MORIC - Chapter 135
Chapter 135: My Mecha is Also My Wife
During the practical training period, Alphas and Omegas were not always separated for their activities.
In a way, this arrangement was also meant to train the Alphas' ability to adapt to changing situations.
The academy supervisor hadn't expected a group that was so determined to slack off.
Not only was the entire group late on the first day of training, but they all looked listless, as if they had been out having a wild night.
"Do you all know today's mission?"
The supervisor was a middle-aged female Alpha with a rather stern appearance. Her glasses looked like a product from the last century—not quite retro, just comical.
Chi Yueshan's obsessive-compulsive tendencies flared up; she had a strong urge to make a new pair for her.
Ling Xun asked, "Are we heading to the base at the mecha training ruins on our own?"
The supervisor glanced at her. "Did you expect us to give you a ride?"
The other group's training supervisor had already arrived at the training base. The AI aircraft would be active throughout, recording data from this practical training to be placed in the students' files later.
Ling Xun was speechless.
Xi Shuang said, "It's so far. How are we supposed to get there? How are you teachers getting there?"
The number of students at the academy who needed to retake their practical training was minuscule. Aside from those like Mu Lai who had ulterior motives and just wanted to be in a relationship, the rest were all on edge, terrified of failing and being sent to some barren planet to shovel the dung of an unknown protected animal species.
The supervisor said, "Our mode of transportation is different from yours."
Xi Shuang asked, "You're not going to make us walk, are you?"
The middle-aged female Alpha pushed up her glasses and offered a smile that had a hint of the gallows. "You'll have to figure it out yourselves. This planet has transportation, you know."
"You will need to deal with any unidentified creatures you encounter on your own."
"The other supervisors and I are only responsible for recording."
Chi Yueshan surveyed the hall. Outside the door was a barren, sandy ground, devoid of even plants.
Farther out, a palpable heat wave shimmered.
The temperature difference between day and night was immense. It wasn't even eight o'clock, yet she could already feel the heat.
Ling Xun asked, "So we can't come back tonight? The handbook didn't say anything about that."
The supervisor replied, "There's no rule against it. You can decide for yourselves. We will check your progress once every three days."
The Omegas needed to collect a certain amount of material from a weaving plant called Teng Silk, as well as obtain the plant seeds specified in the handbook.
Chi Yueshan had already received the corresponding collection tools and had even taken copious notes.
But she hadn't expected the transportation here to be so inconvenient.
This was completely different from what the forums said about easily completing the practical training!!!
What kind of luck was this!!
Xi Zhoumeng also hadn't expected that even after the results were changed, they would still be randomly assigned to such arduous conditions.
She frowned, glanced at the glaring sun outside, and looked at the supervisor with displeasure. "What if there's an accident?"
The supervisor said, "You can send a warning through your Light-brain, and we will dispatch a vehicle to pick you up."
"However, if you send a warning for a situation with a low danger level, we will deem this practical training a failure."
Ling Xun took a deep breath.
Xi Shuang leaned against her, whining, "I'm already a second-year! The third-year practical training isn't until next semester!! By then, I'll definitely be taking the enlistment exam!"
The supervisor smiled. "Good luck to you all. Also, the seeds must be stored in a vacuum, or they will be considered invalid."
Xi Shuang let out a wail. "Is finding the seeds really that much trouble? Can't you just buy them on Capital Star?"
Ling Xun nodded seriously. "You really can't."
This planet was famous for its artificial cultivation of these seeds, and large numbers of workers entered the mountain forests every day to collect them.
Moreover, due to the special geology, manual labor was more efficient than AI.
Therefore, each seed was extremely expensive.
After the supervisor left, Ling Xun stared at the map on the back of the training sheet.
She then pulled out her Light-brain to calculate and finally announced grimly, "From here to our destination, it would take three hours at the speed of a normal hovercar."
"And we don't have a hovercar right now."
"The planet's public transportation is..."
Xi Shuang shrieked, "Ox carts??! What era is this? Why are there still ox carts as a mode of transportation! Is our luck really this bad, to be matched with such a backward planet?"
Ling Xun made a sound. "It's not that backward. It's just not suitable for long-term residence. I checked, and there are public buses."
Xi Zhoumeng and Wen Xinghuo exchanged a glance, neither having expected this outcome.
Chi Yueshan looked at the map, then at the time. "Then let's take our backpacks. We probably won't be able to come back tonight."
Xi Shuang nearly foamed at the mouth. "So we just had a brief one-night stand with this dorm, and we don't actually have time to live in it?"
Chi Yueshan nodded. "If we collect everything quickly, we should be able to come back, but this area..."
For the practical training, her and Xi Zhoumeng's luggage was packed together, and the clothes had all been organized by Xi Zhoumeng's maid. The style made them look like a family.
However, Chi Yueshan dressed less elaborately than Xi Zhoumeng. With a bare face and a serious expression, she possessed an unexpected sense of composure.
"It's the former Zerg battlefield simulation base. We call it the mecha training ruins, right? It seems to have special protective devices. But some seniors on the forums have been here and said it was very tough just to get a passing grade. But there definitely won't be any major danger."
She shared her Light-brain screen, and everyone could see a circled area.
"The plant seeds we're looking for are distributed in this forest, but there will be attacks from some mechanical creatures in the forest. The anti-Zerg mechanical creatures probably won't activate... Hmm, these should be relics left by the military a hundred years ago."
"So, the three of us will look for seeds, and the three of you will be responsible for protecting us."
Chi Yueshan looked up, a hint of excitement in her eyes. "Your mechas are all linked to your Light-brains, right? If we run into mechanical creatures, you can just fight them directly. That's okay, right?"
"Sigh, I'm kind of looking forward to being attacked by the anti-Zerg mechanical creatures. It sounds so interesting!"
The delight in her tone was undisguised. Xi Shuang shivered, recalling some online articles about the remaining bionic Zerg mechanical creatures on other planets, as well as news of mobile devices injuring people.
She suddenly felt that this practical training was fraught with peril.
But seeing Chi Yueshan's eyes shining, she couldn't help but poke at her. "Junior, do you really like mechas that much?"
Chi Yueshan nodded emphatically. "Don't worry, Senior. I didn't take your money for nothing. It was a bit expensive, but your mecha is very effective now."
"Even if something major happens, it will save your life! I used really expensive materials! Even with all the money you gave me, I was just covering the cost."
Chi Yueshan chattered on, but before she could wink at Xi Shuang, she was pulled aside by Xi Zhoumeng.
Xi Zhoumeng looked over the map again. "Those who need to pack, go pack. Be prepared not to come back. The temperature difference between day and night is huge. I have compression bags, you can take the thick ones."
The young lady sighed. "We three delicate Omegas are counting on you for protection."
Wen Xinghuo was silent for a moment, feeling that Xi Zhoumeng was putting on an act again.
Chi Yueshan jabbed Xi Zhoumeng. "Aren't you going to go pack the mattress?"
Xi Zhoumeng: "Me?"
Chi Yueshan huffed. "I have no strength. I still need to replan our route."
Xi Zhoumeng could only nod and turn to leave.
Sheng Yangkui was about to head back as well, but Wen Xinghuo beat her to it.
The sofa in the hall was just a few wooden benches, and the blackboard on the wall still bore traces from previous academy training teams.
Sheng Yangkui sat next to Chi Yueshan, watching the Omega beside her humming a tune as she studied the map. She asked Chi Yueshan, "Aren't you scared?"
Chi Yueshan thought Sheng Yangkui was frightened and waved her hand. "There's nothing to be afraid of. Although it's quite dangerous, rest assured, Princess, Senior Wen will definitely protect us."
Her smile was exceptionally bright. The simple, plain-colored shirt was a bit loose but suited Chi Yueshan's temperament, making her look as pure as a spring.
She tilted her head and explained to Sheng Yangkui, "But Xi Shuang and Ling Xun are very strong too, they'll also protect us~ After all, they're among the top students in the Alpha division."
Even though Wen Xinghuo had told her many times that the past was the past and that she should focus on the present, Sheng Yangkui still felt inherently inferior when facing Chi Yueshan.
She had wronged Chi Yueshan.
But Sheng Yangkui didn't know how to turn this guilt into real compensation.
After all, Chi Yueshan was too adaptable. She was like a poplar tree in the desert; no matter how harsh the conditions, she could stubbornly sprout a patch of green.
It brought tears to a traveler's eyes, leaving them at a loss for words.
"Hey, hey, hey, why are you about to cry?"
Chi Yueshan was startled and hurriedly fumbled in her bag for a tissue, only to pull out Xi Zhoumeng's handkerchief.
She had washed it earlier but hadn't returned it yet.
Now there was no need to return it. What belonged to Xi Zhoumeng was hers.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Chi Yueshan wiped Sheng Yangkui's tears.
Her face naturally didn't have a composed look. Even though she wasn't very short, she gave off an impression of being easy to bully.
Her only recourse was to make herself look fierce; her scruffy, vagrant style was also a form of protection.
Now that Xi Zhoumeng was taking good care of her, her skin had improved greatly. The roughness had turned into delicate flesh, though the old calluses on her hands would not fade.
Yet Chi Yueshan still retained her passion and intended to dedicate her life to it.
As a result, her eyes were always filled with fervor, and just looking at her could lift one's spirits.
Sheng Yangkui shook her head. "I feel like I'm never helpful, and I cry a lot."
Chi Yueshan chuckled. "Crying isn't something you can just hold in. If you're naturally a crier, then just cry. Some people can't even cry, and it bottles up into a problem. They have to spend a lot of money to see a doctor."
"But even though you're a princess and don't have to worry about that, your body is your own. It might stay with you longer than a lover, so you have to love your body first, right?"
The first person to tell Chi Yueshan to love and accept herself was Zhou Fengqin. Chi Yueshan never thought she would one day be able to say such words to someone else.
Some words are like that; they sound different at every stage of life. Regardless, Chi Yueshan loved this sense of anticipation for the future.
Anticipating a better and better version of herself.
Only the two of them were here. The dorms were in the row behind them, and they could still hear Xi Shuang's roars and Ling Xun's pained cries.
Unsure of what to stuff into their backpacks, the cousins had actually started arguing.
"I know what you're thinking."
Chi Yueshan shrugged. "It's all in the past, it really doesn't matter."
"One has to look forward. Just like how I didn't come to the Upper World purely to meet Senior Wen."
Chi Yueshan took Sheng Yangkui's hand, which was twisting the corner of her clothes, and gently smoothed out the wrinkles in the fabric. "That kind of snatching isn't despicable. I've seen plenty of it in the Lower World."
Her tone was light, completely lacking the impatience and instability that people usually associated with a young Omega.
"You have to fight for food, fight for work, every opportunity is snatched."
"The fact that you could snatch away that first encounter at least proves you have desire."
Chi Yueshan also knew about Sheng Yangkui's past life; it was a sore spot for the Wen Xinghuo of this life who had fallen in love with Sheng Yangkui.
It would be the same for me, actually. That's just how people are; who can be that selfless?
Children in the Lower World learned to be selfish without being taught, because being selfish was the only way to survive.
Wen Xinghuo saved Chi Yueshan, igniting Chi Yueshan's obsession with power. Later, she also used her fists to talk to people and had snatched things from others.
Zhou Fengqin never scolded her, only telling her to be careful and not get hurt.
Chi Yueshan knew everyone had secrets; Xi Zhoumeng had far more secrets than Sheng Yangkui.
The fact that she wasn't saddened by these secrets proved that her liking for Xi Zhoumeng was approaching love.
Chi Yueshan had always been self-centered, whether in love, studies, or life.
Doing what was best for herself was the top priority.
Only fools acted recklessly without regard for themselves.
As Chi Yueshan strung together the route on her personal notebook and marked points of caution, she said, "I'm not going to be sad because you snatched Senior Wen away, because I still met her in the end."
"And my wish came true, too."
Sheng Yangkui had never seen Chi Yueshan's handwriting before. Now, seeing its sharp, forceful strokes, she realized it was completely different from the cute fonts popular among Omegas.
"I still have many wishes. I have to look forward. So, what about you?"
She turned to look at Sheng Yangkui.
Sheng Yangkui was at a loss for words for a long time. It seemed her life had been devoid of freedom from birth. Being chosen was just another stage of a puppet's life.
She had no autonomy whatsoever, and even her affection was so timid.
Now she even felt that her affection was too empty.
As if it wasn't enough to support Wen Xinghuo's reciprocation.
Chi Yueshan: "What's there to feel inferior about?"
Sheng Yangkui let out a small "ah." She was naturally timid and seemed easily startled.
Chi Yueshan thought about what Xi Zhoumeng had told her about Sheng Yangkui's past life.
She had actually died by having her head chopped off by Wen Xinghuo.
That wasn't just timidness. To still love the person who beheaded you, there had to be a bit of madness in there.
It was just that Sheng Yangkui had suppressed it for too long, had received no praise, and Wen Xinghuo was such a mute.
No wonder Xi Zhoumeng would occasionally mention it with a sense of frustration, as if scolding iron for not becoming steel.
Although love is ever-changing and there's no single way to be in a relationship,
Chi Yueshan still believed in being honest. Liking is liking.
If this person is beautiful, I'll praise her for being beautiful.
If this person fascinates me, I'll be fascinated by her, go crazy for her.
What the mouth can't say, the body can.
After all, Xi Zhoumeng was prone to getting pushy if you gave her an inch. Well, it still depended on the person. Pingping said you had to adapt to the situation.
"Don't overthink it. Even if you hadn't snatched that first encounter, Senior Wen and I wouldn't have started dating."
Chi Yueshan sighed, grabbed Sheng Yangkui's hand, and used it to gently pat Sheng Yangkui's own cheek.
"Snap out of it, little sister," Chi Yueshan sighed. "There's a lid for every pot."
"A piece of work like Xi Zhoumeng can only be handled by me. Why does she like me? Of course, it's because I'm worth it."
"If you're anxious about why you're liked, why you were chosen, then just ask boldly."
"But Senior Wen looks like she'd get tongue-tied. She's too reserved. You could have her write it down, too."
Chi Yueshan hummed in thought. "Also, do you have anything else you like besides being in a relationship with Senior Wen?"
Chi Yueshan lowered her voice, leaned close to Sheng Yangkui's ear, and whispered, "If we're all going to be happy in this life, you need to have a new direction, right?"
"Like me, I love mechas so much. Even if Xi Zhoumeng died, I'd spend the rest of my life with my mecha."
It was the first time Sheng Yangkui had heard such heartless words, and she was stunned for a long while.
She seemed to consider it seriously, and after a moment, she said softly, "I want to study medicine."
"I... my other elective is Introduction to Medical Principles."
Chi Yueshan: "See? You do have something you like, don't you?"
She shrugged, bobbing her head, then pulled out another pen for Sheng Yangkui. "You help me write. I'll read the map and you write it down."
The two of them sat close together like that. Xi Zhoumeng, who had worked up a sweat packing things upstairs, stood beside Wen Xinghuo and called out—
"What happened last night? Why is your princess clinging to my kid?"
Wen Xinghuo gazed at Sheng Yangkui's figure and smiled silently.
Xi Zhoumeng: "I'll be direct."
Wen Xinghuo looked over.
Xi Zhoumeng: "If something happens, you will follow my orders completely."
"It might sound a bit harsh to say this, but in an emergency, save Chi Yueshan first. After all, you and Sheng Yangkui owe her."
Wen Xinghuo nodded without hesitation but still asked, "And you?"
Xi Zhoumeng scoffed. "If I'm there, would I even need you?"
Wen Xinghuo frowned. "What do you mean?"
Xi Zhoumeng sighed. "Because I might have to let that Zerg Queen invade my consciousness, I might not be able to pay attention to everything else."
She smiled again. "But it's not a big problem. I'm just a little scared..."
"That Chi Yueshan might be frightened by what she sees."
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