Chapter 70: Forming a Team
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: Karai
It was Yun Yingzhi’s first day back at school. There were no classes; after completing the dorm check-in procedures, buying necessary supplies, and tidying his room, night had already fallen.
In the evening, Yun Yingyao specifically brought a meal box back to the dorm. The siblings ate in silence together. Suddenly, as if recalling something, Yun Yingyao said, “I only later found out that the whole set of spatial-type source weapons was actually made by you for me.”
That entire set of source weapons had been the start of Yun Yingzhi’s public embarrassment across the Empire.
Yun Yingzhi replied, “At first, yes, but later I realized I couldn’t ship it to you.”
Yun Yingyao said, “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me.” Unfortunately, the full set of source weapons never reached Yun Yingyao. Had they arrived, perhaps the subsequent chain of events wouldn’t have happened.
Yun Yingyao seemed to understand what Yun Yingzhi was thinking. She kept her expression neutral, voice steady, “Back then, on the planet Shaluo, our situation was very bad. We were under constant pressure, facing death at every turn. But thankfully, that set of source weapons eased our burden significantly.” She continued, “Now, those source weapons have been deployed to the frontlines, and they’re performing very well.”
Yun Yingzhi quietly replied, “Mm.” Because of how effective those source weapons were, he had become extremely popular among the frontline soldiers.
Since his master Alvin had given him the name Stellar, he had manufactured countless source weapons, suitable both for war and for soldiers’ daily use in combat zones… They said they liked Yun Yingzhi the most. Thinking of their praise, Yun Yingzhi couldn’t help but let little joyful bubbles appear around him—he really was amazing.
Many people on the Star Network said that if he ever formed an army, they would definitely join it. He might not become the Empire’s strongest general, but one thing was certain: everyone in his army would be surrounded by the finest equipment, becoming the wealthiest soldiers.
In comparison, General Yun and General Huai’s five major divisions seemed normal for now, but those paying close attention could already notice… As Yun Yingzhi had said a year ago, none of the source weapons he created were provided to the five divisions commanded by the two generals. The overall strength of the five divisions hadn’t weakened, but… Decline seemed inevitable.
Suddenly, a faint smile appeared on Yun Yingyao’s usually cold face.The siblings had finished the meal, and Yun Yingzhi began clearing the empty boxes. The two of them could eat an extraordinary amount, many times more than ordinary people.
Seeing Yun Yingyao’s rare, humanizing smile, Yun Yingzhi’s hand trembled as he tried to steady the boxes to avoid spilling them. “A’Yao, you look very happy.”
Yun Yingyao’s lips curved slightly as she looked at him. “Jiaojiao and Taotao sent me private messages.”
Yun Yingzhi’s eyes widened. He thought of the dynamic conversations between Yu Feiwen and the three other friends with the two Little Buns—a kind of connection he and Elvis had never experienced. He paused. “A’Yao, you didn’t… have the same kind of chat spark with Jiaojiao and Taotao, right?”
Yun Yingyao’s smile faded, but then deepened again as she said, “Mm, it’s been 192 days.”
Yun Yingzhi: “…”
He realized that, according to this number, the two Little Buns had been sending Yun Yingyao private messages every day since the end of August last year, after receiving their personal terminals.
Wait! Yun Yingzhi caught the most important point: when he asked, Yun Yingyao instantly named the exact number of days. He twitched at the corner of his mouth, thinking—Yun Yingyao wouldn’t be naïvely counting the days herself every single day, right?
A subtle suspicion arose in Yun Yingzhi’s mind: perhaps Yun Yingyao was subtly bragging about her closeness with the two Little Buns.
Yun Yingzhi tossed the meal boxes into the trash, quietly opened his personal terminal, and checked the chat interface with the two Little Buns—he’d only been keeping up chats for two days.
Yun Yingyao and Yun Yingzhi locked eyes. She asked, “Yingzhi, do Jiaojiao and Taotao also send you private messages every day?”
Yun Yingzhi’s heart sank. Not really. He paused. “They often send me video messages.”
Yun Yingyao asked, “Earlier? Did they send you private messages then?”
Yun Yingzhi: “…No.”
Yun Yingyao said, “Just now, they sent me a video, and they sent me roses too.”
Yun Yingzhi: “…?”
Yun Yingyao’s expression was serious, her voice calm and icy. “Every morning, noon, and night, without fail, Jiaojiao and Taotao send me videos to report their safety, and they also send roses.”
Yun Yingzhi looked at her straight-faced seriousness and thought, no matter how formal she appeared, she was definitely bragging. But… Videos plus roses, plus sending greetings rain or shine, every day, without fail… Then considering that his three roommates received the same treatment… Good grief. The two Little Buns weren’t just sending greetings randomly to everyone, were they?
Seeing it was Yun Yingyao, Yun Yingzhi felt too embarrassed to tell her that his three roommates had the same treatment.
Yun Yingyao subtly furrowed her brows. “Ah.”
Yun Yingzhi asked, “What’s wrong?”
Yun Yingyao: “Jiaojiao and Taotao aren’t in the best state today.” She cast a scolding glance at Yun Yingzhi.
Yun Yingzhi asked, “What videos did Jiaojiao and Taotao send you?”
Yun Yingyao: “They didn’t send them to you?”
Yun Yingzhi felt particularly heartbroken but forced out, “Maybe they just forgot.”
Yun Yingyao couldn’t resist. The icy expression on her face broke into a smile again as she opened her personal terminal.
In that instant, Yun Yingzhi saw the chat interface between Little Kit and Yun Yingyao. The two Little Buns truly sent Yun Yingyao private messages every day, usually videos and roses. Occasionally, they even video-chatted. Sometimes, knowing that the Little Buns couldn’t write text, Yun Yingyao would also send them short videos.
Yun Yingzhi was extremely curious to see what this normally high-cold Yun Yingyao had recorded for them. Yun Yingyao opened today’s videos from the two Little Buns.
Little Kit made a “da” sound to the camera. Little egg lay flat, expressionless.
Little egg was just an egg and couldn’t show emotion, while Little Kit’s tears fell pathetically, looking utterly pitiful.
Yun Yingzhi felt his heart break. Then Little Kit opened the personal terminal openly, furiously poking and swiping to open the photo album, scrolling to reveal a collection of Yun Yingzhi’s photos.
Yun Yingzhi thought: the two Little Buns really loved him, even including him in videos they sent to others.
Next, Yun Yingzhi saw Little Kit venting at the video projection of himself: “Awooo! Awooo awooo da! Awooo awooo!”
Little egg followed Little Kit’s “awo” pattern, immediately standing upright, bouncing and hopping.
In summary, today’s videos were the two Little Buns expressing their dissatisfaction with Yun Yingzhi. Yun Yingyao gave him a reproachful glance. “They’re still so little, and you’ve gone back to school. You really are too much.”
Yun Yingzhi said, “It can’t be helped.”
Yun Yingyao withdrew her gaze and replied to the Little Buns’ private messages. Soon after, Yun Yingyao left with a trash bag. As the door closed, Yun Yingzhi heard Yun Yingyao talking to others in the hallway. One person said, “A’Yao, stay away from that guy. He’s an air-drop.”
“Just swooped in and took a Ranking Battle spot. Who even knows what his background is?”
Yun Yingyao replied, “The background itself represents strength; it’s also a reflection of personal ability.”
“That’s why it’s even more infuriating.”
“If you’re dissatisfied, make yourself stronger, strong enough to break unfairness. If you can’t, you can only endure silently.” She paused, then added, “I myself am a beneficiary of power. You should understand that, looking at your own backgrounds—you are too.”
The group outside walked away. What else they said, Yun Yingzhi couldn’t know. At night, before going to sleep, the two Little Buns sent Yun Yingzhi a video call. Judging from the background, the two Little Buns had likely slept with the Imperial Consort today. Little Kit’s tears fell pathetically, looking utterly pitiful. Little egg had withdrawn again.
Yun Yingzhi coaxed the two Little Buns for a long time. While they were still upset, he was simply too tired and fell asleep. Little Kit’s pupils trembled. The little bunny face stared at the now deeply sleeping Yun Yingzhi in disbelief. Little egg, a little egg, wobbled and shook its shell, watching Yun Yingzhi roll over.
The two Little Buns were furious! Little Kit stretched out both tiny paws, and Little egg quickly rolled into Little Kit’s embrace. Abandoned by their father, the two Little Buns hugged each other tightly and cried.
The Imperial Consort, feeling a pang of sympathy, held them in her arms, softly soothing them: “Jiaojiao, Taotao, Grandpa’s two little darlings, don’t cry. The uniforms you want will be ready tomorrow, okay?”
Hearing this, the two Little Buns immediately stopped crying. Little Kit tentatively “awooed” at Yun Yingzhi on the video call, then played a bit with Little egg. Exhausted, they both sprawled on the floor and fell asleep.
Until they slept, neither of the Little Buns dared to hang up the video call with Yun Yingzhi. Seeing them asleep, the Imperial Consort manually ended the video, kissed both Little Buns, placed Little egg into the incubation box, and held Little Kit to sleep.
The next day, Yun Yingzhi’s second day back at school. The other students from the dorm went out for morning training together. Strictly speaking, today was Yun Yingzhi’s first real day back at school, but he didn’t need to participate in the morning training.
For the first period, Yun Yingzhi followed the class schedule and walked toward his classroom. Having always been in the lowest-ranking classes, this was Yun Yingzhi’s first time in the elite class, and he was a little nervous.
He adjusted his hat, straightened his mask, and felt even more tense. There were still ten or so minutes before class. Through the door, he could hear the students inside. He pushed the door open and stepped in.
Almost immediately, Yun Yingzhi felt that nearly all the students’ eyes in the classroom were focused on him. His hands clenched subconsciously. He worried the classmates might recognize him. They might not recognize him, but one thing was certain—most of the students in the class were hostile toward him, giving him cold, judgmental stares.
Yun Yingzhi blinked, feeling somewhat lost. From kindergarten until now, his academic life had always been surrounded by classmates who adored him. Now that he was a bit older, it was better—but when he was younger, there were often fights just so classmates could get closer to him. Becoming the “public enemy” of the class like this was a first for him.
What should he do? At that moment, Yun Yingyao emerged from the crowd and firmly grabbed Yun Yingzhi’s wrist.
In the silent classroom, Yun Yingyao and Yun Yingzhi stood out even more, drawing all eyes to them. Yun Yingyao led him to an empty seat at the back of the classroom, nudged him down to sit. The moment he sat, the students in front and behind immediately moved away.
Through their actions, the class made their rejection of Yun Yingzhi clear.
One student even said to Yun Yingyao, “Yingyao, you should keep your distance from the air-drop.”
Yun Yingyao’s voice was cold: “It’s none of your business.”
The classroom atmosphere dropped to an icy low. Yun Yingzhi thought: is this what the elite class environment is supposed to be like? Then he realized, no—it shouldn’t be this way. In elective courses, he often studied with students from different grades and classes, including elite students, and the atmosphere had never been this bad.
Yun Yingyao sat beside him and said, “If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask me.”
Yun Yingzhi responded a little slowly, “Mm.”
About five minutes later, whispers began in the quiet classroom:
“Yun Yingyao seems to know that air-drop.”
“Who’s this little prince from some family? So rude.”
“He’s not a crown prince or anything, just swooped in to take a Ranking Battle spot, stealing years of someone else’s hard work. Disgusting.”
“Now he’s hiding behind a girl too.”
“Look, Yingyao told him to ask if he doesn’t understand anything. So he’s not an all-rounder. And look at him—his build is thin, not particularly strong… tsk.”
Yun Yingzhi listened to the students’ careless chatter, lowered his head, and felt his gaze dim. Even with a hat and mask, he still appeared extremely fragile. The difference now was… In the past, classmates knew he was “Yun Yingzhi,” and seeing him fragile made them collectively sympathetic.
Now, seeing him fragile just made people angrier. A weak little air-drop had taken others’ hard-earned achievements unfairly. At this time, the only person in the class who knew Yun Yingzhi’s true identity was Yun Yingyao.
Yun Yingyao already felt protective of him, and seeing so many people criticize him made her heart ache even more. She couldn’t hold it in and lost control.
“Slap!” Yun Yingyao’s hand slammed heavily on the desk, making a loud noise. Immediately, the classroom went silent, all eyes turning to her.
Yun Yingyao stood up, her presence icy and sharp. Source waves radiated, as if a huge blade dozens of meters long was forming behind her. She said, “If you have any complaints about the new student, come to me.”
Yun Yingyao was the top student of the second year. If there were no surprises, she was the strongest student in the grade—challenging her directly was impossible.
She continued, “As you said, I will protect the new student, and you…”
Yun Yingzhi tugged on her sleeve.
Feeling his small gesture, Yun Yingyao’s presence instantly receded. She looked at him and instinctively said, “Sorry, did I scare you?”
Yun Yingzhi: “…?”
The classmates: “…?”
After a moment of awkward silence, Yun Yingzhi shook his head.
To avoid frightening him further, Yun Yingyao fully restrained her source waves and said, “Everyone, pay attention to your words and actions, or don’t blame me for being unkind.”
With that, she sat down.
Yun Yingzhi scanned the classroom. The students glanced secretly at him and Yun Yingyao, but no one dared to openly speak badly of him again. This was the absolute power of strength. Yun Yingzhi admired Yun Yingyao a little, genuinely thinking she was amazing.
He quietly sent her a private message: You shouldn’t have done that.
Yun Yingyao: Why not?
Yun Yingzhi: It might affect your reputation.
Yun Yingyao: I don’t care.
Yun Yingzhi thought, then continued: My reputation?
Yun Yingyao: Wake up.
Yun Yingzhi: ?
Yun Yingyao: What reputation do you have?
Yun Yingzhi: ?
Yun Yingyao: The reputation of a huge scoundrel among humans?
Yun Yingzhi: …?
His heart sank, utterly dazed. Yun Yingyao suddenly supported Yun Yingzhi. He lowered his voice to ask, “What are you doing?”
She replied quietly, “I’m worried you won’t be able to handle the blow.”
What they didn’t know was that Yun Yingyao forbade anyone from openly discussing Yun Yingzhi, but that didn’t stop classmates from privately messaging about him.
—He looks so weak.
—Could he really be the son-in-law General Yun’s family found for Yun Yingyao?
—Yingyao’s taste can’t be that bad, right? Has she really been completely captivated by this pretty boy?
—He’s so shameless, hiding behind Yingyao the whole time!
…
Finally, the first class period began. Compared to students from the lowest-ranking classes, the elite class students were extremely competitive. The moment class started, most of them straightened their posture, ready to go all out.
The homeroom teacher entered the classroom. As usual, the teacher introduced the new student first. Yun Yingzhi was forced to give a brief self-introduction. During this process, the students who looked down on him began asking about his basic information.
“What’s your mental power rank?”
Throughout the Empire, only Yun Yingzhi had an SSSS-level mental power. He didn’t want to lie, so he didn’t answer directly. Then they asked about his physical constitution.
Regarding this, Yun Yingzhi himself was confused. Every time his constitution was tested, the device seemed to malfunction. The best result was SS-level; the worst was C-level. So even now, he didn’t know what his true constitution was.
He couldn’t answer that question either. Next, the students asked about his second form. He was a little white rabbit, but he couldn’t say that. Yun Yingzhi swayed slightly, and Yun Yingyao immediately reached out to support him, worried.
The other students looked at Yun Yingzhi with subtle expressions.
Yun Yingyao, slightly angry, erupted for the second time today on Yun Yingzhi’s behalf. She slammed the desk heavily, her voice icy: “Don’t you think you’re being very offensive?”
The students: “…?”
Offensive? How is asking offensive?
Students at the Ten Great Military Academies—especially those in the elite class—were all extremely talented. Asking about someone’s talent was considered a point of pride. In their minds, inquiring about talent was never offensive.
Yun Yingyao: “Talent is personal privacy. I hope you will not pry into others’ private matters again.”
The students: “…?”
There was only one situation in which asking about talent was extremely rude: when asking someone, what terrible talent do you have?
The students’ pupils dilated, shocked beyond belief as they looked at Yun Yingzhi. What kind of weak, monstrous creature had entered their class and taken a Ranking Battle spot? The homeroom teacher blinked in surprise.
Other students might not know, but he knew all of Yun Yingzhi’s entrance exam results—they could only be described as monstrous. Although unclear about the current situation, he immediately tried to adjust the classroom atmosphere—but the effect was minimal.
The students were extremely angry. Under such tension, the first class period ended.
The homeroom teacher said, “In two weeks, you will form teams with students from other grades. All students must participate. Each team will have twelve members.”
Upon hearing this, students who didn’t want to form teams groaned in agony. Yun Yingzhi felt immense pressure. In first grade, there had been a similar team formation task. He had nothing to worry about; many teams would compete to invite him, hoping to latch onto his strong, capable presence. But now, things were different.
He realized that trying to latch onto someone’s influence now would be extremely difficult.
A student asked, “Teacher, what happens if we can’t form a team?”
The homeroom teacher smiled: “Same as first grade. Without points from this trial, you can try your luck to see if you can advance successfully.”
The students groaned in pain again. Yun Yingzhi slumped helplessly onto his desk.
Yun Yingyao held one of his hands: “It’s okay. You have me.”
The students around them glanced at the two with subtle expressions.
Yun Yingzhi looked at Yun Yingyao, feeling a bit like a pampered little prince: “Mm!”
The first period ended. The homeroom teacher left, and students immediately began forming alliances, figuring out which influential students they needed to attach themselves to for better grades.
At that moment, Yun Yingzhi received a notification. Opening his personal terminal, it was a message from Little Kit. Yun Yingzhi stood up.
Yun Yingyao looked at him: “Where are you going?”
Yun Yingzhi thought of how Yingyao had bragged yesterday that the two little ones sent her “good morning” videos and roses daily. He said, “Jiaojiao sent me a video. I’m going to get it.” His tone even carried a hint of pride, without him realizing it.
Yun Yingyao: “I’ll go with you.” Unconsciously, her tone carried a tiny hint of envy.
Yun Yingzhi nodded.
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