'That makes things much more intuitive.' Su Chen nodded inwardly.
The second advancement condition for [Mystic Apprentice] had also been revealed — though it differed from what Jiang He had described.
[Mystic Apprentice advancement requirement (2): Raise Candlelight Forging Method to Mastery level.]
'Not ten cycles?'
Su Chen pondered for a moment, then realized — other people in this world had no way to measure proficiency.
They could only use "ten cycles within one minute" as a benchmark.
With that in mind, he asked, "What about the Trial of Whispers?"
Jiang He explained, "The Trial of Whispers requires a sealed, darkened chamber. You draw an inverted cross in your own blood and resist unknown psychic interference. The longer you endure, the better — but you must never exceed forty seconds."
Su Chen mulled this over silently. The details she described diverged significantly from what his panel showed. In other words, these people were essentially groping in the dark — they couldn't be certain exactly what degree of completion was needed for a successful assumption.
'But I know the perfect method of advancement.'
"Are these the requirements for a Perfect Advancement?" Su Chen pressed.
"I'm not lying to you." Jiang He's tone was earnest. Combined with her current state of undress, it lent her an air of provocative sincerity.
Su Chen noticed that Jiang He's complexion was growing rosier by the minute. The potion's effects were likely wearing off. He raised his guard and said, "Can we establish the Blood Oath now?"
As he spoke, his gaze locked onto Jiang He, unblinking. If there was any chance she'd go back on her word, he'd strike first.
Jiang He met his stare and sighed. She stood. "I'll need your blood."
Su Chen bit his finger. Jiang He then bared her chest — an expanse of pale, luminous skin. "The Blood Oath sigil needs to be drawn on my chest."
Su Chen gave her a brief look, quietly marveling. He hadn't examined her closely before, but this woman was... genuinely stunning.
Still, the Blood Oath came first.
Jiang He took Su Chen's hand and traced patterns across her chest. Perhaps because the fresh blood served as a medium, the sensation was remarkably smooth.
Moments later, an eerie symbol roughly the size of an infant's head had been inscribed upon her skin.
Jiang He had no mood for flirtation anymore. She looked up at Su Chen, parted her lips, and uttered a rapid string of syllables.
The blood-red symbol on her chest seemed to radiate a faint, otherworldly glow, as though imbued with life by some unseen force. It fractured into crimson serpents that raced across Jiang He's entire body before vanishing.
"Done."
With the binding complete, Jiang He's demeanor relaxed visibly. She sank into a plush leather sofa, her whole body sinking into the cushions as she rubbed her temples.
Su Chen, too, felt something strange — an intangible awareness assuring him that Jiang He's life was now tethered to his own.
For the time being, this bond meant they were on the same side.
"What were those scandals you mentioned earlier?"
"Don't push your luck!" Jiang He's eyes widened, her chest heaving with indignation. "I've already entered a Blood Oath Contract. You want more?"
"Just curious. Forget I asked." Su Chen glanced at her, his reply casual.
"Tomorrow, take the guest-student pass and go to Nanfeng Academy. I'll meet you there to handle the paperwork." Jiang He picked up where she'd left off earlier.
This also served a purpose — keeping him under observation. The Blood Oath Contract wasn't easy to dissolve, and she still needed to deal with the assassination attempt. The last thing she wanted was Su Chen wandering around unsupervised.
Of course, there was another factor — whoever had tried to kill her tonight would certainly be curious about what had happened.
On paper, Su Chen was just a refugee. He could serve as bait.
"Fine." Su Chen nodded. This had been the original owner's wish, but it was now his wish too. He needed a channel to learn more about this world.
An awkward silence settled between them. Both harbored their own agendas, neither fully trusting the other — yet this uneasy arrangement was the best either could manage.
"I'll be going, then." Su Chen said.
"Wait — your clothes are in tatters. How do you plan to get back like that..." Jiang He called out to him, her tone offhanded. "Follow me."
She led him to a walk-in closet and selected an outfit — a slim-cut black wool coat, a gray dress shirt, and crisp black trousers. The fit was reasonably close to his size.
"Your husband's?" Su Chen asked casually, standing before a full-length mirror, adjusting the details, combing back his disheveled hair with his fingers.
He touched his cheek. This face was genuinely top-grade — it was the reason Jiang He had taken an interest in the original owner in the first place.
Especially now, after assuming the Strongman profession, his physique had filled out properly. In these clothes, he cut a striking figure — the kind they'd call a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Jiang He was leaning nearby, her head cocked against the mirror, legs crossed. Her nightgown remained in tatters. Her gaze lingered on Su Chen's face.
Compared to the scrawny, meek little thing she'd wanted to toy with before, the Su Chen standing before her now exuded an entirely different aura. It was as if a lapdog had transformed into a wolf.
"Yes." Jiang He swallowed, her legs shifting against each other. Then she turned away. "You can go."
"Mm..." Su Chen paused briefly. Jiang He let out a mocking snort. "Don't even think about it. I like playing with people — I don't like being played."
"That's not it. Do you have anything to eat?" Su Chen shook his head. Perhaps it was the post-combat adrenaline finally wearing off, but he was only now registering the hunger signals screaming from his body — ravenous, desperate hunger.
Jiang He's expression stiffened.
......
Clatter—
Another porcelain plate was set aside, adding to a stack already half a person tall.
"...The advancement conditions for a Binding Adept are quite simple. All you need is a carefully braided rope and several thousand repetitions of the braiding process. That's basically it."
"The carefully braided rope — does it have to be a Tier-1 item?" Su Chen asked.
"A Tier-1 item?" Jiang He scoffed. "Not even close. Just slightly better materials will do. A Tier-1 item is extraordinarily valuable — a Binding Adept could sell himself and still not afford one."
Her disdain was unconcealed. "A lower-class profession like that has no future. With luck, one might advance to a Trick Master or possibly even a Puppeteer, but that's the ceiling."
Su Chen's hands kept moving, but his panel was already open.
[Discovered Tier-1 Lower Profession — Binding Adept. Complete advancement conditions to assume this profession.]
[Binding Adept advancement requirement (1): Obtain a carefully braided hemp rope no shorter than 1.5 meters.]
[Binding Adept advancement requirement (2): Complete 3,000 braiding sequences of no fewer than 30 knots each.]
'Simple indeed.'
"Is there nothing beyond the Puppeteer class?" Su Chen asked.
Jiang He clarified, "It's the Puppeteer class reached via the Binding Adept path that has no future. There should be something above Puppeteer, but I don't know what."
Su Chen's motions paused briefly as he realized the profession advancement sequences held additional secrets.
"Urp—"
Setting down his plate, Su Chen let out a satisfied belch. "Thanks for the meal. See you tomorrow."
He rose and left the dining room without a moment's hesitation.
"The person who brought you here is still waiting outside."
Bang!
Jiang He's gaze lingered on the closed door, her expression shifting through several shades.
'A Tier-1 professional who's completely ignorant of basic common knowledge.'
'What secrets is this Su Chen hiding?'
......
"An artificial sun?"
Outside, Su Chen looked up. A massive gray-yellow light source hung in the sky, casting a dim, muted glow — just enough to illuminate the roads below.
Scattered bands of light crisscrossed overhead, resembling some kind of tracks.
But the firmament above the light source was terrifyingly black — not a sliver of brightness, let alone stars.
"Even overcast skies wouldn't look like this... Fog? Black fog..." Su Chen frowned. After a moment's thought, he followed the memories in his mind toward the route out of this district.
Blue phosphorescent flames hung from iron poles along the roadside, each one illuminating a small area.
Further away, from a dark corner, a pair of pale blue eyes watched Su Chen's retreating figure. The voice carried notes of shock that gradually sank into something darker. "Not... dead? And wearing my clothes, no less..."