If it had been two years ago, when Zheng Qing had just enrolled, hearing mysterious concepts straddling science fiction and fantasy like "timelines," "paths," and the "River of Time" might have kept him awake all night with excitement.
But now...
More than a dozen classes a week requiring Time Conversion had long since drained his interest in such concepts—though he still held them in awe. It was like someone who had no choice but to work on a computer: they might properly respect the technological sophistication of the chips inside it, yet still feel irritated every time they saw a computer, especially if they had developed aftereffects from overuse, like tendinitis.
Perhaps sensing the boy's distraction.
"—Huff—"
Old Yao took a heavy drag from his pipe and looked Zheng Qing over with mild surprise. "I've noticed that you really don't seem afraid of me anymore. Last year, there was a time when you looked like you'd seen a ghost whenever you saw me. I didn't notice it much during class... but now that I look at it, you even dare to let your mind wander while I'm talking. Who knows how you talk about me behind my back?"
Zheng Qing immediately jolted upright.
"No, absolutely not! I wasn't distracted! I listened carefully to every word you said!" he protested, though deep down, he knew Old Yao was not wrong.
He truly no longer had the same trembling wariness he had felt when he first learned Old Yao's identity.
The main reason was that he had a Demon Ancestor hanging from his ear—even if it was only an incarnation of one of Its obsessions. Naturally, that had dulled some of his awe toward a Legendary Great Demon. That was only human nature, and not something to speak of to outsiders.
"After