Superpowers of Middle School Students

Chapter 3 The Ridiculous System

Soon, evening self-study ended, and the boarding students gradually returned to their dormitories, which were rather dilapidated—the kind of low, long, run-down tile-roofed houses.

After leaving the classroom, Kang Lin was stopped by Wang Liuhui. Kang Lin asked suspiciously, "What's wrong?"

"Kang Lin, have you forgotten?"

"You said if I could beat you at billiards, you'd lend me the game cartridge of 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'."

Um… Kang Lin recalled that she did indeed say something like that when playing arcade games with Wang Liuhui.

However, that was last week, and Kang Lin had completely forgotten.

It was already past nine o'clock. Kang Lin looked at her digital watch and said, "Tomorrow!"

The digital watch on Kang Lin's wrist wasn't bought; it was a prize she won while eating a certain brand of instant noodles called "Blue Cat's 3000 Questions".

At this moment, Wang Liuhui said, "It's not late, it's not late, just five minutes. I'll only take five minutes of your time."

It'll be ten o'clock soon. My house is so far away, let's do it tomorrow at noon!

"Okay, I'm leaving now," Kang Lin said, turning to go.

At this moment, Wang Liuhui quickly stopped Kang Lin, saying, "Kang Lin, it'll only be two minutes. Just two minutes of your time. I'll treat you to five coins for the pool game, how about that?"

"Tomorrow!"

"How about I treat you tomorrow at noon?" Kang Lin said.

At this moment, Wang Liuhui still wouldn't give up, saying, "Two minutes, can we time it?

If it's not over in two minutes, I lose, okay?"

Kang Lin looked at Wang Liuhui in surprise, "Really?"

"Are you that confident?"

"Are you really sure?"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

Wang Liuhui nodded vigorously. Kang Lin had never played billiards with Wang Liuhui before; the only time they'd played was King of Fighters '97, which Kang Lin considered herself quite skilled at.

However, Kang Lin never expected to lose to Wang Liuhui. She was utterly humiliated that time!

Generally, arcade game masters in arcades are mostly just randomly pressing buttons, so Kang Lin rarely encountered a worthy opponent. Moreover, her self-developed Iori Yagami nine-hit combo was invincible, unstoppable.

But after meeting Wang Liuhui, Kang Lin realized this kid was truly amazing; he could even land an 11-hit combo with Iori Yagami!

Incredible, right?

Kang Lin had heard from others that Wang Liuhui was a very good billiards player, but she only knew he was good; she didn't know exactly how good.

But seeing Wang Liuhui's attitude, Kang Lin thought he probably really was!

"He actually dared to guarantee it would end in two minutes, and if it went over, he'd lose! He knows he'd waste time just giving the cue stick around!"

Soon, Kang Lin and Wang Liuhui arrived at the billiards room near the school gate.

Wang Liuhui picked up the cue stick and said, "I'll break."

"Is your hand okay?"

Kang Lin asked.

Wang Liuhui subconsciously glanced at his still-burning right hand.

Kang Lin placed her watch on the table and said, "Start the timer, *snap*..." A crisp sound followed, and in the brief moment Wang Liuhui was stunned, Kang Lin had already broken.

After the break, she saw two small balls in and one large ball in.

Break the small ball, so Wang Liuhui took out the large ball.

Kang Lin calmly said, "No rush, I..."

Yes, Kang Lin wanted to make the most of the two minutes, potting all her balls within that time to end the game and leave Wang Liuhui with no chance to use his cue.

After finishing, Kang Lin raised her cue and, *snap snap snap snap snap snap snap…* a series of crisp sounds rang out as Kang Lin's balls rolled into the net one after another.

Kang Lin glanced at her watch and said, "Good, about 60 seconds left."

Although Kang Lin's balls were all in the net, there was still one common ball left. If the black 8 ball went in, Kang Lin would win; it was a foregone conclusion.

At this moment, Wang Liuhui's heart was pounding. He had originally intended to break first, but a moment of carelessness allowed Kang Lin to get there first.

Wang Liuhui wanted to break himself, aiming for a straight shot to leave Kang Lin no chance; two minutes was more than enough.

Then, *snap…* a crisp sound rang out, and Wang Liuhui's heart sank to the bottom. Yes, the black 8 ball had gone into the net without any suspense. Wang Liuhui was filled with resentment!

A single misstep could lead to eternal regret!

To their utter surprise, the tables turned dramatically. The black 8, which had gone into the net, bounced off another ball.

OMG!

Kang Lin was completely dumbfounded.

How could this even happen?

She hadn't used much force!

And it still dared to bounce out!

Wang Liuhui picked up his cue and said, "So, you lost."

Kang Lin checked the time and said, "30 seconds left. Do you think you can win?"

Wang Liuhui calmly replied, "What do you think?"

Before he finished speaking, a series of crisp clicks rang out, and the table was empty except for the black 8.

With only one second remaining, the black 8 rolled into the net.

At this moment, Kang Lin waved her hand and said, "Okay... I'm almost done. Once I finish, I'll lend it to you first."

"OK," Wang Liuhui said, making an OK sign.

Kang Lin looked at the dark sky and walked out of the billiard room. Yes, there were almost no students left at the school gate; they had finished their evening self-study and were hurrying away.

Kang Lin hopped on her old, beat-up bicycle and started heading home. It was almost Chinese New Year, and the weather was still very cold.

Kang Lin's hands were trembling from the cold.

Kang Lin was struggling to pedal, bouncing up and down on the uneven dirt road, the old bicycle creaking and groaning.

Just then, Kang Lin seemed to see a figure ahead. Yes!

The figure from behind looked familiar, and it was a student, a student at that. She wore a bright yellow jacket, her waist-length hair danced in the cold wind, and she wore light-colored jeans and snow boots.

The child, breathing heavily, ran desperately forward in the cold wind.

Closer, closer, closer still. The creaking of Kang Lin's worn-out bicycle startled the child.

Because it was so dark, it was already difficult to see anything, and even the moon had set, so it was practically impossible to see one's hand in front of one's face.

The child suddenly stopped. Who had been startled?

Hearing the voice, Kang Lin recognized it. It was…it was Wang Hong.

Kang Lin immediately asked, "Are you Wang Hong?"

The child hurriedly replied, "Yes…it's me. Are you Kang Lin?"

"What are you doing here?"

"Have you forgotten?"

"I'm a day student, I go home at this time every day."

"If it wasn't me, who else could it be?"

At this moment, Wang Hong patted her chest and said, "I was so scared! I was so scared! It's the first time I've walked so far at night, it really terrified me."

Kang Lin asked suspiciously, "Wang Hong, aren't you a boarding student?

Why are you going home?"

"I left something at home, so I asked for leave to go home to get it so as not to miss class, and then I'll go to school tomorrow morning."

"Oh!"

"Is that so?"

"You seem very afraid of the dark!"

"How about I walk you home?"

Kang Lin thought to herself, "My chance to shine has finally come."

"No need to trouble you!"

Wang Hong said uncertainly.

"Oh!"

"In that case, I'll go first then," Kang Lin said, getting on her old bicycle and quickly disappearing.

" It was pitch black, and Wang Hong's face was even darker. She stomped her snow boots and yelled, "Kang Lin, you big bad guy! You big bad guy! You stinking bad guy! How dare you leave a young student here like this!"

After yelling, Wang Hong looked around. It was pitch black, and the more she looked, the more frightened and terrified she became.

Then she started to flinch, too afraid to move.

Just then, a voice rang out, "Ah... oh... ah... oh... ah... oh..." A wolf! A wolf! Wang Hong, her face turning purple with cold, trembled as she spoke.

"Kang Lin, you big bad guy! Even if I become a ghost, I'll haunt you forever!" Wang Hong was truly terrified.

"Who's there for me?" A clear male voice rang out. Kang Lin appeared like a savior.

Hearing Kang Lin's voice, Wang Hong was overjoyed. Looking up, she saw a figure pushing a rickety cart towards her in the darkness.

"Kang Lin, it really is you, Kang Lin! You scared me to death!" Wang Hong took off running towards Kang Lin, throwing herself into her arms.

Kang Lin froze instantly. Having been a man for 17 years, she had never even held a stranger's hand.

Yes, at this moment, Kang Lin didn't know what to do.

Wang Hong burst into tears, sobbing, "Waaaaah... You scared me to death, you know?!

I thought I was going to be eaten by wolves!"

Kang Lin patted Wang Hong's back, saying, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, there are no wolves!"

"The wolf was just an act."

After saying that, Kang Lin imitated a wolf again, "Ah... Ugh... You're bad!" Wang Hong then pushed Kang Lin away and punched her in the chest.

"I'll take you home!"

Kang Lin said.

"Okay!"

Wang Hong nodded.

So Wang Hong got on Kang Lin's old bicycle, and the two chatted as they rode.

"Wang Hong, where are you from?"

Kang Lin asked.

"Tangwei Village, just turn right up ahead, it'll be there soon."

Wang Hong said.

"Hehe!"

"What a coincidence! My house is at the next intersection, turn left, it'll be there soon, Huayuan Village," Kang Lin said.

"By the way, Wang Hong, how old are you this year?" Kang Lin asked.

"14 years old," Wang Hong said.

"What?

14 years old? How come you're so young?"

Kang Lin asked. "Are you old?"

Wang Hong asked, blinking her large, bright eyes.

Frost settled on her long eyelashes.

"I...of course I'm old!"

"I'm 17."

Kang Lin said.

"You're kidding me!"

"I think you're at most 15."

Wang Hong said.

"Hehe!"

"Your eyes are really sharp!"

"I'm 15 years old by Western reckoning, 17 by Chinese reckoning."

Kang Lin said.

"You're two years older by Chinese reckoning?"

"Were you born in December?"

Wang Hong asked.

"Yes!"

"I was born on December 12th."

Kang Lin said.

"Then let's switch birthdays!"

"I was born on August 25th."

Wang Hong said.

"Okay, I've got it." Kang Lin said.

"Okay, just stop at the next intersection. My house is inside the village."

Wang Hong said.

"I'll take you in!"

Kang Lin said.

"No need, the village is full of people. It wouldn't be good if they saw us. You should go back soon!"

"Be careful on the road."

Wang Hong said.

"Okay then!"

"Be careful too, I'm going back now!"

Kang Lin said.

"Okay, hurry back!"

Wang Hong said.

Kang Lin climbed onto her old bicycle and started riding back.

Finally, she entered the village, and Kang Lin breathed a sigh of relief. Ahead was a pond; turning left after crossing the pond would bring her home.

Next to the pond was a small path, and it was on this path that an accident happened.

With a thud, Kang Lin and her bicycle fell into the pond. Damn it, she was clearly riding on the path!

How did she end up in the pond? Only then did Kang Lin tragically realize she couldn't swim!

All she could do was splash around, her hands thrashing against the water, until she slowly sank.

Kang Lin was utterly shocked!

She was going to die like this? It was so tragic!

She and the person she loved had just begun their relationship, and now she was gone. It was so unfair!

She was so young.

Kang Lin slowly sank to the bottom of the pond, her consciousness fading until she lost all feeling.

Just then, a tiny spark floated to her side.

Kang Lin, who had been unconscious, suddenly opened her eyes. She felt her right hand involuntarily spring out.

The spark floated onto her hand and pierced through her palm.

A single character, "Swallow," was left on Kang Lin's palm. Suddenly, Kang Lin was filled with power. She opened her eyes, a flash of light appearing before disappearing again.

Kang Lin looked around and spotted her old, worn-out swimming pole. She swam towards it.

To her surprise, she found herself brimming with power. Yes, she had been underwater for quite some time and wasn't suffocating?

Kang Lin looked at her palm in disbelief. There, a bright red character, "Swallow," was written. It was very small, about the size of a normal handwritten character.

Kang Lin clenched her fist and muttered to herself, "Have I gained superhuman strength?"

Have I become Superman?

Kang Lin tested it out. She easily lifted her old swimming pole, and with a powerful push, she leaped out of the water, pole in hand.

Kang Lin, carrying her worn-out carrying pole, returned home.

The instant Kang Lin entered the house, a torrential downpour began.

A bolt of lightning struck from the sky, directly in front of Kang Lin.

This… Kang Lin looked at the bright red "Swallow" character on her palm.

Has the heavens discovered her newfound power?

Is the heavens going to destroy her?

Unable to contain her anger, Kang Lin shouted at the heavens, "You damned heavens, weren't you going to destroy me?

Come on!

Go ahead!

Whoever's afraid is a coward!

Boom… A bolt of lightning struck Kang Lin directly on the head, instantly making her hair stand on end, black and smoking.

Kang Lin opened her mouth slightly, then exhaled a puff of black smoke. At that moment, a sweet voice suddenly appeared in Kang Lin's mind.

*Ding… Signal received. System activating… Activation 1/3.*

System?

Activating?

What?

What is this?

Kang Lin was completely bewildered.

What system?

Can someone explain this to me?

What's going on?

Kang Lin shook her head, forcing herself to calm down and think about these strange events.

That 1/3?

Does it mean she grows a little longer each time she's struck by lightning?

Does that mean she has to be struck by lightning three times in total?

Adding the one she just got struck, she has to be struck by lightning twice more. What kind of system is this that requires being struck by lightning to activate?

Okay!

Okay!

Perhaps I, Kang Lin, am the future savior, the great hero. "Heaven will entrust great responsibilities to those who are first tested with hardship and toil, their bodies and minds must be emptied…" Um… what was the rest? Okay!

Kang Lin admitted she hadn't studied Chinese well and forgot the rest.

So Kang Lin cleared her throat, looked up at the sky again, and exclaimed, "Damn you, God! Weren't you so capable?

Why is this lightning strike so weak and ineffective…?" Before Kang Lin could finish speaking, a bolt of lightning struck her on the head. This time it was even more exaggerated; smoke billowed from all seven of her orifices, but Kang Lin only felt a tingling sensation.

Seems like there's nothing wrong!

Ding… Signal received, system activated.

"Activated... 2/3."

Heh!

So that's how it is?

One more strike and it's done? Well, I'll risk my life for you!

Now that I know what to do!

Kang Lin didn't delay any longer, pointing directly at the sky and shouting, "You damned heavens, come on... so useless, two lightning bolts couldn't even kill you, Kang Lin!"

... ... ... Where's the promised lightning?

What happened?

Where's my lightning?

Come on!

At this moment, Kang Lin was naturally pointing at the sky with a smirk.

Um... is my posture wrong?

Yes, definitely wrong.

So Kang Lin recalled the posture from last time and tried again.

But... half a day passed and there was still no reaction!

What... what's going on?!

Why isn't it working?

Was my attitude not sincere enough?

Hmm!

It must be that her attitude wasn't sincere enough!

So, this time, Kang Lin screamed hysterically at the sky.

...A long time passed, but no lightning struck. So Kang Lin began screaming at the sky in various poses, expressions, and attitudes.

...An hour passed.

...Two hours passed.

...Three hours passed.

...By this time, Kang Lin's voice was almost hoarse, and the lightning still hadn't appeared.

Kang Lin said weakly, "Damn you, God! You can't play games like this!

Just one lightning bolt away, give it to me!"