Chapter 20: Activation, Destiny Quest! (Part Two)

Zhao Qingmiao slumped onto the bench, touched her face in a daze, and suddenly tears streamed down her cheeks.

Tears of salvation.

Tears of regret.

I—I was just cursing him so viciously in my heart, wishing all manner of ill upon him, only to discover it was that very man who saved me? I was just feeling smug for having messed with him on Zhou Nan's behalf, and yet it was this very man who stood up for me in my moment of despair?

I—I'm nothing but a beast, a wretched beast!

Brother, I was wrong, I truly was! Please, you must come back safe!

While Zhao Qingmiao was crying out in her heart, what of Shi Tiexin?

Shi Tiexin was still standing there, dumbfounded.

His face was stern and composed, exuding calm authority, but inside he was puzzled. Huh? What's going on here? He'd only ever heard of girls going to the restroom in groups—could it be that even boys at Fengming No.1 High School go to the bathroom together?

It all felt rather odd...

Let us turn back the clock a bit.

"Blackhand Hungry Tiger is coming!" A boy stumbled backward into the classroom, shouting in panic—but Shi Tiexin did not hear him. Because another consciousness had condensed in his mental domain, it was as if he were suffering a stroke, his senses dulled. Unless he listened very carefully, his hearing wasn't so sharp.

He vaguely sensed something, that there was a commotion in the class, but he paid it no mind. Wasn't this trash class noisy every recess? What was there to fuss about? So Shi Tiexin continued pondering how to get his hands on elementary school textbooks and the supplementary cultivation manual for beginners.

He mulled it over for a long while, finding it quite tricky. Fengming No.1 High School operated a closed system—during normal lessons, the school was entirely sealed off, no student allowed to leave. Only during winter and summer vacation could anyone depart. That was still a long way off, and certainly not until after final exams; he had no time to wait that long.

Could he ask a teacher for a note, claiming he had special reasons to leave? But as a newcomer, first, he had no idea what level of "special" excuse would suffice; second, he didn't know the original owner's social connections, nor how much the school knew about his circumstances. If he spoke rashly, he'd be exposed, and it would become even harder to ask for leave next time.

Besides, in this trash class, it seemed human rights were a luxury, and the teachers looked down on them. If he spoke up, the teachers might just assume he was making it up, and he'd be wronged for nothing.

Well... perhaps not for nothing, since he really would be making it up.

But still—how on earth was he supposed to get his hands on those cultivation manuals and supplementary records?!

Forget it, no point worrying so much. Shi Tiexin snapped out of his reverie, only to realize his bladder was now completely full, on the verge of bursting. Right, he'd drunk five bowls of soup that morning; the only reason he'd lasted this long was his large capacity. He couldn't possibly hold it another class.

Decision made: he was going to the bathroom!

With a creak, Shi Tiexin pushed back his chair and stood up. Instantly, the whole class fell silent, all eyes on him. He was taken aback, finally seeing what was going on.

It seemed... a small gang was bullying that scrawny kid?

From the looks of that swollen face, the class monitor really wasn't able to protect himself. If I were monitor, I'd have beaten those punks flat by now. But it's none of my business—I just got here, don't know who's right or wrong. Besides, maybe this is tradition in the trash class? Maybe it's customary to rough up the monitor every so often; this is another world, after all—no need to make a fuss about everything.

Is it bad timing to walk over now? But the call of nature trumps all else—my bladder's about to explode, and I'm not about to wet myself over some petty classroom squabble. Whatever the case, no one is stopping me. I must go!

And so, with an air of unstoppable urgency, Shi Tiexin marched directly toward Teng Chaoguo—simply because Teng Chaoguo was blocking the only way to the restroom.

Teng Chaoguo faced him, bristling: "Yo, isn't this Scholar Shi? What's up? Standing up now—what are you planning to do?"

Shi Tiexin raised an eyebrow.

Scholar Shi?

This guy knows me?

So, an acquaintance—that makes things easier.

"Wanna take this loser’s five packs of cigarettes for him—"

No time for your nonsense, I'm about to burst! Shi Tiexin rolled his tongue in his mouth and got straight to the point: "Bathroom." I'm just trying to get to the bathroom. Move aside, and after I go, do whatever you want—losers, cigarettes, none of my business!

"Bathroom?" Teng Chaoguo's face twisted with a sudden, vicious rage. "Well, well, Scholar Shi has grown bold—daring to challenge me to the restroom? Fine. Very well. Let's go, then—to the bathroom!"

Huh? Sorry, I was too focused on my urgent need and didn't quite catch that, but it sounded like... this guy is also going to the bathroom? You're in the middle of beating someone and just going to leave? Or maybe you’re desperate to go too?

Whatever the case, I don't know the way to the restroom—if he wants to lead, all the better, saves me from wandering around and risking an accident.

"Lead the way."

So, Teng Chaoguo and his four underlings escorted Shi Tiexin out of Class 28 and toward the notorious Black Toilet of the trash class. The name "Blackhand Hungry Tiger" was infamous throughout the trash class, and all the students scrambled to get out of their way, as if a fearsome beast were parading down the street. Once the six passed, the students immediately began whispering, speculating whether Teng Chaoguo's crew had gained a new enforcer, or if someone was brazenly challenging Blackhand Hungry Tiger's authority.

Look at that burly guy at the back—he’s got such presence, he doesn’t look like a mere lackey. From the looks of it, a battle in the Black Toilet is about to erupt!

Meanwhile, Shi Tiexin, the center of attention, was mystified.

He glanced at the students lined up along the hallway—why did going to the restroom feel like the emperor on an inspection tour? Was this kind of grand spectacle yet another unique local tradition? Best to stay calm and blend in—no need to look shocked. Still, this trash class in the Holy Land of Inner Cultivation was a mystery, with one bizarre custom after another—impossible to figure out...

But Shi Tiexin was no fool.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the four underlings escorting him and quickly realized he had been misunderstood, swept into some incident.

No, this has nothing to do with me—I can't get dragged into this mess. Better take care of my business first, then find an opportunity to explain myself. Though he had a decent impression of that little Miao, they weren't friends. Whatever grudges or feuds they had, let them settle it themselves—it had nothing to do with him. He was new here, and had just been disciplined—it was best to keep a low profile...

As he was thinking this, suddenly, Shi Tiexin felt a stir in his mental domain—the frozen, dormant consciousness twitched ever so slightly, sending out a faint message.

...Endure...

Hmm?

Shi Tiexin frowned, puzzled—what was going on? Why did that consciousness seem to be awakening from its slumber? What could have triggered it?