Chapter 1 (1/2)

Chapter 1: Number T-105

It was a calm and quiet night, or at least it should have been. The nights in the city were busier than the days. A good place to see this was at the city’s night market. As night fell, the rainbow lights flickered on, the hawking of various street vendors began to sound out, the smell of various snacks filled the air, and there was too much merchandise for the eyes to take in.

Among the hustle and bustle of the night market; in a simple, little, outdoor eatery selling stir-fry; there was a table of customers with a completely different atmosphere compared to the surroundings. They were three men with grave expressions looking somewhat indisposed. However, as far as the bosses of the little eatery, the old Wang couple, was concerned; these three were frequent customers.

The one among these three men who could cause others to raise an eyebrow was named Ye Cang. It was a fairly ordinary name, Ye meaning leaf and Cang meaning pale, but his appearance was not ordinary. He had white hair, white eyebrows, as well as fluttering white eyelashes. Even his pupils were a weird pink with a hint of red. His expression faintly showed some grief. He had a delicate face, a scrawny build, and fair-white but not sickly pale skin. At this moment, with one hand on his forehead, he gave a deep sight: “Considering our credits at the city college, our failed courses, as well as the results of the group combat test. Mm~. I think we should start properly considering our livelihood until the next test.”

Sitting on Ye Cang’s left was a big man in a tanktop with a crewcut named Zhang ZhengXiong. He had sculpted face with stalwart and manly features, an abnormally well built body, and tiger like eyes. It made people think he was a musclehead. Even though he was sitting, no one would doubt that he was at least 185cm tall. At this point, he nodded his head, casually looked at Ye Cang and said: “Bro, what’s your plan?”

The one sitting on the right of Ye Cang was a very ordinary looking youth named Lin Le. He had a sort of ‘eldest child from next door’ impression. He had neat and tidy short hair except for one bundle that stuck up and would occasionally sway back and forth (ahoge). He was short, around 160cm if you were being generous. His gaze made him look smart but it had a little dullness to it too. Hearing what Ye Cang said, he indifferently shrugged and lightly nodded his head to signal them to continue.

Ye Cang slowly put both hands on the table, his fingers interweaved. He took a deep breath, played with his clean white eyebrows and said seriously: “Considering our classes, we have to repeat so many that we’re screwed. We’ve also been disqualified from, our only hope, the group combat test. However! I still have a plan for our current situation. I merely regret is that recently I pretended to be Lele and gave his rich girlfriend a call asking her to provide for us and she refused. Therefore, it appears we have to use our Plan B: find a part-time job to support us until the next group combat test.”

Zhang ZhengXiong raised his head and felt something was wrong. He doubtfully pointed out: “Hey, bro. Wasn’t our Plan B to let our younger siblings provide for us?”

“Brother Lil’Xiong, what does it mean to provide for us?” Lin Le who was also involved blinked his large eyes and expressed his puzzlement.

Ye Cang and Zhang ZhengXiong looked at each other and sighed. Ye Cang gave a Lin Le a cold look and returned to the subject: “The next group combat test is in half a year. We need to make enough to live. So A’Xiong, you’re responsible for pushing the fried cake cart. Lele, you set up a stall and sell roasted yams.”

The two of them slowly nodded their heads. Zhang ZhengXiong thought of a problem: “Bro, what about you?”

“I’ll be responsible for supervising you two and to collect the money. Conveniently, I can help both of you stand guard.” Ye Cang said ruthlessly, not embarrassed about it at all.

Just at that moment, a clamor emerged in the night sky. It was the sound of the holographic commercial again.

The three of them simultaneously raised their heads to watch the dazzling hologram in the sky. Swords and magic interweaved, good and evil collided, countless classes and all kinds of creatures clashed in a battle royale, creating sparks.

“‘** – Conviction’ will open at 9 o’clock. An unknown and mysterious new world is waiting for you to explore! Brave warriors! What are you still waiting for!”

‘** – Conviction’ was produced by a coalition of game developers. Every country’s government came together to release a new generation extremely lifelike virtual game. One must be 18 years or older enter.

A short moment later the dazzling commercial finished and it returned to being peaceful.

“Wow, it looks like it’d be so awesome” Lin Le’s eyes sparkled like a child’s

“Bro, what do you think about relying on that and becoming professional gamers?” Zhang ZhengXiong murmured while staring at the hologram.

Ye Cang slowly retracted his hands from the table and leaned back on his chair. He closed his eyes, faintly frowned and pondered for not even a second. Suddenly, he nodded and said seriously: “Sure, then it’s agreed. Cheers! Wait, let’s toast together once Nana arrives!”

Lin Le happily let out a childlike smile and cried out: “Long Live Brother Lil’White!”

Ye Cang calmly smiled and pet Lin Le’s head. He raise his cup, the three of them glanced at eachother, then they all downed their drink.

“I say, you three. You drank it just like that!? Heartless, didn’t even wait for me.” Just as the three of them raise their head from drinking, a rough female voice arrived. Although it was rough, it gave people a heart-warming, cheerful feeling.

The three of them simultaneously looked towards the source of the voice. She was in a black windbreaker that was worn-out yet covered the body, a leather top with a leather skirt, long fishnet stockings, and leather boots that were up to her knees. She had deep smokey eye makeup, and blood red lipstick. She was like a model wearing black gothic clothes. Both her clothes and her makeup were extremely gaudy. She carried a big guitar case as she smiled and walked towards the three. Everyone around looked at them strangely but the three were used to it, they didn’t give much reaction. This girl was precisely the Nana that they mentioned before. Her real name was Wu Na. She was a member of a band called ‘Falling Sand’ that was quite famous at LinHai city college.

“The band was busy today?” Ye Cang smiled looking at the new arrival.

“Mm~, we’ll be performing soon. Today we practiced a lot.” Wu Na shrugged. She set her guitar case aside and slowly sat down. She rapidly split open her chopsticks and hurriedly began eating the freshly fried squid. “I’m starving. Oh right, how were your tests?”

“Failed! Failed all of them!” Ye Cang raised his chin proudly and said.

“Same!” Zhang ZhengXiong slapped his chest and said with a smile.

“Me too! Me too!” Lin Le bounced excitedly like a kid.

“…Cough~ Cough~” Wu Na choked and looked at the three of them, her chest heavy. She then roared at them: “What’s there to be proud of!!”

Wu Na gave a helpless sigh sighed: “Then what about the group combat test?”

“We were disqualified!” Ye Cang said, as proud as before.

Wu Na rolled her eyes. She wanted to ask why, but, an announcement hologram appeared nearby and broadcasted: “This time’s group test, groups number T-13 and number T-36 have passed… and group number T-105: Ye Cang, Zhang ZhengXiong, Lin Le; these three people, due to excessively vile conduct, caused 3 instructors and 15 examinees to suffer mental trauma. They are disqualified from this test and have to retake it!!”

“…” Wu Na mouth hung open. What did these three bastards do!!? She suddenly turned her head to look at the three.

“Beautifully done!” Ye Cang raised both hands to high five Zhang ZhengXiong and Lin Le.

“…” Wu Na didn’t know wether to laugh or cry. She felt a surge of anger. All the bottled up anger exploded out: “You guys, what exactly did you do!? Also! This isn’t something you should be celebrating!!”

Ye Cang and the guys stared blankly for a moment. They raised their heads and thought back.

“I remember while we were at the third district’s riverbank barbecuing, some instructor Wang or something cursed at us, however, Brother Lil’Xiong beat him up.” Lin Le faintly raised his head and said after thinking back with great effort.

“Afterwards, we confiscated all his equipments. I recall it was Lele who said: ‘Let’s punish those evil-doers that bully us!’. Bro agreed too. We then made him strip, then tied him naked onto a raft, then…” Zhang ZhengXiong added in.

“It’s all Lele’s fault! He wanted hold a festival and make a wish!” Ye Cang exclaimed, complaining and interrupting.

“Eh! That’s how you guys humiliated the instructor?” Wu Na mouth hung open, these three fellows are really out of control. Her dressed up, slender eyebrows raised: “Wait! What festival!?”

“We prepared three candles, lit them, and wanted to put them on the raft. Unfortunately there was no more room so we put them on the instructor’s body. I made so many wishes. I even wished for world peace, wishing everyone can be forever happy…” Lin Le’s eyes were filled with hope. He began to recall the scene and his wishes. The three of them, hand in hand, seeing off the naked instructor Wang while making wishes into the night sky.

“However, afterwards, I realized it was a good opportunity to show off my great strategic mind.” Ye Cang once again butt in and explained.

Wu Na was already dumbfounded. There was still more. How much did those three need to toy with instructor Wang? She put her hand on her forehead: “There’s more!?”