Deus Ex Machina: Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The simulated match was settled based on the total number of kills, and if both sides were stuck in a stalemate, a time limit of two hours would be imposed, with the total kill count as the decisive factor.

In the following period, the system reported deaths one after another.

“Class 6, Shi Yixi, eliminated.”

“Class 6, Ying Si Lan, eliminated.”

“Class 6, Zhao Qinghe, eliminated.”

“The battle continues.”

At noon, the cafeteria was crowded.

Led by Ming Peng, three students from his class and three from Yang Jin’s class, a total of seven people, rushed into the cafeteria. They found Yang Jin casually enjoying his meal in a corner.

“Teacher Yang!” Ming Peng, who was usually good-tempered, couldn’t hold back this time, questioning Yang Jin. “We’ve been searching for you in the field for so long, and you’re here leisurely having a meal? When did you withdraw from the competition?”

“Oh, just in time for lunch.” Yang Jin said, “I’ve already joined the battle, and it seems like I don’t need to be involved in the later events, right?”

“So, did you just fire that shot to ensure the system started normally?” Ming Peng said incredulously. “Teacher Yang, can you take the competition seriously? Your irresponsible behavior, how do you think the students will perceive it? We’ve been looking for you for two hours! Otherwise, it would have ended much earlier!”

Clearly, the three students from Ming Peng’s class had strange expressions. Ying Si, enjoying the spectacle, whispered, “Did you know he was like this on the first day?”

“Are you all tired?” Yang Jin smiled, practicing Tai Chi. “Let’s eat. Otherwise, there won’t be any food left later. Window No. 3 has natural grains today, which is rare. The teachers’ cafeteria is not open.”

Ming Peng felt that Yang Jin probably staged this whole thing just to have a chance to eat natural grains sooner.

“My dear Ming teacher!” Yang Jin quickly interrupted Ming Peng. “I don’t look down on the students; don’t overthink it. Next time, I will follow through from start to finish. This time, you can tell others that your class won against mine!”

“I’m not that kind of person,” Ming Peng said seriously.

“Teacher Ming is indeed fair and strict.”

Ming Peng sighed, not wanting to entangle with Yang Jin any longer. He extended his hand and said, “Let’s end it here for today. When the formal mid-term exams come, I hope you can take it more seriously. After all, it concerns the students.”

“Yes, sir, Ming teacher.” Yang Jin smiled, shaking hands with Ming Peng. However, in an instant, he regretted it.

Too hot!

To maintain the last bit of dignity and face, Yang Jin’s heart was in turmoil, but he remained composed on the surface, still smiling. Ming Peng also smiled, gave Yang Jin’s hand a firm shake, then let go and left with his students.

After Ming Peng and the others were gone, Yang Jin blew on his hand with force. “Is Ming Peng a reincarnation of an electric iron? He definitely wanted to burn me to death!”

“Heh, braised pig trotters.” Ying Si sneered.

“You little brat, want to speak louder?” Yang Jin said. “Do you believe I can braise your entire body?”

“Teacher Ming’s ability is to control his own body temperature,” Shi Yixi said. “So he can generate heat. Teacher, you probably don’t have that kind of ability, so you can’t braise Ying Si.”

Yang Jin and Ying Si were both left speechless by Shi Yixi’s serious, awkward statement.

Only someone like Shi Yixi could deliver such a solemn, awkward remark without changing his expression.

“How many minutes did you last in the battle today?” Yang Jin turned his back, suddenly becoming serious.

“Starting with Shi Yixi, about fifteen minutes.” Zhao Qinghe said, “Shi Yixi and Ying Si were eliminated quickly, and I persisted for ten minutes.” He deliberately emphasized that he lasted longer than Shi Yixi and Ying Si.

“Early death, late death, it’s all the same, it’s death.” Yang Jin said, “There’s no difference.”

Zhao Qinghe didn’t receive Yang Jin’s approval and lowered his head in disappointment.

“Do you guys think I shouldn’t have withdrawn?” Yang Jin asked again.

“Then what?” Ying Si retorted. “It was clearly a four-on-four match, and you silently ran away. How were we supposed to know what would happen? I’ve never seen such an irresponsible teacher!”

Yang Jin asked Shi Yixi, “What do you think?”

If it weren’t for Yang Jin firing that shot, Shi Yixi would have almost been killed by Ming Peng. At that moment, Shi Yixi thought he was saved and even felt a sense of “hope.” Yang Jin’s “I’m here” carried a strange power, which made him unconditionally believe in him, even without seeing him in person, believing he was safe.

But then, he was killed by Ming Peng, and there was no more sound from Yang Jin on the channel.

Everything happened very quickly.

“I…” Shi Yixi shook his head. “I don’t know. I trust you.”

“Well, let’s consider today as a lesson taught by the teacher in person.” Yang Jin said, “Shi Yixi, you trust your teammates very much. ‘Trust’ itself is not wrong, but in the event of a battle, at a critical moment, trusting anyone won’t help. The only person who can protect you is yourself. So you need to learn to use your own brain to judge, rather than rely on emotions and pray for a savior to suddenly appear.”

“But the rules of the game are the rules!” Ying Si said. “Don’t make excuses for violating the rules!”

“Oh, you’ve seen through it.” Yang Jin smiled, but then his gaze toward Ying Si cooled to zero degrees, coldly. “Respecting teachers is also a rule at school. Have you ever followed it? If you’ve done everything well, then I respect your right to speak. But the problem is, someone who doesn’t follow the rules himself, questioning others like this, I just find it laughable. You’re just a piece of trash who can only talk big and can’t do anything practical, seeking mental pleasure from questioning and targeting others. And trash like you doesn’t deserve to speak directly to me.”

“You! You!” Ying Si trembled with anger. Every word Yang Jin said struck at his pride, making him feel both angry and ashamed.

“Let’s disperse.” Yang Jin intentionally slapped away Ying Si’s finger pointing at him and left on his own.

“I’m so angry!” Ying Si exploded on the spot.

“Serves you right.” Zhao Qinghe muttered quietly. Although his voice was low, there were only three people here, and Ying Si and Shi Yixi heard him clearly.

“What did you say, you repulsive stupid c*nt!” Ying Si, already frustrated and looking for an outlet, found someone to vent on and grabbed Zhao Qinghe’s collar, gnashing his teeth.

“You deserve it.” Zhao Qinghe said. “As someone who died early, what right do you have to boast in front of others?”

“Do you think you’re very powerful?”

“Anyway, you’re better than me,” Zhao Qinghe said. “Do you think you’re so smart? But why can’t you even tell that Yang laoshi doesn’t like you? Always trying to make yourself noticed in front of others? Immature.”

“Who are you calling immature!” Ying Si swung a fist at Zhao Qinghe. To his surprise, Zhao Qinghe actually caught it with his hand.

“You…” Ying Si was taken aback.

“A and B, there’s a difference.”

Zhao Qinghe slowly released Ying Si’s hand with his own strength, adjusted his collar, and said, “I suggest you both work harder before the midterm exams and don’t hold me back.” As he passed by Shi Yixi, he glanced up at him and said specifically, “Waste who dies right at the beginning, you’re the same.”

“Mhm,” Shi Yixi nodded.

Zhao Qinghe hesitated, surprised that Shi Yixi actually responded to him. This acknowledgment reduced much of his pleasure in belittling others from a position of superiority and instead made him a bit annoyed, as if bullying a fool.

“You’re insane,” he muttered and ran off.

Shi Yixi wasn’t sure what Zhao Qinghe was up to. He simply earnestly acknowledged that he heard Zhao Qinghe’s words and agreed. Why did Zhao Qinghe’s expression turn so ugly? He didn’t want to think too much about it. He pulled Ying Si and said, “Ying Si, let’s go.”

“I’m going to kill them! Both Yang and Zhao, they can go to hell!” Ying Si, like a balloon about to burst, pointed at Shi Yixi. “And you! How can you agree to whatever others say! Do you have no dignity left for me!”

“Don’t pay too much attention to these things,” Shi Yixi said. “You’re my best friend, and I’ll support you.”

“How long have we known each other to become best friends?” Ying Si sneered. “Do you take me for a child?”

“You really are my best friend,” Shi Yixi explained. “I didn’t have any friends before coming here. Everyone thought I was too stupid and didn’t want to be friends with me. No one has been as good to me as you, and I will repay you.”

Ying Si was a little stunned by his words. He had only gotten to know Shi Yixi because they were similar in age when school started. After getting to know each other, he found Shi Yixi was not bad and was even placed in the same class. Over time, things developed like this. He did find Shi Yixi annoying sometimes for being too goody-goody, but he didn’t dislike him.

This lack of dislike, in Shi Yixi’s eyes, turned out to be at the level of “best friend.” Was this idiot living alone before? Would he feel like he had to “repay” anyone who was slightly nicer to him?

Ying Si was quite surprised, even a bit embarrassed. He awkwardly shoved his hands into his pockets, tilted his chin, and grumbled, “Who asked you to repay me! Just obediently follow me in the future.”

“Sure.” Shi Yixi said.

Ying Si said, “You can’t even smile. Are you really expressionless?”

“I don’t know,” Shi Yixi said. “I don’t have much feeling about many things that everyone talks about.”

Ying Si smiled helplessly, “Maybe it’s because you’re too stupid.”

“Maybe, indeed,” Shi Yixi replied.

The midterm exams were just around the corner. Not only were the freshmen actively preparing, but the upperclassmen were also engaged in a last-minute effort. After all, they had experienced exams of all sizes and understood the severity of the exam results very well.

The freshmen seemed a bit bewildered, but they all knew that they had to win this exam.

Before the exams, the principal held a special meeting for all teachers and then announced the exam details.

To ensure the quality and difficulty of the exam, teachers needed to participate alongside their teams. The exam lasted for one day, and the combined scores of the class and individual results would determine the outcome. As for how many people would be eliminated, that was not disclosed.

The specific process and criteria for judging the exam were also not revealed.

This unknown situation made everyone anxious, fearing that they might be eliminated.

Not only the students, but the teachers also became serious. It was unusual for teachers to be required to take the exam together. But this time, not only were the rules novel, but the personnel arrangements were also different from usual.

This was because the top leaders of Qianfan personally attended the pre-exam meeting.

However, this did not prevent Yang Jin from dozing off during the meeting.

After the lengthy meeting, Yang Jin tried to slip away, but someone called him.

Upon hearing this voice, Yang Jin’s heart skipped a beat.

“Oh, Professor Guan,” Yang Jin adjusted his expression, made sure everything was perfect, and then turned around. “You’re here too? Hey, Lao Wan, and you too?”

Wan Hong said coldly, “I’ve been speaking up there for so long, and you just noticed me now?”

“No, no,” Yang Jin said, “It’s just banter, how else would a conversation start?”

“Shut up!” Wan Hong wanted to hit Yang Jin. “Don’t call me Lao Wan!”

The reason why Yang Jin could be so carefree in front of Wan Hong was because he belonged to the department organization under Wan Hong. Qianfan was generally divided into three parts internally. Pony was the main AI brain of Qianfan, responsible for battlefield command systems. Wan Hong was in charge of operational administration, and both the Daily Vanguard and the Nufeng Academy were under his management. So when Yang Jin was demoted, Wan Hong could directly assign him to the Nufeng Academy.

The man next to him, with a cold demeanor yet full of scholarly air, was responsible for overseeing Qianfan’s internal technology, medical, and other departments.

Guan Jincheng, known as the wisest brain in the world, the one who held the spark of fire.

“Professor Guan, aren’t you busy lately?” Yang Jin said, “You’re always in the lab, do you have time to come out for some fresh air?”

“Come out with Wan Hong.” Guan Jincheng’s attitude was very gentle. “And take a look at the students’ situation.”

“Then Professor Guan might be disappointed,” Yang Jin said, “They’re all a bunch of very annoying kids. I’ve been here for a while and I’m already tired of it. Hey, are you two hungry? It’s lunchtime, let’s go eat first?”

Wan Hong didn’t want to join in, but Guan Jincheng seemed interested and said, “Yang Jin, lead the way.”

The three of them went to the cafeteria together. Yang Jin originally wanted to take them to the teacher’s cafeteria, but Guan Jincheng said, “The student cafeteria is fine.”

“Is Professor Guan here to reminisce about the past?” Yang Jin joked, “To relive your student days?”

Guan Jincheng smiled and remained silent.

“Oh dear!” 

Yang Jin felt a sudden warmth on his back. Turning around, he saw Ying Si had accidentally spilled a basin of soup on him, then exclaimed.

“Sorry, Teacher Yang!” Ying Si said, “I didn’t see you, I’m really sorry!”

Yang Jin could tell at a glance that Ying Si did it on purpose, but with Wan Hong and Guan Jincheng present, he couldn’t react. He could only patiently take off his outer garment and try to maintain a smile as he said, “It’s alright.”

“Oh. Goodbye, teacher!” Ying Si grabbed Shi Yixi beside him and ran off. Shi Yixi glanced at Yang Jin and also said, “Goodbye, teacher.”

Yang Jin was thinking about how to kill this bastard Ying Si.

“That student,” Guan Jincheng said, “Isn’t he a bit old?”

“Yes, he’s eighteen,” Yang Jin said, “A waste.”

Guan Jincheng asked, “How did you know which ‘one’ I was referring to?”

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