Behind Him Stood an Expert

"This is what I promised you—the White Jade Flying Serpent Card. It's yours now."

During evening self-study, Sun Yiying called Tang Jian into the office alone and handed him a White Card.

A white-quality, seven-star White Jade Flying Serpent Card.

It was already a fairly precious pet-type support card among white-quality cards.

Its card surface was made from the bones of a white-tailed snake found in the Halas Desert. The card patterns engraved upon it twisted crookedly like snakes darting in every direction, giving off an eerie sort of beauty.

Tang Jian admired it for a while, then smiled and thanked Sun Yiying before accepting the card.

In truth, he would rather have had Sun Yiying simply give him twenty thousand Federal Currency. Even fifteen thousand would do, since that was about the card's value and would save him the trouble of finding a way to sell it.

Although the White Jade Flying Serpent Card was a seven-star card, it was ultimately only a pet-type support card. Its function was to treat and heal injuries.

That function was not especially impressive. While it was necessary for combat card masters, it was entirely unnecessary for Tang Jian, who was currently preparing for the college entrance exam.

Moreover, Tang Jian remembered the crafting methods for many other healing cards, ones that suited him better and were somewhat stronger than the White Jade Flying Serpent Card.

Therefore, he could only sell this card in exchange for resources for his short-term cultivation.

Of course, it would not be appropriate to say that to Sun Yiying. Their relationship had not yet reached the point where they could discard all politeness.

"You earned quite a lot this time: a bottle of Solar Energy Potion, a case of Nutritional Express, a White Jade Flying Serpent Card, ten thousand in cash, and eleven points worth over ten thousand in cash. I'll take you home tonight."

Sun Yiying smiled.

"Why are you being so polite, Teacher? I'm almost not used to it." Tang Jian scratched his head awkwardly, vaguely sensing Sun Yiying's intentions.

Sun Yiying glanced at Tang Jian. "The county has been too chaotic lately. You know that. Those lunatics from the Old Kingdom Organization keep causing trouble, and students as outstanding as you are exactly what interests them. Besides, you're carrying so many resources. If word gets out, someone may very well target you."

Tang Jian pretended to be terrified, his eyes darting about. "Th-then that would be great. Teacher, please take me home tonight."

He felt that he was becoming more and more immersed in his act. He really had a knack for playing dumb.

A flicker passed through Sun Yiying's gaze. "Teacher knows you have some secrets. But everyone has secrets; Teacher has some too. You're my student, so naturally I won't pry into your secrets. However, this is an extraordinary time. The city is in chaos, and experts are needed to stabilize the situation."

Sun Yiying stopped there and stared at Tang Jian, blinking. "Teacher will soon be helping Lord Le and the others clear out the Old Kingdom Organization members in the city. You wouldn't want Teacher to get into an accident, would you?"

Tang Jian understood what Sun Yiying meant.

It seemed that she had truly been deceived by his performance and believed there was an expert behind him.

What she meant now was obvious: she wanted him to pass a message to that expert behind him and ask the expert to lend a hand in dealing with the Old Kingdom Organization lunatics in the city.

But this was quite a wonderful misunderstanding.

Tang Jian knew his own situation best. There really was no expert behind him. He himself could be considered an expert, but having been reborn, he had not yet grown into one. He was still a virgin, and there were many matters where he wanted to help but lacked the ability.

"Teacher, ahem... let's stop speaking in riddles. I actually know what you mean, but my uncle left some time ago. I don't even know where he went. Still, I hope you stay safe, Teacher. Don't let anything happen to you."

At this point, Tang Jian simply laid everything out in the open.

Sun Yiying had treated him very well, and she was his teacher. Since such a wonderful misunderstanding had arisen, he naturally would not expose one that he himself had created.

But the expert behind him needed to disappear at the right time. He could not keep playing with fire.

"Your uncle? He already left?" Sun Yiying was taken aback.

Tang Jian's bluntness surprised her greatly.

The expert's departure also made her somewhat suspicious.

But she quickly dismissed that suspicion. She could not find any reason for Tang Jian to deceive her, unless that expert did not exist at all.

Yet that seemed unlikely as well. Tang Jian's progress was obvious to everyone. Without someone guiding him, how could a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old young man improve so much just by figuring things out on his own?

Furthermore, she had secretly observed and followed Tang Jian recently, hoping to make contact with the person behind him. However, she had never seen anyone appear, which also matched Tang Jian's explanation: that expert might indeed have already left.

Sun Yiying felt somewhat disappointed.

The situation in the city was not very good now.

The police had already confirmed some information and found one of the Old Kingdom Organization members' hideouts. But taking action carried great risks and required experts, which was why she had been so eager to find the person behind Tang Jian.

Still, this was ultimately a matter between her and a student, and she had not reported the situation. Since she could not find the person, Sun Yiying could only let it go.

In the end, Sun Yiying still drove Tang Jian home.

He had learned that early tomorrow morning, the students who had joined the Rocket Class would take the school bus to Jiangbei University in the city for intensive training. They would not return until half a month before the college entrance exam.

According to Sun Yiying, the county was too chaotic now. Going to the city for intensive training during this period would also help them avoid the turmoil and focus on preparing for the college entrance exam.

Tang Jian was somewhat moved. So the situation had already become this severe.

The police had begun asking the school's teachers and masters for help. Perhaps the county town really would descend into turmoil in the coming days.

However, Sun Yiying's mention of going to the city for intensive training reminded Tang Jian of some unpleasant things.

In his previous life, the Rocket Class students seemed to have been organized to attend intensive training in the city as well. Yet on the way back, something seemed to have happened. Some people were injured, and two students even died.

At the time, the incident had been classified as a serious traffic accident. Since it happened close to the college entrance exam, the matter was suppressed, and Tang Jian had not obtained any deeper information.

But now that he thought back on it, something felt off.

Still, Tang Jian could not very well tell Sun Yiying these things. They involved the secret of his rebirth, so he could only remain vigilant himself.

After taking Tang Jian home, Sun Yiying accepted Tang Jian's parents' invitation and went inside for a cup of tea. She praised Tang Jian repeatedly, leaving Tang Lin and Chen Lianrong beaming, though they deliberately offered a few modest criticisms for fear that Tang Jian would become too proud.

Tang Yueyue was astonished by her older brother's performance at school.

She especially coveted the Nutritional Express Tang Jian had brought back.

As soon as Sun Yiying left, Tang Yueyue immediately clung to Tang Jian, showering him with heaps of flattering words that cost her nothing.

"Brother, I never expected you to be this amazing! You're way better than that Wang Junkai from our school. I really underestimated you before."

"Brother, my nutrition has been falling behind lately. You got a whole case of Nutritional Express, so give me a few bottles to drink?"

"Brother, you're the best. Just give me one bottle. I'll lend you all the novels I rented."

Tang Jian reached out and grabbed Tang Yueyue by the ear. "Novels, novels, novels every day. You even said your brother was useless. My card energy is nearly a hundred now, while yours is barely over twenty. So who's the useless one?"

"What? Your card energy is nearly a hundred?" Tang Yueyue stared at Tang Jian in disbelief. "How is that possible? A useless loser's comeback?"

"I think your skin is itching!"

"Brother, if you let me drink Nutritional Express, my card energy will rise quickly. Once I get into a good university, I can introduce you to higher-quality girlfriends."

"Is that all the nonsense your brain thinks about every day!?"

"Brother, you're so strong, so you definitely can't just find anyone. Look at Liu Dongqiang and Red Tea Girl. Your girlfriend is still in middle school with me. Cultivate me, and the more outstanding I become, the better the girls around me will be. I can help you."

"Get lost!!"

Tang Jian nearly exploded with anger. Why was Tang Yueyue so mischievous now?