Study Monster Cultivation System-Chapter 337 - 336 Study Demon returns to find his throne usurped by...

April 1, morning.

Li Zheng rode his bicycle and stopped at the entrance of Lake Ying Middle School.

He looked up slightly, gazing at the school’s sign.

There was no strange banner, just the four big characters of "Lake Ying Middle School."

Li Zheng smiled slightly, feeling a rustic sense of returning to the countryside.

The students passing by all held scores in the tens, with the occasional teacher with a score over a hundred mixed in; it felt like returning to a newbie village.

Lake Ying.

Your god has returned.

Li Zheng then got off his bicycle and uprightly walked towards the school gate.

He had only taken a few steps when a young female duty monitor stopped him.

"You, why aren’t you wearing your school uniform!"

Li Zheng narrowed his eyes slightly.

She was a petite newcomer, her hair neat and long, her face a model of righteousness, like a proud female knight.

Such a person in school indeed had the potential to be a drill instructor.

However, she was still too immature, probably in her first year of high school.

Thinking that his own miraculous creation had attracted upright students to Lake Ying, Li Zheng revealed a fatherly smile.

"What are you smiling at? Go home and change into your uniform," the female duty monitor urged.

Li Zheng shook his head, resigned.

Have you never seen me in person, nor my picture?

At Lake Ying, whether I walk horizontally, vertically, or dance through, why should I explain to you?

Li Zheng, unable to lash out, straightforwardly said, "It’s been too long, I can’t find my uniform."

"Been too long??" The female duty monitor eyed him up and down, growing more stern, "Are you even a student at our school... you don’t even know to park your bicycle outside..."

Li Zheng just hummed softly, "I have an arrangement with Liu Xiaodong, I can park in the teachers’ parking area."

"Then I might as well use the teachers’ toilet," the female duty monitor disdainfully waved her hand, "Park your bike over there. You’re not in uniform, and you don’t look like a middle school student... I need to call the director to handle this."

"This isn’t necessary," Li Zheng chuckled lightly, then said, "I am from senior year one..."

"Alright, no need to say more, I don’t recognize anyone from senior year except Zhang Xiaoke."

"I’m familiar with Xiaoke!"

"Ugh..." The female duty monitor immediately looked contemptuous, "She breaks the rules every day with her hair, her nails... you must be one of her acquaintances from outside school... Today I’m on duty, you definitely won’t be able to get in."

"Enough, I am Li..."

"I’ve told you there’s no need to make stuff up." The female duty monitor raised her hand again, her righteous gaze judging once more, "Either go back and change into your uniform or park over there and wait here for the director."

The girl spoke with a stern glance, "Lake Ying Middle School isn’t just for anybody,"

The other girls on duty also started chattering.

"He’s so handsome, he can’t be from our school..."

"He’s friends with Zhang Xiaoke, definitely not a good person..."

"Wow, this guy’s expression is so scary... and his bag is so bulging... there couldn’t be something bad inside, could there..."

"Scary... quick, go call the director!"

Listening to this, Li Zheng’s expression gradually tightened.

Presumptuous.

It’s only been a few months, does this school not belong to the Li family anymore?

Unable to bear it any longer, he grabbed the handlebar and turned back!

Forget it, forget it... I’ll park outside.

However.

Desire to yield, but strength doesn’t allow.

"Ah?!" A shrill yell came, "You! You... you you you..."

Then came a burst of frantic tiptoeing, Sun Xiubin came running in terror, repeatedly adjusting his glasses, "This hairstyle... this physique, it can only be you..."

Li Zheng stood by his bike, silently turned his head, revealing half of his profile, "It’s me."

The duty monitors were immediately shocked.

Was he really the big gang leader from outside society?

Then Sun Xiubin dashed forward, grabbed Li Zheng, and wouldn’t let go, "The principal has held over twenty things waiting for you to come back, your time is precious. Quick, quick, quick, straight to the principal’s office, I’ll park your bike."

"That’s really not necessary..."

"No, no, go!" Sun Xiubin took the handle and pushed the bike inside the school.

Li Zheng had no choice but to hand over the keys as well.

Wow.

That was truly miraculous.

Director Sun Xiubin personally providing a parking service.

Who? Who else could enjoy this treatment?

Only him.

At that moment, the title of the only god of Lake Ying heavily fell on the duty monitors’ heads.

"That’s not right... I’ve seen the photo..."

"The person... why is he so much more handsome than the photo..."

"Ah..." The leading female duty monitor stood rooted to the spot, like a female knight surrounded by villains, emitting a noticeable sound of resistance and unwilling submission.

"What’s the matter?" Sun Xiubin turned his head as he pushed the bike and asked, "They don’t recognize you? Was it hard for you?"

"No," Li Zheng raised his hand and smiled, "Just sticking to the school ethos and discipline, this duty junior sister has principles, she’s the type of person I admire most."

"Isn’t that fortuitous." Sun Xiubin happily said, "Zhuo Yue also applied to our school because of you!"

"Director…" Zhuo Yue lowered her head and tugged at Sun Xiubin’s sleeve, shaking it, "stop talking…"

Li Zheng, however, was puzzled, "then how could she not recognize me…"

"You don’t look like your photo…" Zhuo Yue barely dared to glance at Li Zheng, "not at all… You look like a grad student…"

Li Zheng was taken aback.

Had he aged that much lately?

No, that can’t be right, having a studious vibe is a good thing.

Could it be from coding too much?

Li Zheng didn’t pursue the question further, as Sun Xiubin was already pushing him away.

A group of female students on duty surrounded Zhuo Yue, chattering excitedly.

"Gee, aren’t you touted as Lake Ying’s number one Zheng expert? Yet you didn’t even recognize him in person, haha."

Zhuo Yue chuckled sheepishly, scratching her head, "It really doesn’t look like the photo… feels a lot more mature…"

"This is bad, you didn’t let him push his cart through the gate, now your idol is going to hold a grudge."

"Impossible." Zhuo Yue confidently shook her head, "God Zheng’s faction is lawful neutral, my action perfectly aligns with his stance. If anything, his follower Zhang Xiaoke, belonging to that chaotic evil faction, should be the one clashing with him."

"What faction does Quiet God belong to then?"

"Chaotic good." Zhuo Yue was about to elaborate further when her eyes widened suddenly, "Zhang Xiaoke, don’t run! Inspect your nails!"

"Oh, let it go today." Zhang Xiaoke, who was passing by, quickly bowed her head and rushed away, "I smelled the scent of my master, gotta go!"

"No running, what is that sticker on your uniform?"

"If Director Sun doesn’t mind, you should let it go too."

Although the chase was intense, Zhuo Yue caught the breathless Zhang Xiaoke after just 15 meters.

"Huff… huff…" Zhang Xiaoke supported herself on her knees, gasping for breath and lifting her head, "how can there be someone like you…"

Zhuo Yue also grabbed Zhang Xiaoke’s hand, looking at the shimmering silver nails and frowning, "how can there be someone like you…"

…

Principal’s office.

When Li Zheng pushed open the door, Liu Xiaodong had already poured the tea, presenting it straight to Li Zheng.

"Principal Liu, no need to be so formal." Li Zheng bent slightly before daring to accept it.

"What are you talking about, the courtesy is yours." Liu Xiaodong guided Li Zheng to the sofa, pressing down with his hand and saying, "Sit, sit, had I known you were coming today, I would have hung a banner to welcome you properly."

Li Zheng took a seat, sipping his tea gently, and chuckled while shaking his head, "If you really did that, I might not dare to come back anymore."

"Hahaha." After Liu Xiaodong laughed, he couldn’t help but purse his lips, "These times are extraordinary, sitting here with you, I don’t feel like I’m talking to a student at all, but it’s not quite like talking to a leader… more like colleagues, I suppose."

Li Zheng listened, feeling somewhat panicked, "Have I really aged that much…"

"It’s not about your appearance." Liu Xiaodong gestured, "It’s just… the aerospace field you’ve been working in, collaborating and conversing with big shots, right?"

"Indeed, they are pillars of the engineering community."

"That’s what I mean! Your whole demeanor and cognition have changed." Liu Xiaodong took a deep breath, picking up his cup of tea for a sip, "Before, although you knew what you wanted to do, you were still a young man who only knew how to shout. Now, it seems you understand how things should be done."

"Now that you mention it… I do have some realizations." Li Zheng self-reflectively shared, "Now, having some realistic knowledge about how to research and engineer, naturally, I won’t be as impulsive as before."

"So, the little girls at the school gate think Li Zheng doesn’t quite look like Li Zheng."

"Haha, stop talking about others." Li Zheng nodded and laughed, "Our new grade 10 is full of vitality."

"That’s all your halo effect, directly raising the caliber of our students by two levels." Liu Xiaodong pointed out the window, "Just like Zhuo Yue, who transferred from another district, casually picked by Haidian School. His parents almost cried when they told me he was coming here."

Li Zheng’s brow furrowed with concern, "I feel like I might have delayed his prospects..."

"Oh, I don’t like hearing that, our school’s teaching staff is not inferior to anyone’s."

"I believe that, I really respect your management."

"Speaking of management..." Liu Xiaodong picked up the teapot and refilled Li Zheng’s cup, "There are a few things... that might take up a little bit of your time."

"Ah... go ahead," Li Zheng sighed deeply, prepared for an onslaught of issues.

"Firstly... would you mind participating in the national college entrance exams with Lin Yu Jing?" Liu Xiaodong gestured, "Yes, yes, you’ve already gotten your university placements, but you can still sit for the exams, just for fun, it’s play for you, but for the school, it would be a historic record. Two scores over 700 would look brilliant!"

"I don’t mind." Li Zheng muttered, "But it’s tricky with Lin Yu Jing; she’s been deeply focused on studying lately. I’m not sure if she’s willing to spare a few days for the exams."

Liu Xiaodong raised his eyebrow and brought the teacup to his lips, "Then when you go home tonight, could you help by asking her~?"

"Sure, what else?"

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"The rest is easy, just taking a few photos at some iconic spots around the school, and getting a group photo with us teachers, we’ll need to have those ready when necessary."

"Alright..."

"Also, we’d like to keep some of your genuine works, your original essays in literature, solutions to complex math problems and things like that, to store away. Who knows, they might become valuable artifacts one day."

"That’s..."

"Hey, it’s just like taking a test, help out, please."

"Okay, fine."

"And the school wants to shoot a promotional video..."

"..."

...

When Li Zheng walked out of the principal’s office, he could hardly remember how many tasks he had agreed to.

It was all in consideration of the fact that he and Lin Yu Jing had been given a VIP physics lab for their exclusive use back in their day...

As he reached the door of the senior class, even though it was a key class and only two months away from the exams, the classroom was still very noisy, probably having heard of his return.

Li Zheng didn’t rush in and chose rather to observe secretly through Tang Zhifei’s exclusive peephole at the back door.

And at the heart of the noise, it had to be Zhang Xiaoke.

Firstly, her face was definitely rounder, but not as chubby as imagined—just chubby enough that you’d want to flip her over and rub her belly.

Secondly, the noise wasn’t because of his return.

"Oh dear, I hardly reviewed at all," Zhang Xiaoke slapped her score sheet on the table and lamented, "yet I’ve topped the mock exams three times in a row... Could it be... could it be that I’m a genius?"

"Enough already!" a classmate from the front row turned back and yelled, "You’ve gotten so chubby, and you say you haven’t stayed up late?!"

"Stayed up late? What’s that?" Zhang Xiaoke looked around in surprise, "Have you stayed up? Have you? How about you?"

A moment later, the class was incensed.

Yet all they could do was grit their teeth.

What could they do?

They could only grit their teeth.

After all, Zhang Xiaoke had won the first place in the mock exam three times in a row!

The first time she got first place, she downplayed it a bit, exclaiming that she hadn’t done well.

The second time, her true colors showed when she complained that the exam questions were too easy.

Many people were provoked by this, desperately cramming in hopes of getting back at her.

However, today, the results of the third mock test came out...

Zhang Xiaoke... she did it again... and was even more pretentious!

Although everyone was desperately holding back, they couldn’t help but slip up verbally.

"Just pretending, totally feigning it!"

"You solve half a pound of problems every day, don’t think we don’t know."

"Alas!"

Even Jiang Qinghua from the back row couldn’t bear to watch, "Xiaoke, tone it down... the prouder you are, the more cautious you should be..."

"Am I proud? I’m not," Zhang Xiaoke replied with a big laugh, "Who’s proud here, you? You? Or you?"

At that moment, a low murmur of resentment echoed through the class.

However, the angrier and more jealous they got, the more comfortable Xiaoke felt, so comfortable she could almost roll over in delight.

"You guys..." Zhang Xiaoke said, sitting cross-legged, shaking her head and belly, "always think I seem to be working hard, but I’m just okay. It’s time to acknowledge the existence of a genius. If you don’t admit it, all I can say is keep up the effort, stay strong~~~"

Curses were immediately hurled in response.

"It’s not your place!!"

"Just a few months... and you’ve become so arrogant!"

"Ah ah ah!"

In a corner of the classroom, the boy who had been ranked third and once called a study demon furiously clutched his hair.

"Li Zheng, Yu Jing, while either of you is present, how dare she rant so recklessly?!"

"Li Zheng, Jingjing?" Zhang Xiaoke looked up and burst into a long laugh, "What old calendar are you looking at? Li Zheng, a workshop loafer, what does he know about studying? Lin Yujing, a girl in love, what does she know about the college entrance exam? Wake up. It’s been over a year since they’ve touched any test papers. Their brains are rusty, hands are stiff—fine for welding or operating lathes but with test papers, probably can’t even remember where to write their student numbers. Still Li Zheng, Jingjing? Is that all? Hahahaha!"

"Xiaoke..." Even Jiang Qinghua felt it was too much, patting her and urging, "Hold back a bit, the prouder you are, the more cautious you should be..."

"Cautious of whom?" Zhang Xiaoke asked, one leg resting on what had once been Li Zheng’s throne, looking around, "You? You, or you?"

"Er... "

"Hahahahaha!"

From just outside the classroom’s rear door.

Li Zheng’s eyes hadn’t been so wide open in a long time.

The Study Demon had returned, only to find his throne being treated like a dog’s nest.

In a flash, a hundred thousand test questions surged back to the world!

Bang!

Li Zheng pushed the door and entered!

He walked straight ahead, neither fast nor slow, heading towards his seat.

Instantly, the entire room was shocked into silence.

And Zhang Xiaoke.

Her legs started shaking, along with her whole body, until Li Zheng approached and she remained frozen in her uncontrollable state.

As Liu Xiaodong had mentioned, Li Zheng’s whole demeanor had changed.

He was not only mature.

He was fierce.

The kind of fierce that smiles only on the surface.

"Me, don’t understand studying?" Li Zheng smiled and flexed his fingers, "Very well."

"Mast, mast, maste, master!!!" Zhang Xiaoke, shakily moving her legs down, said as she propped herself up using the desk and straightened her chair, "Please, please, please, please, please, have a seat!!!"

At the same time, half the class rose in outrage, their fists clenched.

"Li Zheng!!!"

"You finally came!!!"

"Teach her a lesson!!!"

"Remove the scourge!! Get her!!"

"Stop shouting! Stop shouting!!!" Zhang Xiaoke hurriedly scolded back, then pulled out some tissues and, with a smile plastered over her face, wiped Li Zheng’s chair, "Gee, I’ve missed you so much!!"

Before Li Zheng could speak, others already answered.

"No, you haven’t."

"You would rather Li Zheng never came back, right?"

"Li Zheng, you better cleanse the clan!"

Li Zheng just pursed his lips slightly and gestured with his hand,

"What?" Zhang Xiaoke exclaimed, "Do you want... a sticker... here... it’s not quite right here..."

"Score report."

"Oh oh…" Zhang Xiaoke quickly picked up the score report and handed it to Li Zheng with both hands.

"Hmm…" Li Zheng glanced at it and chuckled, tossing it back, "Is this all?"

"…" Zhang Xiaoke glared down, "Compared to master... it’s indeed still..."

"No, no, I’m just a workshop loafer, I don’t understand college exams."

Zhang Xiaoke took a deep breath, forcibly lifted her head, and grabbed Li Zheng’s arm, swinging it as she exclaimed, "Oops, oops... my fault, my fault, please, have a seat, Master."

At this moment.

Even if Li Zheng wanted to spare her.

Would the others allow it?

"Li Zheng, you can’t let this slide!"

"Last time didn’t we have a university entrance exam marathon?"

"Let Zhang Xiaoke feel the burn too!"

"Marathon! Let’s do this!!"

"Marathon!!"

"Marathon!!"

In the midst of the excited crowd, Li Zheng could only smile and look towards Zhang Xiaoke.

"What are you all fussing about!" Zhang Xiaoke looked around and scolded, "Master has just finished so many tasks, wanted to come back and rest."

Li Zheng shook his head and smiled, "That’s not the case, I’m always studying."

"Oh no..." Zhang Xiaoke said anxiously, "You haven’t touched Chinese or English for so long, you can’t just say you’ll do it right away..."

"Yes, I can, just say the word."

At these words, the voices for a marathon grew even louder around him.

"Master..." Zhang Xiaoke tilted her head, "I wanted to reconnect with you first... You... shouldn’t be too confident..."

"???" Li Zheng’s mouth hung open, "Go on."

"No need..."

"But go on."

"What I mean is..." Zhang Xiaoke said in a low voice, "You haven’t touched this high school knowledge and questions for almost a year now, it’s all changed by now, on one hand, you’re out of practice, on the other, the questions have evolved, in short..."

As Zhang Xiaoke spoke, she spread her hands and straightened up.

"Master, times have changed."

At this, she could no longer hide her arrogant smile.

"Gods are to be worshipped."

"Don’t push me any further, Master."

Li Zheng was thoroughly impressed, shaking his head and clapping, "Very good, I can feel it!"

It wasn’t just Li Zheng who felt it, everyone in the class did.

Zhang Xiaoke was not being deceitfully arrogant just because Zheng Jing wasn’t around.

She was genuinely arrogant.

She sincerely believed Zheng Jing was done for, Xiaoke was the future.

She sincerely believed times had changed, and that her academic prowess had surpassed Li Zheng’s.

Not many people could think like this anymore.

Who was the last one...?

It seemed it was her as well.

At this moment, the atmosphere subtly shifted.

"Never mind, Xiaoke..."

"So you were serious..."

"Why the struggle..."

"Alright, I take the advice, isn’t it obvious I wanted to let it go," Zhang Xiaoke sneered as she glanced at Li Zheng, "The key is, does Master want to let it go."

Many in the class gasped.

At this time.

If Li Zheng said to let it go.

It wasn’t about letting Zhang Xiaoke off.

But letting himself off.

It would mean acknowledging Zhang Xiaoke’s status in academic circles, admitting that the pupil surpassed the teacher.

Just then, Li Zheng turned sharply, commanding, "Qinghua!"

"Right away." Jiang Qinghua instantly got up from his desk, "Full set of exam papers, I guarantee they’re all questions you haven’t done before, leave it to me!"

"Much appreciated!"

"You’re welcome!" Jiang Qinghua nodded firmly, "Not only the underdogs learn from you."

With that, he turned and rushed out to collect the exam papers.

As for Zhang Xiaoke, she sighed softly and sat back down.

"Honestly, Master, against you, I’m not completely sure," Zhang Xiaoke said, fingers pointing at her chin, "I’m really nervous right now."

"It doesn’t matter anymore." Li Zheng also put down his backpack and sat down, "I always feel like something’s missing."

"Heh." Zhang Xiaoke shook her head and chuckled, "I haven’t touched that in a long time."

"How long is a long time? Two months?"

"Two weeks."

"Alright, stop holding back, let’s start."

"Then one last time," Zhang Xiaoke said with a smile, lifting her hand, "The final gamble—Master and Disciple’s Fate!"

Li Zheng panicked, "Wait, not life or death..."

"Not life, command," Zhang Xiaoke said gravely, "No need for anything complicated, just a bet on a simple, absolute command, absolute domination, absolute obedience, the winner of the university entrance exam marathon gets to make such a command to the other."

Li Zheng exclaimed, "A master’s task?"

"Don’t take it in a weird direction."

"Hmm..." Li Zheng breathed out, having made up his mind, "Fine, I’ve already thought of the task for you."

Zhang Xiaoke smiled, "I, too, have thought of one."

At that moment, in the stillness.

No one cared about winning or losing anymore.

Everyone’s mind was on the same thing.

What exactly is the master’s task?

An exhilarating thought, utterly uncontrollable.