TYMIMA Chapter 2

In all his teaching career, no one had dared challenge Erdiff’s authority, let alone fool around during his show of power.

 

Erdiff’s voice sank to hoarseness: “What’s your name?”

 

“Zhan Pingchuan.” The delinquent youth displayed the confident smile of a good student about to be praised by a teacher, the two turquoise pendants on his ear bones swinging and clinking together.

 

Erdiff snapped: “What do you think this place is?”

 

Zhan Pingchuan indeed lived up to everyone’s assessment of his intelligence, with a strangely long reaction time. He seemed completely unaware that Erdiff was on the verge of eruption and looked around in confusion: “Star University Building 6 Lecture Hall. Did I come to the wrong place?”

 

Erdiff: “You’re late. You’ll be punished along with him.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan turned back, seemingly only now realizing that the Omega who had almost tempted him beyond resistance was waiting for punishment.

 

However, in the next second, he very considerately forgave both himself and Lance on Erdiff’s behalf: “Considering this is our first offense, let it go this time. It won’t happen again.”

 

Erdiff: “……”

 

He narrowed his eyes, unsure whether this person was playing dumb or truly audacious.

 

The class was dead silent. Everyone looked at Zhan Pingchuan with pitying eyes. If Lance might still have a breath left after his gland was destroyed, this person was almost certainly doomed.

 

So even someone with such looks could be cannon fodder.

 

Lance observed the scene before him, not at all minding that an idiot was butting heads with Erdiff.

 

He silently withdrew the hand that had been brushing his hair and took a step back, away from the center of conflict.

 

Unexpectedly, Erdiff suddenly turned his head, his cold gaze fixed on Lance, raising his bone whip: “You dare!”

 

Lance had barely moved when a cold wind swept behind his head. A piercing tearing sound filled the air as the bone whip suddenly extended several times its length, seeming to grow eyes, striking at Lance’s gland like a venomous snake!

 

“Ah! No!”

 

A boy in the front row cried out in shock and closed his eyes, believing the next second he would see Lance’s spine shattered, dying instantly.

 

Lance’s pupils contracted sharply, his finger almost pressing the button hidden in his palm.

 

However, the expected sound of lashing never came. The roaring, rolling heatwave suddenly calmed in an instant.

 

“Didn’t I say, let it go this time?” Zhan Pingchuan smiled with casual indifference.

 

The hideous bone whip was now gripped in his hand. A strong, deep scent of gentian bitterness enveloped him. The scorching air flow not only failed to burn his fingers but actually retreated like rats in a gutter under the intimidation of his ability pheromones.

 

He casually glanced at the bone whip in his hand, and its tip seemed to lose all strength, instantly going limp.

 

Lance narrowed his eyes and turned to look at Zhan Pingchuan behind him.

 

Only now did he truly notice that Zhan Pingchuan was very tall. His line of sight was nearly level with Zhan Pingchuan’s Adam’s apple, which had a healthy wheat color and emitted a dry, comfortable, sun-like aura.

 

The change came so suddenly that Erdiff’s expression finally lost its composure. His facial muscles twitched slightly, his skin cracking and closing, constantly emitting scorched hot air.

 

Being able to easily intercept his attack without harm could only mean that the person before him might be far more than just an A-level Awakened.

 

If he had high-level talent, Erdiff couldn’t act as he pleased in front of everyone.

 

With a gloomy face, Erdiff finally suppressed his temper: “I forgot, you haven’t been tested yet.”

 

He pushed the ability testing device in front of Zhan Pingchuan, indicating the arm-sized entrance.

 

Zhan Pingchuan didn’t hold a grudge. His glance at the testing device paused briefly, then he smiled lazily: “No problem.”

 

With that, he rolled up his sleeve and unceremoniously stuffed his right arm into the sphere.

 

Lance, however, carefully noticed the blood vessels in the crook of his arm tightening with effort.

 

The device detected the infrared reflection and quickly pumped radiation into the sphere. Blue light arcs, like vines or tentacles, collided with the pheromones, crackling loudly.

 

As the radiation concentration increased, the pheromone intensity value kept climbing. The originally chaotic, sharp light arcs seemed to suddenly come alive, gradually converging into one stream, striking at the organism that was resisting it.

 

The blue light arc grew larger and deeper, and under the collision with the pheromones, energy swelled to the extreme within the sphere.

 

Finally—Bang!

 

With a violent explosion, the crystal ore shattered into fragments. The display screen went dark, with the level permanently frozen at A.

 

With one unexpected scene after another appearing before them, the hundreds of freshmen in the classroom could only stare in astonishment.

 

A-level?!

 

Zhan Pingchuan withdrew his hand, showing a surprised yet satisfied expression: “I’m actually A-level. Awesome.”

 

Lance saw very clearly that Zhan Pingchuan had deliberately released a massive burst of ability pheromones, causing the crystal ore’s release capacity to reach its limit and be forcibly drained and shattered.

 

This way, the crystal ore couldn’t measure his actual talent level.

 

He was deliberately showing off.

 

A long-suppressed teasing voice came through the miniature earpiece: “Tsk, as expected of our young master. Which Alpha is rushing to play the hero this time?”

 

Lance glanced downward, hiding his sinister expression, and said in a voice too low for others to hear: “An idiot.”

 

Unexpectedly, Zhan Pingchuan suddenly looked over, his gaze sharp and penetrating as if seeing through everything. However, his tone remained straightforward, enthusiastic yet tactful: “Classmate, I heard that, you know.”

 

“……”

 

When meeting Zhan Pingchuan’s pure, brilliant handsome face, Lance’s expression had completely changed. His eyelashes trembled, his face filled with awkwardness and unease.

 

“Silly goose, you confronted the dean to save me. What are we going to do?”

 

His voice was soft and gentle, full of guilt, his white T-shirt pressed tightly against his sides by his arms, outlining the curve of his narrow waist.

 

Zhan Pingchuan almost thought his S-class hearing had malfunctioned, mistaking “silly goose” for “idiot.”

 

But then he thought, how could such a sincere and beautiful Omega lie? And ears that had been used for eighteen years might occasionally malfunction.

 

So he raised an eyebrow slightly: “Classmate, you’re so kind.”

 

Lance paused.

 

Hearing Zhan Pingchuan say this, unrestrained laughter came through the earpiece: “He says you’re kind? Hahahahaha, YOU? Kind!”

 

Fortunately, Lance’s guilty expression didn’t change at all. Even the shy pursing of his lips from the compliment seemed particularly genuine.

 

This lovey-dovey classmate interaction was like dancing on Erdiff’s reverse scale, but surprisingly, Erdiff actually calmed down.

 

He certainly could tell that Zhan Pingchuan’s true level was actually S.

 

But he didn’t call for the device to be replaced for retesting. Instead, he stared at Zhan Pingchuan with deeper meaning, revealing a smile of unexpected delight.

 

He no longer pursued the matter with Lance either, but unhurriedly recited the freshmen orientation notices. Only after finishing everything did that uncomfortable gaze move away from Zhan Pingchuan.

 

“That’s all for today. Congratulations on becoming members of Star University. Dismissed.” After giving instructions, Erdiff hurriedly left the classroom.

 

According to Star University dormitory regulations, students weren’t allowed to bring their own bedding. All daily necessities were uniformly provided by the school, so after the first freshman lesson, they could go to their dormitories empty-handed.

 

Students turned on their phone flashlights, illuminating the path ahead as they gradually headed toward the dormitories.

 

The sky had been gloomy all day, yet not a drop of rain had fallen. On the sports field, the mascot doll was still energetically waving its limbs.

 

“Fuck! What the hell is that? Scared the shit out of me.”

 

A student passing by with a flashlight was spooked by the huge smile on the mascot’s face. Embarrassed and angry, he directly kicked the doll.

 

The kick was so powerful that the doll flew off the ground, then crashed back down with a “thud.”

 

The doll’s limbs stopped moving, and its perpetually grinning head came loose, rolling away.

 

The inner performer’s wrinkled, ugly face was exposed. Her mouth was open, with a moldy, spoiled steamed bun between her uneven teeth. Dried skin tightly wrapped her deformed skull, and a putrid smell constantly emanated from her empty eye sockets.

 

Fortunately, it was dark, and no one could clearly see her features. They could only see the disheveled white hair on her shriveled head, soaking in a dirty puddle.

 

“You’re a B-level Awakened and you’re startled by a doll,” someone mocked.

 

“What’s so special about B-level? Did you see that Zhan Pingchuan? Even Dean Erdiff was wary of him.”

 

“Dean Erdiff was just showing respect to an A-level. Do you really think an elemental A-level Awakened would fear an ordinary A-level?”

 

“Exactly. The dean just didn’t make an issue of it. Lance was the lucky one, escaping disaster just like that.”

 

“You’re thinking too simply. Everyone knows Dean Erdiff wanted to punish Lance. Guess if his new roommate will seize this opportunity to please the dean?”

 

“You mean…”

 

“Haha, after all, he’s an F-level, fair game for bullying.”

 

……

 

The chattering voices grew more distant and scattered. In the darkness, a thin, pale hand reached out and tied a gaudy pink butterfly hair tie to the mud-covered white hair, then picked up the mascot’s head and gently placed it back on the inner performer’s head.

 

The deformed, ugly features were covered, and the mascot sat quietly on the ground, though muddy water from the white hair dripped all over its costume.

 

Lance stepped back, his expression uncertain.

 

Fortunately, that schadenfreude voice came through the earpiece again: “Rare to find an S-level idiot. Why doesn’t our young master recruit him?”

 

Only then did Lance shift his gaze from the doll. Looking ahead, he said casually: “What a pity, he’s about to die.”

 

Just then, the storm clouds that had been brewing all day finally released the first lightning bolt. With a roaring, muffled thunder, a huge white-purple arc of light branded a terrifying mark across the horizon.

 

In that instant of intense light, Erdiff’s pale blue profile flashed by. His venomous gaze was like thick ink dripping onto the bone whip hanging toward the ground. The whip’s tip swept across small stones on the road, making an eerie swishing sound like the crawl of a second hand.

 

Not far ahead of him, the show-stealing freshman Zhan Pingchuan walked with one hand in his pocket, humming an unknown tune, heading obliviously in a direction away from the crowd.

 

Calling him an idiot wasn’t unwarranted.

 

However, Zhan Pingchuan suddenly stopped walking. He looked up at the lightning overhead and said lightly: “It’s going to rain.”

 

“Is he coming?” A steady, measured voice came through the miniature earpiece.

 

Zhan Pingchuan surveyed the sky, laughing lazily: “Relax, I’ve been flamboyant enough. How could he not take the bait?”

 

“Don’t forget, I want him alive.”

 

“I’ll try my best,” Zhan Pingchuan replied perfunctorily, glancing at the darkness behind him.

 

In that thick, damp darkness lurked a dangerous presence, silently approaching.

 

“Young Master, our goal is to pry open his mouth and learn the truth about the Capital City rebellion suppression,” the voice emphasized again.

 

“Blades have no eyes…” Zhan Pingchuan spoke flowery words, but his expression gradually became serious. Another muffled thunder exploded overhead, almost shaking the earth. Before the downpour, willow leaves curled in the ominous wind, whipping against skin, leaving tiny bloody marks.

 

Zhan Pingchuan lightly wiped a drop of blood from his chin, rubbed his fingers, and smiled as if expecting this: “Here he comes.”

 

Erdiff’s bone whip had already split the strong wind, piercing the darkness, heading straight for Zhan Pingchuan’s heart. If one looked carefully with a magnifying glass, one would see that the dense, black shadow on the bone whip wasn’t the obscuring of dark clouds, but a swarm of strange little black insects crawling all over.

 

The insects’ mouthparts moved, emitting a breath that distorted the surrounding air. A willow leaf that accidentally collided with it instantly withered, blackened, and scattered into powder.

 

The original insect-system S-level Awakened Deng Zhi’s first-tier ability—[Bone Erosion and Marrow Absorption]!

 

Two F-level school workers followed closely, activating their abilities to form a silent barrier around Erdiff, making this ambush completely undetectable.

 

After the thunder, lightning followed. Erdiff’s vicious, pale blue face was fully revealed in the light. In one moment, his shadow, elongated by the electric light, overlapped with those of the two school workers.

 

Zhan Pingchuan lightly pressed his right index and middle fingers together, a blue light flashing at his fingertips.

 

But in the next second, he suddenly turned around, frowning deeply.

 

The bone whip hadn’t pierced his heart. That dangerous presence behind him had instantly vanished.

 

Leaves flew and curled, gravel rolled, and the two turquoise pendants were stirred by the wind, clinking together.

 

Apart from these miscellaneous sounds, the surroundings were completely lifeless, even peaceful.

 

Rain arrived as expected, fine droplets falling straight to the ground, outlining no living shape. In this area of the vast sports field, he was alone.

 

Zhan Pingchuan removed his night vision goggles, staring silently behind him.

 

“What happened?” asked the steady voice.

 

After a while, Zhan Pingchuan slowly spoke: “Stay calm. That target we were just talking about… very abruptly… disappeared.”

 

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