The reward is a rainbow-colored flower from Teacher Green Dragon
Teacher Green Dragon had said that Feng Lianzhu’s vocabulary, grammar, and level of writing were already very high. To improve his composition skills, Feng Lianzhu, with the mindset of “Memorize three hundred Tang poems, and you can recite poetry even if you can’t compose it,” memorized countless high-scoring essays from past college entrance exams, compositions from writing competitions, poems and prose by the most famous writers in the history of modern Alliance literature, as well as works by classical literary masters revered by contemporary writers. In short, he memorized everything he could, and even those he supposedly couldn’t.
However, Feng Lianzhu’s scores in prose and poetry had always been low, barely passing. Examiners commented that his prose and poetry were like garments made of expensive materials and jewels, merely a display of vocabulary and sophisticated rhetorical methods without a soul, failing to move the teachers.
For example, in praising the sun of Eimeral star, Feng Lianzhu’s writing felt to the teachers like a beautiful, glowing, and heating disc, and he had already shown restraint by not including every piece of data about the two suns in his essay.
The inability to write emotionally touching articles was Feng Lianzhu’s biggest problem.
Feng Lianzhu had not understood his teachers’ comments until he wrote this article in the exam room and began to vaguely grasp their meaning.
He felt as if the words and phrases under his pen came to life, arranging themselves into the chubby dragon’s foreclaws, its little white belly, its dragon wings, its scales, and the unscaled back of the chubby dragon…
Feng Lianzhu wrote a vivid and emotional article swiftly. The exam’s word limit even constrained his expression; he felt that what he wrote was not enough to depict even a fraction of Pang Kirates.
Reviewing his composition, Feng Lianzhu pondered over the text he had written. Is this what the chubby dragon in my heart looks like? Not strong, domineering, or willful, but somewhat cute?
Feng Lianzhu couldn’t help but smile, revealing a sweet smile amidst the serious atmosphere of the exam.
After rewriting the prose, Feng Lianzhu’s gaze fell on the last questionโpoetry, with the prompt to describe a spectacular scene in a fourteen-line poem. It could be a natural landscape, a cultural building, or even some large creature.
Upon seeing the prompt, Feng Lianzhu instinctively wrote down the titleโObserving Kirates.
Having seen that creature, more spectacular than a comet striking Eimeral star, up close numerous times, praising him seemed an effortless, simple, and natural task. After writing the poem, Feng Lianzhu even memorized it, planning to recite it to the chubby dragon during their next call.
The essay exam went smoother than expected, and Feng Lianzhu’s good mood lasted through the mathematics exam in the afternoon. Returning to the accommodations arranged by Major General Laurie, Lizard stared at Feng Lianzhu with a strange look. Only then did Feng Lianzhu realize he had been humming the background music of “Voyage through the Void,” a song specially composed for the Valentine’s Day event by the game company. The Ferris wheel in Pang Kirates’s gold coin amusement park played this poignant song every time it reached the top, and Feng Lianzhu had unconsciously memorized it.
“Your mood seems pretty good?” Lizard said with a gloomy expression, eyeing Feng Lianzhu intently.
Feng Lianzhu stopped humming, nodded slightly, but did not answer Lizard’s question.
Feng Lianzhu’s relationship with Lizard was somewhat intricate. Feng Lianzhu had once seen the Clown as a kind-hearted person, and when he discovered the Clown’s ill intentions, he wasn’t too upset. At that time, Feng Lianzhu didn’t think it was something worth fussing over. However, the chubby dragon was furious upon learning about it and severely beat Lizard.
Reflecting on the chubby dragon’s cuteness, Feng Lianzhu also introspected. He realized that his lack of anger stemmed from not taking the Clown to heart; although he verbally referred to him as “Brother Clown,” he didn’t care about him internally. This “Brother Clown” was different from “Brother Pang.” If everything the chubby dragon did was deceitful, merely to use him or harm him, just the thought made Feng Lianzhu’s heart ache, and he couldn’t imagine the extent of his heartbreak if it were to actually happen.
He saw the Clown as a passerby, while the Clown seemed to have invested too much emotion in Feng Lianzhu.
There was hatred, envy, and gratitude, and now it had become a kind of mental support. Lizard had never verbally expressed his thanks, but Feng Lianzhu could feel his attitude.
As Feng Lianzhu passed by Lizard with a nod, he stopped and asked, “After the trial and returning to the primitive star, what are your plans?”
Lizard didn’t expect Feng Lianzhu to initiate this conversation. He paused, his eyes losing focus, his expression gradually becoming blank.
“Have you never thought about returning to the primitive star?” Feng Lianzhu felt he could read Lizard’s expression.
Hearing this, Lizard came back to his senses, speaking hoarsely, “I… don’t know what I would be like in a peaceful life. Before I was ten, I lived quite peacefully in an orphanage, but I was too young then, and my memories aren’t deep. Now, thinking back, it’s like a very sweet fruit. I know it’s sweet, but I can’t recall how sweet it actually is.”
Feng Lianzhu once didn’t understand the word “future,” but now he had new expectations. He understood the motivation this word could bring to people.
“I want to establish a kingdom for Atavists on the primitive star, negotiate with the Alliance, and send any born Atavists the Alliance doesn’t want to the primitive star,” Feng Lianzhu said.
Lizard looked at him in astonishment, his vertical pupils trembling. He couldn’t imagine such a life.
“If the Imperial army wins this trial, it will significantly strengthen, and with so many of the Alliance’s high ranks being convicted, the Alliance will be heavily damaged, weakening its power. The Imperial army and the Alliance will weaken and strengthen in turn, reaching a delicate balance, which is a great opportunity for a new power to grow,” Feng Lianzhu recalled his historical knowledge. “The Alliance itself grew because the Empire’s internal strife was severe back then. The struggle between the first and second princes for the throne caused the people to suffer, which gave the Alliance an opportunity to grow.”
Lizard frowned at Feng Lianzhu, full of confusion. What is he talking about?
See, the benefits of studying are now evident, aren’t they? Tomorrow’s exams are in Imperial language and liberal arts comprehensive; I’ll go back and go over a few more sets of questions tonight.
Feng Lianzhu said, “You’ll learn about these historical facts later. Those who possess knowledge control the lifeline. You’ll probably need to study military, politics, management, sociology, and the history of interstellar warfare, among other subjects. I’ll ask the teacher to make a study list for you.”
“Wait a minute!” Lizard growled, “Why should I learn all this? Do you know how hard it is for me to read!”
“Because the Atavists’ nation needs a military force, I think Atavists raised in Alliance orphanages are not quite suitable to be military leaders. People from the underground arenas and pirates have more potential. However, your level of knowledge is far too lacking. Leadership positions in the Atavists’ border guard will still need to be determined by exams, divided into literary and martial exams. The martial exam shouldn’t be a problem for you, it’s the literary exam that will be the challenge,” Feng Lianzhu explained.
Lizard was speechless.
His mind was in turmoilโno, something was very wrong!
A month ago, he was suffering in the underground arena, and even if a primitively stupid Atavist dog had saved him, Lizard didn’t think he would survive. Even being saved by Feng Lianzhu’s miraculous powers, Lizard still saw himself as inferior, stubborn, and beyond redemption. He enjoyed seeing blood, and years of torture had twisted his soul. He couldn’t coexist with those naive Atavists.
When he resolved to testify, Lizard had resigned himself to being monitored by the Alliance for life. He thought it was for the best, as being watched would prevent him from harming others.
But now, Feng Lianzhu was telling him that he could return to the primitive star and that his strength could be used for… protection? Could he do that?
“Of course not now,” Feng Lianzhu confidently responded to his doubts, “You’re far from knowledgeable enough. When we have time, I’ll download ‘The Art of War and The Thirty-Six Stratagems’ for you. By then, our tactics will surely be stronger than both the Alliance and the Imperial army.”
Lizard burst into laughter, not the self-mocking laugh of a clown but a relieved one.
“Do you really think we can do it?” He laughed so hard he could barely catch his breath, tears streaming down his face.
“If you think you can, then you can. If you don’t believe in yourself, then you won’t be able to do it,” Feng Lianzhu said.
Perhaps it was Feng Lianzhu’s determined gaze that gave Lizard endless confidence. The word “future,” so abstract in the underground arena and unknown to the Atavists, was given a tangible meaning by Feng Lianzhu in that moment.
“Who exactly are you?” Lizard boldly asked, “Not from the Alliance, not Imperial army, not a space pirate nor an Atavist, and you’re certainly not Kirates. What… what are you?”
If someone had asked this question before, Feng Lianzhu wouldn’t have been able to answer, but now it’s different.
“I am Feng Lianzhu,” he said with a genuine smile, pointing to his heart, “A person with feelings, hopes, and a future, just like you.”
He seemed to have not answered the question, but Lizard understood. Feng Lianzhu was simply himself. Background and status didn’t matter. Feng Lianzhu was the person in front of Lizard, who would fight in arenas for money, adhere to his principles not to bully the weak, stand against the underground arenas for Atavists, and envision an executioner as a guardian.
“Who am I?” Lizard murmured to himself.
A clown, a lizard, or just a nameless wretch?
“This question, after the verdict, you can think about it yourself. But first, you need to study. After studying, choose a name you like for yourself.” Just don’t call yourself Feng Lan; that’s too silly, Feng Lianzhu thought to himself.
“System, can I steal Teacher Green Dragon?” Feng Lianzhu inwardly inquired.
The primitive star lacked a teacher, especially for the Atavists from pirate crews and the underground arenas who idolize violence and have extreme personalities. Ordinary teachers really wouldn’t do; the strong and domineering Teacher Green Dragon was perfect. With his eight-meter-tall stature, a casual flick of his tail could send students flying. The Starnet teaching system wouldn’t allow such a sentient teacher to exist, but Feng Lianzhu needed him.
ใCongratulations to the host for having the “item I wish to obtain,” triggering a side quest. Please achieve the first rank in this college entrance examination. The reward for the top scorer is a rainbow-colored flower from Teacher Green Dragon, along with all the courseware from the Alliance’s learning network, which will be fully imported into Teacher Green Dragon’s memory.ใ
Achieving first place, huh… It looks like I need to work hard for the next two days. For Teacher Green Dragon, I better go back to my room and review!
Author’s note:
Green Dragon Teacher: Truly worthy of being my student, I want the whole world to know, this planet is contracted by you!
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See you all at 6 PM tomorrow, love you all, mwah!
A future ๐ฅบ