The next day, perhaps because making cards had drained too many brain cells yesterday, Lu Su unusually slept well.
Calling it sleep was not quite accurate. He had actually been cultivating the Deep Blue Meditation Method. Most card makers had long replaced sleep with meditation.
Naturally, Lu Su would not lag behind.
Riding Pidgeot, Lu Su quickly arrived at Shanghai City No. 1 High School.
Ever since he got Pidgeot, he no longer had to worry about traffic jams making him late for the bus.
Though given how highly regarded he was now, Song Qian would not say much even if he was late once or twice.
Accompanied by Song Qian's almost hypnotic voice, the day's lessons began.
However, Lu Su was rather interested in today's lesson. It was about Chain Cards and Legion Cards.
"Students, listen carefully to what comes next." Song Qian looked solemnly at the advanced class students below.
"A Chain Card, as the name suggests, is when cards produce linked effects with one another. They are commonly seen between Creature Cards and Item Cards." Song Qian did not beat around the bush and began explaining directly.
"A famous example is the Creature Card Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing and the Item Card Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda." Song Qian gave an example every Great Ming citizen knew. "These two cards can produce a linked effect."
"I will not say much more about linked effects. They are as powerful as card Bonds."
Lu Su naturally knew about card Bonds. Both cards in his possession had Bond effects, but unfortunately, he did not have enough materials to make cards capable of producing Bonds.
Song Qian, standing by the podium, naturally had no idea what Lu Su was thinking and continued, "Chain Cards generally arise from key items in a character's story. This is something you must pay attention to when making cards in the future."
After finishing Chain Cards, it was time to discuss Legion Cards.
Legion Cards were a major focus of card-making education. As for why, Song Qian immediately gave the answer. "Next, we will discuss Legion Cards. Please give this your utmost attention."
Seeing Song Qian so serious, the advanced class students could not help sitting upright.
"A Legion Card does not refer to cards held by a single card maker."
"Rather, it refers to batches of identical cards produced by groups of card makers."
At this point, Song Qian pushed up her glasses.
Most card makers without talent, or with limited talent, would ultimately either join the military or become resident card makers stationed in a city that had secured a secret realm.
Within the military, the card quality produced by most lower-level card makers varied greatly.
Therefore, the Daming Dynasty Court had distributed some card-making templates with decent strength for lower-level card makers to use.
When the cards made by lower-level card makers using those templates were summoned together in battle formations, they could be integrated and unleash greater power.
That was why Song Qian was so serious. In her eyes, only Lu Su and Jiang Nanxi in the class could be considered promising talents.
The other students would ultimately end up in one of those two places.
Lu Su now understood the meaning behind Song Qian's words, and also understood how the card makers confronting the Demon Army at the border fought their enemies.
But this had little to do with him. After all, he had only made a Red Quality card last night.
Time flew by, and before he knew it, school was over.
Just as Lu Su was preparing to head home, Jiang Nanxi came looking for him.
Jiang Nanxi looked somewhat worried at the moment, leaving Lu Su puzzled. He could not help asking, "What is it?"
Upon hearing Lu Su's question, Jiang Nanxi fell silent for a moment before saying, "Du Heng has gone missing."
Lu Su froze. What did Du Heng going missing have to do with me? Could he really still have the nerve to retaliate against me?
Just as Lu Su was about to ask further, Jiang Nanxi continued, "My dad told me. He said you should be more careful when heading home after school lately as well."
"Du Heng's parents were found dead in their home this morning. It is suspected that Du Heng did it. The association is currently tracking him down."
Lu Su was full of question marks after hearing Jiang Nanxi's words and could not help saying, "Du Heng is that filial?"
At that moment, Lu Su's mind was filled with dark jokes about roasted whole lamb and military boxing.
Jiang Nanxi ignored Lu Su's strange remark and merely shook her head. "Just be careful."
With that, she turned and left.
After all, in her eyes, Du Heng simply did not have the strength to threaten Lu Su. A reminder was enough.
Lu Su rode Pidgeot down slowly beneath the rundown apartment building. Just as he was about to head upstairs, a voice sounded from behind him. "Feels like I haven't seen you in ages, Xiao Luo."
It was Aunt Xu, who lived across the hall. Aunt Xu had gotten along well with the original owner, having practically watched him grow up. Otherwise, she would not have dragged Lu Su along when fleeing for her life during the Demon's Nest riot.
Besides, the original owner occasionally went over to Aunt Xu's place to mooch meals.
Thinking of that, Lu Su could not help smiling as he explained, "After becoming a card maker, I've had more things to do. I never found the time to come visit you, Aunt Xu."
"What are you being so polite for, child? Come eat at Auntie's place whenever you have time." Aunt Xu chuckled. In her eyes, Lu Su becoming a card maker was a good thing. At the very least, it was much better than being a struggling orphan.
Lu Su laughed it off. "Next time for sure, next time for sure."
Aunt Xu and Lu Su slowly went upstairs together. Along the way, she seemed to suddenly remember something. "Oh, right, Xiao Luo. It's not that Auntie wants to lecture you, but young people should not associate with those shady types."
Shady types?
Just as he was about to ask, Aunt Xu continued, "When I went out to buy groceries earlier, I saw a young man and a thug lingering around your door."
Lu Su felt somewhat puzzled. From the original owner's memories, his social circle had been very clean. He did not know anyone resembling the people Aunt Xu described.
And the only person he had dealt with these past few days who could be called a street tough was Brother Hu from Duo Duo Finance.
Could it be Brother Hu?
But had he not already paid off his debt?
Though confused, Lu Su still said, "Yes, yes, Aunt Xu is right. But those people might have gotten the wrong door. I probably don't know them."
Aunt Xu breathed a sigh of relief. She did not want a good kid like Lu Su to end up running with criminals.
The two stopped in the stairwell. Aunt Xu said, "That's it, then. Auntie needs to go back and cook. Xiao Luo, come eat at Auntie's place when you have time."
"Alright, I'll definitely come when I have time." Lu Su agreed with a smile.
Their conversation echoed through the silent, dim corridor.
Turning around, Lu Su gripped the doorknob and was about to take out his key when a tremendous force suddenly struck him, forcing him to release it and stagger back a step.
Kaneki Ken instantly appeared in front of him as well.
Boom!
The old, rusty iron door was blasted away in an instant and smashed viciously into Aunt Xu.
"Hahaha, that kid really was right! You really are a genius!" A manic laugh rang out from inside Lu Su's apartment.
Lu Su finally understood who Aunt Xu had been talking about. Looking at Aunt Xu lying on the ground, her fate unknown, his expression turned icy as surging Killing Intent boiled within him. "Du Heng! If you want to die, I'll grant your wish!"
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