Forty-nine rules of the end times

Chapter 285 Considerations for the Principle of Guiding Rather Than Blocking
A faculty and staff meeting is being held in the college's conference room.

"I think it's necessary to make an explanation regarding the students' situation over the past week since the new rules were announced."

Dean Zhou Qinfeng had a serious expression, and the faculty and staff knew it couldn't be good news.

"Based on the reports from the teachers and the reactions from some students, there are actually some students practicing this so-called 'Cosmic Divine Spore Technique' within our academy. This is simply intolerable to me!"

“Our college was established to cultivate pillars of society, hoping that these outstanding students will lead the country out of the shadow of the apocalyptic rules in the future. This means that our students should have healthy values ​​and cognition, but now it seems that there is a big problem.”

Zhou Qinfeng looked around and asked, "Can anyone explain to me what exactly is wrong?"

Ms. Chen, who teaches psychology, said, "According to official information, these alien spores can invade through each person's emotional gaps. Currently, a major emotional gap for students lies in their anxiety about their own abilities."

"Anxiety about one's abilities? Those who can enter the academy are all the best of the best. Do they also have anxiety about their abilities?"

"Of course. Their anxiety about their abilities may even be more severe than that of ordinary people. Many outstanding people are like this, or rather, the reason why many people are outstanding is precisely because of their strict demands on themselves."

“Teacher Chen is right,” added Ouyang Shanyue, who teaches “Philosophical Thinking on Mind Power.” “Many students have also told me that the spores have enhanced their abilities and even accelerated the growth of their mind power. These tangible improvements have made them waver.”

“I told them to stay calm. These immediate benefits are like bait; true wise people know to look to the long term. In the long run, these benefits will come in the future, and there’s no need to take huge unknown risks just to get them in advance.”

"We certainly understand the principles. It's just that some students, due to their young age, are easily tempted, and that's the crux of the problem."

The teachers looked at each other, all at a loss.

Even the government, with its think tank, couldn't control the emergence of a large number of fanatical practitioners, let alone these teachers.

"What do you think, Lecturer Jingyi?"

Zhou Qinfeng looked at Shi Jingyi, who was sitting at the end of the table with a calm gaze.

"Although you've only been back at the academy for a little over a month, the students really like you and are willing to listen to you. Why don't you say something to the students?"

The teachers nodded in agreement.

Shi Jingyi was the most popular student, and no one ever caused trouble in her classes. Zhou Qinfeng wondered if she had a way to solve this problem.

Facing everyone's gaze, Shi Jingyi slowly spoke: "If I have learned anything from my experience in martial arts training, it is that there are no shortcuts to self-improvement; one can only move forward step by step with a down-to-earth attitude. If students understand this principle, they will not be tempted by the effects of the spores."

One teacher said, "That's true... but under this rule, how do you distinguish whether progress is due to your own efforts or the spores' contribution?"

"Yeah. Are you suggesting that everyone should do absolutely nothing for a month, just eat and sleep all day long?"

Just then, someone remembered something: "Jingyi, I remember you've been training a lot these past few days, haven't you? Aren't you worried that you might..."

"I do train every day," Shi Jingyi admitted, "and I have also felt the improvement in training effects brought about by the spores."

The crowd gasped in shock, and Zhou Qinfeng's expression changed: "Lecturer Jingyi, your behavior is too dangerous! If one of our faculty members becomes addicted to spores, the consequences will be disastrous!"

"Everyone, I've only experienced the effects of the spores, nothing more," Shi Jingyi said. "Experiencing them doesn't mean I'll become dependent on them. I'll stop after completing my daily training plan and won't do more training just because I've had some extra effects."

"This... requires very strict self-control to do." "I think so too. Anyway, I don't dare to try it. During this period of rules, I didn't dare to use my abilities even once, for fear that after discovering that I had been enhanced, I would crave even more enhancements."

"Lecturer Jingyi is commendable for her courage, but it would be better to be more cautious."

Although the teachers admired Shi Jingyi, they also felt that she was "playing with fire" and that something bad could easily happen.

"So, what are your specific opinions, Lecturer Jingyi?" Zhou Qinfeng asked.

"It's better to guide than to block," Shi Jingyi said bluntly. "That's my opinion."

"Absolutely not!" Zhou Qinfeng immediately objected. "Jingyi, you've practiced martial arts since childhood and have strong self-control. Just because you can control yourself doesn't mean others can. Even the official advice is to minimize the use of abilities and items during the rule period. How can we go against the official guidance?"

"The dean is right."

"It's better to guide than to block... Does this mean letting students experiment with the spores as they please? That's far too dangerous..."

After Zhou Qinfeng took the lead in objecting, the other teachers followed suit.

Shi Jingyi didn't say anything, nor did she show any displeasure.

She always spoke her mind, and when Zhou Qinfeng asked for her opinion, she did. She didn't care whether others objected or not.

Until the very end of the meeting, Zhou Qinfeng made the final decision: "Now the academy can only further strengthen management, emphasize the dangers of the spores to students every day, and strictly prohibit students from discussing matters related to 'practice'."

After the meeting, Shi Jingyi hadn't even left the meeting room and walked out of the corridor when Teacher Chen jogged over and called her back.

“Actually, I think there’s some merit to your suggestion, Jingyi, that ‘it’s better to guide than to block,’” Teacher Chen said sincerely.

“When I was a psychological counselor at the hospital, many parents brought their children who were severely addicted to online games to see me. After inquiring about their situations, I found that most of these families were extremely strict with their children and never allowed them to touch games... As a result, many children secretly went to internet cafes to play and quickly became addicted. I think if parents allowed their children to play a moderate amount at home, perhaps things wouldn't have turned out this way.”

"These alien spores are definitely much more dangerous than online games. Although it's not a good analogy, the fact that both the government and the academy have strongly banned them raises concerns about whether students will become addicted to online games. It's really worrying."

"I don't know. But as Dean Zhou said, my opinion doesn't apply to everyone."

Shi Jingyi couldn't say for sure either. She looked out the window, already having an idea in mind.

"Teacher Chen, do you have this feeling: from the very first rule, the Fire Stealer wanted everyone to take care of themselves? Every rule seems to show a kind of hatred for mutual protection within the group."

Teacher Chen paused slightly: "That's true. There was a lot of heated discussion online before, and the reason why the Fire Stealer issued that terrifying earthquake rule might be directly related to the formation of the 'Human Union' organization by various human countries... Including many other rules, they also discourage humans from banding together for survival, but..."

"But humans are social animals after all. It's an instinct etched into our genes. And since the Firebringers are our enemies, shouldn't we do the opposite of what our enemies don't want us to do?"

"maybe."

As Shi Jingyi spoke, Guan Tong's face appeared in her mind. She wondered what this person, who had always been a loner, would think about this issue.

(End of this chapter)