Graduate Early? Worth a Try

Dusk closed in from all sides, and the crowd on the Martial Training Ground gradually dispersed.

Zhang Shan did not leave at once. He waited deliberately at the edge of the grounds until Chu Bai finished speaking with Instructor Lei, then strode over to meet him.

"Junior Brother Chu."

Zhang Shan cupped his hands, his face full of feeling. "Today's fight gave me a great deal to think about. If you hadn't held back so deftly at the last moment and spared me some dignity, Instructor Lei might have had to step in and save me again. If it had come to that, I truly wouldn't have known where to show my face."

Thinking back on that afternoon still left Zhang Shan shaken.

Losing to a monstrous freshman was not frightening. Losing too badly was. Chu Bai's deliberately misdirected Golden Eye Illusion-Breaker had saved not only his life, but also the last shred of dignity he had before the many freshmen.

"You're too kind, Senior Brother."

Chu Bai returned the salute, his expression calm. "Sparring is meant to test what we've learned. It's enough to stop before anyone gets hurt. Besides, I've always remembered that you introduced me to the supervisor for that assignment. What happened before is long behind us."

At those words, the last great weight on Zhang Shan's heart finally lifted. He let out a long breath.

Chu Bai's strength was terrifying, and his character was just as hard to fault.

The two walked side by side toward the student quarters.

"By the way, how's that Law Net monitoring assignment going?" Zhang Shan asked casually.

"Very well. Thanks to your introduction, those two Dao Merit points a day have helped me a great deal." Chu Bai smiled and nodded. Without that assignment, paying for Spirit Cuisine early