104: Chapter 104 The Streetlight That Can Memorize Words

The school gate was crowded.

The ground was still wet after the rain, and the roadside stalls had set up again, with the deep-fry oil pots steaming.

As Su Yun stepped out of the school gate, his brow twitched.

A man in a gray suit stood under a utility pole ahead.

The man was looking down, holding a tattered vocabulary book in his hands.

His mouth was opening and closing.

"Abandon... abandon... abandon..."

The voice was not loud.

But with every recitation, the surrounding students grew a shade paler.

A boy covered his head and crouched down. "Stop reciting... I don't need to memorize it anymore..."

Another girl stared blankly. "Reading comprehension... five-choice-five... cloze test..."

Gu Lang's expression changed. "Strange Tales."

Su Yun saw it too.

A row of tiny mouths grew behind the man's neck.

Every mouth was reciting vocabulary.

Su Yun frowned. "How are there still things like this?"

He just lifted his foot. A bolt of lightning struck from the street corner. Boom!

The man in the gray suit didn't even have time to scream before he was blown into a pile of black ash.

Arbiter Lei Zhen walked out from beside a convenience store, holding a bottle of mineral water.

He didn't even look at Su Yun, tilted his head, and took a sip. "The streetlight had an electrical leak."

Arbiter Qin Feng appeared from the other side, carrying a maintenance sign. The sign read: Temporary repairs, please do not approach.

Su Yun looked at the half of the vocabulary book that was still squirming on the ground. "You call this a streetlight electrical leak?"

Arbiter Lei Zhen coughed. "The quality of streetlights these days is uneven."

Arbiter Qin Feng nodded. "Especially streetlights that can recite vocabulary."

Gu Lang was speechless. These two Sanctuary Arbiters were highly capable, but their acting skills were on the same level as Li Hao's.

Su Yun didn't call them out. He just felt a bit regretful. Although this thing was weak, it was still meat. After being struck by Arbiter Lei Zhen, there wasn't even a charred smell left.

He continued walking forward. Ten minutes later, the second Strange Tales appeared.

It was an old-fashioned tape recorder placed under a bus stop sign. The cassette tape was turning on its own. A shrill female voice came from inside. "Listening test begins."

The people waiting for the bus froze simultaneously. The groceries in an uncle's hand fell to the ground. "I'm already forty-seven, why do I still have to listen to listening tests?"

A primary school student wailed. "Mom, I didn't bring a 2B pencil!"

The tape recorder clicked. "Question one..."

Su Yun stopped in his tracks. "This kind again?"

Gu Lang felt a chill down his back. This wasn't an isolated Strange Tales. It was a system. Same origin, same type, same frequency. And all related to foreign languages.

He was about to notify Executive Jiang Xu, but then he remembered that Executive Jiang Xu had said not to provoke Su Yun. So, he stuffed his phone back into his pocket.

Arbiter Qin Feng had already moved. He passed by a shared bike on the roadside and flicked his finger lightly. A wind blade cut through silently. The tape recorder split into two halves.

There was no cassette tape inside. Only a tongue covered in teeth. The tongue tried to speak, but Arbiter Lei Zhen stepped on it. Snap. The world was quiet.

The crowd at the bus stop looked up in confusion. "Was there some sound just now?"

Arbiter Lei Zhen said sternly, "Old equipment self-combusted."

Arbiter Qin Feng added, "We suggest everyone support digitalization."

Su Yun looked at the two of them. "Do you think I'm an idiot?"

Arbiter Lei Zhen was silent. Arbiter Qin Feng looked at Gu Lang. Gu Lang looked up at the sky. Don't look at me. I was forced to get on this ride too.

They walked two more streets. The third Strange Tales was at the entrance of a bookstore.

A stack of English mock exam papers crawled out of a trash can. The pages flipped. Red grading marks seeped out like blood. Each exam paper had a big "0" written on it.

They stuck to the wall, forming a paper face. The paper face opened its mouth. "Essay off-topic, deduct twenty-five points."

Su Yun's expression turned cold on the spot. Gu Lang's heart skipped a beat. It was over. This sentence was more dangerous than "The Rancher".

The next second, Arbiter Qin Feng and Arbiter Lei Zhen attacked simultaneously. Wind swirled and lightning fell. The paper face was blasted into powder.

Arbiter Lei Zhen's movements were as fast as grabbing a year-end bonus. Arbiter Qin Feng even casually closed the trash can lid.

The bookstore owner poked his head out. "What's wrong?"

Arbiter Qin Feng said calmly, "Waste sorting was not done properly."

Owner: "Huh?" Arbiter Lei Zhen pointed to the ground. "Mock exam papers are classified as hazardous waste."

The owner thought about it and actually felt it made a lot of sense.

Su Yun stood in place, his expression becoming increasingly strange. "Why do all these Strange Tales today have the same flavor?"

Gu Lang thought to himself, you're asking me? I want to ask you. Your one sentence about a dream supposedly changed national policy. Now the national policy is backfiring, and it's supposedly refreshing the dungeon.

If this were to be written into a report, the title would have to be "On the Impact of a High School Student's Essay on the National Strange Tales Ecology."

Su Yun rubbed his chin. "Could it be that the Feng Shui near the school is bad?"

Arbiter Lei Zhen immediately said, "It's possible." Arbiter Qin Feng nodded, "The location of the Second Middle School is indeed complicated."

Gu Lang glanced at them. Are you Sanctuary Arbiters now starting to cooperate with monsters to shift the blame onto real estate?

Along the way, a few more small Strange Tales popped up.

A shadow that looked like a foreign teacher opened its mouth to ask "How are you." Arbiter Lei Zhen immediately ensured it would never use "are" again.

A listening headset with four ears crawled out from a manhole cover, trying to loop exam instructions to passersby. Arbiter Qin Feng stuffed it back into the manhole and casually welded it shut.

There was also a group of black letters that crawled across the wall like ants, forming the word "abandon."

Su Yun found it annoying. He was about to reach out, but those letters were wiped clean by a flash of lightning.

Arbiter Lei Zhen stood under the streetlight with a serious expression. "Mosquitoes."

Su Yun looked at the scorched mark on the wall the size of a human head. "Are your mosquitoes group-buying?"

Arbiter Qin Feng whispered, "Arbiter Lei Zhen, say less." Arbiter Lei Zhen: "I've already tried very hard."

Su Yun couldn't be bothered to pursue it. Anyway, he had free bodyguards clearing the road. It was just a bit of a pity. They were all low-Rank, and they were all snatched away.

It felt like ordering a table of dishes, the waiter bringing them up, and the chef eating them right in front of you. It was very unscrupulous.

When they arrived at the residential complex entrance, Gu Lang stopped. "I won't go in."

Su Yun looked at him. "Didn't you just move near my place?"

Gu Lang was expressionless. "I suddenly remembered, I moved to the wrong place."

Su Yun nodded. "That's quite reasonable."

Gu Lang turned around and left. He needed to find a place to write the report. He had already thought of the title: "Target's Route Home Encountered a Group of Homologous Strange Tales, Suspected Early Stage Manifestation of Foreign Language Resentment Aggregate."

Su Yun entered the building. As soon as the door opened, the aroma of food rushed to greet him. The living room lights were on. Soup was stewing in the kitchen.

The TV was on, the volume not loud, playing a looping emergency notice from the Ministry of Education. [Effective immediately, the foreign language subject in the college entrance examination is suspended from inclusion in the total score calculation. Subsequent plans will be announced separately.]

Lin Wanqing was sitting on the sofa. She was wearing loungewear, holding a magazine in her hands, looking very relaxed. But Su Yun saw at a glance that the magazine was held upside down.

His movement of changing shoes paused. "Mom."

Lin Wanqing looked up. When she saw Su Yun, a smile immediately appeared on her face. "You're back?" "Yeah."

Su Yun put his schoolbag on the entryway cabinet. Lin Wanqing put down the magazine, her smile deepening. "Congratulations."

Su Yun was stunned. "Congratulations for what?"

Lin Wanqing pointed to the TV. "Foreign language is gone."

Su Yun was silent for half a second. Then, his back slowly straightened. His entire aura became visibly arrogant.

"Mom." "Hmm?" "First place in Linhai this year is basically secure."

Lin Wanqing looked at him. "So confident?"

Su Yun walked into the living room, sat on the other end of the sofa, and said in a calm tone, "Before, foreign language dragged one of my legs, and I could still be in the top few." "Now the Great Xia has personally removed that leg." "If I don't soar, who will?"

Lin Wanqing: "..." She raised her hand to support her forehead. This sounded ridiculous, but the logic was actually quite sound.

Su Yun continued, "I can get a perfect score in science, math is also stable, and Chinese depends on the mood of the grader." "Now there's one less foreign language subject." "Mom, are you ready to attend the parent-teacher meeting and be watched by the whole school?"

Lin Wanqing held back her laughter. "Don't be in such a hurry to ascend the throne." "The notice only says it's suspended from the total score, not that you won't have to learn it in the future."

The smile on Su Yun's face faded a little. "Mom." "Hmm?" "The way you say that, you can influence the decision of the High Command?"

Lin Wanqing raised an eyebrow. "I haven't finished yet."

Su Yun was alert. Lin Wanqing said slowly, "If the Ministry of Education changes it to a foreign language Rank system later, you'll still have to pass the line."

Su Yun sat up straight. "Pass the line?" "For example, if you don't pass, you won't get a graduation certificate."

Su Yun: "..." There was a moment of silence in the living room. Su Yun turned to look at the TV. "Who bought this TV?"

Lin Wanqing: "Your father." Su Yun nodded. "I suggest throwing it away."

Lin Wanqing finally couldn't help but laugh out loud. She laughed very lightly. It wasn't the dignified laughter of a Saintess. It was the uncontrollable joy of a mother seeing her son get deflated.

"Alright, I'm just scaring you." "I've seen the notice, at least it won't be tested again this year."

Su Yun immediately regained his composure. "I knew it." "Destiny is on my side."

Lin Wanqing reached out and threw an orange from the coffee table over. "Destiny should peel the orange first."

Su Yun caught it. "Mom, this is called exploiting the future Linhai top scholar."

Lin Wanqing leaned back on the sofa. "The future top scholar doesn't even know how to peel an orange?"

Su Yun lowered his head to peel the orange. Halfway through, he suddenly asked, "Where's Dad?"

Lin Wanqing's eyes didn't move. "Working overtime."

Su Yun: "He's an old slicker, can't do anything right, eats everything in sight, what kind of overtime is he working?"

Lin Wanqing picked up her cup to drink water. "He said the unit has something urgent." "What matter?" "Updating the fire safety ledger."

Su Yun looked at her. Lin Wanqing looked at the TV. The mother and son were silent at the same time. Su Yun nodded slowly. "I get it." "The employment pressure for the elderly is indeed great."

Lin Wanqing almost choked. She put down the cup and coughed lightly. "Don't talk about your father like that."

Su Yun stuffed a slice of orange into his mouth. "I'm respecting the working people."

Lin Wanqing: "Your father would be moved if he heard that." "Moved enough to want to slap me, right?"

Lin Wanqing: "..." She looked at Su Yun, the smile in her eyes deepening a bit more. This child had been like this since he was young. Sharp-tongued. Consistently sharp-tongued. So consistent that it was reassuring.

Su Yun asked again, "Where's Su Qing?" Lin Wanqing's expression returned to normal. "Tutoring." Su Yun looked up. "Did she volunteer?" Lin Wanqing: "Passive." "Math?" "Yeah."

Su Yun clicked his tongue. "How can she still be a middle school student with failing math grades? What connections did you use for her?"

Lin Wanqing looked at him. Su Yun immediately changed his words. "I mean, Su Qing has a solid foundation and still has a lot of room for improvement."

Lin Wanqing said calmly, "Her teacher called me, saying she drew the function graph as a watermelon."

Su Yun: "Hahahaha!" Lin Wanqing asked, "What are you laughing at?" Su Yun straightened his expression. "I'm applauding my sister's imagination."

Lin Wanqing: "You can applaud her yourself when she gets back." Su Yun: "Forget it, I'm afraid she'll bite."

Lin Wanqing glanced at him. "Su Qing has indeed been irritable lately. Stop teasing her." Su Yun nodded. "Okay."

Su Yun added a sentence in his heart: unless this commoner isn't plotting to harm His Majesty.

Su Yun asked again, "Where's my sister?" Lin Wanqing paused this time. "Also working overtime."

Su Yun's hand with the orange peel paused. "Did something happen at the Investigation Bureau again?"

Lin Wanqing looked at the TV. The news had already cut to scenes of Linhai's reconstruction. The water on the streets had receded, rescue vehicles were passing through intersections, and the host was speaking in a very standard tone about how "order is being restored."

Lin Wanqing said, "On a day like today, it's impossible for her not to be busy." Su Yun gave an "um." He lowered his head and continued peeling the orange.

Lin Wanqing watched him. "Did you encounter anything strange on your way home from school today?" Su Yun didn't stop his movements. "Yes."

Lin Wanqing's eyes sank slightly. "What?" Su Yun said, "A streetlight that can recite vocabulary." Lin Wanqing: "..."

Su Yun continued, "A tape recorder that plays listening tests." Lin Wanqing: "..."

"And a stack of mock exam papers that can judge essays as off-topic." Lin Wanqing put down her cup. This time, the smile on her face faded.

"Who handled it?" "Those two bodyguards from the Sanctuary." Su Yun handed her the peeled orange. "They said it was a streetlight electrical leak, old equipment self-combusting, and improper waste sorting."

Lin Wanqing took the orange. She didn't eat it. "Do you believe it?" Su Yun leaned back on the sofa.

"Mom." "Hmm?" "Do I look like Li Hao?"

Lin Wanqing thought for a moment. "You're more sharp-tongued than him." Su Yun: "..." My own mother. The knife skills are very steady.

Lin Wanqing held that slice of orange, not eating it. She looked at Su Yun, her tone more serious than before.

"Don't underestimate these things." "The sudden cancellation of foreign language today is not as simple as students just being happy."

Su Yun raised an eyebrow: "Otherwise what? The whole country's high school students celebrating the New Year collectively?"

Lin Wanqing glared at him. "When some people are happy, others will collapse."

"Foreign language teachers, training institutions, students who rely on foreign language to pull up their scores, parents, and those practitioners who have prepared for many years."

"Such a huge policy change will create a large amount of panic, unwillingness, anger, and confusion in a very short period of time."

Su Yun's hand peeling the orange stopped. Lin Wanqing continued: "Strange Tales naturally grow based on human emotions. Especially now that the Abyss is active and Linhai has just experienced a tsunami, everyone's nerves are on edge."

"Once this scale of collective emotion is absorbed by a certain concept, such as 'foreign language,' 'exam,' or 'being eliminated,' it is very likely to give birth to rule-based Strange Tales."

"The ones you encountered today might just be the beginning."

Su Yun was silent for two seconds. Then he slowly looked up, his face revealing a very sincere shock. "Mom."

Lin Wanqing: "Hmm?" Su Yun stared at her: "You even understand this?"

Lin Wanqing's eyelids twitched. Su Yun sighed sincerely: "It's truly a waste of talent not to be an advisor for the official authorities."

Lin Wanqing threw the orange peel directly at his forehead. "Go away, I'm talking to you about serious business!"

Su Yun caught the orange peel with an innocent expression. Lin Wanqing lowered her voice: "Anyway, it's very dangerous outside now."

"Those things might just be low-Rank, but if the emotions continue to ferment, what comes out later might not be so easy to handle."

"Go straight home after school these few days, don't run around, do you hear me?"

Su Yun nodded seriously. "I hear you."

Lin Wanqing just breathed a sigh of relief. Su Yun suddenly asked: "So, might school be suspended again tomorrow?"

Lin Wanqing: "..." She looked at Su Yun, her eyes becoming gradually dangerous. "Have you been possessed by Su Qing?"

Su Yun: "..." This remark didn't do much damage, but it was extremely insulting. He coughed and said solemnly: "Mom, you also know about today's events, the seawater flooded Linhai, how could I still have the heart to study."

Lin Wanqing sneered. "You don't have the heart to study, but you certainly have the heart to let your imagination run wild."

Su Yun was silent for a moment. "This is called post-disaster psychological trauma."

Lin Wanqing said calmly: "Even with psychological trauma, you have to go to school tomorrow." Su Yun: "..."