Chapter 18 The Principal's Example
The students stared at Fu Qing, Fu Qing stared at Hao Zhenye, and Hao Zhenye stared expressionlessly at the simulated zombie.
He dragged her into the mess, yet avoided eye contact with her, giving the impression of daring to defy his superior but not fully committing to the fight.
Fu Qing chuckled, seemingly lost in thought, and shrugged: "Alright then."
In early September, summer was gradually coming to an end. Last night there was a shower, and the air in the mountains became a bit cool, so short sleeves were no longer appropriate.
Fu Qing was wearing a light sweatshirt and jeans today, an outfit that was still quite practical for movement. She bent down to tighten the laces of her sneakers, then straightened up and said, "Teacher Hao is used to being reckless, so he might not be very good at, well, the fighting methods of the 'weak'."
She uttered the word "weak" in a measured tone, and Hao Zhenye turned his head sharply, his expression not very pleasant.
Fu Qing, however, remembered Hao Zhenye's ability panel.
With a B+ level of intelligence, he was at the bottom of the four teachers' group; he was definitely not a brainy type before.
S-'s skill also means that he can handle most dangerous situations with his formidable strength.
While the students' ideas were limited, their dissatisfaction itself was not a problem. Hao Zhenye's indiscriminate teaching method did indeed fail to cater to some students with weaker physical abilities.
It's understandable that some people feel it's unfair in terms of how points are earned and their significance.
He probably realized this himself, but because he hadn't experienced it firsthand, he couldn't think of a way to teach according to aptitude. Just then, Fu Qing, who happened to be passing by, was caught up in this situation.
Unfortunately, Hao Zhenye was not convinced by Fu Qing, his superior, and his stubborn and headstrong personality made him unwilling to ask for help.
So the tone of his voice became slightly... a little more aggressive.
Fu Qing expressed his understanding and decided to add one more physical education class per week when the schedule is changed next time.
The simulated zombies had only just been introduced, and Hao Zhenye hadn't had time to share his lesson plans with her yet, so Fu Qing quickly inquired about the rules.
As Hao Zhenye spoke, the students couldn't help but whisper among themselves.
If the principal wants to give a demonstration, shouldn't he find a team to help them? Wouldn't that give them a chance to experience what it's like to be carried by a big shot?
There were also girls who had read the forum and temporarily become fans of Fuqing, their eyes shining, ready to raise their hands and sign up as soon as Teacher Hao finished explaining the rules.
"Aren't you guys getting too excited? The principal isn't necessarily that powerful..." someone muttered nearby. "Didn't the forum say that the person who caused trouble was a drunkard, too drunk to fight back? I could have done it too."
Not everyone was convinced by what happened over the weekend; quite a few still had doubts in their hearts, and they took the opportunity to quietly complain.
However, the others ignored their dissatisfaction.
"...That's it."
As soon as Hao Zhenye finished speaking, several people eagerly raised their hands.
To see for yourself how capable the principal really is, you'll know.
Fu Qing didn't even glance at them, nodded to indicate that he understood, and then said, "A-001 to A-010, enter the collective command."
The ten zombies, which had been in standby mode for some time, stiffly turned their heads, their pupils locking onto Fu Qing.
That scene was enough to send chills down your spine.
Fu Qing recalled the settings and controls of the realistic zombie game, pondered for a moment, and then quickly replied.
"Movement speed to 100%".
The dozen or so hands that were raised froze.
They remembered that during the morning's practical training session, Hao Zhenye adjusted the movement speed to 20%...
That's the movement speed of a novice zombie.
The average running speed for adults should be between 50% and 60%.
They're already at 100% right from the start... They've been pinned to the ground before they even got started, haven't they?
Several people quietly lowered their hands as if nothing had happened.
But a few boys who were confident in their running speed raised their hands.
Without pausing for a moment, Fu Qing continued: "Adjust Agility to 80%."
The group: "..."
If I remember correctly, the agility of a novice zombie is also 20%...
Did Teacher Hao just say that in a chase, you only adjust your pace and not your agility?
Why is the principal making things more difficult?
Several of the raised hands were quietly lowered.
Under increasingly subtle gazes, someone continued: "As for the marker, let's set it on the roof of the west teaching building, where the playground can see it perfectly."
The West Teaching Building is the tallest building closest to the playground, with six floors. Upon hearing this last sentence, the few remaining hands wisely lowered themselves.
Anyone with a brain can figure it out: the straight-line distance from the entrance of the west teaching building to the marker is less than 50 meters. Once the zombie is activated, it will head straight for the marker.
Only a god could complete the checkpoint challenge if ten zombies with 100% speed and 80% agility surrounded it together.
Isn't the difficulty level for the principal too high?
After thinking for a moment and making sure nothing was missed, Fu Qing turned around and gestured to Hao Zhenye with her eyes.
Hao Zhenye reluctantly replied, "No problem."
The difficulty of her adjusted assessment was even higher than he had imagined.
A speed of 100% means that the zombie has reached its maximum speed.
Hao Zhenye reflected on his four years of life in the apocalypse, unsure if he had ever seen a zombie that had evolved to the point of being able to unleash its maximum speed.
Fu Qing dared to adjust to this speed... Could it be because she had witnessed it before?
His gaze darkened as he realized he might have overlooked something.
Having received confirmation, Fu Qing nodded: "Then let's begin."
The simulated zombies A-001 to A-010 received instructions, their joints stretched, and their bones cracked, as if they had begun to self-adjust because they had been set to some kind of extreme state.
The adjustment was completed in a very short time, and the zombie's hoarse, inhuman voice rang out: "Settings complete, the assessment will begin in 3 seconds."
"Countdown, three—"
The onlookers were still in shock when the assessment began.
Wait, isn't something wrong?
Where are my teammates?
Without teammates, is the principal planning to bypass the encirclement and pursuit of ten zombies and complete the mission all by himself?
How is that possible!
Don't be fooled by the fact that everyone has to kill five zombies during the final exam; there are conditions attached.
According to the bracelet's instructions: First, the strength of the five zombies will fluctuate between the beginner and intermediate levels; there will never be a monstrous zombie with 100% of any particular ability.
Second, zombies spawn randomly inside buildings and will not appear at the starting point along with the examinees.
Third, the complex environment inside the building is an obstacle for zombies but an asset for humans. They have a full hour to deal with the zombies and eliminate them as safely and harmlessly as possible.
But none of these three points apply to Fu Qing.
This is a blitzkrieg, leaving almost no room for thought. Once surrounded by these ten zombies, the assessment will end in an instant.
Zombies can kill people with just a bite, but it's ten or a hundred times harder for humans to kill zombies.
As long as their brains aren't destroyed, even if they lose limbs or most of their bodies, they will struggle, roar, and pounce on you again... The difficulty is on a completely different level.
The only way forward for Fu Qing seems to be to get to the rooftop before them and complete the check-in.
Many people swallow unconsciously at this moment.
They didn't know what they were expecting to see.
But they learned what true "injustice" really meant.
"two--"
Fu Qing and the ten lifelike zombies were about ten meters apart.
This distance can be covered in the blink of an eye once you unleash your speed.
"one--"
Fu Qing rotated her wrist.
"start."
Almost the instant those two words were uttered, both sides moved simultaneously.
Everyone felt a gust of wind sweep by, and the zombies that had been standing in a row in front of them swept up the dust on the ground like a zombie horde passing through, baring their teeth and claws and stumbling forward, like bizarre and terrifying monsters in a movie, with terrifying hisses bursting from their chests.
The roars were deafening, and for a moment everyone felt their hearts clench and they couldn't breathe.
The zombies accelerated to their limit almost instantly. Their limbs twisted and their joints bent at angles that humans could not achieve, yet their movements were not slow at all. In the blink of an eye, they rushed dozens of meters using both hands and feet.
Once the space in front of them was empty, the students, whose attention had been diverted, slowly came to their senses, clutching their chests and breathing heavily: "...Wait, where's the principal?"
Those with good eyesight gazed intently into the distance and suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Look there!"
The zombies had already swarmed to the front of the teaching building!
Those who reacted quickly blurted out, "If they go inside the building, then we won't be able to see anything—"
His words came to an abrupt halt as everyone watched as the zombies split into two groups. About half rushed into the building, startling the students who were still in class into screaming, while the other half turned and charged straight towards the small flower bed next to the building.
Stepping over the flowerbed partition, he then charged towards the outer wall of the building with his hands raised, like a zombie apocalypse, searching for a climbing spot.
“They want to climb the building…” someone murmured, feeling as if a lump of cotton was stuck in their chest, making it hard to breathe.
After the agility was adjusted to 80%, the zombies underwent a new change. Their movements were no longer as clumsy as before, and they were even able to climb.
They quickly thought of humanity in the apocalypse.
How desperate must the survivors have felt upon witnessing this scene?
But one figure was faster than the zombies.
The commotion caused by the zombies was so great and their momentum was astonishing that even Hao Zhenye was immediately distracted by them. When he noticed the figures constantly leaping upwards a beat later, his eyes twitched violently.
Nobody knows how she could be so fast.
Fu Qing left all the zombies far behind and reached the top floor in less than ten seconds.
With one hand gripping the edge of the wall, he performed a graceful flip and landed steadily on the rooftop.
As she landed, the hem of her dress billowed slightly, revealing a slender, powerful waist with clearly defined lines, leaving everyone staring in disbelief.
The zombies downstairs hadn't even climbed to the third floor, but Fu Qing had already pressed the 3D check-in symbol floating in the void.
"Check-in complete."
"Time taken: 17 seconds."
The zombie, clinging to the wall, broadcast its message methodically, then loosened its grip on the climbing point, and its body plummeted into freefall.
Then it fell all over the small garden floor with a clatter.
Fu Qing: "..."
She crouched on the rooftop, looking down at the flowerbeds below that had been smashed into several human shapes. Her chest, typical of a simulation gamer, began to ache: "Don't jump off the building to save trouble next time."
Realistic zombie: "Received."
Fu Qing was too lazy to walk up the stairs, so after looking down, she decided to jump.
Her body descended lightly, each time precisely landing on various protruding footholds on the outer wall of the building. The sight was breathtaking, yet she remained steady, as if she had done it a thousand times before.
Within a few breaths, he was standing perfectly fine on the ground.
When Fu Qing returned to Hao Zhenye's side, she looked up and saw his gloomy expression. She couldn't help but curl her lips into a smirk and said jokingly, "Here you go, the 'victory of the weak'."
The playground was completely silent.
If this is what you call the weak, then what are they? A speck of dust with a combat power of only 0.5...?
Fu Qing didn't forget that Hao Zhenye had actually asked her for "help". After making a joke, she turned to face the students who were dumbfounded and got back to the point: "Primary zombies can't climb. They only gain some climbing ability after they evolve, but due to their rotting bodies and stiff joints, their flexibility is far inferior to that of humans."
"In other words, through practice, everyone has the potential to escape the pursuit of zombies in this way."
"Even those who consider themselves the weakest in terms of physical strength are born with physical advantages over zombies—isn't that also a kind of 'unfairness'?"
This time, however, it's the zombies who should be complaining.
Fu Qing's few casual words stunned the students who had been shouting about injustice.
Hao Zhenye unconsciously turned his head to look at the exterior wall of the teaching building and pursed his lips.
When Fu Qing was climbing, his feet stepped over the hanging air conditioner units and some not-so-prominent decorative ridges. Hao Zhenye wasn't incapable of climbing, but given his weight, he would never be as agile, and he would have far fewer footholds to rely on.
Many of the places where Fu Qing had stepped were simply unable to support his weight.
Hao Zhenye vaguely realized that Fu Qing was right. Putting aside her own strength, Fu Qing did demonstrate a way of winning that the "weak" could refer to.
They turned their physical disadvantage into agility, and their vulnerability to blows into skill in climbing, teaching them a different way to survive in a horde of zombies.
This is a blind spot in Hao Zhenye's thinking, who has always advocated solving all problems with force.
His muscles and imposing weight, which he was so proud of, also made him a weak point in climbing, so he instinctively overlooked this aspect when teaching.
This is his weakness, but it can become a strength and a way of life for some students.
Hao Zhenye fell silent.
The students stared at each other blankly, then slowly, one by one, they realized what was happening.
They realized that the principal wasn't joking; this really was a viable method.
They may not be as agile as the principal, but they should be better than those clumsy zombies, right?
Some of the girls listened especially attentively.
Tall boys might break branches when climbing trees, but girls can stay in the trees for a long time. Moreover, women have stronger lower limb strength and are lighter, so they have an advantage when climbing if they use their muscles well.
...That's their advantage!
Many girls who had lost several games in a row last week and this week were so excited that their faces turned red, as if they saw the hope of gaining points and couldn't wait to try it out.
Those who had just said the forum had no credibility were quickly proven wrong and wished they could dig a hole and crawl into it.
Let them talk too much, let them judge by appearances...wouldn't it be better to wait until the principal has finished his presentation before speaking?
Hao Zhenye took in the students' reactions and became even more silent.
A few people remained sober, muttered to themselves for a moment, and cautiously raised their hands to ask, "But Principal, we have no foundation. Wouldn't it be a bit dangerous for us to start practicing climbing stairs directly?"
What if you slip...
Fu Qing was certainly aware of this: "Don't worry, I'll take care of it."
The person who asked the question nodded, raised no further objections, and began a lively discussion with the students around them.
Unbeknownst to them, their trust in Fu Qing had also increased.
Several others, still reflecting on the principal's earlier behavior, glanced at Fu Qing every now and then, their cheeks burning, clearly already contemplating how to phrase their posts on the forum.
Fu Qing stopped paying attention to the crowd's reactions and started thinking on his own about how to ensure the safety of the climbing practice.
Like most simulation management games, the system provides very few facilities at the start, only a few buildings necessary for the school to operate.
For example, the canteen, dormitory, teaching building, and the tables and chairs inside.
Fuqing had to find a way to provide all the other teaching materials himself.
For example, the gymnasium on the south side of the playground, although it has a shell, has very few internal facilities. Even the gym was newly built after Zhao Tingting donated equipment.
Given that Fu Qing's current progress in completing the mission is quite poor, and Fang Zhou is also very poor, many things are being used as makeshift solutions.
Bai Tang's teaching materials came from the internet, Zhao Yunxiao's teaching materials came from his own knowledge accumulation, only Grandma Liu's experimental field and the realistic zombies that were just introduced into the physical education class cost a few points.
Thus, the basic teaching model of physical education class still involves students chasing each other around the entire campus for free.
From top to bottom, it all had a strong amateurish, makeshift feel to it.
The current youth training program is also considering how to utilize the existing environment to achieve training goals.
...There was no other way, we were too poor.
She could certainly choose to build a climbing wall in the gymnasium, but one wall would definitely not be enough to allow more than two thousand students to practice adequately.
That's a problem that can't be solved with the 50 teaching points we have left.
Fu Qing recalled a system function that he had never used before.
She silently said to herself, "System, bring up the upgrade panel."
All facilities and buildings on campus are upgradable.
Fuqing can even choose to upgrade the entire system or upgrade a specific function based on its needs.
In general, upgrading involves modifying existing buildings/facilities, which is much cheaper than buying new buildings with the same functions. However, as the level increases in the later stages, the price will also rise accordingly.
Fu Qing planned to directly renovate the existing exterior wall this time. Too lazy to search, she directly asked the system, "How many points are needed to add a safety rope?"
[Reporting to the host: Adding a safety rope and matching wearable safety harness to a single building requires 30 teaching points.]
[If you wish to add similar safety devices to all buildings on campus, the package price is 100 teaching points, as the number of wearable safety belts remains the same.]
100 teaching points?
Fu Qing looked at the 50 points left in his hand and hissed softly, feeling a headache coming on.
Buying only one building is not cost-effective.
I can't afford to buy it all together.
The surrounding students had already scattered and formed small groups to practice, while Fu Qing remained standing in the same spot, caught in a dilemma.
She frowned, wanting to browse the existing buildings in the mall to see if there were any other solutions, but suddenly someone grabbed her arm.
Fu Qing turned around and saw Hao Zhenye, who had been silent since then.
His face was more somber than ever before, as if he had been thinking for a long time before staring intently at her and speaking.
"You... have also experienced the apocalypse."
How long have you lived?
"You've seen more and more powerful zombies, haven't you? And they've lived longer than me?"
His pupils briefly lost focus, but he forced himself back to his senses, and with a barely perceptible hoarseness, he asked the last question in a deep voice.
"...What happened to humanity in the end?"
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