CHAPTER 277: CHAPTER 277: REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS

Watching the fiery and youthful expressions on the students’ faces, Mu Jianling, despite her icy demeanor, softened her gaze subtly, her tone lightening as she said, "Prepare now, everyone return to the Space Station."

Clearly, Mu Jianling didn’t want to elaborate on where she had been during her absence, or what had happened...

The students wanted to ask, but thought that since the teacher didn’t bring it up, she must prefer not to discuss it.

So—

No one was impolite enough to press further.

Mu Jianling was about to lead the students away when she glanced at the pile of Star Beast Materials on the starship, her eyes twitching slightly: Previously concerned with the students’ safety, she hadn’t paid attention to the surroundings, not expecting these foolish students to actually have such clever moments...

Not bad.

Very good.

Mu Jianling silently pleased herself.

Ji You approached cautiously, "Um... Teacher... could you please do me a small favor?"

Mu Jianling: "..."

Mu Jianling didn’t respond, instead glanced at the pile of materials, and then walked a few steps forward, squatted down, and rummaged through the materials of the level 6 Star Beast...

Ji You suddenly had a bad feeling.

Then—

She heard Mu Jianling stand up, clap her hands, and say, "Not bad, this is indeed the Thunder Leopard Beast I killed."

Ji You cautiously ventured, "Um... Teacher..." This was something we picked up, but she hesitated with the rest of her sentence, not daring to say it. The Thunder Leopard Beast was indeed the most terrifying level 6 peak amongst all Star Beast corpses.

From the corpse of the Fierce Thunder Beast, it was apparent that it had been killed with a blast to the head and a Great Sword piercing through its heart.

The person who killed it had such clean and decisive techniques that it left the students in continuous awe and admiration...

What did this mean?

It meant that this was an incredibly powerful warrior, with unfathomable strength...

Now!!!

Teacher Mu Jianling had just confessed that she did it?

She did it!

Not only was Ji You suddenly speechless, but the rest of the students were also instantly silenced.

Previously, everyone knew Teacher Mu Jianling was extraordinarily strong, with immeasurable capability, even—rumors within the Lanyue Star Military Academy stated that Teacher Mu Jianling was the most powerful among the mentors, even stronger than Principal Hong...

But was it true?

No one could confirm.

Now—as everyone watched Mu Jianling effortlessly store the Star Beast materials into her Space Button, no one dared to make a sound, no one dared to ask... Even a miser like Ji You didn’t dare to utter a word.

After a moment.

Mu Jianling looked around at the students who prudently remained silent, a hint of amusement flickering in her eyes, yet her tone was still cold, devoid of fluctuations, she said, "I am taking back what I have earned; does anyone have an objection?"

All students: "No, no, no... This is what the teacher deserves."

Mu Jianling nodded in satisfaction: "Hmm. Since that’s the case, everyone—return to base."

Looking at the materials piled up in the starship, and Teacher Mu Jianling purposely ignoring them, with a flicker of amusement in her eyes, Ji You felt extremely speechless and deeply suspected that Teacher Mu was just waiting for them to volunteer to ask her to take care of it.

The intention?

Certainly to charge a fee.

Definitely.

However, Ji You, who guessed the teacher’s ulterior motive in a moment, eagerly approached with a smile filled face: "Um... Teacher, actually, we were hoping you could help us store these materials."

Mu Jianling raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"

Here it comes.

Here it comes.

Here it comes.

Ji You waited patiently...

Indeed—

Mu Jianling said: "But the teacher doesn’t work for free, I need to charge a 10% storage fee."

Students: "..."

Ji You whispered a reminder: "Teacher, isn’t that a bit too much?"

Mu Jianling raised an eyebrow: "Too much? I don’t think so."

Ji You looked at Shen Changqing, Chu Jiaojiao, Yue Qiguang... everyone exchanged glances and reluctantly nodded. Ji You then said with a bitter face: "Alright then! It’s settled."

Mu Jianling then grandly waved her hand, helping to gather all the materials.

Ji You, watching enviously, couldn’t help but ask: "Teacher... just how many cubic meters does your Space Button have?"

The bigger the space, the more expensive it is. Teacher Mu Jianling didn’t even blink an eye while effortlessly gathering up so much material, clearly indicating that her Space Button must be very large.

Mu Jianling glanced at her and said: "Why bother asking? Can you afford it?"

Ji You: "..."

That familiar formula, that familiar tone...

Indeed, it hits right in the feels.

Ji You pouted and remained silent.

Mu Jianling grandly waved her hand, saying: "Prepare to return."

The students each got into their mechas, entered the cabins, connected the Spiritual Connectors, and the starship opened the hatch at that moment. Mu Jianling went into space first, with each student following suit and jumping out.

This time, Mu Jianling didn’t lead the group but let Shen Changqing and Sheng Qingyan, acting as captains, lead while she provided cover at the back of the group.

About an hour later, everyone safely returned to the Taoyuan Space Station base.

After a whole day of experiences, the students were all a bit tired, thinking of heading back to their dorms to get some good sleep, when they just stepped out of the Mechanical Cabins, they suddenly heard Mu Jianling announcing: "Now, I will announce the reward and punishment system."

Students: "???"

There’s this too?

Mu Jianling said: "Yue Qiguang, reckless and impulsive, causing damage to the mecha, no academic points awarded, deducting 10 points, and as a further penalty, clean the training room for a month after returning to the school."

Yue Qiguang: "..."

Mu Jianling glanced at him: "Any complaints?"

Yue Qiguang opened his mouth, in the end, he could only swallow his grievances, "No...none."

The action was swift and effective, striking fear in the rest of the students, who could only look on with innocent eyes, wishing they could write ’please not me next’ across their faces.

Mu Jianling scanned the surroundings and with a smile said: "The rest of you performed well, everyone gets an additional 20 points, among which, Ji You, Shen Changqing, Sheng Qingyan, Chu Jiaojiao, and Yue Qiyuan performed outstandingly, gaining an extra 10 points."

Ji You was overjoyed, and everyone’s faces were filled with happiness.

Just when everyone thought it was over, Mu Jianling suddenly said: "Xuzhou—"

Xuzhou, with his burly frame, couldn’t help but shudder.

Mu Jianling continued: "Lou, Lance, Jiang Fang... You guys lack practical experience, are unresponsive, so after the special training, each of you will have an extra hour of combat training every day."

Phew~

Xuzhou, Lou, Lance, Jiang Fang... these folks, sighed in relief: as long as it wasn’t deduction of points, especially academic points, anything was fine.

Thus—

Among everyone, only Yue Qiguang had a miserable outcome, pitiful to behold.

Yue Qiguang’s face darkened, angry yet unable to speak.

Mu Jianling announced: "Dismissed, everyone go back and rest."

Ji You quickly said: "Teacher... can you give us our Star Beast materials?" After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry. What if the teacher really forgets, and later all these materials end up as hers?

Ji You didn’t want to take that gamble.

Mu Jianling: "..."

Mu Jianling cursed: "It’s just this junk, do you think I would swallow it up?"

With that said, she threw out all the materials.

Ji You chuckled: "How could that be? I was just worried about these junk taking up space in the teacher’s Space Button, delaying your matters."

Saying so, she quickly found a cargo loader, called over her classmates, and gathered up the scattered materials.