016 One Hundred Days of Abstinence

Returning from Que Luo Town, Xu Xinqi ventured into the mountains more frequently than before. Previously, his excursions were for gathering wild fruits or digging for small crabs. Now, he found himself irresistibly drawn to the depression of Aopingzi Ditch.

This hopeful yet futile wait-and-see approach lasted no more than two days.

He and his sister then began a new week of campus life.

...

At six in the morning, Qu Zhanyi lifted her schoolbag and left the small courtyard. Xu Xinqi followed closely behind her. The two of them walked out of Yanjiao Village and passed through the thick mist shrouding Qiongshou Mountain. They entered the only middle school in Que Luo Town—Que Luo Middle School.

Waving to Qu Zhanyi, Xu Xinqi said reluctantly, “Sister, I’ll head to the classroom first.”

Qu Zhanyi nodded, then changed direction toward her own classroom.

“Good morning, Xu Xinyou,” a young, spirited voice suddenly sounded beside her ear.

Qu Zhanyi turned her head to see a tall, slender teacher wearing gold-rimmed glasses on his nose.

“Good morning,” she replied.

Qin Shoucheng noticed her steady, unwavering gaze—those deep, dark, and shining eyes fixed on him as if devoid of any living warmth, like staring into an abyss. He felt breathless, his expression tightening involuntarily. Regaining his composure, he asked, “Are you feeling better now?”

Qu Zhanyi paused briefly, then recalled that Xu Xinqi must have helped her get a ‘sick leave’ on the day she missed class. She nodded lightly and replied in a calm tone, “I’m better now. Thank you for your concern, teacher.”

With that, she turned and walked straight into the classroom. Qin Shoucheng watched her retreating figure, puzzled. She seemed somewhat different from a few days ago, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly how.

Lost in thought, the warning bell suddenly rang. Startled, Qin Shoucheng snapped back to reality, noticing his palms were sweaty. He placed a hand on his pounding chest and took several deep breaths.

Suppressing the strange feeling rising within him, he repeatedly reminded himself: from today onward, no more late nights watching martial arts dramas—this is starting to cause hallucinations!

...

Setting a hundred-day goal, he vowed not to return before then.

Qu Zhanyi had just taken her seat near the middle of the second-to-last row when the system suddenly went online.

[Host has helped Qin Shoucheng realize the *danger*, successfully taking the first forbidden step of review. Reward: ten jin of flour, Vitality buff (effect: doubles physical strength and sustains heightened mental alertness for one hour; buff can be stored; applicable to anyone), and one lottery chance.]

Listening to the system’s words, Qu Zhanyi was baffled. Had she done anything just now?

Though puzzled, her hand obediently clicked to claim the reward and draw the lottery.

[Thank you for participating. You did not win a prize. Please continue completing tasks to gain more chances!]

After morning self-study, the third class was physics. Qin Shoucheng entered the classroom carrying a stack of test papers, his gentle expression replaced by a serious one.

“Group leaders, please distribute the test papers.”

“Xu Xinyou, come up here.”

Qu Zhanyi was called forward and walked to the podium, confused. Qin Shoucheng handed her a brand-new test paper and said, “This is last Friday’s test. If you have any questions during the lesson, just raise your hand.”

She took the paper with thanks and returned to her seat, her gaze absentmindedly fixed outside the window.

Seeing this, Qin Shoucheng felt uneasy: was it just his imagination, or did this student give off a sinister vibe?

Thinking this, he recalled watching a horror show called "Mountain Village Teacher" with his college roommates, shuddering involuntarily.

Qin Shoucheng had been teaching here less than two months, filling in for the original physics teacher who had taken maternity leave. Since no other teacher could be found, he was assigned by default.

Though unsettled, he quickly adjusted and began to teach seriously.

Meanwhile, Qu Zhanyi’s gaze remained fixed outside.

She saw the bare lawn, a few lonely willows, several boys playing basketball on the playground, and groups of girls scattered across the campus corners.

Time seemed to stop at that moment. Such a leisurely, peaceful life was something she had never experienced before.

She mercilessly withdrew her gaze. This life was not for her—she preferred the thrill of wreaking havoc in the Demon Realm.

The bell rang.

Qin Shoucheng left the classroom immediately, clutching his lesson plans.

Qu Zhanyi idly twirled a pen.

...

A small boy hurried up to her.

“Your brother is about to be beaten to death!”

Qu Zhanyi glared at him with disgust, then, realizing the seriousness of his words, pushed the desk aside and stood up abruptly.

Clenching the ballpoint pen in her hand, she rushed toward Xu Xinqi’s classroom in quick strides.

The doorway was crowded with heads, but the harrowing screams and vile curses could not be blocked.

Qu Zhanyi weaved through, grabbed the collar of a boy a whole head taller than her, and forcefully pulled him aside. Simultaneously, she stabbed the ballpoint pen into the right shoulder of the gang leader.

She had originally aimed for the neck, intending to kill.

But the system detected her murderous intent and forcibly altered her attack’s focus and force.

The gang leader, spared death, was not grateful but furious and humiliated.

“Damn it!” he cursed, kicking her hard in the stomach.

She crashed into two desks and lay on the floor, nearly powerless. Only then did Qu Zhanyi deeply realize how weak this body truly was.

Still burning with rage, the thug raised a triangular ruler and smashed it down on her.

“Damn you, I’ll cripple you.”

With a crack, the ruler shattered.

The pain in her right hand took two seconds to register in her brain.

‘Bones shouldn’t be broken!’ She had experience with fractures, and this pain was different.

Taking a deep breath, she endured the agony and grabbed a shard of the ruler, shouting fiercely as she stabbed it into the thug’s leg.

She had aimed for the abdomen but was again stopped by the system.

No time to complain now.

The thug, thoroughly enraged, slapped her face with a hand bigger than her head.

Qu Zhanyi momentarily lost consciousness but, relying on strong willpower, turned her head before the second slap could cause a concussion.

“What are you all crowding here for?” a Chinese teacher, over fifty, shouted angrily, grabbing the thug by his collar and hoisting him up.

Qu Zhanyi, spared by fate, relaxed and lost consciousness again.

When she awoke, she was alone in a hospital bed, the empty ward silent.

“This body’s condition is far too poor. Not only lacks subtle magic, it’s barely healthy. Brother 17, could you improve her a bit?”

[That’s impossible. Additionally, informing the host that due to your excessive inner murderous spirit, the system has decided to retract the ‘Curse Key’ and deduct the last reward as punishment.]