I Need Money

Zhong Shenxiu raised his head, his golden vertical pupils calmly meeting Wu Zhangkong's gaze.

"Teacher Wu," he said, "I need money."

Three words.

Plain, direct, without any embellishment.

Wu Zhangkong fell silent.

He recalled the file Long Hengxu had mentioned: Zhong Shenxiu, orphan, parents unknown, raised in the Dongshan City welfare home since childhood. The ten thousand Federal Coins in enrollment aid were all he possessed.

He recalled the confinement incident three days ago, which had begun with the theft of those ten thousand Federal Coins.

He recalled that after Zhong Shenxiu sent Xie Xie flying with a single punch during combat class, the first thing he did was not accept everyone's astonishment, but walk to the edge of the field and close his eyes to regulate his breathing—because he had expended a considerable amount of Soul Power, and another battle awaited him.

He recalled what he himself had been like when he was young.

That boy who had come from a small northern town, whose parents had died early, who had no background and no resources, possessing only the inherited Sky Frost Sword martial soul. He had cultivated desperately, fought desperately, and desperately seized every opportunity to become stronger.

Because he knew no one would bear his burdens for him.

Because he knew this world had never been gentle toward the weak.

Wu Zhangkong looked at the nine-year-old child before him, at his sharply defined face, at his pale golden vertical pupils, at the slender figure standing straight and tall.

Suddenly, there were many questions that no longer needed asking.

"The Academic Affairs Office is on the east side of the first floor."

Wu Zhangkong spoke, his voice as cold as ever. "Director Long Hengxu should be in his office at this time."

"Okay." Zhong Shenxiu nodded.

He turned and headed toward the Academic Affairs Office.

After taking a few steps, Wu Zhangkong's voice came from behind him.

"A studio costs three thousand Federal Coins a year to rent."

Wu Zhangkong said, "If your application is approved, you can owe the fee for now. I'll speak to Director Long."

Zhong Shenxiu paused.

He did not turn around.

"Thank you, Teacher Wu."

His voice was soft and calm.

Then he continued onward.

Wu Zhangkong watched his back disappear around the end of the corridor, withdrew his gaze, and turned toward the training ground.

The corridor became quiet again.

Sunlight slanted in through the windows, spreading a warm golden glow across the floor.

Academic Affairs Office.

Long Hengxu was sorting through the new student files. When he saw Zhong Shenxiu knock and enter, he put down the file in his hand, somewhat surprised.

"Zhong Shenxiu?" Long Hengxu adjusted his glasses. "Your confinement only ended a few days ago. Did you cause trouble again?"

"No."

Zhong Shenxiu stood before the desk, posture straight. "Director Long, I would like to apply for a student studio."

Long Hengxu raised an eyebrow. "A studio? You want to make Soul Tools?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I need money."

Long Hengxu froze for a moment, then laughed.

That answer was simple, direct, and impossible to refute.

He leaned back in his chair and studied the child before him.

Three days ago, he had beaten Lin Xuan so badly that even Lin Xuan's own father would not have recognized him. Three days later, he stood in the Academic Affairs Office and seriously declared that he needed money.

The contrast was so great that Long Hengxu did not know what to say.

"Do you know what a student studio is for?" Long Hengxu asked.

"I do."

Zhong Shenxiu replied, "It provides students with an independent space for making Soul Tools, developing soul skills, and conducting experiments. They range from ten to thirty square meters and come equipped with a basic workbench and Soul Power interface. Rent starts at three thousand Federal Coins per year."

Long Hengxu froze again.

This child... had done his homework.

"Teacher Wu sent me," Zhong Shenxiu added. "He said I could owe the rent for now."

Long Hengxu was silent for several seconds.

He knew Zhong Shenxiu's family circumstances, and he knew the child was not lying.

Ten thousand Federal Coins were all his assets. Soul Masters with dragon-type martial souls rarely lacked talent.

But likewise, Soul Masters with dragon-type martial souls had been notorious money pits since ancient times. The free lunches and dinners provided by Federation regulations were nowhere near enough to fill the stomach of such a Soul Master.

"You can apply for a studio."

Long Hengxu took out a form from the drawer. "But I need to remind you that making Soul Tools is not simple. Many students lose interest after three minutes, buy a pile of materials, ruin a few arrays, and give up."

He pushed the form toward Zhong Shenxiu. "How long can you stick with it?"

Zhong Shenxiu did not answer immediately.

He lowered his head and looked at the application form, its black print stark against the white paper.

It had fields for name, class, reason for application, and terms of commitment. The final line was for the applicant's signature.

He picked up a pen and wrote "Zhong Shenxiu" in the name field.

In the class field, he wrote "Class 1-5."

He paused for a second at the reason-for-application field, then wrote two words:

"I need money."

Long Hengxu looked at those two words, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

"Couldn't you write something like 'personal interest' or 'developing comprehensive abilities'?" he asked helplessly.

"Needing money is the truth."

Zhong Shenxiu pushed the form back to him. "The truth needs no embellishment."

Long Hengxu took the form and looked at the words "I need money," written with such force they seemed to pierce the paper. Suddenly, he did not know what to say.

He thought of himself when he was younger. Back then, he had been poor too, desperate to make money, and had tried making Soul Tools to sell. He had failed more than a dozen times, lost several hundred Federal Coins, and eventually went back to cultivating honestly.

"Room 207 is vacant."

Long Hengxu stamped the form. "It is ten square meters, and the annual rent is three thousand. Come pay when you have the money."

"Okay."

Zhong Shenxiu accepted the stamped application form and turned to leave.

"Wait."

Long Hengxu called after him.

Zhong Shenxiu turned back.

Long Hengxu took a pale blue card from the drawer and pushed it across the desk.

"This is a borrowing pass for the Primary Soul Guidance Array Library," he said. "With it, you can borrow array books from 4th Floor Zone C. Freshmen normally do not have permission, but you are an exception—Wu Zhangkong specifically requested it."

Zhong Shenxiu looked at the card but did not take it right away.

"He said you need money, but what you lack is not the little profit from Soul Tools."

Long Hengxu relayed Wu Zhangkong's words. "What you lack is the opportunity to grow. Knowledge of arrays is one such opportunity."

Zhong Shenxiu was silent for several seconds.

Then he picked up the card.

"Thank you, Director Long."

"Don't thank me." Long Hengxu waved a hand. "Thank Teacher Wu. He looks cold but has a warm heart; he just doesn't know how to speak."

Zhong Shenxiu nodded, put away the card, and turned to leave.

Watching his retreating back, Long Hengxu suddenly thought of a question.

"Zhong Shenxiu," he called out, "what Soul Tools are you making to sell?"

Zhong Shenxiu stopped at the doorway without turning around.

"Lighting Soul Tools."

"Lighting?"

Long Hengxu was somewhat surprised. "The profit on those is very low. You only make a few dozen per unit."

"As long as it's enough to eat." Zhong Shenxiu said, "I'll take it slowly."

Then he pushed open the door and walked out.

Long Hengxu looked at the closed door and remained speechless for a long time.

"Take it slowly..." he quietly repeated those three words.

A nine-year-old child, poor as a church mouse, yet he was not rushing to make quick money or taking crooked paths. He had simply chosen the most foolish, slowest, but steadiest road.

He suddenly felt a measure of respect for the child.