You Really Don't Understand, Do You?

Cultivation resources in the Source Realm were limited.

This was especially true for humanity.

The high-level secret realms and rare resource gathering sites within human territory were basically all firmly controlled by forces large and small.

If professionals did not join a faction and become one of its members, they would never receive the resources needed for cultivation.

No matter how high their talent was,

they would have no chance to grow at all.

This was also why Jiang Chuan, despite having the strength to flip the table, still had to negotiate with Lu Qingshan and the others over the allocation of admission slots.

As one of the Federation's three highest institutions, Stellar Crown Academy possessed the most precious resources and a complete system for training professionals.

Therefore,

this was not merely an admission slot.

It also concerned whether Jiang Chuan could obtain the Federation's finest cultivation resources.

The negotiations went smoothly.

As they parted, Zhou Yuan handed him a set of keys. "This is one of my vacant residences in the city. If Mr. Jiang does not mind, he may use it as a temporary place to stay."

Jiang Chuan did not refuse.

The residence was located in the busiest area of Tianyuan City. It was a spacious flat with a view overlooking Tianyuan's entire nighttime skyline.

Its decor was luxurious, and it was fully equipped with everything one could need, especially the bed in the master bedroom.

It was huge and soft.

The moment he lay down, it felt as though his whole body had been wrapped in clouds, and all his exhaustion instantly melted away.

As Jiang Chuan rolled around on the bed, he suddenly caught sight of Ling Aoshuang from the corner of his eye.

"Uh..."

Jiang Chuan's brain crashed for a moment.

He had acted decisively during the tournament, but only afterward did he realize that he had not considered how to arrange Ling Aoshuang's future.

Treat her like Xu Yinyin?

That would not do.

After all, Ling Aoshuang's circumstances were different from Xu Yinyin's.

He had made a move against Xu Yinyin because she knew too many of his secrets. Their relationship was also purely that of master and servant, without the slightest trace of any other emotion.

But Ling Aoshuang...

The very thought of that scene filled Jiang Chuan with guilt.

After thinking it over,

Jiang Chuan felt

that Ling Aoshuang should still be given the right to choose.

He immediately explained the effects of the Emperor's Oath and the entire sequence of events. "That's what happened. If you want freedom, I can dissolve the contract at any time."

Not even a trace of confusion appeared in Ling Aoshuang's eyes. She gently shook her head, her cold tone speaking words that set one's heart racing.

"It's nice being with you."

"Of course!"

A small head suddenly popped up behind her. At some point, Xu Yinyin had sneaked in. With a grin, she said, "Master's strength is invincible, and his future potential is even just a tiny bit more amazing than invincible! So many people want to follow Master but do not even qualify!"

"How did you get in here?"

Jiang Chuan stared at her in astonishment.

Ling Aoshuang, meanwhile, was particularly focused on Xu Yinyin's form of address. "M-Master?"

"Oops, I accidentally let it slip."

Xu Yinyin stuck out her tongue playfully.

Yet the ambiguous smile on her face clearly said that she had done it on purpose.

Sure enough, she then leaned close to Ling Aoshuang's ear and coaxed, "We're both servants bound by Master's oath, so of course we have to call him Master. Not only do we call him Master normally, we also have to be ready at any time to..."

Jiang Chuan's face darkened as he hurriedly interrupted, "Don't spout nonsense!"

"Yes, Master~"

Xu Yinyin answered in a saccharine voice.

Ling Aoshuang's gaze was blank, yet there was a clear innocence in that blankness. "Ready at any time for what?"

Xu Yinyin looked her over in surprise, then giggled foolishly. "You really don't understand at all! It's fine, Master understands very well~ He can teach you slowly in the future~"

Seeing the conversation veering further and further off course and about to become too explicit, Jiang Chuan quickly said, "Aoshuang, we'll be heading to Stellar Crown Academy soon. Is there anything else you need to take care of in the real world?"

At those words, Ling Aoshuang's expression gradually changed, revealing a faint chill.

"Yes."

Jiang Chuan keenly noticed the shift in her mood. "If you run into any trouble, contact me anytime. Do not try to bear it alone."

"Alright."

Ling Aoshuang nodded. Her expression suddenly became somewhat hesitant, then she added, "...Master."

Hiss...!

"Alright."

Ling Aoshuang nodded. Her expression suddenly became somewhat hesitant, then she added, "...Master."

Hiss—!

Affected by the oath, Ling Aoshuang did not think there was anything inappropriate about those words. Yet Jiang Chuan felt as if an electric current had instantly run through his entire body.

Coming from her cold, breathtakingly beautiful face, those two words were simply impossible for any man to resist.

She logged off.

Jiang Chuan immediately pressed Xu Yinyin down onto the bed.

Panting heavily, he said, "You're not allowed to teach Aoshuang that kind of nonsense anymore. My feelings for her are very pure!"

"Hehe."

Xu Yinyin directly exposed his little guilty thoughts. "If Master really could bear to let her leave, why didn't you dissolve the oath first and then let her choose? Isn't that just... ah... covering your ears while stealing a bell..."

Old Town.

Inside an aging apartment building.

Ling Aoshuang had not returned to this home in a long time, ever since she had been forced to sign a contract with the Darkmoon Battle Group.

As her biological father, bound to her by blood, that had been the last debt she helped him repay.

Now,

she and the people in this household had completely settled all accounts.

However, after joining the battle group, she had unexpectedly learned a few more things. That was why she had to return once more.

When she reached the corner of the fourth floor, she stopped before a door.

The door was unlocked.

The television in the living room was loudly playing a late-night shopping program.

On the sofa, a naked man and woman clung to each other, writhing incessantly like two maggots. Yet Ling Aoshuang's first glance was not directed at them, but at the portrait of her mother placed atop a cabinet.

Her mother wore a gentle smile in the photograph.

That was how she had looked twenty years ago.

When the picture had been taken, she had not yet known what sort of man she would marry.

The two people in the throes of passion finally noticed something was wrong.

The woman screamed and grabbed some clothes to cover herself.

The man frantically snatched up a crumpled shirt to cover his lower body. Once he saw Ling Aoshuang's face, however, his panic turned to rage.

"Y-You... why the hell are you back?!"

His expression suddenly changed, and he hurriedly asked, "Did you do something wrong and anger the Chen family patriarch?! Damn it! I knew you were a troublesome little bitch!"

Ling Aoshuang did not answer. An icy blue glow slowly gathered in her hand as she asked, "How much did the Darkmoon Battle Group pay you?"

"W-What money?"

The man's tone faltered, but his attitude remained tough. "Fine! You awakened, and now you think you've grown wings? You dare lay a hand on me? I'm your biological father! Try hitting me if you dare!"

Pfft!!

An ice spike violently pierced through his chest. Before his blood could even spurt out, it was frozen by the boundless cold.

He raised his head in disbelief. The last thing he saw was Ling Aoshuang's icy eyes.

"Y-You actually dare..."

"You deserve to die!"

Then,

the frost that erupted with a thunderous boom swallowed the entire room.