Chapter 404: On the Way Home
A routine inspection was held before students could enter the train plaza. Although there were not many people, it was probably the first time that the freshmen returned to Earth, so additional staff were stationed to help with the inspection. It was a very solemn and strict affair, and Xiao Lin—who was lining up at the far back—noticed that someone near the start of the line had been stopped.
Although the student union had formulated rules for returning to Earth, there would always be someone who would try to violate those rules. There were many people who wanted to quietly bring some magic props back just to show off, but they were all stunned witless when the student union inspected them like an enemy.
Xiao Lin was also very nervous. He promised to bring Silverlight back. Other than ensuring that Silverlight herself would not affect Earth’s spatial balance, he also had to worry whether the spatial ring could be brought back with him when it was strictly a magical equipment.
When it was Xiao Lin’s turn, he discovered that it was an acquaintance who came to do the inspection that day. It was Gu Fantian, a sophomore senior who was in charge of guiding the freshmen when Xiao Lin first enrolled, and was seen working in the library later on too. Xiao Lin could not help but smile, “You seem to be everywhere.”
Gu Fantian shook hands with Xiao Lin very cordially and responded with a smile, “I can’t help it when I’m short of money. It’d be good to work and earn a little since I have some free time during this holiday.”
Xiao Lin nodded. He also knew that someone like Gu Fantian who was not a cadre at any level would receive a certain subsidy if he worked in the student union, though the work itself was very cumbersome of course. Since Xiao Lin was being inspected by an acquaintance, it was only natural that Xiao Lin acted in a more friendly manner.
The spatial ring could not be considered a prop that disrupted the balance of space, but since the most stringent regulations were enforced for the freshman in light of the exception that the academy afforded them, Xiao Lin did not know how to express himself in such a public place.
Gu Fantian was a smart person. When he came over with the testing instrument and started chatting with Xiao Lin, he had already noticed something from Xiao Lin’s expression and said with a smile, “This isn’t the first time you’ve taken the spatial carriage. I’m sure the student union already reminded you, so there’s no need for me to say much about these regulations. Alright then, you may pass.”
Xiao Lin gave a grateful look and appreciated it. He deliberately mentioned the student union just to seat up other people’s mouths. That Xiao Lin had connections within the academy was not a big secret. Even though many people did not know where that relationship stemmed from, it was enough to shut the mouths of those who were present there.
Gu Xiaoyue’s inspection went without a hitch as well. Books were considered one of the few things that could be taken back. The Normese text on it might attract the attention of ordinary people on Earth, but ordinary people would simply assume it was an alien language and the person reading it were either a lunatic or mentally unfit.
There were very few people taking the spatial carriage today and all of them chatted excitedly. After Xiao Lin and Gu Xiaoyue got on the carriage, they all said hello even though Xiao Lin had no idea who they were.
“Does this spatial carriage travel through a wormhole?”
“Will it be dangerous?”
“The academy didn’t seem to have specified anything.”
Several people were discussing nervously and groped around with their hands, as if they wanted to use something as support. However, none of those things were present or necessary.
Xiao Lin was going to explain to Gu Xiaoyue about the spatial carriage all along, and while he did so, he also briefly explained things to the others. For example, one could hardly feel any movement when the spatial carriage was moving and there was no need to worry about things like bumps. He also explained about the gold-like timesand.
Having taken the spatial carriage several times, Xiao Lin looked very calm, but he was very curious about Gu Xiaoyue’s expression. To his regret, although several other people made exaggerated exclamations in the process, Gu Xiaoyue remained as composed as usual. However, she then stretched out her hands in an attempt to catch the golden sand particles floating through the air. Of course, timesand was pure energy that could not be held.
Once the carriage arrived 20 minutes later, the inside plunged into darkness once again. Xiao Lin noticed a near-imperceptible sigh coming from beside him, and the carriage door opened just as he was about to speak.
The exit of the spatial passage from Dawn Academy to Earth was situated on a high mountain, with a fake observatory nearby. As the person in charge of the earth branch, Mao Tianying was there to greet the students; he was the same guy that welcomed Xiao Lin during the previous trip to Earth. Mao Tianying did not forget Xiao Lin of course, and after getting off the carriage, he immediately came over and greeted Xiao Lin enthusiastically.
“I heard that you’re now a monitor and you’ve even been to the New World. You’re an interesting person, and I didn’t even notice the last time we met.” Mao Tianying’s enthusiasm was quite flattering, but it was to be expected. Although Mao Tianying was responsible for the Earth Division, but for the simple fact that Dawn Academy placed so much importance on the New World, his position was probably worth less than Song Junlang as a department head.
Mao Tianying’s enthusiasm toward the other people was only perfunctory. For example, after leading everyone down the long stairs out of the mountain, he half-heartedly invited everyone to visit the nearby surroundings. However, there was nothing else to see other than an observatory on the top of that barren mountain, and it was still daytime too, which meant that there was no way they could use the telescope.
Before going down the mountain, Mao Tianying was also responsible for delivering the money that everyone had exchanged their points for. At the academy, the student union has already counted the number of RMB to be exchanged with each person, and the list was then handed over to Mao Tianying. Anything less than 10,000 RMB will be given in cash on the spot, but a card would be issued if it exceeded that amount.
To be more precise, Gu Xiaoyue was the only one among the dozens of people there who held a small pile of cash. Everyone else basically had a bank card in their hand. According to the regulations of the student union, the maximum limit of RMB one million was no more than 1,000 exchange points. After more than four months, most people’s monthly exams and daily attendance rewards were a lot of money when added up, so they could still afford to get that kind of money.
The Earth Division also thoughtfully prepared a vehicle for them to descend the mountain, but the only choice for the rest of the people was a bus. When it came to Xiao Lin, Mao Tianying enthusiastically invited him to get on his brand-new Mercedes-Benz sports car, which Xiao Lin did not refuse. Gu Xiaoyue was also invited. She blushed, but compared to a bumpy bus, she was obviously more than happy to ride in a comfortable Mercedes.
“This is a new car.” Xiao Lin did away with the pleasantries after getting in the car. He remembered that the vehicles there were very old when he returned the last time.
“It’s all thanks to you!” Mao Tianying gasped. “An exception was made for freshmen like you to come back, so the academy made a special payment for us to update the equipment and vehicles too. They’re to welcome you here.”
“That bus?” Gu Xiaoyue turned her head and asked abruptly.
Mao Tianying immediately coughed and Xiao Lin smiled helplessly. He obviously used a very small amount of money to buy a bus that would not be used again after that day, and instead used a larger portion of the money to buy that Mercedes-Benz sports car for himself.
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