A change

Old Lu really had taken the wrong medicine!

But it was good medicine. It had cured him on the spot.

I wondered if it was called a pill for regret. Old Lu's attitude toward me had changed so much that he seemed like a different person.

Lu Guanhong's class ended amid a rather peculiar atmosphere.

Halfway through the lesson, Lu Guanhong had suddenly praised Lu Zhan.

"Students, the fact that you've kept coming to class shows that you're eager to learn."

"But that's nowhere near enough."

"Over the past month, I've seen one student studying diligently in the library almost every day."

"Without my guidance, he grasped the essence of life alchemy on his own, concluding that life was born from lightning."

"Although that view is somewhat one-sided, it amply demonstrates this student's aptitude."

"When someone so gifted works so hard, shouldn't those of you with ordinary talent feel something?"

"That outstanding, brilliant student is Lu Zhan."

"I dare say that if you keep coasting along like this, he'll catch up and leave you far behind."

Since the course began, this was the first time Lu Guanhong had publicly praised a student in class.

The impact on the other students was easy to imagine.

Every gaze in the classroom swung toward Lu Zhan before Lu Guanhong had even finished speaking.

The emotions in Lu Zhan's heart were ****.

Although Lu Zhan had recently had a minor falling-out with Lu Guanhong, and although he had always believed in keeping his head down and staying out of trouble-

Unfortunately, everything Lu Guanhong said this time was "true." Even setting aside respect for his teacher and the need to preserve Lu Guanhong's dignity-

Lu Zhan couldn't go against his conscience and claim that everything Lu Guanhong said was false.

With no other choice, Lu Zhan could only do his best to look apprehensive and nervous, showing that he was "overwhelmed by the honor."

But to everyone else, that wasn't "modesty." It meant he "didn't live up to the praise."

Fortunately, although his intentions had been misinterpreted, the result was the same.

Lu Zhan had successfully weathered this attempt to "praise him to death."

Yet Lu Guanhong, getting carried away with his performance, went on to announce that Lu Zhan could consult him whenever he had any questions about life alchemy.

He was openly offering Lu Zhan private instruction!

At that, the surrounding students' gazes changed completely.

Life really was full of surprises!

In the end, I'd still become Old Lu's final disciple.

He hadn't given me the title, but I'd managed to borrow his authority!

Now the target of everyone's hostility, Lu Zhan knew he couldn't keep acting modest.

He immediately declared that he had only grasped the essence of life alchemy because Old Lu had taught him so well.

Teacher Lu's lectures were enlightening and thought-provoking.

As long as everyone paid attention in class from now on, they would surely learn something too.

Teacher Lu's office door would certainly be open to everyone. Lu Zhan had merely taken the first step ahead of them.

"Dumb luck. It has to be dumb luck!"

"A show. Nothing but a blatant show."

"What's so good about Lu Guanhong's classes? Other than putting people to sleep, what are they good for?"

Having finished lavishing praise on each other, Lu Zhan and Lu Guanhong left the classroom together, looking every bit the devoted teacher and student.

Once they were gone, the other students immediately erupted.

Whether out of jealousy or because they believed they had "seen through everything," they heaped scorn on both Lu Zhan and Lu Guanhong.

In their eyes, Lu Guanhong must have realized that his teaching was terrible, so he wanted to find himself a plant.

Lu Zhan had only been chosen because he was new. Not only did he have no one to rely on, he also hadn't sat through too many of Lu Guanhong's worthless classes.

After listening for two or three months, who could go against their conscience and suck up to Lu Guanhong?

"What the hell was that?"

"We can forget about getting anything out of Lu Guanhong!"

"Bald Lu made it sound nice, saying he'd only stepped through the door a little ahead of us."

"But if anyone dares to follow, he'll kick us back out from inside."

Unlike the envy and jealousy of the students around them, Ajak and his two companions felt only disappointment.

Lu Zhan had secured Lu Guanhong's patronage, but they had also found an "opportunity" of their own.

It was just that this opportunity had become a little prickly, and they didn't dare get too close.

"Something's wrong. We need to keep our heads down for a while."

"Lu Guanhong wouldn't change his teaching methods for no reason, much less use a plant to salvage his reputation."

"Something must be about to happen at the Training Center!"

Ajak had caught the scent of danger in this baffling lesson.

Even an old stick-in-the-mud like Lu Guanhong had begun to "turn over a new leaf."

If they kept pushing their luck and secretly listening to the Underground Radio, they really would be courting death.

"Ajak has a point."

"The radio's broken anyway. Let's lie low for a while."

"As for last night, let's pretend it never happened."

Zhou Qi, who had always been overly cautious, naturally agreed wholeheartedly with Ajak.

Vikem didn't object either. After all, the radio really was broken.

Stingy. He was far too stingy!

I thought Lu Guanhong had genuinely come around and wanted to pass his legacy on to me.

Who knew that old bastard would talk so nicely yet refuse to teach me any real skills?

At least he wasn't completely unwilling to give me anything. Otherwise, I'd have cut all ties with him.

After leaving the classroom together, Lu Zhan and Lu Guanhong had a rather "cordial" conversation.

Lu Guanhong explained that his earlier "criticism" in the library had merely been a test.

He had wanted to determine whether Lu Zhan's diligent studying in the library was just for show, rather than a genuine love of learning.

Lu Zhan's unwavering dedication to studying in the face of setbacks had passed his test perfectly.

Only then had come-

The praise in class today.

If he hadn't sensed Lu Guanhong's "split personality" during class, and if he hadn't picked up those two crucial pieces of information-

Lu Zhan really might have fallen for Lu Guanhong's spiel.

But now, Lu Zhan firmly believed there was a reason behind the change in Lu Guanhong's teaching methods and his attitude toward him.

He simply hadn't found that reason yet.

Although he knew there was "something wrong" with Lu Guanhong's change of attitude, Lu Zhan wouldn't be foolish enough to "expose" him, much less become his enemy.

After all, he was only an insignificant figure in a vulnerable position. Before a dragon grew up, didn't it also pretend to be a loach in the mud?

At this stage, securing Lu Guanhong's patronage and picking up a few benefits along the way offered Lu Zhan nothing but advantages.

Unfortunately, Lu Guanhong wasn't generous enough. He only gave Lu Zhan a copy of [Introduction to Material Fundamentals] and told him to study it carefully.

At a glance, the book had nothing to do with life alchemy.