Roommates

In the blink of an eye, a month had passed. During this short month, the cultivation of all the high-ranking members of the Wudang Sect experienced a qualitative leap, fueled by celestial pills and the bombardment of profound Heavenly Dao. Everyone was immersed in the joy of cultivation. If these old fogeys of Wudang knew what a rocket was, they would surely describe their linear ascent in cultivation speed as riding a rocket. However, the rapid improvement in the cultivation of Wudang disciples had a direct consequence: the thousands of spiritual pills and celestial medicines in Zhang Hupan's Universe Ring were rapidly diminishing. This directly made Zhang Hupan realize the preciousness of these spiritual pills and celestial medicines that he normally wouldn't even glance at, to the point where no matter how much Kuye and the others flattered him, they could no longer hope to get half a spiritual pill or celestial medicine from Zhang Hupan. Of course, Zhang Hupan also had great gains this month, slowly gaining some understanding of current society, though it was still only theoretical knowledge. Song Feng, having tasted the benefits once, was more motivated than ever. He, who had never been a teacher, actually started preparing lessons until late at night, filling three to four notebooks neatly. Of course, the consequence of such diligence was that a large portion of the celestial pills and magical artifacts in Zhang Hupan's Universe Ring flowed into Song Feng's pockets. Therefore, Song Feng was always trembling when he went to the back mountain of Wudang, because an innocent man is guilty if he possesses treasure! The Wudang elders in the back mountain could kill Song Feng thousands of times with their gazes every day. Finally, under Kuye's presidency, a one-nine split distribution plan was decided, and only then did Song Feng escape the "killing gazes" thousands of times daily. Of course, Song Feng received the smaller portion, but even so, he became the richest man in the Wudang Sect, not counting Zhang Hupan, of course.

"Universities are currently the highest halls of education for humanity, concentrating the world's most numerous and outstanding scholars, professors, and scientists. Universities are also places for imparting knowledge and cultivating excellent talents such as doctors, lawyers, and entrepreneurs. The world's earliest university was the University of Bologna, established in medieval Italy. At its inception, the University of Bologna had only one major—law. Later, theology and medicine were successively established. Law represents the highest achievement of the humanities, while medicine represents the highest achievement of the natural sciences. The greatest contribution of legal education at the University of Bologna was the promotion of the revival of Roman law, which in turn promoted the subsequent revival of humanistic thought. Today, the definition of a university's scale has long surpassed that of its time. Universities can now be said to be a microcosm of society; a university is a small-scale social living area..." Song Feng, talking incessantly, began his teaching again.

"So, you're saying that one can learn a lot of worldly knowledge in university and gain a good understanding of worldly culture?" Zhang Hupan's heart couldn't help but flutter a little after hearing Song Feng's introduction to universities.

"You could say that!"

"Then, do you have a way to arrange for me to study at a university?" Zhang Hupan had developed a strong interest in universities. At the same time, he believed that studying at a university could help him better integrate into secular life, as he didn't want the tragedy from the foot of the mountain to happen again!

"There shouldn't be a problem. I can instruct some Wudang disciples working in government departments to make arrangements!" Song Feng agreed without hesitation. It was a joke; if the ancestor requested it, how could he not arrange it? Moreover, many Wudang disciples were in some special government departments, even holding important positions. If he couldn't even handle such a small matter, they might as well be expelled from the sect.

"Then arrange a school for me in Hangzhou!" Zhang Hupan was very happy to hear that there was no problem. After a moment of thought, he decided to make Hangzhou his first stop in the secular world. After all, Zhang Hupan was found by Zhang Sanfeng by the West Lake, and perhaps he could find some clues about his origins there, even if it was highly unlikely. But people always hold onto a sliver of hope, and moreover, Zhang Hupan truly wanted to see his birthplace. Thus, Zhang Hupan decided to study in Hangzhou.

Of course, Zhang Hupan, in his joy, couldn't help but give Song Feng a handful of spiritual pills and celestial medicines, then waved him off to prepare for university matters. The forty to fifty-year-old Song Feng happily scurried off to handle the arrangements. When he reached outside the door, a group of old and young members naturally had to share the spoils! Meanwhile, Zhang Hupan was lost in the fantasy of university life. After all, the pitiful Zhang Hupan, who had lived for a hundred years, had never stepped out of Wudang Mountain. Apart from Zhang Sanfeng and some demonic beasts in the immortal valley, he had never interacted with anyone else. Although, in the eyes of ordinary people, talking about the Heavenly Dao with dozens of old men all day and listening to secular anecdotes would be a dull and terrifying affair, for Zhang Hupan, he had never lived side-by-side with so many people, experiencing such liveliness and joy! Once his century-old stagnant heart was opened, it would surge a hundred to a thousand times more intensely than that of an ordinary person!

September was the time for new students to report, and also the liveliest period for all universities each year. The school gates were filled with senior students holding signs for their colleges and departments, enthusiastically greeting the new juniors. Of course, the gazes of those enthusiastic seniors always fell on the young and beautiful junior girls. It didn't matter if she wasn't from their own college or department; as long as she was beautiful, those seniors were very willing to cross lines to help, and they would even vie to help because the senior boys from their own college wouldn't agree! As for the senior girls, although they didn't openly use such auspicious days to pursue beautiful girls like the senior boys, they were no less enthusiastic. As long as it was a handsome guy, their faces would bloom like spring flowers, and their words would be as sweet as honey, making those young boys and handsome guys completely lose their bearings, with only thoughts of: "Damn, university really lives up to its reputation, so many beautiful girls, and so enthusiastic! These four years will be great!"

While all the colleges in Hangzhou were staging scenes of fiery passion and excitement, Zhejiang XX University, located on Kaixuan Road in Jianggan District, Hangzhou, was naturally also staging this dramatic scene! However, there was an ordinary-looking young man, dressed in unfashionable clothes, carrying a dark blue travel bag, with a buzz cut. He looked like someone who had never seen the world, just emerged from some mountain village. He was standing dumbfounded at the school gate, looking up at the six characters "Zhejiang XX University," muttering, "This is the legendary university! Ah, I'm finally going to university!" The scene was so out of place with his surroundings that everyone cast glances at him that said, "I despise you!" And those beautiful girls, as if avoiding a ghost, stayed far away from this young man who clearly looked like a country bumpkin. Not a single one showed any intention of enthusiastically leading the way.

This unfashionably dressed young man was, of course, our protagonist, Zhang Hupan. Since Song Feng introduced him to university, Zhang Hupan had decided to spend the first few years at university and learn some human knowledge. Before leaving Wudang, Zhang Hupan not only diligently lectured the Wudang elders but also went to the immortal valley to gather a large amount of what he considered weeds. He refined tens of thousands of secondary celestial pills, leaving some for the lower-level disciples of Wudang and hiding some in his Universe Ring for use in the secular world. Ten days before the semester started, Song Feng delivered the admission notice from Zhejiang XX University to Zhang Hupan. The day before Zhang Hupan left Wudang, Song Feng carefully and meticulously explained some of the school's rules and precautions. Then he gave Zhang Hupan a credit card with almost unlimited use, but Zhang Hupan did not accept it. After all, Zhang Hupan felt that he was following his master's orders to temper himself in the secular world, and he had to rely on himself for many things to truly experience the ups and downs of life. However, under Song Feng's earnest persuasion, he reluctantly accepted ten thousand yuan as tuition and reserve funds. Besides the admission notice and money, Song Feng also prepared a certificate of guest consultant for a special government department for Zhang Hupan, while Qingteng stuffed a sect leader's token into Zhang Hupan's hand. Although Zhang Hupan had the highest token of Wudang, that thing was too advanced, and very few people could recognize it. Originally, Zhang Hupan adamantly refused the certificate and token, but after hearing Song Feng's explanation, he happily accepted them. Song Feng said respectfully at the time: "Ancestor, you are a divine being of the Wudang Sect. How would those secular youngsters recognize you? And we cannot reveal your identity. If those youngsters offend you, we would become eternal sinners of Wudang. With these tokens, you can also guide us unworthy Wudang disciples when it's convenient, so as not to shame the Grand Ancestor!" Zhang Hupan thought it made sense, so he accepted them without politeness.

On the day he left, the old men of Wudang were crying earth-shatteringly! Zhang Hupan still felt a lingering fear when he thought about it. After bidding farewell to Wudang, Zhang Hupan got a buzz cut and bought some daily necessities like clothes and shoes. Although he had the Universe Ring, to avoid appearing conspicuous, Zhang Hupan still bought a travel bag and put some daily necessities into it. However, Zhang Hupan, who had never experienced the human world, had no modern aesthetic sense! Merchants nowadays are all as cunning as thieves. The moment they saw Zhang Hupan, this naive young Taoist, they would naturally push all sorts of outdated goods onto him. The poor Zhang Hupan was fleeced without even realizing it, constantly marveling at the kindness, friendliness, and enthusiasm of the people.

Thus, Zhang Hupan put on an outfit that the vendor boasted was the most popular in the world: a ridiculously unfashionable blue shirt, awkward khaki trousers, and a pair of white and red sneakers. To avoid attracting attention, Zhang Hupan restrained his spiritual aura, and his eyes were no longer as clear as a bottomless spring, merely slightly brighter than ordinary people. Believing he had dressed like a secular person, he then bought a train ticket and arrived at Zhejiang XX University in a dusty journey.

"Hey, little brother, what are you standing here daydreaming about? With your look, even if you spit all day, no beautiful girl will come to guide you. Why don't you come register with me!" A fair and plump hand landed on Zhang Hupan's shoulder, and a slightly helpless voice interrupted Zhang Hupan's thoughts.

Zhang Hupan turned his head and saw the owner of that plump hand. He was about 170cm tall and weighed about 170 jin. He had a typical "traitor's haircut," and his small eyes were lost in his basin-like face. If you didn't look closely, you'd hardly find them. However, those small eyes were fixed on the hips of the beautiful girls walking by, occasionally flashing with a light that made one admire the advantages of small eyes – at least they could focus light easily, making things appear more concentrated and clear.

"My name is Zhang Hupan. May I ask your name, brother?" Since someone was so proactively greeting him, even though he was still glancing elsewhere distractedly, Zhang Hupan politely and enthusiastically introduced himself and asked.

Seeing Zhang Hupan's politeness, the fatty had to reluctantly retract his lecherous gaze, swallow, and reply, "My name is Hu Zhiming. I'm a freshman in the Applied Chemistry department. And you?"

"Me too!" Zhang Hupan said happily upon hearing that the fatty was also a freshman in Applied Chemistry. Although this fatty looked lewd and his eyes were even more so, Zhang Hupan was still very happy to meet his first classmate at university.

"Then, buddy, let's go register together!" Hu Zhiming was very happy to hear that Zhang Hupan was his new classmate because Zhang Hupan looked like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world. Someone like Hu Zhiming, who lacked any leadership appearance or demeanor, could only try to win over people like Zhang Hupan. In high school, Hu Zhiming had a classmate who followed his lead, just like Zhang Hupan. Hu Zhiming's father happened to be a businessman with some money, so they each got what they needed. That classmate, while satisfying Hu Zhiming's desire to be a leader, also received some financial support. Unfortunately, he ended up getting admitted to a different school this time.

As for Zhang Hupan, who had never left the mountain gate, although his cultivation was terrifyingly high, he had never experienced the bustling world. In a strange world, he was inevitably a little uneasy. Now that he had met such a self-introducing and enthusiastic classmate, even though his appearance was a bit unsightly, Zhang Hupan was still very happy to hook his arm around Hu Zhiming's chubby shoulder, just like Hu Zhiming. Then, he asked a senior student who looked impatient and was told the registration location, and they headed towards it, arm in arm.

The registration location was at the sports plaza. By the time Zhang Hupan and Hu Zhiming arrived, it was already crowded with people. It wasn't until almost noon that they finished registering and walked towards the dormitory building with their room keys. It must be said that Zhang Hupan and Hu Zhiming really had a connection, as they ended up in the same dormitory, room 203, and even on bunk beds. Hu Zhiming was on the upper bunk, which made the other four classmates in the room sweat for Zhang Hupan.

There were six people living in the dormitory. Apart from Zhang Hupan, the other four were from different parts of Zhejiang. Their names were Zhang Zhipeng, Li Yong, Ma Guojie, and Chen Youmi.

"Fellow students, it's a rare occasion for us to gather together. I'll treat you to lunch!" After getting to know each other, Hu Zhiming discovered that only his family had money in this dormitory, so his small eyes rolled, and he began his financial diplomacy.

"Great!" Since someone was treating, the young men were very willing, and the proposal was unanimously approved. Although Zhang Hupan had long since transcended the mortal world, the harmonious, enthusiastic, and fiery atmosphere made Zhang Hupan feel an unprecedented warmth and closeness, so he joined the group without hesitation. (To be continued)