Era: Rise from the Wilderness

For any teacher, producing a top-notch student means real honor and glory.

"Being good at studying doesn't mean you can ignore discipline."

Director Wang's tone softened somewhat as he leaned back in the creaky wicker chair. "You said you're willing to accept punishment?"

"Yes, Director."

"However, I... have a small request."

Li Yunjing stood up straighter. The warm afternoon breeze seeped in through the cracks in the window, carrying the smell of the sandpit and the rusty horizontal bar by the playground. "Please give me a chance to make amends."

"Oh? How do you supplement it?"

"Next month's autumn sports meet,"

Li Yunjing's voice was clear and firm: "Our class's sports representative position has been vacant for a long time, and organizing training is a problem."

"I am willing to take full responsibility for the training of the class's athletes. I will set strict requirements and make scientific arrangements to strive for glory for the grade and the school."

"If I fail to do so, or if my class grades are at the bottom, I am willing to accept double punishment without any complaints."

The student on duty standing to the side stared wide-eyed, the disciplinary record book in his hand rustling softly.

He'd been "standing guard" at the entrance of the administration office for two years and had never seen a student dare to "bargain" like this in front of the "Black-faced King of Hell," and it actually sounded... kind of convincing?

In addition to being the dean of students, Wang Yanluo also served as the coach of the school team. All the sports students were under his management. His visible achievements in training sports students and producing more national second-level athletes were his accomplishments.

Li Yunjing's proposal to focus on sports naturally won Wang Yanluo's favor.

"You bastard, Li Yunjing!"

Director Wang stared at him for a good ten seconds, his gaze so sharp it was as if he wanted to pin him to the map of China behind him.

Suddenly, the corner of his mouth twitched, revealing a very faint, almost imperceptible smile: "Fine! You said it yourself."

"I'll make an exception and give you this chance."

"But remember this: on the day the sports meet results come out, if your class doesn't perform well..."

He tapped his finger heavily on the table. "Multiple offenses will be punished together! Don't blame me for not giving you a chance!"

"Thank you, Director Wang!"

"I will definitely do my best!"

Li Yunjing gave a perfect 90-degree bow, the sweat on his forehead almost dripping onto the cement floor.

Emerging from the administration office, which reeked of mothballs and old newspapers, the faint sounds of reading from distant classrooms echoed through the corridor once more.

"You're pretty good, kid!"

The student on duty followed him out, looking as if he'd seen a ghost, and whispered, "You managed to get away with this?"

"Brother, thank you for your 'kindness' today."

He grinned at the student on duty, a smile that seemed to come from relief: "From now on... I'll 'repay' you properly."

On my way back to class, the old-fashioned wooden window frames cut the setting sun into mottled gold pieces, casting them onto the wall painted half green.

Li Yunjing raised his hand and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead; his palm was damp and cold.

I passed the test, but the burden on my shoulders instantly doubled.

First in the whole school in the monthly exam?

Top performers in their grade level in competitive sports?

"My campus life after being reborn is starting on hard mode right from the beginning."

He gazed at the old willows outside the corridor window, their leaves already turning slightly yellow, swaying in the evening breeze, and murmured in a voice only he could hear.

As I approached the classroom door, I was greeted by the distinctive, melodious, theatrical voice of our Chinese teacher, Ms. Gao.

Teacher Gao was in his fifties, dressed meticulously in a gray Zhongshan suit. It was said that he always kept a polished peach wood ruler in his desk, which he used to discipline all kinds of "disobedience".

Li Yunjing looked through the blurry glass in the door and saw Teacher Gao waving his textbook, his spittle flying in the beam of light coming through the window.

"Forget it, going in now would be like walking into the line of fire."

Li Yunjing pulled her neck back and decided to find a place to get through the last half of the class.

He turned and slipped towards the playground.

In the distance, several classes were assembling for a physical education class, with whistles and the PE teacher's rough shouts mingling together.

Li Yunjing walked briskly along the shade of the trees, and that inexplicable irritability welled up in his heart again.

"Forget it, forget it. Let's take it one step at a time. Maybe King Yama is just busy with important matters and will forget about me after a while."

He muttered to himself, then turned his head and saw a heated game on the cement basketball court next to him. Sweat glistened on his bronze skin, and the basketballs bounced on the ground with a dull thud, accompanied by the boys' unrestrained shouts.

"Hey guys, can I join you?"

Li Yunjing shouted loudly.

"Come on! We're just short one person! You'll be on our team, let's go!"

A buzz-cut boy wearing a red Rockets jersey with the number 22 waved his hand.

Campus basketball doesn't have many rules; even with eight or nine players running around on the court, the game is still incredibly exciting.

Li Yunjing deftly took off his school uniform jacket, draped it over the rusty basketball hoop on the sidelines, revealing a simple white tank top, and then charged into the fray.

Running, scrambling, passing the ball, sweat quickly streamed down their temples.

The rough cement ground rubbed against the soles of my shoes, raising a fine dust cloud.

"Catch the ball!"

"Okay, let's pass him!"

"Beautiful! Three points!"

Li Yunjing received the pass at a 45-degree angle on the right side. With almost no adjustment, he bent his knee, jumped, and flicked his wrist, completing the movement in one smooth motion.

The slightly worn "Locomotive" brand basketball drew a full arc in the air and swished cleanly into the net! The white net rope gently swung upwards.

"nice shot!"

Several students on the sidelines, some drinking water from their bottles, and others who had just bought orange-flavored soda from the convenience store, couldn't help but cheer.

Li Yunjing raised his hand to give his teammates a high five and laughed heartily. The pent-up frustration in his chest seemed to dissipate considerably with this goal.

Looks like my bad luck is over, my touch is back!

However, Lady Luck seems to be particularly stingy with her favors today.

In the next possession, his teammate's mid-range shot bounced off the front of the rim. Li Yunjing aimed for the landing point and jumped with all his might to grab the rebound.

Almost simultaneously, a tall, strong boy wearing a blue Chicago Bulls jersey with the number 33 roared and leaped up, his sturdy shoulders like a wall, slamming hard into Li Yunjing's chest!

"Well!"

Li Yunjing felt a lump in his throat, a tightness in his chest, and lost his balance in mid-air, staggering backward.

Misfortune never comes singly.

A teammate, eager to get back on defense, couldn't brake in time, and a foot wearing Double Star brand sneakers landed squarely on the outside of his outstretched calf after he landed!

"Holy crap!"

A piercing pain struck, and Li Yunjing couldn't help but squeeze out two words through gritted teeth, unable to get up for a moment.

A few seconds later, he grimaced and used his hands to support himself as he slowly sat up.

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