Talk

Talk

It was one in the morning.

Having finished his security guard shift, Zhang Yu squeezed onto the subway and buses all the way back to his rented room in the suburbs.

As for why the buses and subways were still packed shoulder to shoulder at one in the morning, it was naturally because one o'clock was Songyang City's late-night rush hour, with countless people heading to and from work.

After getting home and taking a shower, Zhang Yu checked his account balance and wondered if he could finally buy an air conditioner.

After all, 8,300 in savings made him suddenly feel that life this month was much more comfortable.

But when he thought of how next month would arrive in two weeks, and how he would have to repay another 15,000 loan then, he could not help frowning.

Recalling what Bai Zhenzhen had said, he murmured inwardly, "The school's contract?"

If signing the contract could give him a large sum of money every month, then he would not need to worry about the loan.

But Zhang Yu also knew there was no use overthinking it. Whether it was his performance before the Heavenly Human Martial Arts Diagram this time or the school's contract, the root of everything ultimately lay in his own talent and strength.

With that thought, he took out the Nerve Filler he had bought from the stationery shop outside the school gates today and swallowed it.

Then he sat cross-legged on his bed and began circulating the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method, sensing strands of Spiritual Energy flooding into his body.

Although he had switched Feather Scroll's Specialization to the Heavenly Martial Heart Refinement Art for the Heavenly Human Martial Arts Diagram test today, and would have to wait twenty-four hours to switch it back before the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method could continue improving rapidly, he could not cultivate the Heavenly Martial Heart Refinement Art anyway, since his Dao Heart had yet to reach Level 3. He also needed to prepare for the Magic Competition and raise his Magical Power.

Though the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method could not improve rapidly for the time being today, the Level 4 Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method itself could still effectively increase his Magical Power.

Thus, the rest of the night passed in Zhang Yu's silent Breath Circulation.

Early the next morning.

The moment Zhang Yu entered the classroom, he noticed something was different from usual.

Normally, the vast majority of students at Songyang High School focused every day on their own studies and cultivation. They rarely paid attention to the other ordinary students in their class.

Even two classmates might go months without speaking a single word to each other.

Just like how no one ever paid attention to Zhang Yu when he entered the classroom each day.

Only someone like Zhao Tianxing would wonder every day he entered the classroom whether his classmates were looking at him.

But today was different. Zhang Yu could clearly sense that after he entered the classroom, students kept secretly glancing at him.

As soon as Zhang Yu sat down, Zhou Tianyi patted him on the shoulder and said, "Word's gotten around the class that a Golden Core True Person took you as a disciple."

"It seems those people who went to the exhibition with Qian Shen mentioned it in the group chat."

Everyone knew that schools were among the places where rumors spread fastest in the world. Songyang High School was a Key High School, where cultivation pressure was intense, there were many youths who had undergone sterilization, and everyone had a phone—so rumors spread even faster.

Forget text messages. Even photos of Zhang Yu wearing his security guard uniform yesterday had already spread through the group chats.

Zhang Yu let out a chuckle.

"They've started spreading my legends around the class? Truly the Songyang speed. Then let them keep spreading them."

In these days when everyone was forced into bitter cultivation, feeling others' attention and discussions behind his back over his outstanding performance was one of Zhang Yu's rare pleasures.

But then he curled his lip as he thought of a problem. Yesterday, Li Xuelian had secretly called him into the small meeting room to tell him about his rejection.

As a result, many of those present did not know that he had actually been rejected by the Golden Core True Person. They still thought, as Li Xuelian had said onstage, that the Golden Core True Person was going to take him as a disciple.

"If I run up to the podium to clarify it now, that would seem pretty stupid too."

"Forget it. Let them spread it however they want. They'll probably forget about it after a while."

Zhang Yu closed his eyes and resumed circulating the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method, breathing in Spiritual Energy.

His classmates' discussions were only a passing amusement.

Just as he had planned before, his main goal now was still to raise his Magical Power with all his strength and prepare for the citywide Magic Competition.

But Zhang Yu had barely circulated his breath a few times before Homeroom Teacher Su Haifeng called him out.

The last time Su Haifeng had called Zhang Yu over for a talk was on Zhang Yu's third day in this world.

Back then, he still did not understand Songyang High School or its teachers deeply enough.

He had even initially mistaken Su Haifeng for a good teacher who cared about impoverished students.

But at this very moment outside the classroom, as Zhang Yu followed behind Su Haifeng, he could feel the terrifying pressure radiating from this Demonstration Class Homeroom Teacher and grade director.

Wherever Su Haifeng passed, the classrooms instantly fell silent, and countless students trembled. Qian Shen did not dare move at all, diligently circulating his breath.

Zhao Tianxing, who had just stood up to go to the bathroom, hurriedly sat back down and picked up a book to read.

Even Bai Zhenzhen sat ramrod straight like an elementary school student, staring intently at the textbook before her.

At that moment, everyone's nerves were drawn taut, hoping only that Su Haifeng's gaze would not fall upon them.

This was Su Haifeng, Songyang High School's first-year grade director—the bastard in the hearts of countless Songyang students, and the author of the educational research paper <On the Prospects of Applying Electric Shocks in High School Education>. Even a dog passing by him would have to read a few pages of a book.

Zhang Yu followed Su Haifeng's learning domain all the way into the office, watching the demon king smile at him and say, "I heard Spark True Person wants to take you as a disciple?"

Zhang Yu had no intention of deceiving the school by claiming he had become a Golden Core disciple. A lie about whether he had been accepted as a disciple would be easily exposed, and then he would only put himself in a passive position.

So he stated the truth. "No. I thought Spark True Person's terms were still a little lacking, so I turned him down."

Su Haifeng's mouth twitched.

Zhang Yu's family had always been poor. He had not given Su Haifeng a gift even once in the three months since school started, and now that he had finally gained a little limelight, he was actually putting on airs.

"Is it because of the contract... that you're trying to raise your price?"

Sure enough, these poor ghosts were so easily inflated.

If that was the case, Su Haifeng felt that the contract later might not be so easy to sign.

"Mm." After pondering for a moment, he took out a document and said, "The school already knows about your performance at the Central Building exhibition."

"Although your grades have declined recently, you were criticized by the Sports Teacher, you have not been proactive about buying medicine, and the debt collection company even called me, the school still cherishes talent and has decided to provide you with some assistance."

Zhang Yu narrowed his eyes.

Worthy of Songyang High School's publicly acknowledged bastard. The moment he opened his mouth, it was straight into the old PUA routine.

Thinking of what Bai Zhenzhen had told him about the contract, Zhang Yu guessed this was probably groundwork for negotiating the terms to come.

And just as he had expected, Su Haifeng placed the document before him and continued, "The school has prepared a student aid contract for you. The terms are much better than the previous Financially Disadvantaged Student Subsidy Program. Take a look and see if there are any issues."

Zhang Yu accepted it and scanned it. He found that after signing the contract, the school would transfer 10,000 yuan to him every month. But the money had to be repaid, though the interest was much lower than a loan.

Besides that, it required that whether or not he got into university in the end, he had to work for ten years at a company under the school's education group.

Songyang High School was a high school under Wanxing Education Group, while Wanxing Education Group was under the Myriad Laws Sect, one of the ten great sects.

In other words, after signing this contract, Zhang Yu would have to work for Wanxing Education Group for ten years in the future.

Besides This, during the university application process, Songyang High School had the right to decide which university and which Specialization its students applied for.

"Ten thousand yuan a month, and you want me to sign this kind of contract selling myself away?"

Even without seeing other students' contracts, Zhang Yu could tell that this contract looked down on him a little too much.

Zhang Yu put down the document and frowned. "Teacher, the treatment is far too low, isn't it? I make 800 yuan an hour as a security guard at Central Building."

"Can temporary work last forever?" Su Haifeng first dismissed it, then shifted the topic. "I know the terms of this contract are indeed a little low, but the school leadership naturally has its reasons for doing so."

"After all, what exactly did the Heavenly Human Martial Arts Diagram assessment at the exhibition test? What were its selection criteria? What were the exact qualities of all the candidates? The school has no firsthand information, so it has no way to judge personally. What is more, you did not successfully cultivate the Martial Arts within it in the end."

"On the contrary, your grades this month have declined noticeably."

"School is ultimately a place that values grades. The six-subject, 700-point evaluation system is certainly more Immortal Dao, more reasonable, and more valued by the school board. The contract process cannot escape that either..."

Zhang Yu frowned even more deeply, because Su Haifeng's words were not without reason.

At Songyang High School, academic scores were ultimately still the highest priority.

After all, aside from Zhang Yu, no one at the school knew the specific difficulty or power of the Heavenly Martial Heart Refinement Art, much less that this Martial Arts required a Level 3 Dao Heart.

And Zhang Yu had no right to distribute the Heavenly Martial Heart Refinement Art, nor did anyone vouch for him and make people believe his claims about it.

Zhang Yu said, "There's no way I'll accept this contract."

Su Haifeng smiled faintly, thinking, So he wants a higher price?

He said calmly, "Don't be anxious. I am your Homeroom Teacher, after all. I can help you fight for a little more."

Zhang Yu said, "Can it be as high as the terms you offered Bai Zhenzhen?"

Rather than answer directly, Su Haifeng laughed first, though the meaning behind that laughter was self-evident.

Then he said, "I'm not responsible for Bai Zhenzhen's contract, but I can give you an answer. Bai Zhenzhen is first in the grade with 650 points. How many points do you have?"

Zhang Yu said, "So long as I become first in the grade, can we discuss anything?"

Looking at Zhang Yu's serious face, Su Haifeng smiled and put away the contract. "How much you can score depends on your own ability."

"Contracts mainly depend on grades. There can be some flexibility in the details, but overall, there are only four levels: A, B, C, and D."

"The Monthly Exam is in two weeks. If you are dissatisfied with a Level D contract, we can continue talking after your next Monthly Exam results come out."