Chapter 132: Bribes (6)
It was morning.
Sima Yuli stood in front of the dining hall, contemplating.
Today’s meal consisted of bok choy, chicken meatballs, beef noodles, and grilled herring.
But.
“…It’s expensive.”
Sima Yuli had no money in her possession to buy a meal.
Since she could not expect any financial support in the future, she really had to pinch pennies if she wanted to endure the remaining time at the Ascending Heaven Academy.
Growl…
But she was hungry, and going without food was not an option either.
Therefore, Sima Yuli decided to eat only one meal a day.
Only the bare minimum of food for the bare minimum of money.
Sima Yuli asked the staff member in front of the kitchen.
“Excuse me… how much is it for just a bowl of rice… and this ponytail radish?”
“Huh? Well, since nobody buys it like that… let me ask.”
The staff member asked another employee behind him, then replied in a nonchalant tone.
“They say it’s three iron coins.”
“I see. Here it is.”
“Yes. I will scoop it out for you right away.”
Soon, the rice and side dish came out.
Perhaps because the number of side dishes was small, it came out quickly.
Sima Yuli sat at a table with her tray.
On her tray, just as she had ordered, there was only a bowl of rice and a single piece of salted ponytail radish.
“……Thank you for the meal.”
Even so, Sima Yuli did not despair.
Because she knew very well that outside the academy, the majority of people were starving without even this much.
Right then.
Sniff, sniff…
Just as she was about to start eating, a certain scent brushed past the tip of her nose.
“…”
Sima Yuli turned her head.
An ownerless tray was left behind in an empty seat.
As if someone had left it behind while eating, meatballs were scattered somewhat untidily on the tray.
At that moment, a thought came to Sima Yuli’s mind.
‘Could I… take that and eat it?’
She didn’t even think about the looks from others or her pride.
Her stomach, which had not eaten anything proper for several days, began to assert itself fiercely as soon as it caught the scent of meat.
‘Anyway, it looks like it was left behind… Rather than letting it go to waste as food garbage, wouldn’t it be fine if I ate it?’
Sima Yuli unconsciously drooled a drop, then wiped her mouth with the back of her hand in surprise.
Soon, her brain began to rotate fiercely.
‘Right. Han Xin, the Peerless Hero of the State, also begged for food from a washerwoman at the riverbank in the old days. Is that all? They said King Goujian of Yue even ate feces to survive. Eating these meatballs left behind by someone right now is not a shameful thing. Rather than starving to death for the sake of temporary face and pride, it is much wiser to eat this and conserve energy to plan for the future!’
The historical anecdotes of the Humiliation Under the Crotch and Goujian Tasting Feces were rising in Sima Yuli’s mind.
Gulp!
Sima Yuli stealthily moved to the next seat, and after checking her surroundings, stealthily moved to the next seat again.
Then, she slinked her hand out and gently pulled the edge of the ownerless tray.
Soon, the still-warm meatballs were placed in front of her.
‘How long has it been since I last ate meat…’
Sima Yuli felt tears welling up in her eyes.
Soon, she reached out with her chopsticks and picked up a plump meatball.
After placing it on the steaming rice, she scooped up a large spoonful.
“Munch…”
Inside her plump cheeks, the white rice, the meatball, and the brown sauce mingled.
“Mmmmmm…”
Sima Yuli almost cried.
As expected, humans had to eat meat.
Her hands moved as if possessed by the meat and sauce that had entered her mouth for the first time in ten million years.
Nom nom nom nom nom nom nom-
With her cheeks puffed as if they were about to burst, Sima Yuli kept using her chopsticks.
The meatballs on the tray quickly ran out in the blink of an eye.
Right then.
“…Cough!?”
Sima Yuli almost spat out all the rice and meat in her mouth.
“…”
Ximen Qing. Because he, who had approached unnoticed, was standing quietly in front of Sima Yuli.
With a cup of water in his hand.
“W-was… this… your meal, Assistant Instructor?”
Nod…
Instead of answering, Ximen Qing merely nodded his head.
He had probably stood up during his meal to fetch some water.
Instantly.
…Whoosh!
A wildfire spread across Sima Yuli’s face.
She froze, turning bright red from the tips of her ears down to her neck.
“I…”
Sima Yuli was barely able to express her state of mind after going through immense hardship.
“I will commit suicide.”
“…”
“I-I thought without a doubt that you had d-discarded it… Ah… The meatballs were going to waste… Ahhh… I’m so sorry… What on earth did I do…”
Sima Yuli put down her chopsticks and rice bowl, then covered her face with both hands.
At that moment.
“Eat up.”
Ximen Qing pushed the tray closer to Sima Yuli.
Then, he placed a new tray he was holding in his other hand in front of her.
It was a tray piled high with meatballs, grilled fish, and white rice.
“…!?”
Sima Yuli raised her head with a startled expression.
At that, Ximen Qing nodded.
“If you are hungry in the future, come find me anytime. I can buy you at least this much.”
“C-can I really… do that?”
“Yes.”
To the question Sima Yuli mustered the courage to ask, Ximen Qing continued in an indifferent tone.
“Though it doesn’t seem like there will be any particular occasion for that.”
“…?”
Sima Yuli did not understand the words Ximen Qing left behind as he departed, tilting her head.
Why did he say there wouldn’t be any such occasion, when she was in a situation where she had to worry about her meals every single day until she left the Ascending Heaven Academy?
‘Still, it’s a relief. He seems like a good person…’
Sima Yuli stroked her chest with her hand.
Since her parents passed away, she had to endure the indifference, coldness, and bullying of those around her all by herself.
Although she thought she had gotten used to it over time, she was actually crumbling down bit by bit.
And in the midst of it, she met the only person who treated her like a human being.
“…”
Far away, the receding back of Ximen Qing seeped into her heart like a ray of light.
* * *
Sima Yuli went to the lecture building after finishing her breakfast.
Just as she arrived at the classroom to attend the ‘Basic Military Strategy (Intermediate)’ lecture.
“…?”
Sima Yuli found a crowd of people swarming around the bulletin board in front of the classroom.
“…!”
Her eyes stopped on the large public poster at the very bottom.
<Withdrawal Letter, Shen Shilin: As I, the aforementioned person, find it difficult to continue my studies due to post-traumatic fear disorder, I declare that I am voluntarily giving up my admission to the Ascending Heaven Academy…>
It was a public notice posted by Shen Shilin, the only daughter of the Shenshi Merchant Alliance, as she withdrew from the Ascending Heaven Academy.
However, she did not die alone.
<…Since I have made unjust solicitations through numerous bribes until now, I wish to apologize to my classmates who suffered because of it. The individuals with whom I established relationships through unjust solicitations are Instructor Huang Shao, Instructor Zhao Dashou, Assistant Instructor Dai Wudao, Assistant Instructor Jiang Baigu, Assistant Instructor Liu Xiahe…>
It was a public poster exposing the instructors and assistant instructors who had accepted corrupt solicitations from Shen Shilin and showered her with all kinds of special treatments, such as attendance validation and high grades.
The cadets were whispering as they looked at the poster.
“My goodness. To think such a thing is happening in the great Ascending Heaven Academy. I can’t believe it.”
“This is something unimaginable in the Blue Dragon, Black Tortoise, or White Tiger Halls.”
“Should we expect as much from the Vermilion Bird Hall, which is a gathering place for outcasts?”
“A single muddy fish muddies the whole pond.”
“Wait, then is today’s class suspended?”
“Of course. The instructor who was supposed to teach Basic Military Strategy got targeted on the public poster. Would he show up for class?”
It seemed today’s lecture was bound to be canceled.
Sima Yuli quietly stepped backward and left the hallway.
At that moment, through the window in the emergency exit staircase, she discovered a familiar back.
“…!”
Today, she followed that back which she had always avoided.
Just as Sima Yuli arrived on the first floor, the other person was about to exit the southern back gate of the Ascending Heaven Academy.
“Hey!”
Sima Yuli called out.
Then, the female cadet who only showed her back stopped walking.
Shen Shilin. She turned her head and looked at Sima Yuli.
Sima Yuli asked, using a courage she didn’t even know she possessed.
“W-why are you suddenly withdrawing? Did something happen?”
“…”
The axis of evil that had tormented her so much could not possibly disappear this easily.
That was why Sima Yuli asked.
It was to confirm whether this was truly reality or if she was dreaming.
And Shen Shilin’s reply coldly proved that this was reality.
“Thieves broke into our merchant alliance yesterday.”
“…!”
“My mother and father were also kidnapped and beaten within an inch of their lives.”
“…”
“Our household has been completely ruined by this. We lost all our wealth to the thieves, and the penalty fees we have to pay are sky-high.”
“…”
“My parents are bruised all over from the beating and cannot even move. Their minds have also gone strange. My father cannot even control his bowel movements and just draws pictures of flowers on the wall every day. My mother has become like a one-year-old child and just sucks her thumb all day. I have to look after both of them from now on. That is why I am withdrawing.”
The expression of Shen Shilin as she replied was blank from beginning to end.
An expression as if she were reciting something she had memorized tens of millions of times.
An appearance as if she were brainwashed by something.
“I also feel sorry toward you. I will live my life atoning for it forever. Suffering more than the way I tormented you. Throughout my life, living painfully, wretchedly, like a bug, I will never appear before your eyes again. I am truly sorry once again.”
“U-um? Shilin? What is wrong with you… You are a bit strange. You weren’t originally of this personality.”
“I am truly sorry. I am truly, truly sorry. Truly.”
“Are you okay? Your pupils are moving separately right now. And why are you suddenly drooling… Ah!?”
“I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry…”
Suddenly, Shen Shilin stopped talking and began to tremble violently.
As Sima Yuli approached in panic.
“Aaaaahhhhh! I’m sorry! Save me!”
Shen Shilin began to flee, wetting herself.
“…?”
Sima Yuli did not know at all how this situation was revolving.
However.
‘Did I… receive an apology?’
She merely tilted her head in confusion, feeling as if something had been resolved yet not resolved at the same time.
……But.
Her confusion did not end here.
Flutter!
A carrier pigeon descended and perched on the shoulder of Sima Yuli, who was about to return to the classroom.
“Uh? This is…”
Some cadets of the Ascending Heaven Academy received a visit from a special carrier pigeon once a month.
Tied to the foot of this carrier pigeon, which had red feathers on its body, was a rather special letter wrapped with a red seal.
It was none other than a ‘sponsorship certificate.’
The cadets of the Ascending Heaven Academy could receive sponsorship funds from sponsors who took note of their talents.
This was a one-on-one relationship between the sponsor and the cadet, and the sponsor could either reveal their identity or not.
“W-who would sponsor someone like me? It must be a mistake.”
But on the outside of the letter, the phrase ‘Vermilion Bird Hall, First-Year Cadet, Sima Yuli’ was clearly written.
“…I heard that the Ascending Heaven Academy’s sponsorship system is so strict that there has not been a single mistake in the past several decades. C-could it really be true?”
Sima Yuli forced down her pounding heart.
‘Unless someone sponsored an absurdly small amount just to tease me… then at least I won’t have to worry about tomorrow’s food money.’
Now that the perpetrators who had bullied Sima Yuli had all withdrawn, there was no one in particular who would play such a prank on her.
Soon, Sima Yuli took out and unfolded the sponsorship certificate tied to the pigeon’s ankle.
And soon.
“…!”
Sima Yuli faced the vague anxiety that an ‘absurd amount’ might be written on it as a reality.
<Sponsorship Deposit Certificate: 100,000 strings of silver coins>
On the sponsorship certificate, an amount was written that was more than enough to buy two hundred thousand bags of rice, equivalent to the total annual income of a decent mid-sized sect.