The Hardest Choice

After dinner, Chu Fei, Liu Tingyun, Cao Liwen, and Zhou Haiyi headed to the Academic Affairs Office together.

Since it concerned investment and the team, of course they were going to the Academic Affairs Office.

However, a little tail followed behind the four of them—Sun Xiangqing.

"Brother Sun" naturally knew this was a little risky, but danger also bred opportunity.

Liu Tingyun had asked me to communicate with Chu Fei. In that case, it was only natural for me to follow along, right?

Liu Tingyun saw Sun Xiangqing, but after thinking about it, she said nothing.

Since Liu Tingyun said nothing, neither did Cao Liwen or Zhou Haiyi.

Chu Fei said even less.

And so, Sun Xiangqing trailed behind the four of them into the Academic Affairs Office.

But as a successful little tail, Sun Xiangqing knew his place and proactively served tea and poured water.

Chu Fei and Liu Tingyun sat facing each other, while Cao Liwen and Zhou Haiyi sat to the side.

Once seated, Chu Fei got straight to the point. "Captain Liu, I remember that the agreement we signed did not contain a single clause stating that the team could dictate terms to the person receiving the investment!

"In other words, you can provide supplies and supervise their use to ensure they are not diverted, but you cannot decide how I cultivate, much less how I use those supplies.

"Am I right?"

Chu Fei's righteous questioning made Liu Tingyun frown.

Moreover, the question was particularly pointed, directly targeting the relationship between team investments and Dawn Academy.

When teams invested in students, they were more or less suspected of poaching from Dawn Academy.

The core purpose of Dawn Academy was for Wu Yong to select disciples, with its development into an industry merely a byproduct.

Because of various practical concerns, Wu Yong had also tacitly allowed the teams certain privileges.

But if you failed to know your place and openly said such things, you were simply asking for trouble.

Wu Yong was Flying Tiger City's second strongest expert, surpassed only by the city lord.

Thus, faced with Chu Fei's question, Liu Tingyun was momentarily speechless.

If she said yes, she would be agreeing with Chu Fei, and Liu Tingyun was unwilling to do that!

If she said no, she would be provoking Wu Yong, and Liu Tingyun did not dare!

The way Liu Tingyun looked at Chu Fei grew increasingly serious—this kid would not be easy to fool.

Cao Liwen was the one who finally could not stand it any longer. "Chu Fei, Captain Liu is merely making a suggestion, not a decision."

Yet Chu Fei was unexpectedly forceful today, immediately retorting, "Teacher, it's not that I insist on opposing Captain Liu. I simply think some matters are better made clear.

"Since we have only just begun dealing with one another and the misunderstandings are not yet too deep, we should clarify every term as thoroughly as possible, so as to avoid even greater trouble later.

"I admit that 240,000 yuan does tempt me.

"But that is all.

"I performed well enough to attract attention, and only then did the investment come.

"It was not that I received an investment first and then performed well!"

Chu Fei's forceful words made Liu Tingyun frown and Cao Liwen fall silent.

Only Zhou Haiyi nodded slightly, her gaze toward Chu Fei filled with approval.

As for Sun Xiangqing, he was already dumbfounded. So I knew nothing about how badass you really were.

Chu Fei continued, "More than half a month ago, I asked Sun Xiangqing to pass along a small request of mine, but there was no response at all.

"Yet today, as soon as the physical examination results came out, Captain Liu could not wait to show herself."

Liu Tingyun said nothing, but her expression was indeed rather unpleasant.

Chu Fei's voice remained firm and powerful. "Before receiving any guidance from the Greedy Wolf Team, I made rapid progress. And afterward, I will not need the Greedy Wolf Team's guidance either.

"Besides, if the Greedy Wolf Team's guidance were truly effective, why would you need to come to Dawn Academy looking for investment targets?

"As far as I know, across the Greedy Wolf Team's decades of investments, you have produced only three Awakened.

"On the other hand, there have been quite a few Semi-Awakened.

"Could that mean the Greedy Wolf Team's guidance is suited to Semi-Awakened but not Awakened?

"That those who originally had the potential to become Awakened instead had their potential ruined by following the Greedy Wolf Team's guidance?"

Had their potential ruined?

Chu Fei's words were blunt, but they gave Zhou Haiyi something to think about.

Before Liu Tingyun could speak, Zhou Haiyi spoke first. "Chu Fei, you do have a point. What are you thinking?"

Chu Fei glanced at Cao Liwen. "Teacher Cao said before, 'Only by enduring the bitterest hardships can one rise above others.'

"There are no shortcuts in cultivation. Otherwise, Principal Wu would not have needed to establish an academy to select disciples.

"And the first and second training approaches both carry the suspicion of taking shortcuts."

Liu Tingyun finally snorted coldly. "How does intense training count as taking a shortcut? Go on, explain!"

Chu Fei said, "It's simple. Because both methods are too focused on brawn and too simple-minded!

"The essence of Big Data Cultivation is the pursuit of science and the pursuit of wisdom.

"And we know that the path toward wisdom is the most painful and produces results the slowest.

"But likewise, once wisdom achieves a breakthrough, it yields the greatest results.

"I'm not the one who said that. Those are the exact words from the natural science textbook.

"Therefore, although the third choice looks the hardest, it is actually the correct one, because it directly targets the core of Big Data Cultivation—the Cosmic Brain!"

Liu Tingyun's face had initially been cold and angry. But the instant she heard the words "Cosmic Brain," she seemed to have been struck by lightning.

After a long while, Liu Tingyun drew a deep breath. The way she looked at Chu Fei changed somewhat as she slowly said:

"You do have a point. Fine, then I'll make a decision on behalf of the Greedy Wolf Team.

"You, Chu Fei, have the Greedy Wolf Team's investment!

"Don't even think about breaking the agreement, and we will never let go.

"I can hand all 240,000-plus yuan over entirely to Director Zhou Haiyi. Whatever resources you need, apply to Director Zhou, with Teacher Cao Liwen supervising their implementation.

"As for your cultivation decisions and the like, I will not interfere.

"We will also follow the rules for future investments."

Liu Tingyun yielded decisively, without the slightest hesitation.

Even Chu Fei was a little surprised. Was she really being this straightforward?

Liu Tingyun continued, "You have performed exceptionally well. I look forward to your progress, and I also hope that you can become an Awakened in the future, join the Greedy Wolf Team, and fight alongside us."

With that, she rose and left.

But when she reached the door, she added, "This world is especially tolerant of geniuses. Even death sentences can be commuted.

"I sincerely hope you are a true genius, one who can soar into the heavens in a single flight!"

Liu Tingyun stepped outside. In the afterglow of the setting sun, pure white wings spread from her back, and she soared into the sky.

Chu Fei: ...

Sun Xiangqing: ...Wait for me!

Watching Liu Tingyun's departing figure, Chu Fei came to a realization: although every word Liu Tingyun had spoken sounded like praise, there had also been an implied threat. If you are not a genius, let's see how you die!

If geniuses were treated with tolerance, then what about fools?

Chu Fei watched until Liu Tingyun's silhouette disappeared beneath the sunset, then slowly let out a breath.

This was the apocalypse. Without going mad, one could not survive!

Zhou Haiyi deliberately coughed twice.

Only then did Chu Fei look at Cao Liwen. "Teacher, I've still decided to choose the third cultivation method."

Cao Liwen replied weakly, "Got it. Teacher Zhou and I will discuss it. You two should leave first."

Chu Fei turned and looked at the dazed Sun Xiangqing.