Walking to the street corner, Chen Yu immediately deflated.
He put down his luggage and backpack and squatted in front of a shop. Taking out his Red Pagoda Mountain, he smoked as he pondered about what he should do next.
"Am I a tramp now?"
"Puff…"
[Subjected to an attack by malignant gases: Vigor +13]
In the principal's office just now, Chen Yu had really wanted to go hard on the principal.
He had the [curse] on him, anyway, so being attacked would only increase his vigor.
But reason had made him dispel the idea.
Not to mention that exposing his own secret would harm his own benefits.
Whether or not there was a cap to the [curse] itself was a serious issue.
Getting whipped by a teacher's pointer, bombed by firecrackers, beaten with fists… nothing could really do him any harm.
But the attack of a warrior was several times stronger in magnitude.
If a whipped kick imbued with Vigor directly knocked him in the head…
No matter how he increased his Vigor, he would still be a dead man…
At that thought, Chen Yu shuddered in spite of himself and took two heavy puffs of his cigarette.
[Subjected to an attack by malignant gases: Vigor +15]
[Subjected to an attack by malignant gases: Vigor +17]
"Sigh."
"I can't go home."
Lowering his head and taking a glance at his luggage, Chen Yu was struck with sorrow.
Obviously, he couldn't tell his family about being expelled for smoking.
He had to conceal it.
When the College Entrance Examination was over, everything would be fine.
"More than 30 days left. How can I even survive…"
"Ffff."
[Subjected to an attack by malignant gases: Vigor +14]
[Subjected to an attack by malignant gases: Lung health +1; Physical health +1]
In fact, even if he had been expelled before today, he would still be fine. After all, given the situation he was in, it was only a matter of time before he would become a big shot.
But the appearance of "Xing Bi" had given him the idea of getting into Capital University.
If for no other reason than wanting to give that girl some trouble.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have any peace of mind…
Hence, he must attend the College Entrance Examination.
After a moment's thought, Chen Yu took out his phone and searched for the rules of the College Entrance Examination on his browser.
He discovered that in this world of martial arts, in order the ensure the centralization of educational resources, the College Entrance Examination for adults had been canceled.
Under normal circumstances, every citizen had only two opportunities to take the College Entrance Examination in their life.
The first test and the retest (taking the College Entrance Examination after repeating a year of studies).
Plus, one had to keep their social identity as a high school student.
As for adults who didn't have the opportunity to sit for the College Entrance Examination… they wouldn't ever have to think about attending college.
Unless they were hired as a professor by some university.
"Looking at it from this perspective, the principal of No. 2 Middle School is really ruthless." Putting away his phone, Chen Yu narrowed his eyes. "If it weren't for the overpowered nature of the [curse], after being expelled, that would probably have been it for my life. I wouldn't have had a chance to attend college."
After a long pause, he unzipped his bag, found an empty notebook, and jotted down two names.
[Xing Bi]
[Principal of No. 2 Middle School of Green City]
"…"
After hesitating for a while, he added another name.
[Lady Boss of the cigarette shop.]
"Clap."
He closed the book and put it away.
Chen Yu grabbed his luggage and backpack, planning to find a hotel for the day. Suddenly, however, he froze, thinking of something.
"Yeah!"
"The Lady Boss of the cigarette shop!"
"Isn't she the reason that I'm in this predicament?"
"If she'd told me the price of the cigarettes, why would I steal knowing that I didn't have enough money?"
"If she hadn't called the cops, why would the police come?"
"And if the school hadn't found out what I did, why would they expel me?"
Chen Yu clapped his fist. The more he pondered, the more reasonable he felt.
"Nothing happens without a reason!"
"…and she is the reason for all this!"
Chen Yu decisively strode forward in the direction of the cigarette shop. "Off to the root of all evil I go!"
"Now that I'm homeless, she has to take responsibility."
After crossing two streets, he once again came to the front of the cigarette shop.
Through the window, he could see the lady boss leisurely puffing on a cigarette.
"Screw her."
Hearing him, the lady boss raised her head and got a clear look at the person outside. She was taken aback. "What are you doing here?"
"Thud!"
Putting down his luggage and bag, Chen Yu said calmly, "Here to find the root of all evil."
Lady boss: "???"
"Oh, no. I'm here to tell you that I'm expelled."
Pinching out the cigarette, the lady boss stood up straight and looked Chen Yu up and down. "You were expelled from No.2 Middle School?"
"Yes."
"So you're blaming me?"
Chen Yu: "I don't blame you."
Lady boss: "Then why are you…"
Chen Yu: "But who else can I blame."
Lady boss: "…"
"After all, I paid you what I owed, but I was expelled from school and my life is ruined. Don't you think that this punishment is too harsh?"
"…that's none of my concern." The lady boss lit up another cigarette. "I'm just protecting my own rights."
"From the perspective of the law, it's true that this has nothing to do with you. But you have 'killed' me indirectly. From a humanitarian point of view, you should provide me with some compensation."
The lady boss gracefully took a puff. "Ethical abduction? Can your own weakness be justified? What if I don't compensate you?"
"Compensation is benevolence, and not compensating is what you should do." Chen Yu manipulated his voice to make it seem like he was weeping. "If you don't help, I can only wander the streets, find a corner, and wait for death."
The lady boss knitted her eyebrows. "Where's your family?"
"Can't you see?" Chen Yu pointed at his luggage. "I'm alone. I was living in the homeroom teacher's dormitory. Now that I've been driven away, I don't have a home anymore..."
"I see. You're an orph…"
"Don't say that word!" Chen Yu interrupted. "Even though I've only had myself to rely on, I still could've had a life as good as anyone else's. I could have attended university and become an excellent warrior. I could've died on the battlefield for all mankind. But unfortunately, everything was ruined on day 32 before the College Entrance Examination."
Lady boss: "…"
"You don't have to feel guilty. I have only myself to blame for not knowing the price of cigarettes. Although the ten dollars I left you was all that I had, for a successful businesswoman like you, that's just a drop in the bucket."
Lady boss: "…"
"Oh well." Chen Yu let out a long sigh. "I'd rather be a dog in the flourishing age than a person in a chaotic era. Dying in this city that has no love and human kindness isn't all that bad. A pack of cigarettes for one life. It's worth it."
Lady boss: "…"
"Miss, I've already thought it through. This time, if you don't help me, this is goodbye." Chen Yu picked up his luggage and said, "If people really turn into ghosts after death, I'll come back to visit you."
"…stop." The lady boss's mouth twitched slightly. "Speak, what kind of compensation do you want?"
Chen Yu was overjoyed, but he only glanced at the counter ever so calmly and said, "Give me a few cigarettes."
Lady boss: "???"
....