"What a hassle..." Su Chen shook his head to himself, watching Qi Chuan disappear into the distance.
He stopped a few people to ask for directions to the Mysticism classroom, only to be met with a wave of startled looks — and even a handful of fellow students heading the same way.
When he arrived, Su Chen understood why they'd been so surprised.
The classroom was a massive lecture hall, already packed to the brim — every seat taken, people standing shoulder to shoulder. Jiang He's fame at Nanfeng Academy was about as close to universal as it got.
"There are way too many people..." Su Chen was stunned. Ninety-five percent of the audience was male. Only standing room remained.
Nanfeng Academy offered a fair number of subjects, mostly geared toward miscellaneous vocations.
Mysticism sounded impressive, but in practice it was pure theory — an overview of various classes or the world's hidden workings. Halfway between substantial and fluff.
The reason this many people showed up had everything to do with Jiang He's personal allure.
Class hadn't started yet, but the entire lecture hall buzzed with a low, excited murmur.
"I heard Teacher Jiang He has a new flame... God, why can't it be me?"
"Has to be an upperclassman, right? Zhang Hengyu? I heard he already has a class."
"This time seems different, though. Teacher Jiang personally handled the guy's enrollment paperwork. Sounds like she's going for the whole grooming experience..."
"Like hell! Some lucky bastard just falls into that? I'd kill to have Teacher Jiang He punish me..."
Su Chen was at a loss for words. How had the gossip traveled this fast? Did these people have nothing better to do?
The chatter spiked abruptly, then fell silent just as fast. The only sound was the sharp click-clack of heels. Jiang He had arrived.
A collective intake of breath rippled through the room.
Jiang He had changed outfits — a sleeveless purple turtleneck that clung tightly to her skin, hugging her neck, paired with high heels.
Her gaze swept the room. Her eyes met Su Chen's for a fleeting instant before she looked away, unperturbed.
Though whispers about Teacher Jiang He's wild and seductive reputation circulated freely behind closed doors, in class she was a woman of few words — projecting an air of cool detachment. That contrast, layered with her position, created an unparalleled magnetism.
"...Today's topic is Day Mist and Night Mist..." Her voice was crisp and no-nonsense. Images flickered onto the screen behind her.
Countless scorching gazes roamed back and forth across the teacher's figure. Su Chen, however, was listening intently.
"...Day Mist and Night Mist alternate at the six o'clock mark, each occupying twelve hours. During Day Mist, the danger level in the wilderness drops significantly. Conversely, during Night Mist, it rises..."
"...But expeditions to explore ruins or conduct patrols can't be limited to just twelve hours. How to effectively avoid Night Mist remains an eternal area of research..."
"Morning Star Stone... the material used to build the city walls. Within a certain radius, it can block fog contamination. Monsters within the fog will steer clear of it..."
This kind of foundational knowledge was exactly what Su Chen needed.
......
Elsewhere, Zhou Zong produced a pouch of gold coins and exchanged it with a middle-aged man for a sheet of paper.
"Burn it after you've read it," the man warned before hurrying off.
Zhou Zong's gaze fell on the document. He scanned it top to bottom, unable to hide his surprise. "A refugee? But how would he know Bai Fengxi?"
"Hmm, a friend's daughter... parents are both dead. I think I'm starting to see the picture, but I'll need to verify..."
......
When Jiang He's class ended, the audience lingered in a collective afterglow, gazing wistfully as the teacher walked out. Only then did they start packing up.
Su Chen slipped out and followed her without a sound. Under the astonished stares of several onlookers, he stepped into Jiang He's private office — the room was hers alone.
"Qi Chuan came to see me," Su Chen said bluntly.
A flicker crossed Jiang He's face. "That fast? He's not even bothering to hide it anymore."
"He's deeply cunning — emotions never show on his face. He's probably already figured out you're not what you seem. You didn't blow your cover, did you?"
'Emotions never show on his face?' Su Chen recalled the man's contorted expression and gave a brief reply: "It was fine. I played it off."
"He also tried to tempt me with a spot on the elite training roster."
"The elite training roster?" Jiang He let out a contemptuous laugh. "Bold of him to promise that. Even I can barely pull strings on those selections, let alone..."
She trailed off, as if a thought had suddenly struck her.
Her expression shifted to excitement. "Do me a favor."
"No." Su Chen shook his head immediately. "I have zero interest in getting involved in your business."
Jiang He elaborated: "There's something in it for you. Accept his offer — let him get you onto the elite training list. The academy pours significant resources into those students."
"Hmm..." Su Chen paused. The importance of resources went without saying.
Training methods to further develop his Strongman class, consumables, advancement information for future classes — he had virtually no channels to obtain any of it.
That said, there were risks.
But Qi Chuan had already set his sights on him. At the moment, he had no way to shake the man off.
His immediate refusal had been deliberate — just a way to hear what Jiang He would put on the table.
"The objective?" Su Chen asked.
Jiang He explained: "I want to find out who's really behind him. The person who altered your records has been identified, but he was just hired help. Getting you onto the elite training roster takes more than money."
"Besides, offering that much just to learn about what happened that night seems like an overpayment. He'll probably want you to do other things for him, too."
So, bait and espionage. Su Chen kept his face neutral. "And your offer?"
"You're already getting en—" Jiang He started, but Su Chen cut her off. "That's a result, not a favor from you. I'm stuck between two fires — I need more."
"What do you want?" Jiang He looked at him with amusement.
"The second-tier advancement path for Strongman." Su Chen named his price.
"I don't know it." Jiang He shook her head, her tone casual. "Can't give you what I don't have. Pick something else."
She exuded an air of absolute confidence. Su Chen's expression stayed blank.
In truth, ever since leaving the villa, he'd found it nearly impossible to maintain the upper hand against Jiang He. That was precisely why he'd scrambled back then for any leverage he could find.
The Blood Oath Contract was a card best left unplayed as long as neither of them tore the mask off.
Su Chen's face darkened with apparent reluctance. "A professional-grade physical training method, then..."
Jiang He watched his defeated expression with visible satisfaction. "That, I can do."
Su Chen breathed an inward sigh of relief. The training method had been his real objective all along. Second-tier class information was useless to him right now; he'd only brought it up to create the impression that he was grudgingly settling for less.
Terms agreed, Su Chen didn't leave. He puffed out his chest and announced: "One more thing — I'm broke."
He stressed the point. "Can't even afford a meal."
"So now I'm really keeping you." Jiang He's voice was light and offhand. "Fine. I'll load some funds onto your account."
Su Chen got what he wanted and left in high spirits.
Only to get the shock of his life the moment he stepped outside. The corridor beyond the office was packed three rows deep with gawkers. Someone had obviously rallied their friends, all eager to catch a glimpse of the pretty boy in the flesh.
"Holy crap, it's him! He was standing right next to me during class, putting on this whole 'I'm paying attention' act."
"Dammit, I'm just as good-looking as he is!"
"......"
A sea of envious, jealous, and resentful gazes bore into Su Chen. Deeply uncomfortable and thoroughly exasperated, he made his escape.