Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 621: Chapter 516 Can You Do It?_1

Tong Ji.

All night long, Huai Shi took these two characters apart and put them together, turned them upside down and around, and after using over a dozen search engines and sifting through hundreds of pages, he hadn’t found anything useful.

When the next day’s sunlight streamed in through the window and fell upon his dark-circled eyes from a sleepless night, Huai Shi lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, and began to ponder.

Is this woman pulling my leg again?

But considering that she hadn’t swindled any money from him last night, nothing was stolen from his house, and even his untainted body remained untouched, safe from any defilement she might have taken advantage of...

With these thoughts, Huai Shi couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

It was a good thing he had been cautious. Otherwise, wouldn’t he have ended up empty-handed?

As wild thoughts ran through his mind, he got up, took a shower, finished his morning routine, ate breakfast, and began preparing the day’s lesson for his students.

However, when he picked up the Dream Cage, he paused for a moment.

The numbers had changed. There used to be 1,132, but now it had increased to 1,156—an increase of thirty-four.

After all, Rotten Dream was once a Ruler. Part of its remains, after being processed by Tong Ji, turned this Dream Cage into a formidable Border Relic. Countless dreamlands overlapped within it, faintly forming an abyss that lay between existence and non-existence, seemingly connected to some other place.

If it were in the hands of someone with a nightmare-related Stigma, it could immediately become a powerful weapon. But even simply used as a birdcage, the effect was still surprisingly impressive.

In just one short night, the number of the Crow Flock increased significantly. But to form a larger scale, it would rely on the assistance of Soloist’s Sky’s Command. Their current state was somewhat reminiscent of the Hell Swarm, but for some reason, they still couldn’t form a true grand flock.

Perhaps they were still lacking a bit of opportunity and growth. It seemed that sitting at home doing nothing, waiting for them to grow on their own, wasn’t a very realistic plan after all.

But at least there was a way forward. It was better than when he started with nothing, trying to rack his brain for a big score.

So, starting today, I ought to strive to become a Magical Animal Training Master, he thought, then sighed. Hopefully, the process will be a bit simpler...

At eight o’clock in the morning, the doorbell of Huai Shi’s house was rung punctually.

Lin Nineteen, who was still yawning, and Yuan Yuan, carrying the Mountain Monarch’s Heavy Sword and a violin, had already arrived at the door.

After greeting Uncle Fang, they entered Huai Shi’s study, ready for today’s lesson.

Compared to Yuan Yuan, whose progress was rapid, Lin Nineteen seemed even more lackadaisical, his lazy appearance typical of a bored student, which suited his harmless disguise.

If it weren’t for the increased friction between the societies he had been close to recently, which was almost escalating into open conflict, Huai Shi might have believed that this guy was turning over a new leaf.

The fact that no one had caught him red-handed only proved that he was getting better at stirring trouble without getting burned himself, managing to dig holes for others and still getting thanked for it.

In front of Huai Shi, he acted like an innocent child, but who knows how wild he was outside.

After checking Lin Nineteen’s homework, Huai Shi couldn’t help but shake his head in resignation.

It wasn’t that the work was done incorrectly or badly. No matter how much Lin Nineteen usually misjudged the importance of things, he wouldn’t dare slack off in his own teacher’s course.

The assignments were quite impressive, showing no signs of plagiarism or of him coercing others to finish them for him. And when Huai Shi occasionally asked him questions, he could reply fluently. Although he wasn’t very adept at the skills Huai Shi taught, he still seemed to be making a diligent effort.

But that was it.

Impressive was impressive, passable was passable, but it felt like this guy should be more than just impressive or passable.

After much thought, it still seemed to be Huai Shi’s fault: he hadn’t taught the right things or focused on the right areas.

But as a teacher, one shouldn’t instruct students to engage in wrongdoing, right?

Huai Shi closed the assignments. He looked at the earnest expression on Little Nineteen’s face and asked seriously, ”Have you been too idle recently?”

”No, not at all!”

Lin Nineteen’s eyes widened as he replied sincerely, ”Under your guidance, Teacher, my days have been fulfilling!”

Indeed fulfilling, Huai Shi thought. Stirring up trouble, sowing seeds of discord among students, making the Ivory Tower’s administration work overtime lately.

This week alone, three students had been expelled, not to mention the countless detentions and written self-criticisms...

Thinking this, Huai Shi almost felt like suggesting, I appreciate you thinking well of me, but when you’re out causing trouble, could you possibly not mention I taught you?

I’d probably be seen as a terrible influence.

But there was no helping it. Who’s to blame if I haven’t taught well?

Moreover, if one follows the Path of Karma without engaging in arson or murder, they’re already considered quite virtuous. Should I force them to do good deeds every day?

He shook his head, gestured for Lin Nineteen to come closer.

Seeing his serious demeanor, Lin Nineteen felt a sudden nervousness.

Could it be about yesterday’s incident, spreading rumors between the Rose Club and the Four Flowers Group? Or did those students I blackmailed run to the school authorities? No, they shouldn’t have the guts... Could it be that my two-timing was discovered by the teacher? It shouldn’t be; the teacher himself seems to be juggling a whole fleet of relationships, so he wouldn’t bother with such trivial matters. Could it be...

His mind raced. Realizing what must have prompted this, he fell to the floor with a thud, crying out, ”Teacher, I was wrong!”

Huai Shi was taken aback, completely befuddled. What’s going on? What happened? Why are you on the floor again?

His eyebrow quirked. Huai Shi looked at the apprehensive Lin Nineteen on the ground, sighed, and asked earnestly while lifting his teacup, ”Tell me then, what did you do wrong?”

Lin Nineteen glanced back subconsciously, then closed his eyes. ”These past few weeks of public lectures, I shouldn’t have instigated Yuan Zhao to pretend to be sick and skip classes with me!”

CRACK.

Yuan Yuan, standing behind him, nearly crushed his teacup. He slowly lifted his head, his expression darkening. ”Ah Zhao has been cutting classes again?”

”Yes! He has skipped four sessions, and he even forged a signature from the school infirmary—he got the sick note form through me—to participate in DP39!” Lin Nineteen quickly sold out his teammate. ”I admit, it was partly my fault, but I only started it... He did everything else on his own! He’s self-taught!”

”...”

Looking at Yuan Yuan gradually regaining his composure, Huai Shi began to silently mourn for Yuan Zhao in his heart.

What’s with all this mess...

”But what is DP39?” he asked curiously.

”The thirty-ninth Abyss Four-Dimensional Game and Animation Exhibition,” Lin Nineteen said softly. ”Besides buying plastic figurines, Yuan Zhao even went up on stage, won several awards, and seemed quite popular. I’d say having a bit of a hobby is no big deal...”

Huai Shi pulled out his phone and searched. Yep, he thought, immediately finding photos of Yuan Zhao beaming with joy, posing with various scantily clad young women, holding a plastic figurine.

Hmm...

Seeing Yuan Yuan’s increasingly terrifying smile, Huai Shi thought, That kid is definitely done for.

Well, he thought, it’s best not to meddle in the Yuan Family’s domestic affairs.

He sensibly averted his gaze. After glaring at Lin Nineteen, he shook his head. ”I wasn’t talking about that.”

”Then... Is it the thing about me secretly accepting bribes for the student council president?”

”...” Huai Shi’s expression twitched.

”Is it the fact that I anonymously reported the dance club for unfair competition?”

”...”

Lin Nineteen panicked, ”It couldn’t be about the deputy head of school affairs being brought down, could it?”

”Alright, stop talking.”

Huai Shi wished he could just shut him up.

Kid, isn’t your life a tad too colorful? If you keep this up, even I won’t be able to cover for you...

This is too much for my heart.

Why can’t these kids give me some peace of mind? Why not learn from Yuan Yuan instead?

He waved his hand, suppressing the urge to punch the kid, and glared at Little Nineteen. ”I think you’re just too idle. You need something to do... Come here. Take this. From today on, carry it for me.”

He picked up the Dream Cage from beside the table and handed it to Lin Nineteen.

Wood Cottage reached out to take it, stumbled, and almost fell to the ground.

Unlike Huai Shi’s easy manner, he was nearly crushed by this terrifying power. As soon as he gripped it, it felt as if a heavy truck had been stuffed into his hand.

The sheer oppressive power emanating from its core made his Stigma tremble.

Is this some kind of punishment from the teacher?

Wood Cottage opened his mouth to plead for mercy but then, his face changed.

His face turned crimson as if engorged with blood, and his eyes emitted bursts of purplish-red light.

”OHHHHHH!!!!”

The violent influx of negative Source Substance into his shell made the Molting Snake Mark start frantically hissing, forming a dark cloud over his head with faint flashes of hidden lightning.

And his hair was standing on end, as if he was on drugs, shrouded in a faint glow.

He had become stronger!

It was like holding a negative energy nuclear power station in his hand, with a continuous flow of pure negative Source Substance radiating out, rich enough to form an ocean, drowning his whole being in it.

Apart from his time in the Old Master’s Abyss Mirror, this was the first time Lin Nineteen had ever experienced such exhilarating sensations.

Although painful, it was also incredibly pleasurable.

His expression fluctuated, between excitement and fear, looking extremely eerie. And the hitherto silent Molting Snake Mark, under the stimulation of the Dream Cage, began showing signs of growth.

Feeling this affection from his teacher, Lin Nineteen danced with joy, triumphant, and couldn’t help but turn to look at Yuan Yuan while holding the Dream Cage.

Full of pride.

Can you do this?!

”...”

Yuan Yuan looked confused, not understanding what he was thinking.

”That’s enough!”

Huai Shi slapped the back of Lin Nineteen’s head, ”Ten minutes a day is your limit. Don’t frequently interact with it outside of that... be careful of having nightmares.”

Yeah, like dreaming about being surrounded by thousands of ravens singing hymns, he thought.

What if he gets brainwashed?

I don’t want to end up with a little zealot following me around, chanting ’Holy!’ every day.

”By the way, I’ll be going on a trip soon. You two pack your bags when you get back home and come with me.”

After the lesson ended, Huai Shi put away his books. He thought for a moment, then seriously suggested, ”This is a rare opportunity for field training and an internship, so don’t miss it.”

Looking at Lin Nineteen and Yuan Yuan with their somewhat puzzled expressions, Huai Shi revealed a kindly smile, just like Luo Su.

Youth is wonderful, he mused.

He sipped his tea, sincerely enjoying the pleasure of putting others through the wringer.

So satisfying.