The Victim's Prying Eyes

"So this made things much clearer." Su Chen nodded to himself.

And the second advancement requirement for [Arcane Apprentice] had also been revealed, though it differed somewhat from Jiang He's description.

[Arcane Apprentice Advancement Requirement Two: Raise the Candleflame Tempering Method to the proficient level.]

Not ten cycles?

Su Chen pondered it instinctively, then suddenly realized that no one else in this world had a way to measure proficiency.

They could only use ten cycles in one minute as the standard.

With that in mind, he asked, "What about the Whispering Trial?"

Jiang He explained, "The Whispering Trial requires you to use the Blood-Drawn Inverted Cross in a sealed room to resist unknown Mental Interference. The longer you last, the better, but you absolutely cannot exceed forty seconds."

Su Chen pondered silently. The details she described differed greatly from the panel's as well. In other words, these people were feeling their way forward too. They had no certainty about what standard was required for a successful class change.

But I know the most perfect method of advancement.

"Are all of these requirements for a perfect advancement?" Su Chen pressed.

"I didn't lie to you." Jiang He spoke sincerely, and combined with her current attire, she seemed even more alluring.

Su Chen noticed Jiang He's face growing increasingly flushed. The potion's effects were probably about to wear off. He raised his guard and asked, "Can we make the blood oath now?"

As he spoke, his gaze remained fixed on Jiang He. If there was any chance she would go back on her word, he would strike decisively.

Jiang He stared at him, sighed, and rose to her feet. "I need your blood."

Su Chen bit his finger, only to see Jiang He bare her chest, revealing a swath of pale skin. "The blood oath diagram needs to be drawn on my chest."

Su Chen gave it a brief look, secretly surprised. He had not examined her closely before, but this woman... truly was a stunner.

Still, he needed to focus on the blood oath first.

Holding Su Chen's finger, Jiang He smeared blood across her chest. Perhaps because the blood served as a base, the touch felt exceptionally smooth.

A moment later, she had outlined a strange symbol the size of an infant's head on her chest.

Jiang He had long since lost any mood for teasing. She looked up at Su Chen, parted her lips, and uttered a string of syllables.

The bloody symbol on her chest seemed to emit a faint, eerie glow. As though imbued with life by some force, it transformed into crimson venomous snakes that swiftly spread across Jiang He's body before vanishing.

"Done."

Having handed over this leverage, Jiang He appeared more relaxed. She sank into the soft leather sofa, her entire body practically embedded in it as she rubbed her brow.

Su Chen also felt something strange. In some indescribable way, he knew Jiang He's life was indeed bound to his.

For the time being, with this thing in place, he and Jiang He should be considered on the same side.

"What was that scandal you mentioned before?"

"Don't push your luck!" Jiang He's eyes widened, her chest heaving as she snapped angrily, "I already made a Blood Oath Contract with you. What more do you want?"

"Just curious. I was only asking." Su Chen answered casually as he looked at her.

"Tomorrow, take the transfer letter to Southwind Academy. I'll take you to handle the paperwork then." Jiang He picked up where she had left off.

She was doing this to keep him under her watch. The Blood Oath Contract was difficult to remove, and she still had to deal with her own assassination attempt. She did not want Su Chen wandering around everywhere.

Of course, there was another reason. Whoever wanted him dead would certainly be curious about what had happened tonight.

Su Chen's public records listed him as nothing more than a drifter. He could serve as bait.

"Fine." Su Chen nodded. This had been the original owner's wish, but it was now his as well. He needed a channel through which to learn more.

A silence settled between them. Each harbored ulterior motives and neither trusted the other, but this was all they could manage for now.

"Then I'll be going." Su Chen said.

"Wait, how are you going back with your clothes torn up like that..." Jiang He suddenly called after him, then said flatly, "Come with me."

She led Su Chen to the walk-in closet and picked out an outfit: a fitted, narrow-cut black wool coat, a gray shirt, and straight black trousers. The size was fairly suitable.

"Your husband's?" Su Chen asked casually. Standing before the full-length mirror, he adjusted the details of his clothing and smoothed down his messy hair.

He touched his cheek. This body was undeniably top-notch; otherwise, Jiang He would not have taken an interest in him.

Especially after becoming a Strongman, his build had filled out as well. With this outfit, he looked rather like a beast in fine clothes.

Jiang He leaned against the side, her head tilted against the mirror and her legs crossed. Her nightgown remained tattered, her gaze resting on Su Chen's face.

Compared with the scrawny little thing from before, whom she had wanted to bully and toy with—

The current Su Chen possessed an entirely different aura, as though he had changed from a puppy into a wolfhound.

"Yes." Jiang He swallowed, her thighs rubbing together, but she turned away and said, "You can go now."

"Mm..." Su Chen hesitated slightly. Jiang He sneered. "Don't get any ideas. I like playing with others, not having others play with me."

"No. Is there anything to eat?" Su Chen shook his head. Perhaps the adrenaline from the fierce battle was gradually fading, because only now did he feel the hunger signals coming from his body—and it was extreme hunger.

Jiang He's expression stiffened slightly.

Clatter—

Another porcelain plate was set aside, and the stack had already risen to half a person's height.

"...The requirements for becoming a Rope Master are simple. You only need a carefully woven rope and several thousand rounds of weaving. That should basically do it."

"A carefully woven rope—does it have to be a first-tier item?" Su Chen could not help asking.

"A first-tier item?" Jiang He sneered. "No need. Decent materials will do. First-tier items are extremely valuable. Even if a Rope Master sold herself, she could not afford one."

She made no effort to hide the contempt in her voice. "A low-tier class like this has no future. You might have a chance to become an Illusionist, and if you're lucky, perhaps a Puppeteer, but that's all."

Su Chen did not stop eating, but the panel had already opened.

[First-tier low-level class discovered—Rope Master. Complete the class-change requirements to take the class.]

[Rope Master Advancement Requirement One: Obtain a carefully woven hemp rope no less than 1.5 meters long.]

[Rope Master Advancement Requirement Two: Complete three thousand bindings, each with no fewer than thirty knots.]

It really was simple.

"There isn't a more powerful class above Puppeteer?" Su Chen asked.

Jiang He emphasized, "It's Puppeteers advanced from Rope Masters who have no future. There should be higher classes beyond Puppeteer, but I don't know about them."

Su Chen's movements paused slightly as he realized there were other secrets behind class advancement sequences.

"Burp—"

Setting down his plate, Su Chen let out a satisfied burp. "Thanks for the meal. See you tomorrow."

He stood, turned without the slightest hesitation, and left the dining room.

"The person who brought you here is still outside."

Bang!

Jiang He's eyes froze as she stared at the shut door, her expression slowly shifting.

A first-tier class user, yet he knew nothing about so much "common sense."

Just what secrets did Su Chen carry?

"An artificial sun?"

Outside the door, Su Chen looked up. A huge grayish-yellow light source hung in the sky, casting dim light that barely illuminated the road.

Sparse bands of light crisscrossed through the air like some sort of tracks.

But the sky above that light source was terrifyingly black, without even the faintest glimmer, much less stars.

"Even an overcast sky wouldn't look like this... Fog, black fog..." Su Chen frowned, thought briefly, and followed the memories in his mind to find the way out of this district.

Blue phosphorescent flames hung from iron poles by the roadside, illuminating patches of the area.

In a darker corner farther away, a pair of pale blue eyes watched Su Chen gradually depart. The voice was filled with surprise before slowly sinking into a murmur. "Not... dead? And he's actually wearing my clothes..."