not be enough. Need more ideas…

Right! I heard Shi Ironheart’s grades slipped because he’s been bullied by delinquents. Before, in the elite and special classes, he lived far from those troublemakers. Now he’s moving right into their stronghold. Just send a few people to “look after” him—easy as pie.

Hmph, let’s do it!

“Go on, slink away, stay mired in the deepest mud. No one will block my path!” Gu Shaohuai glared at Shi Ironheart’s retreating back, cursing him viciously.

But… uh… what’s with the diary?

Why did he tell me to keep a diary?

Does he mean… Could it be… he knows my language skills are poor, so he’s using this to throw shade at me, pointing out my weakness, the bucket effect, telling me I can’t beat him, hoping to mess with my mind and ruin my studies?

Hmph, too naive.

I, Gu Shaohuai, am clever beyond measure, how could I fall for such a trick? This time, I’ll turn the tables and let you outsmart yourself. When you realize your scheme has utterly failed, I’ll drink your tears of regret as my victory wine!

Starting today, I’ll keep a diary!

Perfect—gives me a chance to organize my notebook…

Gu Shaohuai took out a small notebook, rifled through it; inside were many names, mostly students hovering around the two hundred mark—Shi Ironheart was just one.

“Let’s see, my second most important target is… Shen Xingye?” Gu Shaohuai bit his finger, plotting. “He’s in the elite class now, not easy to make a move directly. But everyone has weaknesses, everyone has handles, and Shen Xingye is no exception. As long as I find his—he’ll hand over his spot in the elite class obediently! My journey will be unimpeded!”

Gu Shaohuai was plotting his grand strategy.

Shi Ironheart was plotting his own.

Not plotting how to take revenge on Nobody—that didn’t matter enough to weigh on him. He was focused on something far more important: how to improve his level of Mind Technique.

He himself, of the six fundamental Mind Techniques, only had three at the first level.

Here, students with the third level and above are everywhere.

If he couldn’t raise his Mind Technique level, with his current true ability, maybe that Nobody was right—maybe the trash class really was his home.

In fact, judging by the average level here, he might even be the tail of the trash class—no, the very tip of the tail! Because someone as bad as him might not even make it into the trash class!

If he didn’t find a way to improve quickly, when finals came and his abilities were exposed, he’d end up dead last in the grade—that would be humiliating.

I, Valedictorian Shi, have my pride!

No, no, I must quickly improve my Mind Technique, and I absolutely cannot let people like Nobody laugh at me.

But… what should I do?