Deus Ex Machina: Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Today’s plan was for Shi Yixi to knock on Yang Jin’s door at ten in the evening. As he walked towards the teacher’s dormitory, he unexpectedly met Yang Jin halfway.

“Teacher Yang?” Shi Yixi called out.

“Oh, where are you going?” Yang Jin asked knowingly.

“To find you.”

“For studying?” Yang Jin, at this moment, resembled a humble teacher. “What about the other students? How are their studies? The exams are just a few days away, we can’t afford any delays.” He placed his hands on Shi Yixi’s shoulders, urging him to go back. “Come on, let’s bring them too. Studying together not only enhances efficiency but also fosters friendship between teachers and students.”

Shi Yixi thought for a moment and said, “Teacher, you’re right.”

Five minutes later, Ying Si and Zhao Qinghe saw Shi Yixi returning with a man smiling behind him.

Ten minutes later, the three students were sitting together in Teacher Yang Jin’s dorm.

Yang Jin found a pair of black-framed glasses from somewhere and put them on, looking very serious. After adjusting his glasses, he stared at the three students for a long time before saying, “Exams are coming up next week, and the enthusiasm for learning displayed by my students truly moves me. In order to improve everyone’s grades, the teacher is willing to sacrifice a bit of personal time… Watch everyone during self-study.”

“Ah?” Ying Si exclaimed.

“What’s with the ‘ah’?” Yang Jin’s tone was firm, his words weighted with concern. “It’s not fun for you to come alone during the day, and it’s not safe to go back to the dorm alone at night. What if a female student with A-level potential jumps out of some bushes with malicious intent? How can the teacher rest assured? It’s better to study together here with me until four in the morning.” He looked at their faces, some blank, some shocked, and smiled. “A little extra effort for the teacher won’t hurt.”

Slaughtering enemies on the battlefield is exciting.

Bullying elementary school kids in the dormitory is amusing.

Zhao Qinghe looked at Ying Si without a clue, while Ying Si furrowed his brows and moved his mouth, saying, “Teacher, I don’t have any questions to ask. Can I go back now?”

“Oh really?” Yang Jin said, pointing his chin at Shi Yixi, who was already engrossed in a book. “But your classmate doesn’t seem as smart as you, does he?”

“Yixi!” Ying Si called out.

Shi Yixi turned to look at Ying Si and said slowly, “I really have something I don’t understand.”

Yang Jin said, “As companions, we should advance and retreat together.”

Ying Si was furious. He knew Yang Jin had seen through their trickery. The problem was, while Yang Jin was clearly prepared to counterattack, he had no other way out. Because no matter who they told about this, everyone would admire Yang Jin’s heroic sacrifice of his personal time.

What kind of situation was this?

For four days, they had advanced and retreated together. Yang Jin accompanied the three of them every night from ten in the evening until four in the morning. He had dark circles under his eyes, and the three students were even worse off, all listless. Zhao Qinghe was on the verge of a mental breakdown.

He really wanted to know what he had done wrong, why he had to endure this torment. He was exhausted and desperately needed sleep. Unlike Ying Si, who could sleep freely during class, he needed to study. He needed to work hard to break free from this despicable class made up of two losers!

Before that, he had to report Ying Si to Yang Jin.

“Oh really?” Yang Jin stood under a quiet tree in the teaching area, looking down at Zhao Qinghe.

“Yes, teacher, I’m telling the truth!” Zhao Qinghe nodded vigorously. “It’s all Ying Si Lan’s idea. He wants to retaliate against you… for your punishment, forcing us to come to you every night!”

“You guys?” Yang Jin asked. “Even Shi Yixi?”

The image of Shi Yixi’s perpetually mocking face flashed in Zhao Qinghe’s mind, making him even more angry. “No, it’s me! Shi Yixi is with Ying Si Lan!”

“But I think he’s really eager to learn. He asks serious questions every time and even says thank you when he leaves,” Yang Jin said.

“That’s because he’s really dumb!” Zhao Qinghe explained. “If he doesn’t work hard, how can he stay in the academy? How did someone like him even get into the academy?” Zhao Qinghe felt a bit aggrieved as he continued, almost on the verge of tears. “I don’t know why I’m so unlucky, being in the same class as these two. Not only do I get bullied every day, but I’m also forced to do bad things by them… I don’t want to…”

“Okay, I understand,” Yang Jin patted Zhao Qinghe’s shoulder. “You can go back now. I’ll handle this.”

“Thank you, teacher!” Zhao Qinghe wiped his eyes, looking at Yang Jin as if he were a savior. After thanking him, he turned and left, his steps much lighter.

Yang Jin watched Zhao Qinghe’s figure for a long time before chuckling.

The painful nights of late-night self-study suddenly ended. Although exams were imminent, Ying Si felt as if he were in heaven just thinking about getting a good night’s sleep.

Of course, he didn’t trust Yang Jin’s kindness. He remained vigilant, expecting Yang Jin to pull some trickery.

But Yang Jin had no tricks up his sleeve. He simply lost interest in tormenting a little facial nerve paralysis, a little trash, and a little white lotus. He didn’t derive any sense of accomplishment from the faces that were now filled with “saved” written all over them when he announced the end of late-night self-study.

But he knew Ying Si, this little trash, wouldn’t dare to cause trouble for some time.

Yang Jin prepared to rest, but just as he lay down, a knocking sound appeared like a ghost. He startled, rising from his bed, somewhat incredulous of his auditory nerves. He quietly perked up his ears and listened again; indeed, someone was knocking.

It might be another staff member — that’s what Yang Jin initially thought before opening the door and seeing Shi Yixi.

“Why is it you?” Yang Jin asked in surprise.

Shi Yixi said seriously, “Teacher…”

“Young man, the game is over.” Yang Jin leaned against the doorway, looking down at Shi Yixi from a higher vantage point. He discarded his facade of kindness, his face filled with disdain. “What’s the matter? Are you here to cry to me about being bullied too? Have I not told you all that I don’t sympathize with anyone?”

“Teacher,” Shi Yixi maintained his usual demeanor, as if he hadn’t heard Yang Jin speak at all, and raised the book in his hand. “I have a question I don’t understand.”

Yang Jin glanced at it—it was a newly distributed history book. This subject was not within the scope of their previous “studies.” Raising an eyebrow, he didn’t know what Shi Yixi was up to. Adopting a watchful attitude, he slightly turned to the side, allowing Shi Yixi to enter his room.

“What’s the question?” Yang Jin said. “I’m not a history teacher, and there are many things you may not know that I’m also unclear about.”

“The book says that in order to save human society during the post-Low Tide Era, the highest political entity upgraded from ‘countries’ to ‘continents,’ divided into the Asian Alliance, European Alliance, American Alliance, African Alliance, and Australians migrated to the Americas, turning the original Oceania into a wasteland. Few people survived the Low Tide Era, and in this world, there’s no longer the concept of countries and ethnicities. It seems to have become much simpler all at once.” Shi Yixi suddenly asked, “But why are there still battles, and why does Qianfan exist? I… I feel the world is very peaceful. Where I live, there are very few even fights. Everyone is friendly, and I don’t know where this so-called ‘crisis’ is, is it in the screen information? Where is that in the world?”

This question puzzled Yang Jin a bit because Ying Si had asked him the same question before.

With a sharp decline in population during the Low Tide Era, nearly two centuries had passed since that time. Humanity had emerged from the gloom, gradually establishing a new social order. The initial establishment of the Intercontinental Alliances was aimed at eliminating the barriers of nations and races, efficiently allocating Earth’s limited resources. In the past, this was seen as impossible, as vast territories were not suitable for centralized political power.

But the past was just that—past.

Now, human society was composed of a vast information network, with colorful light screen networks everywhere. Even humans themselves had become symbols in the flow of information. They had even manufactured massive interstellar spaceships, and the universe was no longer mysterious. Time and space could no longer hinder humanity’s progress.

Under the vast expanse of the starry sky, a political group from a mere continent was really not a colossal entity.

“Doesn’t the progress of humanity imply the progress of civilization?” Shi Yixi was puzzled. “Then where do battles come from? Teacher, you’ve experienced a lot, can you tell me?”

“Because civilization doesn’t equal goodness,” Yang Jin said. “Sometimes, the cost of progress can be cruel.”

Shi Yixi stared at Yang Jin in a trance.

Yang Jin continued, “Now, as far as your eyes can see, it’s peaceful and tranquil, but battles can happen at any time. Where are they? How would I know? I can’t explain more to you.” He waved his hand, and Shi Yixi noticed the bracelet on his wrist. Yang Jin said, “As long as this thing rings, I know that somewhere in the world is calling for me. Although I don’t know if I can come back alive each time, I still manage to survive.”

“Teacher,” Shi Yixi asked, “What is your potential?”

Yang Jin smiled and asked, “Want to know?”

“Yes.” Shi Yixi nodded earnestly.

“My potential is…” Yang Jin maintained a smile, touching his lips with his finger. “A secret.”

This was a secret that everyone in the world wanted to know.

Shi Yixi remained expressionless and didn’t get annoyed by Yang Jin’s teasing. On the other hand, Yang Jin didn’t know how to proceed.

If the evolution of human genes was for adapting to the environment and improving survival rates, then the potential contained within evolution was considered a gift from God.

However, God didn’t exist; humanity had already proven that.

More accurately, for thousands of years since humans sent their first greetings to the universe, the human world had experienced explosive development and destruction, ruins and reconstruction. Civilization continued to advance with twists and turns, and the exploration of the universe never ceased.

But in the end, science and technology could never make the universe echo. Humanity had to face a conclusion: in the vast universe, there was truly only one advanced civilization, which was human.

It was like an innocent child entering a magnificent amusement park, excited to find playmates. The amusement park was vast, and as the child searched, from the initial excitement to hesitation, he went through twists and turns.

In the end, he discovered that he was the only one in the amusement park.

As night fell, darkness brought fear.

The fantasy world did not exist, and suddenly, loneliness and solitude enveloped this blue planet. Humanity lost interest and motivation to venture into the universe.

They called this psychological state “Bluebeard Syndrome.”

However, loneliness was temporary, and humans were creatures that needed belief to support them. When they found that there was neither truth nor assumption in the universe, they turned their gaze back to themselves.

The awakening of potential was the theme of the great era known as the Genetic Epoch. In the process of evolution, scientists discovered that chromosomal mutations in humans caused some individuals to possess talents beyond the ordinary in strength, intelligence, senses, and other aspects. After years of experiments and exploration, they finally used scientific methods to fully awaken the potential that existed in these individuals, allowing them to take a larger step on the stage of human civilization.

This was Qianfan—the fifth seat parallel to the four continental political entities at the Earth Round Table Conference.

“I…” Shi Yixi lowered his head and said, “I actually want to know what my potential is.”

Yang Jin asked, “What do you think?”

“I’m X, I can’t feel it,” Shi Yixi shook his head, “Maybe I don’t have any potential at all, and the academy made a mistake.”

“Although I think this trash academy often trains some rookie trash for Qianfan,” Yang Jin said, “Lao Ma ¹ wouldn’t make a mistake.”

“Lao Ma?” Shi Yixi didn’t know who that was.

“Pony,” Yang Jin said, “The main AI of the Qianfan Base.”

“…” Shi Yixi fell silent.

“Or you can call him Sunshine Rainbow White Pony or Colorful Black Pony or something,” Yang Jin said, “Maybe that would be cuter.”

Shi Yixi remained expressionless, just blinked his eyes, looking at Yang Jin.

Yang Jin felt a bit awkward. His every word and action usually attracted attention, and it was rare for him to receive no response, making him uncomfortable.

And it happened again.

“Cough, cough,” Yang Jin asked, “Not funny? Can you not laugh?”

“Laugh?” Shi Yixi thought for a moment, used two fingers to lift up his cheeks, forming a curved arc with his mouth, revealing white teeth, and asked with effort, “Like this?”

Yang Jin was stunned, thinking, “Is this guy really clueless?”

“Alright, alright, young man, that’s enough,” Yang Jin stopped Shi Yixi, “Do you have any more questions? Hurry up and ask, then go back to sleep.”

Shi Yixi listed all his questions, all messy, and Yang Jin felt dizzy looking at them. Where did this guy, who couldn’t laugh or frown, come up with so many questions?

Yang Jin began to doubt whether this person was really lacking in intelligence. Lao Ma might have really made a mistake, allowing an ordinary person to enter the Nufeng Academy.

Is it too late to report a return to the upper level now?

The bell rang, marking the end of the entrance exam for the Nufeng Academy freshmen. Everyone walked out of the exam hall relieved, chatting with each other.

“I envy you so much for being in Teacher Yang Jin’s class. He’s really amazing!” A group of girls surrounded Zhao Qinghe, chattering away. People of the same age always found common ground, and mature students like Ying Si and Shi Yixi were distant figures in the eyes of these young girls.

Zhao Qinghe enjoyed being surrounded like this and proudly said, “Yeah! Teacher Yang is really amazing! And he likes me a lot!”

“Wow, you’re amazing too!” The girls exclaimed in surprise.

“Enough with the noise!” Ying Si had had enough of these children’s play.

“What’s wrong?” Shi Yixi, always a step slow, didn’t know what Ying Si was talking about.

Ying Si wore a menacing frown, and with a sudden shift of expression to cunning, he grabbed Shi Yixi and went to find Zhao Qinghe.

“What are you up to?” Shi Yixi asked.

Ying Si said, “Educating elementary school students.”

Zhao Qinghe, looking at the silver-gray-haired youth with a smiling face, suddenly felt a chill down his spine. However, in front of other classmates, he had to maintain the facade of friendly relations.

“What’s up, Ying Si?” Zhao Qinghe asked innocently.

“Nothing, just came over to say hello to you,” Ying Si said. “How did your exams go?”

“Uh…” Zhao Qinghe looked embarrassed. “Not so well. I didn’t review properly before the exams. I don’t know if I’ll pass.”

Ying Si pretended to be surprised. “You’re an A-level outstanding student! Even without reviewing, you should be able to get a perfect score!”

This compliment made Zhao Qinghe happy, but he didn’t show it too obviously. He humbly replied, “Not really.”

Just as Ying Si was about to continue speaking, a man’s voice came from behind: “What are you all doing crowded here?”

Everyone turned around and saw Yang Jin and Ming Peng.

“Hello, teacher!” The students greeted in unison.

“Hello, everyone.” Yang Jin gestured with his hands, acknowledging their greetings. In the crowd, he spotted his three students. Although he didn’t know what had happened, he could guess that Ying Si and Zhao Qinghe were probably again engaging in mutual harassment, while Shi Yixi remained expressionless beside them.

He suddenly became interested and decided to add a bit of… fun to his students’ campus life.

“Is Ying Si bullying you again?” Yang Jin asked Zhao Qinghe. “Last time you told me he bullied you. Didn’t you have a proper talk after going back?”

Zhao Qinghe was surprised, Ying Si was momentarily stunned, and Shi Yixi didn’t understand at all.

“Okay ya!” Ying Si smirked and suddenly grabbed Zhao Qinghe’s collar. “So, it’s you, this bastard, who snitched!”

“Help, Teacher Yang!” Zhao Qinghe shouted for help.

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Translator Notes

1. Horse[↩]