Ming Yi stopped thinking about that whole thing between Xiao Chengcheng and Dandan, and the two of them headed for their classroom.

Based on the earlier class assignments, they had both been placed in Class One. This was his first class here, after all. Ming Yi still felt a trace of curiosity about the teacher and classmates he was about to meet. He wasn’t really expecting some peerless super expert straight out of a novel, or the beautiful female classmates Xiao Chengcheng kept fantasizing about, but deep down, he still held onto a sliver of hope.

When they pushed open the classroom door, they found the other seven already seated inside. On the podium stood a middle-aged man with scruffy stubble, looking thoroughly unkempt.

Are we late already?

Ming Yi and Xiao Chengcheng quietly slipped into seats in the last row.

“Hm, so our two student council members have finally finished their work and found time to come to class,” the man joked with a smile.

Ming Yi gave an awkward smile.

“Now that everyone’s here, let’s start with introductions. My name is Moran. I’ll be your teacher for the next three years.”

While he spoke, Ming Yi carefully looked him over from head to toe. He had slightly curly coffee-brown hair, wheat-toned skin, and untrimmed stubble hanging loosely around his mouth. A dark sweater and casual pants set off his tall, lean frame. His face carried a weathered charm that was oddly captivating, exactly the kind of mature man girls with an older-man fetish would go crazy for.

Without meaning to, Ming Yi started associating him with artists, photographers, or folk singers.

“Our student council president can lead us off. Why don’t you introduce yourself to everyone?” Moran said with a smile, looking at Xiao Chengcheng.

“No problem.” Xiao Chengcheng flashed a bright, easygoing grin. “My name is Xiao Chengcheng, I’m twenty-two, and before coming here I was a college student. I’m currently the student council president of the freshman division at East Asia Academy. If you need anything, feel free to come to the student council.”

That was surprisingly natural.

Following him, Ming Yi said, “My name is Ming Yi. I’m also a college student, and I’m currently the vice president of the student council.”

After the two of them, the others began introducing themselves one by one.

“My name is Wang Jie. I’m a construction engineer,” said a refined-looking young man in his twenties, wearing black-rimmed glasses and looking impeccably neat.

“Yang Zijie. I was on my high school basketball team.” A sunny-looking boy close to six foot three flashed a mouthful of white teeth.

“Chu Tong. Painter.” A girl with long, straight black hair spoke up.

At that, Ming Yi suddenly felt the name sounded familiar. He took a few more looks at the girl named Chu Tong. She had a lovely face, with delicate brows and eyes. Her tea-colored blouse and plaid short skirt, paired with black stockings, outlined legs enough to make any man’s blood race.

Only then did Ming Yi remember. She was the genius young beauty painter he had often heard about on TV before. She had already returned from holding an exhibition in France at nineteen, and was quite famous in the Donghai art world. Seeing her in person now, she was even prettier than on television.

While Ming Yi was still lost in thought, the next person had already stood up. She was a curly-haired girl who looked only middle-school age, wearing a cute Lolita dress.

The situation made her look a little embarrassed, but she still forced herself to stay calm as she said, “My name is Qiao Weiwei. I’m fourteen. Middle school student.”

She was probably the youngest person here, Ming Yi thought to himself.

The very next second, he got slapped in the face by reality at lightspeed. A boy who looked fifteen or sixteen at most spoke up in a cold yet oddly babyish voice.

“Bai Ming. Thirteen. Also a middle school student.”

“Xu Fan, sixteen. My hobby is eating.” The last speaker was a chubby boy with narrowed smiling eyes, looking harmless to humans and animals alike.

Finally, only one person remained. He looked lifeless, so gloomy it practically radiated off him. In a weak voice, he said, “Ning Si, eighteen. Shut-in otaku, full-time NEET. My wish is to die... Seriously, wasn’t I supposed to be freed after dying? Why did dying just dump me into another world to suffer some more...”

After the round of introductions, Moran nodded in satisfaction.

“What a lively group of young people. Very nice.”

“Since you’ll all be classmates from here on, get along well and work hard together.”

“Next, we’ll officially begin our lesson on the Corruption Artifact—”

“Teacher,” Bai Ming cut in coldly, “may I ask a question?”

Even though he had been interrupted, Moran only gave an awkward smile. There wasn’t a trace of anger on his face. He asked warmly, “Of course. What is it?”

“Teacher, what rank of Shatterborn are you?”

Moran froze, and a trace of difficulty appeared on his face. “Well...”

Bai Ming frowned. “Don’t tell me you’re actually a very weak Shatterborn? Hey, I don’t want someone unqualified teaching me.”

Uh...

Why do I suddenly feel like something bad is about to happen?

Ming Yi shivered.

“Hey, brat.” Xiao Chengcheng pointed at him indignantly. “How do you talk to a teacher like that? Didn’t your parents teach you to respect your elders and teachers?”

“You’re Xiao Chengcheng, right?” Bai Ming looked at him with a cold face. “Don’t think becoming some student council president through the back door makes you special.”

“What did you say? Through the back door?” Xiao Chengcheng looked like he’d just heard the biggest joke in the world. He laughed from sheer anger. “Heh. Looks like you really were raised without manners. Just some ignorant little punk who doesn’t know his place.”

As he spoke, he suddenly bit open his fingertip. An ancient, imposing long staff smoothly and skillfully condensed into his hand.

So this guy really has been secretly practicing how to use the Corruption Artifact?

Ming Yi blinked.

Wait... that’s not the point here, is it?

Why are you pulling out weapons just because of one disagreement?!

“Kids like you are still young. That means there’s plenty of time left to beat some sense into you! Today I’ll educate you on behalf of your parents and smack your ass till it blooms!” Xiao Chengcheng snarled.

No, bro, we’re in class right now!

Can you please consider the teacher’s feelings?!

“Hmph. That’s such a classic villain line...” Wait, didn’t I just hear a really familiar quote?

Before Ming Yi could react, Bai Ming stepped forward, lifted his chin arrogantly, and said, “You’ve only eaten a few more years of rice than me. Do you really think that makes you invincible? Let me tell you this: thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Never bully a poor young man!”

At that, Ming Yi finally understood.

So that’s why these two are so fired up.

Turns out this is just two chuuni boys, both convinced they’re the protagonist, crashing into each other.

“Um... could you two maybe show me a little respect...” Moran said with a bitter smile.

Bai Ming turned his head to glance at him, then pressed on aggressively. “Then just say it. What rank of Shatterborn are you?”

“I...”

Moran let out a sigh and spread his hands helplessly.

“Actually, I’m not a Shatterborn.”

“Huh?” Confused voices instantly rose all across the classroom.

Ming Yi was dumbfounded too. Wasn’t this the teacher who was supposed to teach them how to use the Corruption Artifact? If he wasn’t a Shatterborn, then how was he supposed to teach them?

Bai Ming let out a cold laugh and turned to walk straight out of the classroom.

“So they actually sent someone who isn’t even a Shatterborn to teach us. Looks like I need to seriously reconsider whether I should join such a laughably childish organization...”

But just as Bai Ming was about to reach the door, a soft sigh suddenly sounded behind him.

In the next instant, everyone’s vision blurred.

Bai Ming didn’t react at all. He only felt his world suddenly spin upside down, and in the very next moment, he was somehow sitting back in his seat.

Ming Yi had barely managed to see what happened, and his mouth dropped open, refusing to close for a long while.

Just now, Moran had moved from the podium to the back door beside Bai Ming at a speed too fast for the naked eye to follow. Then, with movements no one could see clearly, he grabbed Bai Ming and threw him back into his seat—

and then reappeared at the podium, calm and breezy, as if nothing had happened. He showed no sign of exertion at all. It was as though he had never moved in the first place.

Ming Yi felt his throat go dry and swallowed hard.

As expected, anyone the Liberation Syndicate brought in to be a teacher was absolutely no ordinary person. Ming Yi felt deeply relieved that he hadn’t done anything to make Moran unhappy.