Second Case 12: Not To Win

After hanging out with her friends the whole day, Liu Meifeng was too tired to seek information from the dormitory's library and went straight to bed. The next morning, she wore her white and gray uniform, this uniform is her solid proof as the best student in Xue Hu sect. Or so she thought, the moment she stepped outside her dormitory, she just realized that her dormitory, the Zhongli dormitory, is actually the furthest dormitory in the sect's area. She didn't realize this before because she was busy talking with her friends while walking. Now that she walked alone, she just realized how far the main building from her dormitory is.

Even so, it didn't prevent her from arriving early into the classroom. Today's schedule is studying battle tactics in the morning, Alchemy in the afternoon, and history in the evening. Each study has a maximum of 2 hours of study and has around an hour break twice a day. Strictly speaking, her class is the only class that gets a lot of studies. Other classes, such as Jingong and Fangshou only have two subjects each day. However, they'll have to study for 3 hours for each subject, so it's kind of fair in its own term.

"Oh, you're quite early, student Xu.", Hu Zhang said as he stepped into the classroom which only has one person sitting inside, "As expected of the only Zhongli student, huh? I hope the other students could follow your example.",

"Um, aren't I the only student here?",

"Right, I forgot. You see, not many people like my class, so there's almost no difference.",

Liu Meifeng pitied the political teacher in front of her, she smiled wryly and tried to change the subject, "Speaking of which, didn't you teach politics?",

"I am, and believe it or not. Politics and battle tactics are related, you cannot survive in the government if you only know politics, and you cannot survive on the battlefield if you don't know battle tactics.",

"I see. I assume even if I ended up becoming an official, there is a chance for me to be sent to a battlefield?",

"Yes, but it's only for a graduate from a special academy like Xue Hu sect for example. Even if you're a student of Fangshou class there is still a big chance for you to be fighting on the battlefield. Which is why you'll have to be ready anytime, for the better or worse.",

Liu Meifeng nodded her head, seeing her affirmation, teacher Hu Zhang walked into the classroom and began writing on the whiteboard behind him.

"Alright, since it's your first lesson, I'll teach you the basics of battle tactics. Before we get into a deeper part like its usage, benefits, and consequences. I'll need you to understand its concept first. Now, tell me student Xu, what do you think about the concept of battle tactic?",

"Battle tactic is a theoretically way of seeking victory on the battlefield.",

"You're correct… but also wrong.", Hu Zhang drew two charts on the whiteboard, which consists of Practical Strategy and Theoretical Strategy. Liu Meifeng seemed to be half-confused and half-understood what he means. Nevertheless, Hu Zhang continued to explain it in a more detailed version, "It is true that battle tactic is a strategy made to obtain victory on the battlefield. But do you know how to come up with good tactics? Is to avoid seeking victory.",

"Um, isn't that the opposite of its usage?",

"Yes, but not all battles have to end in victory. Some battle tactics were used to avoid a worse outcome as much as possible. Now, tell me… how do you describe a victory?",

"Um, when you managed to oppress the enemy and took their territory?",

"Yes and wrong, what you are doing is conquering land which often happens in every war. But do you know whose victory is that for? The leaders, the supreme, the people who sit in the higher seat in the kingdom. What about the normal civilian? Did they enjoy it? Were they invited to the royal feast to celebrate their so-called victory? Now, tell me how many invitations will they make to invite over 1 million people? There's none because they DID NOT invite those people.",

"Um, I really love teacher Hu's political argument but what does this have anything to do with battle tactics?",

"Of course, it's related to its usage. Now, as I said, in order to make good battle tactics we know that we have to avoid seeking victory. So, why do we need battle tactics in the first place? Of course, first is to 'eliminate your enemy faster'.", Hu Zhang wrote the words below the Practical Strategy, then, he added another line below the words, "Battle strategy was first invented by the ancient people in order to avoid long and risky battle, which later it improved to reduce damage taken, and at the final is to obtain victory. Due to such vast improvements, battle tactics were introduced to almost every official profession in the kingdom. Which is why, no matter what your class is if you work under the government as an official, there's a big chance that you'll be walking into the battlefield, front or behind.",

Liu Meifeng nodded and memorized every explanation including the charts on the whiteboard. Sometimes, she also takes a note on a difficult explanation that is hard to comprehend. After hearing the basics of battle tactics for nearly 20 minutes. Teacher Hu Zhang pulled a board out of the storage space and turns out it's a chess board.

"Now, student Xu, come here.",

Liu Meifeng stood up from her seat and approached the teacher's desk. She has seen this board before, it's a chess board from this world. Thing is, playing chess in this world is rather unique. Since you'll have to protect your Queen instead of your King. It consists of 1 piece of King, 1 piece of Queen, 2 pieces of generals, 2 pieces of battalions, 2 pieces of lions, and 8 pieces of knights. The way how this game works is your Queen has to be protected at all costs if your Queen is slain, then you'll lose the game. It's a bit similar to English chess in her previous lives, however, some pieces have different moves. Not only that, but this chess board also has an effect on each chess piece. When a certain chess piece stood on a certain floor number or next to a pair, they'll activate their perks which can be good and bad at the same time.

"As you may know, in order to practice our battle tactics, we need to be facing a battle itself. However, since you're a first-timer, we'll have to do it by using this chess board. Do you know the rules?",

"Yes, I often played it with my grandfather.",

"Alright, then let's play this chess together. Since you're good at seeking victory, why don't you be on the offense and I'm on the defense?",

"Very well, please be easy on me.",

"Likewise.",

…

...

After two hours of playing chess with teacher Hu Zhang, Liu Meifeng seemed to be having a headache. For 2 hours long, the game hasn't found its winner yet, not even Liu Meifeng who is on the offense. Teacher Hu Zhang is on the defense, but there were many times that he always countered Liu Meifeng's attack and taunt, which is kind of depressing in its own way. To be precise, Liu Meifeng didn't lose too many chess pieces but teacher Hu Zhang didn't lose his either, which is very strange. Both Liu Meifeng and teacher Hu Zhang were already familiar with the chess rules and each chess piece's perks. How can there be no winner yet?

"I gave up…", Liu Meifeng said.

"Good work, student Xu. It was a magnificent move you'll almost throw me on edge there.",

"I barely took some of the teacher's chess pieces. Teacher will always have a way to repel my attack.",

"Of course, that's because I was on the defensive, to me this is enough.",

"What does teacher Hu mean?",

"You see, take a look at my team. There are only small damages and leave no disadvantages, and take a look at yours. There were several times that I noticed you sacrificed some of your knights in order to obtain certain perks and slay my knights. Now, as you can see you've lost about the same amount as mine which is great despite all those sacrifices. But, did you obtain your victory?",

"...No.",

"That's right, now what I'm going to teach you is how to use a battle tactic in order to 'reduce' the damage taken. On a battlefield, not only you'll have to consider manpower, ammunitions, weapons, etc. But you'll have to oversee the field, find a way to eliminate the enemy without sacrificing many lives, and of course, a trick.",

"Trick? What does the teacher mean?",

"I'll tell you in the next session, as for now, I'm going to give you homework.", teacher Hu Zhang took a scroll and handed it to Liu Meifeng, "Solve the problems inside this scroll by using what I taught you today. Submit this scroll into my office when you're done, preferably before the 17th day this month, good luck.",

After the first lesson is finished, Liu Meifeng got an hour of break and decided to visit other classrooms. She went to the Jingong classroom but found no one, later she heard Zhu You's scream echoing from the sect's field. Liu Meifeng immediately make her way toward the field and saw that most of the Jingong students were competing with each other.

"You won't be able to beat me!", Zhu You screamed.

"You've been saying that but you could barely make me break a sweat.", said one of the haughty students.

Liu Meifeng clenched her fist and shouted, "Focus on his waist, Zhu You!", the moment she shouted she immediately regretted it. All of the students, even the teacher were looking at her.

Zhu You was surprised and then finally let out a smile, "Alright, I'll win this time!", Zhu You cracked his fists and focused throwing most of his heavy attacks towards the other student's waist. The other student seemed to be taken aback and focused his guard on his waist. Due to several heavy attacks, Zhu You finally broke that student's defense and kicked his waist. Before the other student stood up, Zhu You already pointed his wooden axe toward him, "I win.",

"Tch, teach this is not fair! That student of Zhongli helped him!", the student pointed toward Liu Meifeng angrily, it seems obvious that he hates to lose.

"What? I only gave my guess to brother Zhu as a practice of my battle tactics, who knew that it actually worked.", Liu Meifeng shrugged.

The teacher shook her head and gave the student a punishment to clean the field after the lesson. Since Zhu You finally won, he was given free time just like the other winner.

"Haoran! Thanks for helping me.", Zhu You hugged Liu Meifeng from the side.

Liu Meifeng felt uncomfortable and bopped his head, "Next time, try to use your brain more than your muscles.",

Zhu You released Liu Meifeng and laughed happily, "Hahaha, you're right! By the way, how was your lesson today?",

"Oh, this morning I studied–",

Liu Meifeng and Zhu You were having a normal conversation, she looked from left to right and didn't see Gu Yunxi, "Where is Yunxi?",

"Oh, she's on the other lesson, it's alchemy if I recall. There are just too many Jingong students, so the teacher had to divide us into two groups.",

"I see, I'm jealous.",

"Huh? Why are you jealous?",

"Well, imagine you're studying your least favorite subject in the classroom that only has you and the teacher.",

"No way!",

"Exactly. But thankfully, it wasn't so bad.",

"You should move to Jingong class! We'll be an unbeatable pair for sure!",

"I'm not sure, I heard we can only re-select our class after we become seniors.",

"Eh, really?",

"You didn't read the rules, didn't you?",

Zhu You just laughed before the teacher called him back. Zhu You bid farewell to Liu Meifeng, and then returned to the group. Liu Meifeng nodded and walk away from the field. Since there were still 30 minutes left, she went into the library at the main building. Yesterday, she didn't have the chance to read the books in this building, but now she finally has the chance. She browses through the shelf, looking for a book about legendary materials. While searching through the shelf, Liu Meifeng suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest.

"Damn, not now.",

Liu Meifeng immediately took green porcelain and swallowed two brown pills. After maintaining her breath, the pain finally vanished. Later, she seemed to have heard someone break into the library, it was Zhao Yu.

"Is there a student named Xu Haoran here?!",

The person who is in charge of the library seemed to be shocked by her appearance and tried to calm her down. Feeling confused, Liu Meifeng stood up and walked over to the scene, "Zhao Yu? What are you doing here?",

"You! Are you okay?!", Zhao Yu immediately grabbed Liu Meifeng's hand and asked worriedly. Liu Meifeng didn't understand what was going on and what made her freaked out like this. Nevertheless, she tried to calm Zhao Yu and replied, "I'm… fine. But more importantly, how did you know I was here?",

"The bracelet vibrates and emitted a bright light. Later, I suddenly had a bad feeling and for some reason, I just knew that you'd be here.",

Liu Meifeng heard Zhao Yu's explanation and thought about their matching bracelets. Turns out the shopkeeper didn't lie about connecting their bond spiritually.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. I was just feeling light-headed earlier, but it's nothing serious.",

"I-I see.",

"But, um… I'm sorry to say this, but shouldn't you be studying alchemy right now?",

"Oh, no need to worry I finished that an hour ago.",

"I see.",

Liu Meifeng didn't doubt Zhao Yu's claim, she knew that Zhao Yu is a genius just like her. In the end, Liu Meifeng still urges her to return to the classroom, even though she had finished early, doesn't mean she's allowed to walk away from the classroom. It's an act of disrespect and disgrace as the daughter of the headmaster.

Before returning, Zhao Yu made sure that Liu Meifeng is indeed fine. As an old friend, she knew that Xu Haoran loves to lie about his own condition, no matter how worse it is. After checking his pulse and temperature are normal, Zhao Yu heaved a sigh and finally returned to the classroom.

To be honest, Liu Meifeng's condition cannot be detected through regular examination. You'll have to check thoroughly because the problem that causes her relapse lies inside her body. Since she's a mixed-blood, she was born… abnormal. Her lungs cannot conceive the air on the surface or under the water. Her mother was the people of the earth who lives on the surface while her father was the people of the sea who lives underwater. If she had to explain it, her mother is like a human while her father is like a mermaid. Mermaid had two different lungs, one normal lung and one a gill. However, due to her fragile body and abnormal genetics, she didn't have a gill, and moreover, her lungs cannot process the air on the surface for a long time. This of course the main cause of her relapses, furthermore, Liu Meifeng absolutely can't breathe underwater. If she sinks then she will definitely lose her life. This is because her lungs can't stand the water pressure and might explode if she's underwater without proper gear.

Unable to live a normal lifespan in both worlds, Liu Meifeng can only stay on the surface where she could survive longer, and find a way to cure her disease. Of course, she only has a limited time to do so…