Cooperation

In terms of teaching seniority, Ruan Zhijun might rank somewhere in the middle to upper tier at the school. But when it came to actual combat ability and strictness, he could definitely rank in the top three.

This was also what made Class 5, Senior High suffer the most. Every Physical Education Class felt like military training.

Still, there was something unusual about him: Ruan Zhijun cared deeply about "rules." While other PE teachers often ran over class or even regularly occupied academic periods, he always strictly followed school regulations. The moment class ended, he dismissed everyone immediately and never took over another class's time.

As for Actual Combat, the entire class had experienced it during past final examinations.

It was just that whenever they recalled it, most students would have nightmares, or touch some part of their bodies that had once been injured or broken in a beating.

Now, merely thinking about facing their homeroom teacher head-on made their scalps tingle. And this simulated advancement assessment would be even worse, since their homeroom teacher would be carrying a weapon.

Even the class monitor was sweating slightly. She had already begun warming up, intending to use the Investigator uniform's effects again.

Because Ruan Zhijun had never distinguished between boys and girls. He hit everyone hard.

On his First Day as their homeroom teacher, he had made his stance clear to everyone. "Only broken bones make the best textbooks."

In all of Class 5, only Luo Di was filled with anticipation.

Because the gymnasium was large enough, different classes had been assigned to separate areas for their final combat assessments.

Class 5, Senior High had been assigned a relatively spacious enclosed training area. Everyone was already standing in their usual PE formation.

Dressed in military uniform, Ruan Zhijun did not relax the students in the slightest, nor did he praise the class monitor for breaking the record. Instead, he spoke with the same stern expression he wore during Physical Education Class:

"This assessment will be different from before.

You have trained under me for two and a half years.

For this fight, I will apply the standards for advancement.

If anyone loses focus and gets seriously injured by me, then fill out an application to postpone graduation in advance.

If you are already afraid now, then give up the path of Physical Education Class and focus on studying for a clerical profession.

Also, stop holding back. Whatever abilities you have, show me all of them."

As he finished speaking, Ruan Zhijun gave Luo Di a meaningful glance.

"Alright! Students numbered 1 through 5, step forward! Everyone else, retreat beyond the white line. The Combat Test begins now."

The five students remaining on the field swiftly adjusted their states. They immediately formed a circle around their homeroom teacher while drawing the weapons they had prepared, mostly Field Knives—the straight-bladed knives they trained with most often.

These Field Knives were portable, flexible, and easy to use, making them an excellent choice for close-range combat. Vice class monitor Gao Yuxuan used this type of weapon as well.

However,

Their homeroom teacher, who had always "interacted" with students barehanded, drew a special weapon today—a Mechanical Baton.

It was a nonlethal weapon, normally used to suppress and control opponents.

But in the hands of their homeroom teacher, even such a baton could become a lethal weapon.

This was also the first time since they had entered school that they would engage in Actual Combat against their armed homeroom teacher.

Two minutes passed.

The five students who had formed the encirclement were already scattered across different parts of the field, either groaning in pain or unconscious.

The other students who had witnessed the whole process all sucked in cold breaths. The pressure in their hearts grew heavier, and some could only rely on excessive medication to suppress their fear.

The second group entered immediately afterward. They performed slightly better than the previous group and lasted three minutes.

One of them was even struck in the head and went rigid on the spot. Medical staff who had been waiting in the gymnasium immediately rushed over to treat him, taking him to the school clinic once his condition had stabilized.

The third group.

The five-person team led by the class monitor.

She had swallowed a small pill in advance, stretching as she walked toward the field.

This was Luo Di's first time seeing the class monitor take medicine during a physical assessment. Judging from the pill's size, though, it should have been a low dose, mainly intended to improve her body's stability so she could withstand the pressure brought by the Investigator uniform.

When the class monitor entered the field, the other four students in her group immediately gathered around her to formulate a battle plan with her at the center.

Rather than spreading into a circle, they stood together.

As their homeroom teacher, Ruan Zhijun naturally thought highly of Wu Wen as well,

because Wu Wen handled the class's management so well that many matters required no concern from him. Not to mention that her grades were excellent, and she had broken the speed record tonight.

"Wu Wen, where is your sword? I remember you were still using it last semester, and your swordsmanship demonstration in the final examination received high praise."

"Teacher Ruan, my body can only barely adapt to this uniform for now.

If I try to make use of the uniform's abilities while controlling swordsmanship at the same time, I doubt I'll be able to endure it. I'll try fighting barehanded today. Once training for the entire second semester of senior high is over, I should be able to wield it proficiently."

"Mm. Begin."

Of the five people gathered together, everyone except the class monitor carried a weapon.

Their homeroom teacher had assumed that the four students would attack with the class monitor as their focal point, protecting her as they did so.

Who would have thought—

Whoosh! The class monitor displayed the same form she had used in the sprint, suddenly charging out from the crowd and launching the first surprise attack without anyone else's cover.

"Hmm?"

This unexpected tactic slowed Ruan Zhijun's thoughts by the slightest instant, and the class monitor's high sweeping kick had already reached his side.

He could only hastily change his stance and raise the Mechanical Baton to block it.

Smack!

Supported by the Investigator uniform, the kick was astonishingly powerful. Faint ripples and pulses could even be seen spreading over the uniform's surface.

Even their homeroom teacher, whose stance was exceptionally stable, was shaken by the kick. He staggered several steps sideways, his center of gravity thrown off with it.

The class monitor had created an opening.

Naturally, they would not miss such an opportunity. The other four rushed forward decisively, wielding sharp weapons as they attacked their off-balance homeroom teacher from different angles.

The class monitor immediately pursued him as well.

But in the next second, she seemed to notice something and decisively stopped her forward charge.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Three students were struck in different parts of their bodies and collapsed one after another.

Only one barely evaded the attack, rolling backward to pull away.

Their promising opening was shattered in an instant. Only the class monitor and that girl remained standing.

Ruan Zhijun looked at the students who could no longer rise and could not help shaking his head.

"If the people cooperating with you, Wu Wen, were stronger, I might really have been suppressed.

But the fear in their hearts has not completely faded. They are performing worse than during ordinary training. At this rate, graduating will be difficult."

At that moment,

The girl who had reacted quickly enough to evade the attack began to panic as well. In her eyes, the situation was hopeless with only two people left. She remembered the student who had been struck in the head and gone rigid, and she too feared being seriously injured and losing her chance to advance this year.

Just then,

A soft, warm hand gently rested on the girl's shoulder. A familiar yet gentler voice slipped into her ear like silk threads, seeming even to stroke her brain and forcibly suppress her anxiety.

"Xiao Ying~ Don't be nervous. I'm still here."

"Okay... Class Monitor!"

Just those few words steadied the girl's flustered mind, allowing her to focus on the battle before her.

The fight did not end quickly. It continued for another five minutes.

The class monitor was sent flying due to exhaustion, and the girl named Xiao Ying was knocked down as well.

Fortunately, neither of them suffered overly serious injuries. They did not even need to visit the school clinic.

The third group's battle ended.

After pushing herself up, the class monitor did not return directly to the rest area. Instead, she walked over to the girl who had fought alongside her and placed a hand on her mushroom-cut head.

"Our coordination was really good. It was all thanks to you, Xiao Ying. Otherwise, I really wouldn't have lasted that long. I hope you perform even better in the advancement examination."

"Thank you, Class Monitor."

A blush rose to Xiao Ying's face as she lightly bit her lip.

Just then, an entirely different aura approached from outside the field, passing right by the class monitor. A faint stench of corpses could be detected.

Half-crouched on the ground, the class monitor's gaze happened to align with the hand hanging at the other person's side.

That rough hand, nothing like a high school student's, gripped a knife wrapped in burial cloth.

The class monitor's gentle expression from when she had stroked Xiao Ying's head vanished, replaced by astonishment and surprise. "Luo Di! Are you going to use that here?"

"Mm..."