Chapter 167 - How Can a True Man Languish Beneath Others?

"Chen Pi, are you out of your mind?"

Shen Wushuang had arrived just outside the training room, wanting to check whether Chen Shu had been disrupting the others.

The results didn't surprise him one bit.

The moment Chen Shu had returned to class, the peaceful days had shattered like glass...

Shen Wushuang walked in, barely containing his rage, and spoke:

"Tell me the truth. What did you come here to do?"

He stared straight at Chen Shu, cutting right to the question he wanted answered most.

Chen Shu put on his most innocent face. "I'm looking out for my classmates! As class monitor, it's my duty to understand everyone's situation. They're the flowers of the motherland, after all..."

"Stop, stop, STOP!"

Shen Wushuang rubbed his temples. Listening to Chen Shu's bullshit gave him a splitting headache.

"The truth. What are you actually here for?"

Chen Shu spread his hands and answered without a shred of hesitation: "To show off!"

"..."

So you're not even pretending anymore, huh?

Shen Wushuang grabbed Chen Shu by the collar and dragged him out. "Come on. I see you've hit Level 9 now — that means you're qualified to spar with me!"

The Special Training Class students all watched Chen Shu get hauled away, and a collective sigh of relief swept through the room.

The two of them headed downstairs.

Chen Shu's expression turned dead serious. "Respecting one's teacher is a principle I, Chen Shu, hold sacred!"

"And?"

Shen Wushuang raised an eyebrow.

Chen Shu declared with absolute conviction: "Under no circumstances would I ever raise a hand against Teacher Shen!"

"Is that so?" Shen Wushuang stroked his chin. "Funny — I keep getting the feeling you're itching to bury me."

"Is that so?"

Chen Shu was about to respond when options materialized before his eyes.

[Option 1: Nod and say "Exactly my intention!" — Reward: One Black Iron Body-type Potion]

[Option 2: Deny everything, create the illusion of respecting teachers! — Reward: Level 2 Jumping Fruit]

[Option 3: Find the right moment and launch a sneak attack — this is a brave man's game, proceed with caution! — Reward: Large amount of Beast Taming Power]

Chen Shu drew a deep breath. All three options had solid rewards.

But what he needed most right now was Beast Taming Power.

Before Level 9, he'd never have picked Beast Taming Power — he could've just popped Beast Taming Pearls to rocket through the levels.

But now, Pearls were basically useless for a Level 9 Beast Tamer.

If Chen Shu wanted to reach Black Iron before the College Entrance Exam, he had to seize every single opportunity!

The world demands men be fearless![1]

Chen Shu pointed at the sky. "Teacher Shen, look — a flying saucer!"

Shen Wushuang fell for it hook, line, and sinker, turning his gaze skyward.

Chen Shu looked down and began rummaging around on his person, producing — somehow — a urea bag.

But the instant he looked back up, Shen Wushuang was staring straight at him, eyes practically glowing murderous red.

The vicious grin on Chen Shu's face froze in place...

WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!

What followed was a beating of inhuman proportions. The carnage was beyond description.

If shown on television, the entire screen would've been one giant mosaic...

"AHHHHHHH... Son of a—!"

The Special Training Class was five floors up, but they could still hear Chen Shu's screams clear as day.

"It's not that retribution doesn't come — it just hadn't been time yet!"

More than a few students snapped out of their cultivation states.

They tilted their heads back and stared at the ceiling, eyes glistening with tears of pure emotion.

Heaven had finally opened its eyes!

---

That evening, when school let out.

Shen Wushuang walked into the training room to round up the students for the trip back.

Most of them had woken up early, eager to see what had become of Chen Shu.

"Come in."

Shen Wushuang's voice was flat, casual — like a man whose mood had improved considerably.

Chen Shu was in high spirits, a faint smile playing at the corner of his mouth. He didn't look like someone who'd just been beaten within an inch of his life.

Everyone was confused — but the confusion evaporated in about two seconds.

More than a few people covered their mouths to stifle their laughter.

Because with every step Chen Shu took, an avalanche of dirt cascaded off his body...

"What? What are you looking at me for?"

Chen Shu's face was perfectly composed. Dirt continued to pour off him nonstop, flowing like water, cascading to the floor in a steady whoooosh.

Another legendary scene from the Nanjiang Bandit was born!

"The world demands men be fearless... face the world with grace and ease..."[1]

He hummed the tune as he strolled, calm as ever, back into formation.

Inside, Chen Shu wept silently. He swore to himself — he would NEVER let anyone bury him a third time!

...

The group returned to Nanjiang Second High.

At the school gates.

"Chen Pi, wanna grab dinner?"

Xie Sunan asked, a hint of barely concealed amusement still dancing in his eyes.

"You guys go ahead. I need some quiet time."

Chen Shu's gaze was distant, ethereal — as if he'd seen through all the cruelties of the world and ascended to a higher plane of existence...

"Oh, and could you bring me back a large beef noodle — three liang — four pork buns, and a hamburger?"

"..."

Xu Xingxing and Xie Sunan stared at him in unison. Dude's having an existential crisis and he STILL eats like that?

"Thanks!"

Chen Shu left behind a weathered, world-weary silhouette as he headed back to the dorm.

...

Early the next morning.

"Chen Pi, time to get up!"

"You guys go on. I'm not going for the next few days."

Chen Shu burrowed deeper into his blanket, needing time to heal his psychological wounds.

Xu Xingxing and Xie Sunan exchanged amused glances.

Sitting right beside Chen Shu's bed was a bag of dirt — clearly, he was steeling himself for revenge...

Days flickered past.

Though it was only a few short days, everyone's mood was positively radiant. Their cultivation efficiency even saw a noticeable bump.

Soon enough, it was December thirty-first.

"Chen Shu, time to get up!"

"Don't... don't bother me. I need more time to recover..."

Chen Shu buried his head under the covers. The weather had only gotten colder.

If this blanket were a coffin, he'd happily be buried in it forever...

"We're not going to the Beast Taming Dojo today. The training course is over!"

"Oh."

Chen Shu's reply was limp and lifeless.

The other two shook their heads. They'd already finished washing up and were about to head out.

As they opened the dorm room door—

Xie Sunan mentioned offhandedly in a low voice: "Rewards get handed out today."

In that instant.

The blanket exploded off the bed. Chen Shu went from dead asleep to fully conscious in a heartbeat.

"Let's go! I'm all set!"

There he stood, right beside his bed — fully dressed, shoes on, ready to roll.

"What the f— LIGHTSPEED?!"

The two of them nearly choked, eyes bulging. This was genuinely, certifiably absurd.

...

Nanjiang Second High, Beast Taming Arena.

"Today marks the end of the training course!"

Shen Wushuang surveyed the Special Training Class below, satisfaction evident in his gaze.

Though a certain individual had been spectacularly unhinged, the vast majority had given him very little trouble.

"Now, it's time to announce the cultivation rankings!"

At those words, every pair of eyes in the class locked onto him, bright with anticipation.

Not everyone came from a prestigious family or had Chen Shu's ability to print money.

Most of them were from ordinary households. School resources were everything.

"First place — Chen Shu!"

"Second place — Xu Xiaoyu!"

"Third place — Tang Lie!"

"..."

Shen Wushuang rattled through the rankings in quick succession.

Chen Shu taking first wasn't a surprise to anyone. The leap from Level 8 to Level 9 was a far bigger jump than anything the rest of them had managed.

Tang Lie muttered under his breath: "Du Long, weren't you going to protest?"

The two of them had predicted this morning that Chen Shu would land first place.

But the guy hadn't even participated in the course. What right did he have to claim a prize?

Du Long's gaze hardened with resolve. He raised his hand.

"Teacher!"

"Du Long, is there something you need?"

Du Long was about to speak — but out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Chen Shu behind him, and his expression froze solid.

"Here, Xiao Xing, help me organize this urea bag."

Chen Shu had pulled the urea bag out of his backpack, fiddling with it as if it were nothing — but the implication was unmistakable...

Goddammit! He's bluffing me again!

Du Long felt nothing but suffocating frustration. A phrase surged unbidden into his mind:

A great man born between heaven and earth — how can he languish beneath others?![2]

[1] "The world demands men be fearless...": Lyrics from a viral Douyin ballad about the silent burden of manhood. Chen Shu hums it with the gravitas of a warrior poet despite being freshly buried alive.

[2] "A great man born between heaven and earth...": Lu Bu's famous declaration from Romance of the Three Kingdoms before assassinating his adopted father. A stirring call to ambition — somewhat undermined by Du Long being too terrified to raise his hand.