108 The Teacher and the Student 6

Yin Mei finally let out a sigh of relief as the day of rigorous entrance exams finished. Even though she wasn't a student that had been taking them, why was she still so tired?

And there would still be more work to do for the teachers in the coming days, as applicant results were reviewed, students were accepted, and classes and dorm rooms were assigned. Honestly, before Yin Mei had though being a teacher was a much more leisurely job in comparison to being a student, but that was completely untrue. Even with the advancements of technology that allowed most of the grading and other work to be automated, how come there were still so many things to do?

Yin Mei could only be grateful that Mei Wen had already thoroughly planned her class materials and lessons in advance, or she would only cry and have to still work on that too. After all, since students would share all the materials from last year's class, Mei Wen would always have to come up with a new lesson plan every year that was just different enough that even if the materials from last year would be helpful, students wouldn't be able to go off of just that.

Yin Mei didn't even need to review it either, everything stored nicely in Mei Wen's brain. As expected of an evolved new human, her memory was superb!

The day of the entrance ceremony, the students and teachers all gathered in the auditorium. Standing on the stage, the principal gave a grand speech, his flaming red hair standing out. He was a handsome middle aged looking man, and Ri Yang's father!

Yin Mei hadn't expected that the Ri twins descendants would be the ones who were still keeping watch over this school, after so many years.

Yin Mei was dressed in a sparkling black dress with a deep blue cardigan over top. The A-line skirt ended around a couple inches above her knees, and Yin Mei thought it really made Mei Wen's long and beautiful legs look even better.

On the other hand, Hai Lan who stood beside her was wearing an extremely badass and futuristic looking blazer that glittered like a collection of silver stars, pulsing blue lines of light lining it. She wore matching shorts, and her hair was slicked back, her lips painted dark blue.

Alexei, who stood next to her, was probably the most boring of them all, wearing a very bland and professional looking steel gray suit. The only thing that looked slightly more interesting was the mechanical flower pinned to his lapel, a collection of gears and sleek metal pieces - from Mei Wen's memories, she plucked the knowledge that this was a rare piece created by the famous artist Hong Mao.

"And now, I'd like to invite the representative of the first years up to the podium for a speech," Ri Yang's father said, holding his hand out to the side of the stage, where Qin Shuang was waiting. The person who scored highest on the entrance exam would be the representative of the first year students.

Not that the position mattered that much - it only meant that the student would be making speeches during important events, and also meant there would be more eyes and higher expectations on him.

It was a position that came with glory, but no real power.

Qin Shuang's expression was calm, though his eyes softened slightly looking down at the students in front of him. This was the future that they had fought for. It was the future that she had fought for. He inwardly felt satisfied, beginning his speech with such a feeling in his heart.

He talked about the past, the Great Evolutionary War that had lasted not even a decade, and moved on to speak of the great technological and evolutionary advances that had been made from then. He flaunted his historical knowledge (of course, since he had lived the era), and the teachers all nodded in appreciation.

The Great Evolutionary War and the heroes it had produced were greatly worshipped during this time period. It was the darkest times for humanity, as well as the one that created the greatest of people.

When he finished, the students and teachers all clapped, though perhaps the teachers with more enthusiasm than the students. After all, students were students. It was good if they had even been paying attention to the speech at all.

After that, the next person who came up to talk was Ri Yang's older brother and the school principal's first son, Ri Yi. Ri Yi! This guy looked like an older version of Ri En, his expression gentle and his smile making the girls in the room all give him another look.

Yin Mei perked up, because she knew that this person was one of the others who had transmigrated along with Qin Shuang. He not just looked like Ri En, he was Ri En. Ri En. Actually, she hadn't remember that kid's name, only knowing it from Mei Wen's memories. But after hearing it from Mei Wen's memories, her own couldn't help but surge up.

He could be considered something of a second in command of hers, taking care of matters at H City after her death. He was a mature kid, Yin Mei recalled. Clever, too.

Ri Yi thanked everyone first, before building off of Qin Shuang's speech, praising him for his knowledge and far reaching view, along with his patriotic spirit. He gave a very deep look toward Qin Shuang, but in a blink, his gaze was back on the audience, calm and unreadable.

This guy was even more cunning then before, age causing his schemes and acting to become deeper, more layered.

After the end of the speeches, the students mingled and talked for a little while as they all walked to their classes. There would only be a half day today, and the classes would just be an introduction to the school in general.

Yin Mei approached Ri Yi, who was standing by the stage talking to the student council Vice President. She had on a smile and Ri Yi, who noticed her, waved the Vice President away and greeted her politely. "Teacher Mei," He said.

"You did a good job," Yin Mei replied. Their tones were rather familiar, as Mei Wen was Ri Yi's homeroom teacher in his first year. Because of that, Ri Yi, though naturally polite, could relax around her.

"Haha, you're over praising. All I did was leech off of our new junior's speech. He was the one who did the good job," Ri Yi said, his eyes roving around as he appeared to be looking for Qin Shuang. But the boy had already disappeared, probably on his way to the classroom by now.

"That boy, Qin Lan, truly has a deep understanding of the Great Evolutionary War. I don't know if I'll be able to even teach him anything new." Yin Mei said, and something flashed by Ri Yi's eyes, before he replied to her.

"You jest. Teacher Mei is one of the leading historians of that era. There's plenty that you can teach to a new student like him, no mater how talented." He said, and Yin Mei smiled.

"No, I really don't think I can." These words caused Ri Yi to look slightly confused, but he quickly disguised his expression under a mask of calm.

"It was good talking to you again. It's been too long. You're a smart child. Aside from that little brat, you were my best learner. Your sister too." Yin Mei's eyes seemed to glaze over.

Ri Yi seemed to pause at this. "Teacher Mei, my sister was never in your class...?" He cautiously said, studying her face. Ri Yi's sister was several years older than him, and at the time when she attended the academy, Mei Wen was still a member of the Brigade and had not started teaching yet.

Yin Mei blinked. "Yes, that's right." She said, but she didn't explain further, only smiling and bidding him farewell before she left.

Ri Yi stood, rooted in one place for several moments. She... But before his thought completed, he was interrupted by a member of the student council. In the end, he could only shake his head and turn his attention toward other matters.

On the other hand, Yin Mei was walking toward the 1-S classroom shaking her head in dismay at herself. Why had she gone over to talk to Ri En? She needed to be clear and sever herself from the past, instead of letting it tie her down like this! The end result would only be heartache, so why did she even bother!?

She was angry at herself, for being so weak.

Don't remember. Don't reminisce.

She kept on chanting this to herself as she entered the room. The thirty students of her class, the thirty who ranked top in the entrance exams for this year, were all seated obediently at their desks. The minute she walked in, their excited chatter fell silent and they turned to look at her with glittering eyes filled with anticipation.

Yin Mei smiled, setting down her tablet on the podium at the front of the room, and locked eyes with each student one by one. Qin Shuang was here. So was Song Hua. And Alice, Ri Yang, and Jade.

As expected.

"Congratulations everyone, for getting into Black Cross Academy. You can take a moment to be proud of yourselves, for getting this far." Yin Mei said, saying the same words that Mei Wen had said every year before her that she was a teacher.

The students relaxed, happiness clear in their eyes as they whispered to one another for a moment. "But..." The whispering stopped. "This is just the beginning." They grew serious, but the excitement bursting within them could not be disguised or hidden. Even Song Hua could not help but be affected, his eyes gleaming. The only calm one was Qin Shuang, who was an old man amongst this group of youngsters.

"At Black Cross Academy, not only will you be studying in depth about mathematics, literature, history, and the sciences, but you will also learn how to refine your combat skills, your survival skills, and your abilities. You will train in a variety of both simulated and non simulated situations, all to prepare you in becoming a member of the Brigade." Yin Mei said, and at first glance, it didn't sound too impressive.

She continued. "Don't think it'll be easy. Just because you passed the exam with top scores means nothing. We will make sure to push you to your limits, and beyond that. To evolve. To become more."

"And those that can't have no need to be here. Rules and regulations of the school can be found in the school handbook, which I advise you to quickly read and memorize. Dismissed."

Yin Mei coolly said, and the students blinked in shock at how quickly she ended her speech, but seeing the woman pick up her tablet and walk toward the door, they understood that they were well and truly dismissed. Yin Mei was probably the only one who dismissed her class this early, but Mei Wen was also a straightforward type of person who did not like spending excessive time on things when they could be done quickly and efficiently.

Yin Mei cast a look at Qin Shuang for a second, but didn't linger and left quickly. Don't remember. Don't do anything unnecessary. She needed to focus on the mission, not get caught up in stupid emotions and memories of the past.

She kept on telling herself that, but soon, a voice called out to her from behind. "Teacher Mei!" This voice was not familiar. When she turned around, Qin Shuang was staring at her. His voice had really matured - after all, he had grown up now. Plus, this wasn't even his original body, but the body of his descendant.

"What is it?" Yin Mei said. Good. Her expression and voice were both still calm, not betraying her.

He paused for a second. "Your thread manipulation... is really. good." He finally said, though it was clear that wasn't what he actually wanted to say.

Yin Mei tilted her head. I'm the one who taught you it, so naturally, my technique can't be that shabby, Yin Mei thought. "Thank you. It's only natural that as your teacher, I should have some tricks up my sleeve, right?"

Qin Shuang couldn't say anything to this and fell silent, pursing his lips.

"Is that all?" Yin Mei asked,

"... Yes, that's all," Qin Shuang in the end didn't say anything more, only saluting his teacher and bidding her farewell politely.

Yin Mei, who had resolved to cut off this shadow from the past, also didn't linger any longer.

But as a shadow user, how could she ever escape from the darkness, when she lived, breathed, and walked it?