Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Have You Killed Before?
Niu Jingyu blinked, making sure he hadn't seen wrong, and stared at Liam, who seemed completely unfazed. There was definitely something off about this guy. Even if he had some resistance, yawning was a bit too disrespectful.
Don't tell me he was up all night playing games?
After a few more glances at Liam, Niu Jingyu quickly shifted his focus back to the other students. In less than ten minutes, quite a few students had already collapsed, prompting the beautiful assistant teacher in black stockings to rush over and move them aside to prevent them from turning into idiots.
Those still standing were essentially the cream of the crop, the top-tier students, the ones who had been admitted on merit. Among them, Liu Peng was barely hanging on.
He was feeling extremely uncomfortable, and when he inadvertently caught a glimpse of Liam out of the corner of his eye, he saw Liam looking bored and yawning.
Liu Peng: ?
I don't even know where to begin complaining! This is insane! We're all dying over here, and you're completely fine?
Liu Peng was so stunned that it almost overrode the fear he felt inside. With a sigh, he muttered, "Boss... you really are a freak, huh? Not even a little affected?"
Liam turned and looked at Liu Peng, who was practically falling apart, and whispered, "Honestly... I don't get why you all are being so obedient. Why not just lie down and pretend to faint? Problem solved."
Liu Peng: ?!
Upon hearing this, his pupils shrank, his eyes going wide.
Is that even an option?
Why is your lazy mindset always so... unconventional? Is this even allowed?
After thinking about it for a moment, Liu Peng decided to take Liam's advice and let himself fall flat on the ground, nearly smashing his nose in the process.
But after a few seconds, no one came to help him. The reason was simple: Niu Jingyu had overheard what Liam said.
"Leave him be, let him lie there," Niu Jingyu ordered, continuing to monitor the other students. The assistant teacher beside him cast a sympathetic glance at Liu Peng lying on the ground.
Liu Peng: ... Why is no one helping me?!
A few more minutes passed. By now, Liu Peng was genuinely reaching his limits both physically and mentally, but still, no one came to assist him.
Boss... you set me up!!!
&￥#%@!
Muttering incoherently, Liu Peng finally passed out. Niu Jingyu instantly appeared beside him, grabbed him like a drowned rat, and tossed him outside.
"Hmph, trying to take shortcuts, huh? Just because someone else can handle it, you think you can too?"
"Alright, that's enough for today. This was your first lesson, so we'll stop here."
With a shout, the terrifying pressure weighing on everyone vanished. In an instant, the students all collapsed to the ground like wheat being felled by a gale.
The sensation had been like drowning, like being trapped in a nightmare, and now, with the sudden release, everyone felt exhausted, gasping for air as if deprived of oxygen.
Liam, the only student still standing, watched the scene in bemusement for a few seconds before sensibly sitting down cross-legged, blending in with the crowd.
But Niu Jingyu walked over to him, motioning for him to stand up.
"Kid, what's your name? You sure can take it."
"Liam."
"Hmm... but you had the audacity to yawn in my class. A bit disrespectful, don't you think? Care to explain yourself? Why?"
Niu Jingyu flashed his signature menacing grin, clearly trying his usual tactic to intimidate the students.
"Ah, sorry, I didn't get much sleep. I stayed up all night gaming," Liam replied.
???
Niu Jingyu was stunned. Even his fierce expression seemed to waver. "You... should I commend your honesty?"
"Haha, that's not necessary, sir."
Niu Jingyu: ...
"What's your power? Something to do with the mind?"
"Me? I use energy chains."
Niu Jingyu: ...
Not wanting to say anything more, Niu Jingyu turned on his heel, sulking as he returned to the front of the group, watching over the recovering students.
Only a few minutes into the break, Niu Jingyu stood up and called for everyone to rise.
A few groans echoed from the crowd; no one had been mentally prepared for this level of intensity. This wasn't school—this was worse than military training!
"Get up! Don't act like a bunch of wimps!" Niu Jingyu shouted, his angry tone compelling everyone to stand.
"You're superhumans, got it? You're supposed to protect the world, not be protected!"
"Do you know what happened last night while you were all sleeping?"
"Oriental Academy was attacked. Your seniors, your teachers, even the headmaster had to stand up to stop it, so you could sleep in peace."
"And staying up all night gaming... really? You dare say that out loud?" He shot a pointed look at Liam as he said this.
Liam: ...
"You think you have a lot of time? The world is changing rapidly. The United Alliance meets daily, and when the time comes, you won't be students anymore—you'll be warriors."
"You think I'm pushing you too hard? Trying to train you too fast?"
"No! This is the basics!"
"Everything we're doing now is for one purpose only—to ensure that when you face a deity, you can hold your ground and not collapse!"
Niu Jingyu's stern voice cut through the air. All the students stood straighter, too afraid to slack off or complain. They were much more orderly and serious than when they first arrived.
Niu Jingyu nodded. The academy had appointed him to play the "villain" role to quickly rid the students of their pampered attitudes.
At home, they could afford to be pampered, but on the battlefield, against divine servants and gods, there was no room for pampering.
"The next part may seem harsh, but it's something every one of you will have to face in the future."
"You will all have to shed blood eventually."
"But just now, I noticed someone standing out. Liam, come here!"
At his command, all the new students turned to look at Liam standing among them.
Niu Jingyu made it a point not to familiarize himself with each student beforehand to treat everyone equally. Still, the students had already heard of Liam.
Liam stepped forward to face Niu Jingyu and said, "Actually, last night, I wasn't just playing games..."
"Enough, we can talk about that later. Let me ask you a question."
Niu Jingyu interrupted him, locking eyes with Liam. His eyes glowed red.
In an instant, Liam felt like he was standing amidst a sea of corpses and blood, even smelling a faint scent of blood.
A voice echoed in his ears—"Have you killed before?
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