How much would it cost to keep you, Yu?

Yu Bu'e was a little confused by Luo Feixuan's words.

"What does that have to do with getting into the Martial Arts Academy...?"

Luo Feixuan explained further, "The best Qi-Guiding Martial Arts is the Martial Arts Academy's 'Basic Qi-Guiding Art.' No other Qi-Guiding Martial Arts in the world can compare.

"The Martial Arts Academy has a rule: anyone who has studied other Qi-Guiding Martial Arts will be turned away."

Yu Bu'e was stunned. "Something that important, and I'm only finding out now..."

"That's because your teacher doesn't know you've entered the Qi Refining Realm yet, right? Otherwise, they'd definitely have reminded you."

Realization dawned on Yu Bu'e, then something else occurred to him. "So students like you and Cheng Ruxin, who opened all twelve spirit meridians early on, haven't started drawing in qi?"

"That's right. Unless we don't intend to enter the Martial Arts Academy, we won't study any other Qi-Guiding Martial Arts."

"But after opening all twelve spirit meridians, we start tempering our bodies, using Body Tempering Martial Arts and medicinal baths to cleanse the impurities from our bodies."

Yu Bu'e nodded thoughtfully.

It was so complicated. No wonder she'd wanted to talk in person.

Luo Feixuan continued, "Body tempering doesn't just strengthen your constitution. It also improves your speed, perception, strength, and so on.

"If the Body Tempering Martial Arts you practice are good enough, you can even cultivate innate qi, allowing qi to flow through your spirit meridians more smoothly and freely..."

The more Yu Bu'e listened, the more tempted he became.

"Then could you help me find Body Tempering Martial Arts? I want to give them a try! Don't worry, I've got a little money now."

Luo Feixuan smiled. "Sure. As it happens, the Brilliant Star Pavilion is holding an auction in three days. Let's go take a look together."

"An auction... Won't it be expensive?" Yu Bu'e hesitated.

Luo Feixuan pointed at the Meridian-Opening Pills around his neck. "Even if you don't have enough money, you can barter. They won't turn you down."

Yu Bu'e breathed a sigh of relief. Everything suddenly seemed clear!

"Oh, right. Was there something else you wanted to see me about?"

"Yes, I'd like to buy another Meridian-Opening Pill..."

Before Luo Feixuan finished speaking, Yu Bu'e had already plucked one from around his neck.

"Here!"

Luo Feixuan froze for a moment, then looked at him with a gaze warm enough to melt him.

Looking at the Meridian-Opening Pill Yu Bu'e held out, Luo Feixuan thought, No wonder everyone says decisive men are the most attractive.

She reached out and took the pill, and Yu Bu'e stood up.

"Same arrangement as before!"

"Same arrangement?"

"In class, through WealthPay!" Yu Bu'e smiled faintly. "Sorry for the trouble again."

"..." Luo Feixuan looked curious.

She truly couldn't figure out why he wanted to arrange things this way.

Still, she restrained her curiosity and nodded with a smile. "Deal!"

When he returned to the classroom, it happened to be break time again.

The classroom was buzzing with noise. Yu Bu'e had barely sat down when Wu Yang teased him, "Old Yu, you've been skipping class pretty often lately!"

"Can't blame him. If I had the school beauty as my girlfriend, I wouldn't come to class either," the boy behind them said cheerfully.

"True enough." Wu Yang sighed. "The most infuriating part is that our homeroom teacher doesn't even care. Teach me, Old Yu. How'd you pull that off?"

"We're only reviewing, after all. If your grades were good, our homeroom teacher wouldn't bother you either."

Wu Yang's face darkened. "Do you have to make everyone hate you?"

Yu Bu'e looked a little sheepish. "Honestly, I've been keeping a pretty low profile..."

Wu Yang gave him a sidelong look.

As they spoke, Luo Feixuan walked in and placed Yu Bu'e's textbook on his desk.

"Here's your book back."

Yu Bu'e rose with a smile. Then the phone in his pocket chimed.

"WealthPay payment received: one million yuan..."

The classroom instantly fell silent.

"One million?" Yu Bu'e's eyes widened.

His classmates weren't the only ones shocked. He hadn't expected it either!

Every pair of eyes swung toward the two of them.

Under everyone's stares, Luo Feixuan waved her phone at Yu Bu'e, smiling sweetly.

"You've been good these past few days, so here's your reward! I'm off!"

With that, she even blew him a kiss, utterly unconcerned about the devastation she left in her wake.

Yu Bu'e froze for an instant. Once he recovered, he hurried after her, remembering to play along.

"Hmph! You think you can keep me for a million? Dream on!"

Only after Yu Bu'e had chased her out did their classmates recover.

"One million... Six hundred thousand last time, and a million this time?"

"Rich lady, look my way! I can be your puppy too..."

"As long as that scoundrel Yu lives, there is no justice! Oh, heavens above, why do you treat me so cruelly?"

A whole crowd stamped their feet in the classroom.

Even Wu Yang began beating his chest in anguish.

"Damn him! He deserves to die!" After a couple of curses, he suddenly realized that Yu Bu'e had been telling the truth.

He really had been keeping a low profile before!

Yu Bu'e caught up with Luo Feixuan and tugged her by the sleeve over to a corner.

"Why a million? Wasn't it supposed to be six hundred thousand?"

"Chen Sinian paid nine hundred thousand. Is a million really that much?"

Yu Bu'e shook his head. "That's different. There aren't that many suckers in the world..."

Luo Feixuan leaned against the wall with both hands behind her back, rose slightly onto her tiptoes, and met Yu Bu'e's eyes. "What, worried about me spending money again?"

Yu Bu'e blushed and hurriedly took two steps back, feeling that they'd been far too close just now.

"Don't worry! I'm actually just a middleman. Even at a million, I still make a profit!" Luo Feixuan reached out and brushed some white plaster dust off Yu Bu'e's shoulder.

"But a million is still too much..."

"You'll have plenty to spend money on soon. Martial arts, medicinal baths... And another thing! Have a little confidence, Yu. Your Meridian-Opening Pills really are valuable!"

Yu Bu'e frowned in thought.

Luo Feixuan sighed and continued, "The Martial Arts Academy's assessment is important too. If you perform poorly, your admission can be revoked. If you do well, you can get into an advanced class. That will determine your future.

"So don't feel burdened, Yu. I'd really like us to still be classmates at the Martial Arts Academy, okay?"

Yu Bu'e smiled awkwardly and nodded. "All right. Then if there's ever anything I can help you with, just ask!"

Luo Feixuan nodded with a smile.

As Yu Bu'e turned to head back, something occurred to her, and she hesitated.

"Yu!"

Yu Bu'e immediately turned to look at her, a question in his eyes.

Luo Feixuan gazed at him. Two seconds passed before she smiled and asked, "Just curious-how much would it cost per month to keep you?"

Yu Bu'e's face turned scarlet. He spun around and ran.

Luo Feixuan couldn't stop laughing. "A boy who still gets embarrassed so easily... Kind of cute."

Only after Yu Bu'e entered the classroom did she turn and go downstairs.

As she walked out of the school gates, a black Maybach pulled up in front of her.

She opened the door and got into the back seat. Looking at the Meridian-Opening Pill she'd just received from Yu Bu'e, she couldn't keep the corners of her mouth from rising.

The driver glanced into the rearview mirror and asked with a smile, "Miss, shall we give this Meridian-Opening Pill to Mr. Chen?"

"No rush. Let him stew for a while." Luo Feixuan put away the Meridian-Opening Pill, and her smile vanished as well.

After a moment of silence, the driver asked, "Did you tell that student not to sell any Meridian-Opening Pills to anyone else over the next few days?"

Luo Feixuan shook her head and lowered the window. Wind poured in from outside, tousling her hair.

"No."

The driver was a little surprised. According to Luo Feixuan's plan, obtaining the Meridian-Opening Pill from Yu Bu'e would also cut off Chen Qiao's options.

If Chen Qiao or Chen Jiliao found Yu Bu'e and obtained a Meridian-Opening Pill, she would lose her bargaining chip, and the plan naturally wouldn't proceed smoothly.

"Miss, if you simply asked, I don't think that student would refuse..."

"I know. That's precisely why I don't want to ask." Luo Feixuan adjusted her hair as she watched the scenery flash past the window.

"I don't want to cause him trouble, much less drag him into this too."