Training Machine

Su Ming ignored the three bewildered people and walked into the bathroom, where he quickly washed up.

A few minutes later, Su Ming lay on his bed, staring at the underside of the upper bunk and pondering Zhang Tai blocking his way.

To be honest, he wasn't surprised at all that Zhang Tai had come to stop him. Although people sometimes had no connection with one another, nor any grudges between them,

once you decided to do something, you had to consider the interests involved. Take Zhang Tai's situation, for example. Since the original owner of this body was pursuing Lin Chuyu, regardless of whether he succeeded, he was still an obstacle in Zhang Tai's way.

From Zhang Tai's perspective, Su Ming had harmed his interests. Whether it was reasonable or not, Zhang Tai would come looking for trouble.

Therefore, whenever you did something, you had to anticipate what consequences and trouble it might bring, and whether you could bear them. Otherwise, you were simply being foolish.

That was how realistic and cruel this world was. Put simply, it was survival of the fittest.

Before long, Su Ming slowly closed his eyes and gradually drifted off to sleep.

Around noon.

Outside Teaching Building No. 1, the students from Mecha Class 3 arrived one after another.

A broad-browed, bright-eyed, energetic boy saw that most of the students had arrived and called out to his classmates.

"Everyone, hurry up and line up. Class is about to start."

"Minke, although you're the class monitor, it's not time for class yet. Besides, Teacher Tang isn't here. What are you yelling for?"

At that moment, a boy with messy hair, dark skin, and a contemptuous gaze replied disdainfully.

This boy was Chen Tong, the classmate who had mocked Su Ming in the classroom earlier.

Hearing Chen Tong's words, Minke replied without the slightest courtesy.

"Chen Tong, if you don't want to line up, don't hold up the other students."

"Tch, what a bootlicker!"

Chen Tong snorted coldly and muttered under his breath.

Just then, Su Ming walked over lazily, yawning, his spirits somewhat low.

He had gone to bed too late the night before. On top of that, he had gotten up at eight-thirty that morning to review his lessons in the dormitory, and this body wasn't quite used to it.

At that moment, Su Ming suddenly sensed that the atmosphere was a little off, so he looked over carefully.

He discovered that Minke, the class monitor, and Chen Tong were locked in a verbal confrontation, while the surrounding students had instinctively moved away.

A strange look appeared on Su Ming's face. Was it really this lively? Could it be that as the weather gradually grew hotter, everyone's tempers were flaring up?

Fortunately, Teacher Tang hurried over just then.

When the students present saw him, they began lining up one after another.

Chen Tong snorted as well and walked to the back of the line.

Su Ming found a place to stand.

"Minke, is everyone here?"

Tang Yan asked Minke.

"Everyone's here, sir."

Minke counted briefly before replying.

"All right. Follow me!"

Tang Yan didn't dawdle in the slightest and hurriedly led the students toward the Training Teaching Building.

The Training Teaching Building stood in a corner on the northern side of the school. It was one of the academy's most important buildings. From a distance, they could see many students gathered beneath its grid-like structure for training.

Tang Yan led Su Ming and the others into the building and arrived at Training Room No. 3 on the first floor.

The entire training room occupied a full five hundred square meters. It resembled a massive studio, with rows of gray Simulation Pods neatly arranged inside.

Su Ming gazed at the Simulation Pods with great interest. They were shaped like silkworm cocoons, each with its own number, while cables ran from the bottom of every pod.

At that moment, Tang Yan addressed the assembled students.

"Everyone, find the corresponding Simulation Pod according to your number in the class."

Just as all the students were preparing to move, Chen Tong suddenly complained.

"Ugh! Teacher, why are we using Simulation Pods again? It's so boring!"

"Then what would be interesting?"

Tang Yan raised an eyebrow and looked at the troublesome Chen Tong.

Chen Tong spread his hands and said contemptuously,

"What good does practicing in Simulation Pods every day do? Can't you bring out a real machine for us to practice with?"

"What nonsense are you spouting? How could Simulation Pods be useless? The City Exam uses Simulation Pods too. Why would we need a real machine?"

Tang Yan patiently explained.

"If we could get our hands on a real one, we'd be more motivated, and might even learn faster. Could it be that the school doesn't have any?"

Chen Tong smiled and said to Tang Yan.

Quite a few of the students present began cheering along.

"Yeah, Teacher! Can't you let us touch a real one?"

"That's right! We've never touched one before!"

Hearing this, Su Ming also looked at Tang Yan expectantly. If he could actually get his hands on a real machine, it would be an utterly unexpected surprise.

Seeing the anticipation on his students' faces—and with Chen Tong having pushed the matter that far—Tang Yan found it somewhat difficult to refuse. Besides, the students in the class he was leading this year truly had poor grades, which made him anxious as well. Gritting his teeth, he said,

"You little brats are really giving me trouble. Follow me!"

"Yay!"

"Teacher Tang is the best!"

The yellow-haired students and the others cheered excitedly.

Tang Yan led everyone out of the Training Teaching Building and toward the rear.

Behind the Training Teaching Building stood a steel structure resembling a rectangular warehouse, covering tens of thousands of square meters.

Quite a few security guards patrolled this place. Students normally weren't allowed near it, so Su Ming and the others had never been here before.

As Tang Yan led Su Ming and the others closer, a burly security captain with a scar across his face stepped forward.

"Teacher Tang, what brings you here? And why did you bring so many students?"

"Captain Qian Feng, I'm bringing these brats to try out the real machines. Training Ground No. 2 is vacant today, isn't it?"

Tang Yan took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled out a synthetic cigarette, and handed it to Captain Qian Feng.

Qian Feng accepted the cigarette from Tang Yan and gave him a thumbs-up.

"Teacher Tang, you're really generous. The real machines here are reserved for special training for top students, yet you brought the entire class over to train."

"It's nothing."

Tang Yan's expression was somewhat stiff as well.

"Then I won't disturb your class."

Qian Feng smiled and stepped aside.

Tang Yan led Su Ming and the others toward the training ground.

A few minutes later, a crisp mechanical clicking sounded, and the thick alloy doors opened.

Everyone followed Teacher Tang inside.

Soon, a spacious and empty training ground came into view.

Su Ming also looked around curiously.

The entire training ground stood more than thirty meters high. Its ceiling was made entirely of steel frames, and the floor was covered with metal tiles. A viewing platform and a small lounge surrounded the walls. In the center of the training ground stood five somewhat old training machines.

"Whoa, mechas!"

The yellow-haired students and the others shouted excitedly. This was the first time they had seen real machines.

Su Ming examined the five training mechas with great interest. They stood roughly eight meters tall and were completely covered in thick gray armor. Their bodies were humanoid, with round shells atop their heads and cross-shaped display devices. The huge mechanical right hand of each one held a soft-rubber model blade.