Connecting Our Hearts

It had to be said, the principal worked fast.

In just one week, batches of new uniforms had already arrived at the school.

Overall, the uniforms were... very plain.

They looked like pure white tracksuits, without any flashy details, everything clear at a glance.

The only thing a little off about them was the many transparent pockets sewn onto them, all equipped with zippers.

Just as the students were wondering what these pockets were for...

An advertising placard was handed out.

"Communications Group! Connecting our hearts!"

There was only a logo and a line of text on the placard.

When they realized the placards were just the right size to fit inside the transparent pockets, something seemed to dawn on them. In an instant...

Countless alpacas seemed to stampede across the grasslands of their hearts.

Back and forth they ran.

Streams of almost tangible gray gas spread from their heads, filling the sky above the campus. Thirty percent eventually dissipated into thin air, while the remaining seventy percent flowed into Yu Sheng's scroll.

Within the scroll, the base of the Dragon-Patterned Staff grew increasingly solid.

One of its grooves had begun to give off a faint glimmer.

It was like a dim seed stubbornly growing.

This sudden change left Yu Sheng stunned, and he fell into thought.

So... this worked too.

It was as though a whole host of new ways to play had suddenly unlocked in his mind.

Meanwhile, the students were gradually falling apart inside, staring at their uniforms without knowing what to think.

Until the school announced a series of policies...

Different levels of prize money would be awarded according to exam rankings.

The enticing figures filled them with longing.

For a time, everyone's resentment vanished, replaced by high spirits as they tried to secure a good ranking in the exams.

Looking at that pitiful amount of resentment, Yu Sheng's face filled with grievance.

For several days running, he gave the principal strange looks whenever he saw him.

The principal even began to wonder whether he had done something wrong.

But... he hadn't.

Things were progressing smoothly. This novel advertising method was enormously appealing, and more and more companies were preparing to invest a little money to try it out.

Perhaps one day, the uniforms he had personally designed would be densely covered in names.

He had even learned to build on the idea, deliberately leaving a conspicuous spot empty, ready to put it up for bidding!

When the time came, that advertisement would be both huge and eye-catching.

"An Xin, has the Dark Pavilion really had no work lately?"

"I've even lost weight."

A team member holding flyers and wearing a bear costume walked over dejectedly. He took off the headpiece, his forehead already covered in sweat.

An Xin blinked her big eyes. "Don't you still have twenty thousand in savings?"

"I bought a Demon Crystal yesterday..." the team member said guiltily.

An Xin gave him a smiling look. "Eighteen thousand. I'll take it. You get money for food, and I get a Demon Crystal for cultivation~"

The team member resolutely put the big bear head back on. "No way. Absolutely not!"

"Skipping a couple of meals won't kill me, but making me stop cultivating..."

"That's worse than death!"

"Besides, why do we have to dress like this, but you don't?"

Looking at An Xin, who wore only a Lolita outfit with her hair in twin ponytails, the team member was on the verge of breaking down.

Her smile unchanged, An Xin removed her hair ties and shook her head, letting her beautiful hair fall loose and flutter in the breeze, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

Young men even came over of their own accord to ask An Xin for flyers, shyly asking for her contact details as well.

She turned them down one by one, and in just a few minutes, every flyer in her hands was gone.

"Trust me, if you don't cover your heads, you'll never hand out all your flyers."

With light steps, An Xin took another fresh stack of flyers from her pocket and handed them out on the street.

It was bustling with activity.

"..."

It was hard to imagine how many devastating blows this team member's heart had suffered in just a few minutes.

Holding his flyers listlessly, he continued working in his heavy bear costume.

In a daze, he seemed to see An Xin suddenly pick up her phone in the distance, and then...

An Xin decisively put away her flyers.

She took her hair ties and tied her hair up again, returning to twin-ponytail mode, then gave a whistle.

It rang out loudly.

The four advertising bears on the street abruptly froze.

But they quickly resumed acting naturally, handing out flyers as they moved toward a corner. Soon, they scattered and disappeared from the street.

"A mission?"

The group gathered in a corner.

Luo Yun squatted on the ground with a cigarette between his lips, looking at An Xin with some anticipation as he asked.

"The Ink Pavilion is leading it."

"The Dark Pavilion, Demon-Slaughtering Pavilion, and Guard Bureau will each send one team to assist."

"The bounty... two hundred thousand!"

An Xin leaned against the wall, a lollipop in her mouth and her hands in her pockets, her eyes narrowed.

"Two hundred thousand!"

"Holy shit, we're rich!"

"Split between us, that's forty thousand each!"

One team member spoke excitedly. Forty thousand-how fucking long would he have to hand out flyers to earn that?

An Xin glanced at him. "Tch, you're so easily impressed."

"One hundred thousand... each."

The air froze.

In this secluded corner, everyone's breathing involuntarily grew heavier.

Luo Yun took a hard drag on his cigarette. Rather than looking delighted, he frowned. "A job this big won't be easy, will it?"

"Yeah, the Ink Pavilion said the death rate would be on the high side."

"If we don't take it, it goes to the Second Team."

An Xin licked her lollipop and said indifferently, "We risk our lives for money. That's normal."

"If you die, the death benefit is five hundred thousand."

After a moment's thought, An Xin added that.

"I'm in!"

"Fuck it, we have to do it!"

"Even dying would be worth it."

The team members who had still been a little hesitant nodded decisively.

That was simply how the world worked.

With awakened people everywhere, if you wanted to get ahead, you either displayed peerless talent or... put your life on the line.

"When?"

Luo Yun casually stubbed out his cigarette and asked.

An Xin thought for a moment. "Probably in a week. They're confirming the personnel first. The details will be discussed at the meeting."

"Confidentiality is always very strict for important missions like this."

"No one knows exactly what we'll be doing until the very last moment."

"I suggest everyone take the next few days off, leave a will while you're at it, and go to the bank to get a certificate of assets."

"Oh, right. Families of fallen personnel can also claim an additional subsidy. Remember to tell your families. Don't forget."

An Xin offered the kind reminder.

Everyone fell silent.

They dispersed one by one without another word, as though they had long since grown accustomed to this.

"This mission... are you sure you want to join?"

"This is our duty, but you're still a student. You're only here to gain experience."

"You have a brighter future ahead of you."

After everyone had left, Luo Yun stared at An Xin, his expression gradually turning serious.