How Do We Play If This Boss Isn't Nerfed?-Chapter 67 - 65: To See the World Outside the Wall
"Some Martial Artists even tried to cultivate directly using Source Crystals, which greatly accelerated their progress."
"But humanity soon discovered that besides emitting source energy, Source Crystals also contained a special substance that was impossible to purify or filter—a deadly poison to humans."
"In mild cases, prolonged exposure to a Source Crystal’s radiation would cause one’s genetic chain to collapse and lead to malignant mutations. In severe cases, cellular tissue would necrotize and dissolve into a pool of pus."
"That’s why, in the early days of the Earth Federation, a cleanup campaign lasting over a decade was launched. All large, discovered Source Crystal Veins on the surface were sealed off, cleared out, and neutralized."
"Today, the only Source Crystals left in the world—aside from those held as strictly controlled strategic reserves by various nations—are the works of art painstakingly carved by unwitting artists before the crystals were classified as a deadly poison."
"The master carver of this ’Tiger Descending the Mountain’ sculpture also died at the hands of his final work."
’Source Crystal...’
Lin Ye repeated the term in his mind.
It completely confirmed his earlier suspicions.
’Source Crystals are a deadly poison.’
’And they had indeed only appeared across the world after the Celestial Abyss opened.’
Lin Ye glanced at the principal.
Even from here, and through the glass, Lin Ye could hear faint, chaotic whispers.
’Can’t the principal hear them?’
’He probably can’t. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have kept this thing on display here for so long.’
Wang Zhengguo took off his glasses and set the file aside.
He was finally getting to the real reason he had called Lin Ye in for this talk.
"That boy, Jiang Feng..."
Wang Zhengguo sighed, his eyes filled with a complex, inexpressible sorrow.
"I used to be very fond of him."
"He was like you—hardworking, diligent, with a will as unyielding as stone."
"When he first enrolled, his talent wasn’t even enough to rank him in the top fifty of his entire year."
"I watched with my own eyes as he put in several times more effort than anyone else, climbing step by step to the number one spot and holding it for a full year."
Lin Ye listened quietly without interrupting.
"But..."
Wang Zhengguo’s tone was thick with disappointment and pain.
"But during the last exchange competition between the five schools in our East District, he faced a genius from Experimental High. I thought it was just a temporary setback at the time, but I never expected it to send him down the wrong path."
"Today, to win against you, he actually took a full ten-times dose of a forbidden drug."
"He’s in the emergency room right now, having his stomach pumped. And it’s thanks to you that he threw up most of the drug. His life is saved, but his martial arts foundation... is most likely ruined."
Wang Zhengguo looked at Lin Ye, his gaze deep.
"This entire school, in the eyes of you kids, might seem like a tall, solid wall. It shelters you from the wind and rain, but it also blocks your view of the world outside."
"I’m very conflicted."
"On one hand, I want top talents like you to grow up quickly and see just how vast the world outside these walls is."
"On the other hand, I’m afraid... afraid that after you witness the true geniuses out there—those prodigies who were born standing among the clouds..."
"...you won’t be able to handle the setback. That you’ll get fixated on your failure, just like Jiang Feng, and end up pressing your own self-destruct button."
Lin Ye was slightly moved.
But he wasn’t in Wang Zhengguo’s shoes, after all.
He couldn’t truly empathize with what Wang Zhengguo was saying.
So he just listened quietly without offering any opinion.
"Lin Ye, the hero who died covering your father’s retreat was awarded a First-Class Merit. Your father’s company received a Collective Third-Class Merit."
"Your father himself received an individual Second-Class Merit. That was the absolute most Mr. Gao could fight to get him."
"When he returns on medical discharge, this honor alone will guarantee him special treatment from our local government and a special stipend."
Hearing this, the tension in Lin Ye’s nerves finally eased, and a warmth spread through his chest.
"Furthermore, the invading Celestial Abyss Race forces in the Seventh War Zone, where your father is stationed, have been mostly wiped out and suppressed. While the next attack is impossible to predict, the chances of the race directly raiding the rear area where your father is have been all but eliminated."
"He should be back by the time you finish your college entrance exams."
"Then, your family can finally have a true reunion."
Lin Ye stood up and gave a deep, solemn bow.
"Thank you, Principal."
’This was a debt of gratitude Lin Ye would not forget.’
"Don’t get emotional. Sit down."
Wang Zhengguo gestured for him to sit with a downward press of his hand.
"I didn’t do all this for your gratitude. I did it for Dongjiang First Middle School, for the future of humanity. It’s an investment in a genius who is worth the investment."
His gaze sharpened.
"I’ve also heard about your plans from Chen Meng."
"Your goal is to earn a spot in this year’s provincial Qiming General Star Training Camp."
"I only hope that you’ll remember Jiang Feng today and not follow in his footsteps."
"All officially held competitions, assessments, and selections have a zero-tolerance policy for prohibited drug use. If you’re caught, you’ll be blacklisted by every Martial Artist organization in our Great Xia and never be accepted."
"Those forbidden drugs are meant as a last resort for Martial Artists undertaking life-or-death missions for the Federation in desperate situations! They’re not for students like you to use in simple contests and sparring matches!"
Lin Ye nodded firmly.
"Principal, rest assured. I know these drugs are against the rules, and I will never use them in any official competition."
His answer was resolute.
’Of course, there was a second half to that sentence that he left unsaid.’
’Just because I won’t use them in official competitions doesn’t mean I won’t use them in private.’
From the very beginning, his purpose in buying the forbidden drugs had never been to defeat someone in an arena.
It was to have a trump card for a lawless place like the abandoned city, where he could die at any moment—something to turn the tables when the odds were against him.
Without that safety net, he wouldn’t feel secure.
Seeing the clear, determined look in Lin Ye’s eyes, Wang Zhengguo nodded in satisfaction.
"Lin Ye, there’s something I have to tell you."
"Your father received the best medical treatment. After his insurance, the surgery and follow-up care cost over five hundred thousand Federation Credits."
"As for the cost, although you were told the military would cover it, I’m a veteran of the front lines myself. I can only tell you the harsh truth."
"The Federation has millions of wounded soldiers every year. It’s absolutely impossible for our military budget to cover every single one." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂
"One of my old subordinates quietly told me that Mr. Gao paid for it out of his own pocket."
Lin Ye’s heart skipped a beat when he heard this.
"Principal, I’ll find a way to pay it back!"
Three hundred thousand was once a surplus that would have taken his family two or three years to save.
After he enrolled in the martial arts track, the family had no surplus to speak of at all.
Now, his family was already saddled with significant debt.
But Lin Ye knew, of course, that his father had only survived and been decorated thanks to the help of a benefactor.
Letting someone else cover the medical expenses on top of that was simply unacceptable.
Wang Zhengguo nodded. "It’s good that you have that kind of drive."
"Once you’re out in the world, you’ll learn that a debt of gratitude is far harder to repay than money."
"Alright, there’s one more reason I called you in today."
Wang Zhengguo passed a document across the desk.
Lin Ye took it.
It was an official document with a red letterhead.
Notice of the 21st Annual Mingguang Cup: An Online Friendship and Exchange Competition for Dongjiang City Martial Arts High Schools
"This is an online competition led by our Dongjiang City Martial Artist Association, approved by the Ministry of Education, and sponsored by the Mingguang Group."
"Although it’s nominally just an exchange competition."
"But all the Martial Arts High Schools in Dongjiang take it very seriously."
"It’s a major dress rehearsal before the city’s first mock exam for the martial arts college entrance exam!"
A meaningful smile touched the corners of Wang Zhengguo’s lips.
"I hear there are substantial cash prizes starting from the round of 64. It’s a good chance for you to see the geniuses from other schools. If you happen to take home some of that prize money, all the better!"
"I have two nomination slots."
"If you’re interested, go online in the next few days and look up the registration requirements. If you qualify, I’ll submit your name."
