Apprenticeship

"I still have to keep working hard..."

Xu Ai walked out of her room helplessly.

Although she had unlocked Empress Ruthless as a clone cheat, it didn't actually help Xu Ai herself at all.

There was nothing she could do. She was only an intermediate-level student, and could improve her physical fitness only through exercise. It was a gradual process, and even Empress Ruthless couldn't help with that.

After all, Empress Ruthless hadn't manifested with any rare treasures...

"Morning, Ai."

A clear, pleasant voice rang out. A girl with a ponytail had just stepped out of her room, too, and was waving at Xu Ai.

"Good morning, Sis."

Xu Ai smiled back.

The girl was Xu Ai's cousin, Xu Xin, the eldest daughter of the Xu Family.

The Xu Family had a pretty harmonious atmosphere, unlike other prominent families, where people schemed against one another. Xu Ai and Xu Xin got along quite well.

After all, their fathers were brothers. Xu Xin's father was the eldest, while Xu Ai's father was the third.

"Let me tell you a secret: War God Ruthless is coming over later. Hurry up and get yourself ready. Don't leave her with a bad impression."

Xu Xin tugged Xu Ai close and whispered in her ear.

Empress Ruthless was peerlessly graceful, and an exceptionally young Invincible War God. She was very famous among the younger generation, and almost every girl admired her.

Xu Xin was no exception. Empress Ruthless was her idol!

Xu Ai already knew Empress Ruthless was coming over. After all, Empress Ruthless was Xu Ai herself. She was coming over—how could she possibly not know!?

Seeing how excited Xu Xin was, Xu Ai thought it over. She decided she might as well do as the locals did and admire herself—no, admire Empress Ruthless, too.

Xu Ai immediately put on an excited look...

"Then, how about we change into our training clothes?"

Xu Ai said confidently.

"We'll exercise in them. When Ruthless... War God sees us working so hard, she'll definitely get a good impression of us."

"That makes sense!"

Xu Xin nodded, but as soon as she finished speaking, she realized what Xu Ai meant.

"It's settled!"

Xu Ai didn't give Xu Xin a chance to change her mind and hurriedly cut her off.

Whenever she thought about exercising, Xu Xin wanted to back out. This wasn't the first time, either.

There was no helping it. Xu Xin didn't have much potential as a Martial Artist, and she didn't want to pursue that path in the first place.

If her family hadn't forced her, she probably wouldn't even meet the standards for a beginner-level student now.

"W-wait..."

"Don't wait. Come on!"

Xu Ai skillfully interrupted Xu Xin before she could finish speaking, then hurriedly pushed her into her room.

As a side note, Xu Ai was one of the people who cajoled and bullied Xu Xin into exercising!

"I've been here in my memories, but this is really my first time..."

Wearing a Ghost Face Mask, Empress Ruthless stood at the entrance to the Xu Family's main compound.

After all, memories were one thing, but neither Xu Ai nor Empress Ruthless had been in Swallowed Star for very long.

The Xu Family's main compound stood on the busiest commercial street in Yangzhou City. It was a residential complex, nearly as large as Mingyue Residential Quarter. A flower bed lay opposite the entrance, with four buildings behind it.

The first building on the left was the student building, where Xu Family children and the descendants of HR Alliance Martial Artists trained.

The second was the office building, where the complex's daily affairs were handled.

The third was the research building, home to the Xu Family's research teams.

The fourth was the Martial Artist Building, reserved for HR Alliance Martial Artists to train.

Behind the four buildings was a small park, with woods, a pond, and various lightweight exercise facilities. The residential area lay beyond it, where many Martial Artists' families lived.

The Xu Family Old Residence stood at the center of the residential area.

As soon as Empress Ruthless appeared, Xu Yunguo, who was waiting at the entrance, came forward with his eldest son, Xu Qing, his daughter, Xu Yan, and his eldest grandson, Xu Gang.

"Xiao Ren, it's been a long time."

The first to speak wasn't Xu Yunguo, but his daughter, Xu Yan.

Xiao Ren was Empress Ruthless's name in Swallowed Star: Heng Ren. It was a strange name, but there was no denying that it was also the origin of her title, Ruthless.

Empress Ruthless gave Xu Yan a cool glance and nodded.

"It's been a long time."

The reason Empress Ruthless had become an honored guest of the Xu Family was that Xu Yan had helped her, by chance, when she was young.

After Empress Ruthless became a Martial Artist, Xu Yan had invested in her several times. That was how the Xu Family gained an Invincible War God as an honored guest.

After Xu Yan broke the ice, Xu Yunguo made an inviting gesture and said simply, "Miss Heng Ren, please come in."

"Mm."

Empress Ruthless nodded and headed straight for the residential area inside the compound.

Xu Yan and Xu Yunguo followed, one on either side of her.

Xu Qing and Xu Gang followed behind them.

"Xiao Ren, how has your cultivation been going lately? Would you like us to buy you a session in the Ancient Civilization Gravity Chamber through the military?"

"My cultivation's going well. No need."

"Ah, at your level, there's not much in the way of cultivation resources we can provide. But if you need anything, be sure to tell us. The Xu Family may not have much else, but we do have money."

"Okay."

Xu Yan and Empress Ruthless chatted as they walked, while the others followed quietly.

Xu Yunguo walked beside Empress Ruthless, just as quietly. There was no helping it. After trying to force awkward conversations with her several times and getting little response, he had come to understand her temperament.

Empress Ruthless was aloof, and the only person in the Xu Family she treated with any particular regard was Xu Yan.

As they headed toward the Xu Family Old Residence, elsewhere...

"Xiao Ai, I can't go on. Help me..."

Waaah _(′_`"∠)_ I shouldn't have listened to my little sister. She really did set me up...

"Aw, Sis, Little Auntie texted to say War God Ruthless has arrived. You wouldn't want her to see you like this, would you?"

Xu Ai supported Xu Xin. She had meant to say something encouraging, but by the end, she couldn't help feeling that something sounded off...

Still, it worked to some extent. Xu Xin rallied and managed to straighten up with Xu Ai's support.

"That's right. I can't let my idol see me like this!"

"Exactly! Maybe if War God Ruthless sees how hard you're working, Sis, she'll take you as her disciple."

Xu Ai smiled. Seeing Xu Xin get excited, she suddenly wondered if this idea might help her along the Martial Artist path...

The two supported each other as they wearily made their way toward the entrance to the old residence.

Sigh, there was no helping it. Xu Ai had overdone it with the exercise, too, and was exhausted...

They had just arrived when they ran straight into a group of five walking in.

"What's going on with you two?"

Xu Yunguo was the one who asked. They had an honored guest present, and Xu Xin and Xu Ai looked utterly embarrassing.

"Hurry up and get back inside!"

"Wait..."

Empress Ruthless stopped Xu Yunguo and met Xu Ai's gaze.

Xu Yunguo looked at Empress Ruthless in confusion.

"Working hard at your training is a good thing. How long have you two been exercising?"

Xu Yunguo and the others all looked at Empress Ruthless in surprise.

This was the first time they'd ever heard her say so much.

"About an hour."

Xu Ai answered.

"An hour!?"

Xu Yan was a little surprised, and her eyes couldn't help turning toward Xu Xin.

To be exhausted after just an hour meant they must have trained at an extremely high intensity!

It was normal for Xu Ai to be like this, but it was rare for Xu Xin to get so tired.

"I've been working hard, too, you know..."

Xu Xin still wanted to save face in front of her idol.

"Oh, good."

Empress Ruthless nodded and looked at Xu Xin and Xu Ai.

"I'd like to take you two as my disciples. What do you think?"

"Take you as disciples!?"

Xu Yunguo, Xu Yan, Xu Qing, Xu Gang, and Xu Xin were all astonished.

Xu Ai had no choice but to put on a surprised expression, too...

"Mm. I think you two have potential, and I'd like to help you develop it."

"Of course! That's wonderful!"

Xu Yunguo's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly agreed.

Though Empress Ruthless was an honored guest of the Xu Family, in truth, their relationship rested entirely on Xu Yan's kindness to her.

They didn't dare ask Empress Ruthless for help. After all, she owed them a favor, and that favor would eventually run out.

Their relationship was on shaky ground, especially since the Xu Family had little to offer that could benefit Empress Ruthless in return.

Empress Ruthless didn't even live in the villa the Xu Family had provided for her!

Now that they had a chance to strengthen their relationship, Xu Yunguo was a million times in favor of it!

Though he was delighted, Xu Yunguo remembered to keep his composure.

"Ahem. Xu Xin, Xu Ai, are you willing to take War God Ruthless as your master?"

"Of course!"

Xu Ai hadn't even said anything yet, but Xu Xin had already recovered enough to nod enthusiastically.

Xu Ai smiled to herself, then also agreed with an excited expression.

"I'm willing, too!"

"Good."

Empress Ruthless nodded, then looked at Xu Yan.

Xu Yan, their translator, immediately understood and waved to Xu Ai and Xu Xin.

"Go take a shower and change into clean clothes before you come back."

"Okay..."

Xu Ai nodded, feeling a little surprised.

She hadn't expected her Little Auntie to actually understand what Empress Ruthless meant from just a look. She was amazing.

Thinking this, Xu Ai helped Xu Xin away.