Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Intensive Training? Or Werewolf?
That day, all of Nanliang High School was in an uproar.
The incident from the previous night had yet to die down, and by the afternoon, a new development had already occurred.
Another case of Martial Arts Psychosis, and another person from Nanliang High School.
I mean, come on! Could this really be a coincidence?!
Jinshui District wasn’t a metropolis like Jianghuai City. A small incident like this could spread like wildfire in just a few hours, popping up in all sorts of chat groups and forums.
Because of police questioning, Yang Shen missed the "Subject Four Pop Quiz," but he had no time to worry about that. He went home unusually early that day and brought the matter up with his aunt, who hadn’t left for work yet.
"Auntie, I know Martial Arts Psychosis can strike at any time, but it’s definitely more dangerous at night. Maybe you should... take a few days off from your night shifts?"
Before, these incidents were all in the Jianghuai City District, or perhaps it was just that Jianghuai City was so big that it felt far away.
But now, things were different.
Yang Shen felt like there was a needle hidden in his pants...
It was bound to prick someone sooner or later. The only reason it hadn’t gotten him today was because he’d been sitting just right!
Tao Ying was unconcerned. "There’s nothing to worry about. Your auntie is at least capable of running away. I saw the news; most of the people who get injured or killed are those without any Martial Cultivation..."
’She’s so confident,’ Yang Shen thought. ’Her Martial Cultivation must be higher than mine, right?’
"I think we have enough to cover the household expenses for a little while. Look, that Chen Beiwang guy asked me to tutor him again. All told, that’s at least a few thousand a month..."
As he spoke, he showed her a text message on his phone.
The contact name read: Martial Arts Tractor.
Chen Beiwang’s own nickname was "The More Awesome You Are, The More Tired You Get," which Yang Shen didn’t get, so he changed it himself.
But Tao Ying didn’t even look at it. "Don’t you worry about it. I go to work at eight or nine and don’t get off until seven the next morning. Is someone with Martial Arts Psychosis really going to charge into a factory?"
Yang Shen thought about it. ’She’s right, that’s pretty much impossible...’
While there might not be many "highly educated talents" in the factory, the majority of workers did have a Martial Arts Realm. This was because most of the production equipment on Cyan Blue was designed for Martial Arts Practitioners.
The pay was also relatively higher; otherwise, his aunt wouldn’t have been able to afford to feed so many children.
In contrast, every time there was an attack with casualties, the victims were always true ordinary people.
Like the part-timers at the bubble tea shop where he used to work.
Thinking about this made Yang Shen feel uneasy again...
He hadn’t yet graduated and entered the workforce. Deep down, both emotionally and intellectually, he didn’t feel that society was divided into "Martial Arts Practitioners" and "ordinary people." He thought everyone was the same.
But the bizarre "perpetrator profile" and "victim distribution" of this Martial Arts Psychosis seemed to have unearthed this sharp, painful question in Yang Shen’s mind.
Or rather, in the minds of many, many people.
Yang Shen stared blankly, clutching an onion.
’Is it really a coincidence? Is this truly just a problem with Martial Arts?’
’If someone is intentionally causing this... what outcome are they trying to achieve?’
’Everyone’s the same. There are people who have it good and people who have it rough in both groups. Why does it feel like this incident has suddenly forced everyone into two opposing camps?’
Society is a massive concept, a reality that can be infinitely subdivided.
And behind every one of those realities lies a different emotion... when something happens.
The question of "what people think" might have a greater impact than "what is actually happening."
Sensing the somber mood, Tao Ying took the initiative to share some good news. "These next two months are the factory’s busy season, so there will be some full-time positions opening up. Your auntie here at least graduated from a Martial Arts College back in the day, so getting one should be a sure thing."
"The salary will be higher, and I won’t have to work night shifts anymore. Once we get through this rough patch, everything will get better."
As for Yang Shen’s tutoring income, although it wasn’t a small amount, Tao Ying saw it as something that wouldn’t last.
A family couldn’t be sustained on "windfalls" alone.
Otherwise, you might as well call buying lottery tickets a steady hustle.
Before dinner, his aunt Tao Ying busied herself making several dishes, but she still didn’t plan to eat. She was in a hurry to get to work, where she would eat tasteless little buns at the factory.
Yang Shen insisted on holding her back, making his aunt sit down and eat with them.
He had more confidence than before, having earned some money after all.
In turn, his aunt didn’t protest as much, since things were indeed improving.
Yang Shen suddenly had an epiphany... *He who runs the house, calls the shots.* That saying was truly no lie.
Only by running the house could one have the confidence to call the shots.
Those who only wanted to call the shots but lacked the ability to run the house would naturally find that no one listened to them.
During dinner, Yang Shen opened his system and saw that his family’s reputation had reached (7/10).
This was likely the delayed effect of the announcement at the Vajra Sect’s presentation, along with the fact that "Martial Arts Psychosis" and the "presentation" were now being linked.
After dinner, Lei Lv conscientiously went to wash the dishes. The "Trapped Reef Young Dragon" had been taking on a lot of chores lately, and the house was much cleaner than usual.
Meanwhile, Yang Shen took some time to teach Yang Mo and Yang Man the Qi Cultivation Guiding Technique.
His two younger sisters had practiced it a few times, but there was still no noticeable effect.
Afterward, it was another night of cultivation. Thanks to his All-Night Cultivation and Rising Sun Fist Intent, his Qi and Blood Value reached 119.
Moreover, with the addition of the "Buddha Sound Body Refining Technique," his physical strength was steadily approaching the theoretical limit for his realm.
Factoring in the enhanced senses and strengthened Inner Viscera from the first layer of Qi Cultivation,
even with the same Qi and Blood Value of 119, Yang Shen was likely much stronger than others...
————
The next day, the school was still abuzz with all sorts of rumors flying around.
The names, classes, and even the daily personalities and family situations of the two students with "Martial Arts Psychosis" had been dug up. The teachers repeatedly forbade any discussion, but it was impossible to control that kind of gossip.
Subsequently, another issue was discovered.
Both of them had participated in the "Vajra Sect" product trial.
Several hundred people had attended the presentation, but there were only 20 "Lucky Students," and two of them had already fallen victim. It was hard to call that a "coincidence."
Everyone quickly remembered that there were two such students in their own class as well.
And they were the two who had used it the longest.
A few boys came over during the break. "Yang Shen... have you felt unwell at all in the last couple of days? Like, have you had the urge to beat someone up, or lost control of your emotions?"
Yang Shen rolled his eyes. "Does wanting to beat you to death count?"
The boy chuckled. "Don’t joke around. But seriously, isn’t it weird? Both of them were the ones who wore the helmets. You don’t think there’s some kind of brainwashing function in them, do you?"
Xu Bamboo, who had been studying, frowned, and the group of boys immediately scattered.
They dared to joke around with Yang Shen, but they didn’t dare act out of line in front of Xu Bamboo.
Xu Bamboo asked distractedly, "Have you felt unwell these past two days?"
Yang Shen said, "No. You?"
Xu Bamboo’s delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Actually," she said uncertainly, "I did feel pretty uncomfortable that night. It even affected my studies, but I was fine after a night’s sleep."
Yang Shen suddenly asked, "Did... did that music pop up in your head again?"
"No, I can’t even remember what I heard that day... I just remember it was very noisy."
It seemed Yang Shen was the only one who had learned the "Buddha Sound Body Refining Technique."
But the thought that this technique might be related to "Martial Arts Psychosis" left him feeling a bit helpless.
’I’m not actually going to go crazy, am I? Suddenly turn into Happy Superman?’
’And start rampaging like Superman whenever I get upset?’
However, by noon, his vague worries had become a reality...
An unexpected situation had arisen.
Yang Shen and Xu Bamboo were called out of the classroom by their homeroom teacher and then taken to the office of Director Liang Shen.
The director’s office was the same as always, with the "Martial Arts as a Vehicle for the Dao" calligraphy being the most conspicuous feature.
However, for some reason, there was now a high-end massage chair in the corner... which felt very out of place.
After Yang Shen and Xu Bamboo sat down, Director Liang pushed up his glasses.
"Student Yang, Student Xu, I’m sure you’ve heard about the incidents that have occurred in society over the past two days."
With one sentence, he defined the incidents: as societal matters.
Director Liang smiled. "To ensure the safety of our students and maintain academic order, the school plans to take some special measures."
As he spoke, he took out a few documents from a cabinet and handed them to Yang Shen and Xu Bamboo.
Xu Bamboo looked down at them for a long moment, then asked in confusion,
"Is this... a loan agreement?"
His expression unchanging, Director Liang took back the documents and pulled out another one. "Apologies, wrong one. This is it."
Yang Shen looked down at it for a while, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.
Nanliang High School... top student training camp, closed-door?
Participants... all the ones who wore the helmets that day!
Location... a mountain guesthouse somewhere in Jinshui District!
’What is this?’
’Are we playing a game of Werewolf?’
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