Chapter 23: What Did He Come Here For, After All?

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How many points have I scored so far? Providing maps counts as intelligence gathering, analyzing routes is intelligence integration, formulating plans is advisory support, implementing breakthroughs falls under organizational leadership, and remotely deciphering layers of encirclement traps also earns points—these are all clear scoring opportunities. Moreover, the first few batches to find exits and the first few to return to the city... In truth, examinations throughout history have always revolved around these elements. Teachers understand this, and top students are generally aware of it as well; even many slightly less capable teachers might not grasp it better than their students.

Ye Chao calculated with his fingers: aside from the possibility of scoring zero for his performance against monsters—since he had never faced any wave of monsters directly, deftly avoiding them all—there was really no combat capability; even if he had three stars, a zero is still a zero. He should be able to score well on all other points. In fact, he was likely to rank first in most categories, while others would still be in the top few. He just didn’t know if these scoring points would be calculated separately as before or aggregated.

If it’s the former, Xu Tiange still has a chance to compete; if it’s the latter, then he has basically secured his position... and the latter possibility was clearly much greater. While he was busy calculating, he stood at a crossroads, brimming with ambition.

Of course, he wanted to score high in this examination, but he also knew that secondary subjects were unimportant; only the main subjects mattered. This examination was a comprehensive test, making it nearly impossible for him to crush it like pure academic subjects. He never expected that by some twist of fate, he would arrive at this point.

“Danger! Danger! An unidentified object is approaching!”

Just as he was reveling in his thoughts, Alpha’s voice rang out. In truth, Alpha didn’t want to remind Ye Chao; it was rather disgusting. Yet, she couldn’t ignore it, as she was parasitic on Ye Chao—though she didn’t understand why—if something happened to Ye Chao, she would certainly suffer too. Therefore, regardless of how low her favorability was, no matter how sore her throat felt, she exerted all her strength and gritted her teeth... Of course, she had to forgive him!

Favorability -44

An unidentified object? Ye Chao instinctively looked up and saw... Ahead in the corridor, Xu Tiange was dragging a long hammer, striding forward with long legs, her ponytail flying up, her eyes ablaze with flames, seemingly saying: Ye Chao, I’m going to slam you to the ground!

For some reason, Ye Chao felt a bit anxious. Xu Tiange seemed angry... but why? And why should he feel anxious?

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And how did Xu Tiange become an unidentified object? He simply couldn’t wrap his head around it. Tsk, there was that utterly bewildered expression again... Why did someone so smart always look confused? Xu Tiange’s lips curled into a smirk, her ponytail bouncing even higher, her pace subtly quickening.

“Not that way, left! Left! Over here!” Alpha cried out, both anxious and frustrated. “I said danger, and you’re still not running! Develop cautiously, don’t be reckless.”

Left? Ye Chao turned his head in confusion, looking like a bewildered fool, then transformed into a startled fool.

There really was someone!

“Duh!”

Favorability -23

In the dark corridor to the left, a shadowy figure was charging toward him, moving with extraordinary speed.

Li Jiujiu was a teacher, a young main subject instructor, only a few years older than these high school students. She graduated from the Urban Management Academy and immediately became a teacher, continuing her own training while teaching students individual combat skills.

In her eyes, Ye Chao was a troublemaker!

Clearly a poor performer in combat, struggling to pass several main subjects, yet relying on decent secondary subject scores and barely acceptable auxiliary scores, he still managed to rank among the top repeatedly. Now, he was excelling in this crucial assessment... It seemed he could easily make it to university.

Why was that?! Back when she was preparing for university, she trained tirelessly in winter and summer, enduring blood, sweat, and tears, wearing out countless clothes and shoes, working multiple jobs to supplement her nutrition while exhausted, just to barely get into the Urban Management Academy, which was only a junior college. Yet, Ye Chao appeared on the verge of achieving something much greater...

Why was that?!

She truly couldn’t understand what the higher-ups in the Alliance were thinking! They often spoke of educational reform, educational reform—how many years had it been? Secondary subjects still counted toward scores, and there was no distinction between main and secondary subjects. How could someone like Ye Chao take the lead?

Why was that?!

Li Jiujiu felt anger bubbling inside her, her steps quickening involuntarily as her mind conjured up images of capturing Ye Chao, dragging him into the teachers’ exclusive corridor, isolating him from the exam hall, and watching him helplessly lose points and evaluations.

Kid, you’re right here... Hmm? I’ll teach you a lesson!

She thought she had the situation under control when Ye Chao, caught off-guard, was right beside her. Just as she believed she was in command, a long hammer shot out from the side, accompanied by a sharp shout, “Who goes there?!”

The words “Liquefied Petroleum Gas” flashed by, arcing through the air, striking toward Li Jiujiu with a speed she could hardly evade. It grew nearer and larger!

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Li Jiujiu halted in shock, not daring to move forward; advancing would spell her doom. But simply stopping didn’t resolve the issue. She barely managed to dodge, avoiding a direct hit to her chest but ultimately not escaping a blow to her shoulder.

“Duang!” A muffled sound echoed, and she could faintly hear the sound of bones cracking and misaligning as her body was sent flying like a rag doll.

Xu Tiange stood beside Ye Chao, watching the still-spinning figure in black, her eyes blinking in unusual surprise.

She didn’t chase after him? Xu Tiange encountered an enemy but didn’t react like a dog spotting a bone or a cat seeing a ball of yarn?

Ye Chao found it hard to believe.

Until... Xu Tiange did move forward, the gas canister hammer swinging behind her, shifting from side to side, like a mischievous dog trying to please its owner, “Teacher Li, are you alright?”

Though the teacher was masked, Xu Tiange instantly recognized her familiar gait and figure through her sharp instincts.

Teacher Li? Li Jiujiu?

Ye Chao suddenly realized: right, this is an examination! Xu Tiange also recognized it was an exam, indeed...

Alpha was equally surprised: the teacher personally intervened, was this kid’s popularity so poor that it incited such public anger?

Favorability +23

Li Jiujiu nearly spat out a mouthful of blood, forcing herself to hold it back. Scrambling up from the ground, dusting herself off, fixing her hair, she struck a pose of a dignified teacher and waved, “Oh, I’m fine, I’m fine. You all continue, continue!”

With a slumped shoulder, she turned away, disappearing into the darkness with a heavy heart.

How embarrassing! Truly embarrassing! The two of them rushed out almost simultaneously, meaning they had nearly the same starting point, with no clear difference in reaction time, yet she was knocked away while Xu Tiange remained unscathed. What did that indicate?

The most critical point was... on her chest, the equipment called the heart guard displayed rows of text: “So, Teacher Li, what exactly were you doing out there?”