novelraw Chapter 678: Cruelty
Chapter 678: Cruelty
Back in her dorm, Ji You began to use the Body Refining Medicine.
The medicine still involved soaking in a Medicine Bath.
During the usage, it was extremely excruciating, akin to the pain of scraping bones and pulling tendons, but its effects were very clear. After the pain, it felt as if reborn, the whole person especially invigorated.
Ji You then continued to perform Body Building Exercises for a long time before getting ready to sleep.
The next day.
In the morning of the third day of the assessment, half of the students in the 131st Combat Department had passed. The remaining half, almost no students idle in the examination room, were all intensively training.
Ji You’s results were also gratifying; she could now control one hand of the Chasing Sun Mecha.
In the afternoon.
90% of the students passed the assessment. Only a dozen students were unable to bond with the Mecha, leading to failure.
These dozen students had very bitter expressions, watching as the time approached its end and yet they hadn’t passed, their eyes becoming red with urgency.
However—
Failure is failure.
They must face reality.
Mu Jianling looked up, gazing at these few failed students, and said, "After class, go back and rest for a few days."
The dozen students opened their mouths, "Tea... Teacher."
Mu Jianling let out an almost imperceptible sigh and still raised her hand, interrupting them, "The end-of-term exam is cancelled for you. Continue training at the academy. If the training results are not satisfactory, consider applying for a transfer to another department." The talents of these dozen students were, in fact, very poor, and they were altogether unsuitable for the Combat Department.
But that’s the nature of humans; for the sake of dreams, they know they’re unsuitably matched, yet they still go all out, striving to the point of a bloodied head, at all costs.
Upon hearing Mu Jianling’s words, the dozen students pursed their lips, their faces flashing stubborn defiance, and also—a trace of despair:
Is it...
Really unsuitable?
Really, should I leave the Combat Department?
Truly... Truly give up on becoming a Mechanical Warrior?
Among them, there was a black-haired girl about 170 centimeters tall, who bit her lip hard but still shed tears. However, after those tears streaked across her cheeks, her tongue reached out, licking them into her mouth.
Salty.
And slightly bitter...
Tears welled in the girl’s eyes, flowing continuously, but she licked them into her mouth, one bit at a time, never letting them fall.
Ji You watched this scene, her heart also feeling heavy.
This girl was rather shy and didn’t like to interact with other students. She would always silently immerse herself in training alone. Her Physical Strength was very poor, only a D grade, and her spiritual power wasn’t high either, merely a C grade. Such talents were actually more suitable for the Material Department, Mechanical Engineering, or other departments...
Entering the Combat Department, she truly had no advantages.
The Combat Department requires high spiritual power, high Physical Strength...
Moreover, the department’s training is incredibly tight, the intensity extremely high, unsustainable in the long run. Yet, this girl persisted through every grueling training session, clenching her teeth. Even if her performance was always lagging...
Her name was Liu Beibei, a rather cute name.
A height of 170 centimeters didn’t stand out among others who were 180, 190, 200... bigger in size. Liu Beibei was also the second shortest student in the entire Combat Department.
The shortest was Ji You.
...
Liu Beibei and the other dozen students who failed the assessment listened to Mu Jianling’s words, none voicing a single sound.
Mu Jianling said, "Okay, all of you go back."
It was not that Mu Jianling was cruel or unkind.
Unsuitable simply means unsuitable.
A Mechanical Warrior who can’t even control a Mecha is just food for the enemy. Instead of that, why not learn something else, perhaps saving their own lives?
To go to battle, to the front lines, there’s today, but no guarantee of tomorrow...
The cold suggestion to switch departments for a dozen students was also a kind of indirect protection.
After the evaluation, Ji You successfully obtained a spot in the top ten, solidly ranking first, and as a result, was exempted from the retake and repair fees.
But Ji You did not feel as excited as anticipated.
Ji You followed behind the other students, silently walking out of the examination room.
Like Ji You, the other students didn’t seem very high-spirited either. Logically, after the evaluation ended and the alarm was lifted, it should have been a time for students to relax, yet, every student had a trace of heaviness on their faces.
These students, who had just entered their freshman year of college, experienced for the first time what weight and helplessness meant, and also learned what cruelty was...
These dozen plus students had never slacked off in their regular training; on the contrary, they all worked very hard, some even more so than those with exceptional talents, but!!! Sometimes, just working hard isn’t enough to succeed.
...
The students, heads bowed, one by one left the examination room.
After eating and cleaning the stables and rabbit shed with Chu Jiaojiao, Shen Changqing, and Sheng Qingyan, Ji You then parted ways with several friends and hurried to Dr. Luo’s medical office.
As Ji You reached the entrance of the medical room, about to step in, suddenly hesitated; inside, besides Dr. Luo, there was another somewhat familiar figure.
It was—
It was Liu Beibei.
Faintly, Ji You heard Liu Beibei say, "Dr. Luo, I want to give it a try, please let me try."
Dr. Luo sighed softly and said, "Based on your physical constitution, I really don’t recommend that you spend a large sum of money on body building."
Liu Beibei stood there stubbornly, unmoving.
Dr. Luo sighed and said, "Alright then."
A tear glistened in Liu Beibei’s eyes, "Thank you..."
Dr. Luo said, "The school has just stockpiled a large batch of Body Refining Medicine, which they’re offering to students at a discount. Do you have 100,000 credit points now? If not, you can make installment payments."
The school kept a record of each student’s files, which included all their information. A brief look through Liu Beibei’s file gave Dr. Luo a clear understanding of her family situation.
Upon hearing this, tears burst from Liu Beibei’s eyes, she covered her mouth, choking up, "I’m... 10,000 short, can I repay it next semester?"
Dr. Luo nodded, "Yes."
Joy sparkled through the teary glint in Liu Beibei’s eyes, "Dr. Luo, thank you..."
Dr. Luo gave soft instructions, "Take the medicine directly home, make sure to use it exactly as I’ve instructed, and also, come here daily for a check-up on time."
Liu Beibei: "Okay."
Then, Dr. Luo gave several meticulous and detailed instructions, only letting her leave when he was sure that Liu Beibei understood and had learned them.
All this while, Ji You stood outside, not disturbing them.
Liu Beibei stepped out of the medical room, holding the medicine, as Ji You pretended to be just about to step in—
Liu Beibei paused, lowering her head and said softly, "Ji You, classmate..."
Ji You pursed her lips, softly saying, "Liu Beibei, classmate, you’re visiting the medical room?"
Liu Beibei whispered back, "Yeah."
Shy and not adept at conversation, after saying one sentence, she quickly left, clutching the medicine.
Ji You entered the medical room.
Dr. Luo glanced at her and said, "What are you skulking around at the door for? Go to the testing room for your check-up."
Ji You: "..."
Ji You mumbled, "Dr. Luo, you were so gentle and kind to Liu Beibei, why are you so rough with me?"
Dr. Luo laughed, "She’s a delicate girl; of course, I need to be gentler."
Ji You: "I am too."
Dr. Luo gave Ji You a look without saying anything, as if letting Ji You figure it out for herself.
Ji You: "..."