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What… the…
Zhao Yibing stood still, opening the police announcement.
After quickly reading through the announcement, a surge of indescribable anger welled up in her heart.
"Evidence suggests the boy acted in self-defense? No, I don't believe it! Why not make it public!"
"Right, and the school—what did the school say?"
She then opened the school's homepage.
Suddenly, colorful ribbons appeared on the screen, accompanied by the festive music of gongs and drums.
The first line of red text that caught her eye was:
"Congratulations to Shen Ye, a student in junior class three (five), for signing with the Human Martial Arts Group ahead of schedule! Five key provincial high schools have already extended him direct admission invitations!"
Zhao Yibing was struck as if by a blow to her head, standing frozen, unable to react for a long while.
Meanwhile.
Shen Ye stretched languidly, sitting up from his expansive, soft bed.
——What a long day it has been.
A few minutes earlier.
A friendly and warm-hearted lady had shown Shen Ye to his exclusive room.
Upon entering, one could see the bundle of orchids placed on the table.
Works of art from several artists adorned the walls.
Every book in the bookcase was a comic book, all of them brand new.
The room also had a treadmill and a cycling machine, and outside on the balcony was a swimming pool for his personal use.
Opening the refrigerator, it was filled with chocolates, cheeses, nougat, and 'Scrumptious' braised snacks along with frozen pineapple juice and grape juice from around the world.
A line of hopping text on the television read:
"Welcome to the group, Mr. Shen Ye, please say 'Turn on the TV'."
Shen Ye said, "Turn on the TV."
A bright and youthful girl appeared on the screen.
She stood by the rolling waves of the Gold Coast in a bikini, flashing a brilliant smile toward the camera:
"Hi, Shen Ye, I'm Xu Mulin."
"First off, congratulations on joining the Human Martial Arts Group; you're really amazing!"
"You're younger than I am, so I'll call you little brother."
"Little brother, I want to thank you for all the support and love you've given me."
"And big sis here, I hope you study hard and strive to improve your strength, becoming an especially impressive big shot."
"I've prepared some concert tickets for you, which have already been mailed out, and I believe you'll receive them soon."
"This world is vast and worthy of our joint efforts and struggle."
"I hope to meet you soon."
"Remember to come to my concert, and lemme tell you, I've reserved the front row seats just for you!"
The girl waved goodbye with a smile.
The video ended.
The room fell silent once more.
Shen Ye showed a slight hint of reminiscence.
According to his memories, the Shen Ye of the past was very fond of this female celebrity named Xu Mulin.
Everything in this room, from the flowers to the paintings, to the books, the food and drinks, even to his hobbies in sports, and the female celebrity—
Everything matched the likes of the young boy Shen Ye from the past.
——For a newcomer, the group actually went to such lengths.
Shen Ye walked over to the large floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the night scene.
This was the 105th floor, where he stood above the clouds, overlooking the city lights and the countless stars in the sky.
Who wouldn't want to remain on the cloud tops?
Who doesn't wish to ride the winds, ascend to the skies, and witness that truly magnificent view?
And who would willingly live a life as just another underling?
Shen Ye turned to glance at the clock on the wall.
It was 7 p.m.
Today, he had completed a set of practice tests, performed magic in Otherworld, returned for the mock exams, got into a fight, was called to the police station and then almost got killed, accomplished his first "Whispers of the Dark," and finally, joined the Martial Arts Group.
He really was a bit tired.
Soon he would take a hot bath and then start resting immediately.
His eyes suddenly hardened with determination.
Tonight at midnight, he would open the door to Nightmare World, aiming to gain another respectable Evaluation Entry.
He must become stronger!
In the day-after-tomorrow's entrance exam, he could not afford to be eliminated!
Time passed.
Late at night.
Ding-a-ling!
His alarm rang.
Shen Ye rose from his plush, spacious bed, got dressed, and washed his face with cold water.
He felt invigorated.
——Now he could go to the Different World.
He pressed his hand against the wall, whispering "door" in his mind.
Sure enough, a door appeared on the wall.
Shen Ye looked through the window pane into the room, and his expression suddenly changed.
He saw the corridor littered with broken bones, and the few intact skeletons were also riddled with countless cracks.
A Skull Head was lying on a pile of bones with a big hole in its crown, its dimming Soulfire flickering like a candle in the wind, as though it could go out at any moment.
"Skeleton Brother?"
Shen Ye couldn't help calling out.
The Soulfire in the Skull Head's eye sockets leapt vigorously in response.
"I'm dying! Save me!"
It said with an urgent tone.
"But—I don't know how to heal," Shen Ye replied.
"Those miraculous pills from last time, do you have any more? Quick, give me a few!" Skeleton Brother said.
A few?
Not even one was left!
Those were Marrow-Supplementing Pills, priceless treasures; his father had to call on past connections and spent all their savings just to get one.
"Sorry, I don't have any of those things on me," Shen Ye said.
The Soulfire in Skeleton Brother's eye sockets dimmed immediately.
"It's over. To think I would end up dying here, how ironic, haha!"
With a few bursts of crazed laughter, it ignored Shen Ye.
```
Shen Ye fell into contemplation.
If the skeleton died, he could safely pass through the corridor and open the door on the opposite side.
But—
Previously at the police station, it was through its trade of "Whispers of the Dark" that he sensed the corpse and became alert, which allowed him to avoid danger and eventually discover the truth.
That was one of the three most ancient talents of the Undead Race.
So—
This guy seems to... perhaps... maybe possibly have some value.
I guess.
After all, it's a decent trading partner, why not try to save it?
But how to save it?
An idea suddenly flashed through Shen Ye's mind.
He remembered that after the big skeleton took calcium tablets, the cracks in its legs seemed to fade a bit.
Right!
Calcium tablets!
Without Marrow-Supplementing Pills, we still have calcium tablets.
Shen Ye took out his phone and started placing online orders, saying:
"Hang in there, Skeleton Brother, I'm figuring out a solution for you."
"What solution?" the big skeleton lit up with hope.
"You've taken calcium tablets before, remember?" Shen Ye said.
The big skeleton's hopes were immediately dashed, and it said dejectedly, "That effect is too slow, it's useless."
Shen Ye's hands paused.
Calcium tablets won't work?
Hmm...
Emergencies in Jianghu truly can't wait, I must think of a solution quickly!
I got it!
Shen Ye chose online consultation.
He carefully selected an online orthopedic specialist doctor and painstakingly spent the living allowance he had just received.
The expert doctor connected to the consultation call.
"Hello? What's the patient's current condition?"
"Broken bones," Shen Ye responded.
"Which part? Have you taken X-rays? What's the severity?" the expert asked skillfully.
"It's just..." Shen Ye glanced through the glass window, "the skull has a hole the size of a bowl, and the body is cracked all over, but there's still a flicker of hope in the eyes."
"—What medication can be used for this condition?"
The expert was very accommodating, "You might have contacted the wrong department. Here's what I'll do, I'll issue you a refund, and you should consult the psychiatric department, alright?"
Shen Ye slapped his forehead.
He got distracted!
—He was still separated by a door and didn't know whether trying to save the skeleton this way would add any points to his evaluation.
Caught up in thinking about this, he had inadvertently told the truth.
Looking back at the phone screen, the expert had indeed issued a full refund and even recommended several psychiatrists.
Tsk.
Using human medicine to treat an Undead was indeed a bit far-fetched.
No choice.
It's up to me to act—
—Treat a dead horse as if it's a living one!
Shen Ye kept tapping on his phone, switching tabs, and placing orders.
Two hours and forty minutes later.
He opened the door connecting the Main World and the Nightmare World.
In the gloomy corridor, a large fish tank measuring two meters long, one meter wide, and one and a half meters tall was pushed through the doorway.
The fish tank was already filled with water.
Shen Ye used a clothes rod to pick up the big skeleton's skull head gently and place it in the fish tank.
The skull head bubbled down to the bottom of the tank, its eye sockets flickering with Soulfire, looking around as it floated and sank with the water.
It seemed quite astonished.
Shen Ye had been busy back and forth and only now took a breather, sitting outside the door on a small stool, sipping frozen pineapple juice.
—He still hadn't entered the room.
After all, the performance during the first entrance of the day determined the level of the Evaluation Entry.
If he messed with the fish tank inside the door and missed anything and had to come out to fetch it, wouldn't that directly ruin the entry?
Absolutely mustn't affect the Evaluation Entry!
"See? I spared no expense to save you," he said to the skull head in the tank.
The big skeleton's voice sounded in Shen Ye's ears:
"What's going on? Why do I feel like my condition is being maintained?"
Shen Ye snorted:
"Nonsense! I spent all my money, bought Calcium Gluconate Oral Solution and Calcium Magnesium Zinc Liquid Calcium, and filled this huge tank for you. This has to be better than taking calcium tablets, right?"
"What's an oral solution?" the big skeleton asked.
"You can think of it as the pro max version of calcium tablets," Shen Ye said.
"What do you mean by 'broken horse may die'? I don't want to die!" the big skeleton cried out in fear.
"Relax, it's a more potent kind of calcium tablet," Shen Ye hurriedly reassured.
The big skeleton was still somewhat doubtful, asking, "What exactly is this tank—"
"Just be at ease—pristine glass, professional under-gravel filter, one-touch pollution removal, long-lasting battery, self-generating water currents, and it can even light up and sing karaoke for you," Shen Ye reassured as he crouched outside the door, examining the fish tank carefully.
—Back then, he had really wanted to raise fish, but it never came to be.
Unexpectedly, this dream was now realized in a Different World.
He casually took out a remote control and pressed a button.
Changing colorful lights emerged in the tank, and the water rippled back and forth.
A familiar voice broke out in a cheerful song:
"What's the name of daddy's father? Daddy's father is called 'grandpa'."
The skull head swayed, floated, and revolved rhythmically with the water.
Shen Ye pressed the remote control again.
The light, water waves, and sound all disappeared.
"Was that you singing just now?" the big skeleton asked.
"To encourage your speedy recovery, I personally recorded a segment. How was my singing?" Shen Ye asked expectantly.
"...You sing well, just don't sing next time," the big skeleton said weakly.