"All right. I'll suppress my strength as much as possible and keep only one authority when I fight you. Will that do?"
Hearing Neuvillette's somewhat conciliatory words, Chen Zhou smiled faintly.
But once he entered the dream, he regretted it.
At first, as he looked at Neuvillette holding a scepter, Chen Zhou hadn't realized how serious things were.
But when a faint smile appeared on Neuvillette's stern face, Chen Zhou realized he had to run.
Unfortunately, it was already too late. Before he could even turn around, Neuvillette's scepter had rung out.
They began fighting in close quarters. In less than three seconds, Chen Zhou was killed outright.
Then it was three seconds, and another three seconds after that; three seconds stretching on without end...
By the time Chen Zhou sat up again, his face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.
Neuvillette had killed him more than a hundred times.
The only reason he'd been killed just over a hundred times was that his practical combat skills had improved rapidly, or rather, he'd begun imitating Neuvillette.
At first, he'd been doomed to die in three seconds. Then he lasted five, and eventually his survival time stretched to ten, even twenty seconds.
But that was as far as it went. Chen Zhou was now as resolute as iron.
Next time, even if they killed him, he absolutely wouldn't enter that dream training again.
Although after being killed more than a hundred times, Chen Zhou could clearly feel that his practical combat skills had improved a great deal,
that pain was no joke.
Grimacing, Chen Zhou walked out. It was already evening.
Na'er and the others had finished dinner by then. Seeing how soundly he'd been sleeping, they hadn't woken him.
Chen Zhou didn't mind. He simply ordered a late-night snack and sat down.
As he ate, he reviewed the day's battle.
Overall, he was quite satisfied with his fight against Neuvillette.
After all, Neuvillette was very skilled in actual combat. With him as a teacher, Chen Zhou wouldn't have to worry about his fighting techniques.
And with the authority Neuvillette had bestowed upon him, his progress would be rapid.
Chen Zhou thought as he waited for his food.
But as he waited, a wave of exhaustion washed over him. His mental energy had been completely depleted, and he slumped onto the table and fell asleep again.
About five minutes later, a servant came up carrying his food.
Seeing Chen Zhou asleep, the servant paused in surprise.
He quietly set the food aside, then turned and went to find Su Xin.
By the time Chen Zhou woke up, it was already the next morning.
Seeing the familiar surroundings and realizing he was lying in bed, Chen Zhou yawned.
He guessed that he'd fallen asleep, and that a servant or someone else must have carried him back afterward.
After tidying himself up, Chen Zhou took a shower. As soon as he stepped outside, he saw Na'er, already dressed and ready.
The two went to the dining hall together. After Na'er had eaten her fill, they held hands and headed to school.
As an elementary school, it was closed on Saturdays and Sundays, so Friday was their last day of classes for the week.
This time, they had barely been in the classroom for a few minutes when Teacher Yue's voice rang out. "Chen Zhou, come out for a moment. Someone's here to see you."
Hearing Teacher Yue, Chen Zhou was a little confused. He had no idea who was looking for him.
Still, he quickly went outside.
The moment he stepped out, he saw Xie Xie standing there, with the old butler beside him.
As soon as Xie Xie saw Chen Zhou, he dropped to both knees, trying to kowtow to him.
The sight startled Chen Zhou, but Teacher Yue reacted just as quickly.
She immediately caught Xie Xie by both arms, stopping him from kneeling.
Chen Zhou stepped forward at once and looked at Xie Xie in confusion. "Xie Xie, what are you doing?"
"We have no grudge between us. Why are you kneeling to me?"
"I want to thank you for saving my mother."
"If it weren't for you, my mother might have died these past few days."
"The doctor said your life force helped with my mother's injuries, so I wanted to ask you—please, keep providing her with that life energy."
Xie Xie's voice was hoarse, and Chen Zhou paused in surprise.
He turned his head and saw the old butler standing nearby, studying him as well.
After returning home last night, Xie Xie and the old butler had both been startled by the doctor's findings.
After all, Xie Xie's mother's illness stemmed from a severe condition, one that ordinary life energy couldn't cure.
According to the diagnoses given by several powerful healing-type Soul Masters whom Xie Xie's father had consulted,
only Her Excellency Ya Li of Shrek Academy and the Golden Ancient Tree might be able to save Xie Xie's mother with their life force.
But the problem was that Ya Li was the vice pavilion master of the Shrek Sea God Pavilion, and one of the most exalted women in the world.
Although the Xie Family was a prominent family in Eastsea City, compared with Shrek Academy, they were as insignificant as dust.
There was no way Ya Li would come out to save Xie Xie's mother.
Xie Xie hadn't known any of this before. He only learned about it after Chen Zhou's life force had helped ease his mother's condition.
That was when the old butler called Xie Xie's father and informed him, and Xie Xie learned the truth.
Looking at Xie Xie, Chen Zhou wore an expression of helplessness.
He stepped forward and gently helped Xie Xie up. "Of course. That won't be a problem. I can go over tonight and provide your mother with life energy."
"But..."
As he spoke, Chen Zhou calmly turned his gaze toward the old butler.
He looked the old butler straight in the eye, his own gaze cold. "For every time I provide life force, I'll need a thousand-year-old spirit herb."
"That isn't too much to ask, is it?"
Xie Xie didn't object to Chen Zhou's words.
At the thought that his mother could be saved, he wiped away his tears and thanked Chen Zhou. "Of course not. Thank you, Brother Chen Zhou."
"You're my own brother from now on. If there's anything I can do for you, I won't hesitate."
As he spoke, Xie Xie stood up, delight written across his face.
But the old butler beside him looked grim. He wanted to say something, but when his gaze met Chen Zhou's, he inexplicably felt a pang of unease.
The reason Xie Xie had been sent here was that he was easier to deal with.
They'd thought they could have Xie Xie ask the child for help, then settle the debt of gratitude by offering him some candy and snacks.
But if the Xie Family head or the old butler came in person to negotiate, they'd have to deal with the people behind Chen Zhou.
In that case, who knew what price they might have to pay?
The Xie Family head and the old butler had already discussed it. They'd assumed that as long as Xie Xie asked, a six-year-old child would surely agree.
But they hadn't expected Chen Zhou to make such a demand.
The condition Chen Zhou had set was within their means. Still, being able to give nothing in return would naturally have been best.
But now, under Chen Zhou's calm gaze, the old butler couldn't utter a single word.