Huayang City, government building, director's office.
In the spacious and quiet room, fluorescent lights cast dim light with rustling sounds. Several shadowy figures gathered together, half-kneeling.
Before them was a young man sitting on the desk, continuously grading what seemed to be high school homework, while a twin-tailed girl gently massaged his shoulders.
Those shadowy figures seemed to be waiting for him to speak. After an unknown amount of time, the young man gently set aside the homework, stretched lazily and stood up, asking softly: "There's still a month before the college entrance exam. How are things going? The three major guild forces."
"The government and Dragon Hunter Alliance have been hollowed out by us. This small city's Adventurer Guild isn't worth fearing at all. Except for their president, the highest is only high-ranking warrior."
"You said we couldn't get ten S-grade bloodlines as sacrifices. I got seven from other places, still need two more. Let's source locally."
The young man lightly tapped the table and nodded, sighing softly: "Pity we didn't catch that Li Yi, otherwise he could offset three slots. Now the Li family has completely protected him, making it difficult."
At this moment, one shadow slowly stood up, head lowered, speaking quietly. In the swaying lamplight, it was a government worker wearing an official badge.
"How's the modification of the formation arrays around the city going?" The young man turned and pinched the twin-tailed girl's face, asking with a smile.
"All modified. As long as you give the word, I can directly open the city gates and let those demons enter freely! But..." Another shadow said while half-kneeling, sounding quite young.
"Huang Fusheng is a hidden danger! Although he has hidden injuries, we're still no match for him!"
The young man gently patted the twin-tailed girl's face twice. His body's aura shook, emanating extremely powerful War General presence. His expression turned cold: "The alchemical item meant to restrict Lord Flowing Moon last time was useless. Perfect for restricting him. When the time comes, trading all of Zhiyuan's lives will definitely bring that lord out!"
After speaking, his eyes showed traces of madness, yet seemed to carry some adoration as he looked at the twin-tailed girl's face, but his gaze actually fell on the window outside that only revealed traces of light.
Everyone quickly lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound.
At this moment, he suddenly thought of something and turned to coldly address someone in the corner: "I heard several inspectors came from the provincial capital. You better handle them properly for me and fill the S-grade bloodline gap."
"Those coming from the provincial capital, according to my information, are just a few kids. Just fool them a bit." This was a female voice that sounded somewhat aged. "As for the bloodline numbers, Cult Leader sir, rest assured. I've already had that S-grade girl return to handle affairs."
"Kids..." the young man murmured. "Better not have any more incidents. That priest's bizarre death last time reeked of strangeness..."
Due to the Li family covering for Su Jiu in various ways, just as Su Jiu thought, with Li Yi's pride, he would definitely repay kindness...
What Su Jiu and others experienced inside didn't spread. In this cult leader's view, the other probably just stupidly worshipped the wrong god and died.
...
Passing through the city guards, entering the city.
"Why do I feel something's off?"
Su Jiu had a strange feeling. Along the way, the incoming and outgoing vehicles seemed particularly few. Logically, this shouldn't be the case.
Huayang was sandwiched between Huawen and Qinghai. The traffic flow should only be large, not small. But now it was exactly the opposite. Was it because of demons?
But the highway had long-strip formations. Logically, no large demons should appear.
Lu Xin beside her didn't know Su Jiu was a local, thinking the train could transfer stations. She quickly organized and said: "Boss, what's so strange? Huayang naturally can't compare to Fuzhou."
The other college students had the vibe of city people entering the countryside, also looking around and taking photos.
The car drove quickly, soon reaching downtown, which was still as lively as ever. This made Su Jiu feel her earlier sense of oddity was an illusion.
"Boss, I sent a message to my sister's side. They're waiting at the school gate to welcome us." Lu Xin looked at the outside scenery, smiling. "And I've been supervising her copying lately."
"Really looking forward to it."
Su Jiu raised an eyebrow, thinking of that giant-like figure, her lips curving slightly upward. This one was also quite amusing—
Classmate Lu Ke, finished copying yet?
...
Su Xiaoyu looked up at the huge sun, somewhat lifeless.
He was pulled by teachers like Lu Nan to hold banners. If it were before, it definitely wouldn't be his turn, but seven or eight days ago, using the egg liquid Su Jiu gave him, he successfully broke through to intermediate warrior!
And now with various rare ice-attribute medicines Su Jiu gave him nourishing him, he could be said to be advancing by leaps and bounds! Before the college entrance exam, he felt he would break through to high-ranking and catch up to his sister's pace.
Sometimes he even wondered if Su Jiu had robbed a bank. This felt richer than their grandfather.
"Everyone treat this seriously. This time's important person, Principal Huang said to let her also give you a final assessment score for your practice test. You're all elites of our school. Whether you can get her guidance aside, at least don't let her give you low scores!"
"Okay!" "Don't worry, Teacher Lu!" "Isn't this simple?!" Various confidence surged on those students' faces.
Lu Nan, having been a soldier, easily motivated these high schoolers' enthusiasm. At the same time, his eyes showed some confusion—according to the information he got, this person's level had reached deputy department level, definitely an important figure.
Such a person coming to school for joint training? Wasn't this a joke?
"Don't rush! I just asked my sister, she said they're almost here!" Lu Ke shouted to everyone around, then turned to her roommates beside her, boasting: "I heard from my sister that it's a little beauty, somewhat cold personality, but very easy to talk to."
Hearing this, Su Xiaoyu really wanted to run. He felt that whatever important person wasn't half as good as his sister.
After another ten-plus minutes, engine roaring sounds rang out. A black Chevrolet entered everyone's sight, and those students' hearts began stirring.
Soon the car stopped. Watching the trainee Dragon Hunters get out one by one, every student present felt excited.
Though only a few years older than them, they had already reached high-ranking warrior level, and the medals on their chests were all recognizable—Dragon Hunters!
This was the profession these students dreamed of! Either pass the school exams or spend time grinding through experience. These people obviously got into Dragon Hunter University through ability.
Lu Ke looked at her sister getting out of the passenger seat but didn't immediately acknowledge her. She was waiting—waiting for that important person to get out.
Everyone's gaze looked there, knowing the person inside the car was exactly that important person.
"Click!"
The driver's door was slowly pushed open. A small yet exquisite figure entered everyone's sight. Accompanied by the sound of leather shoes hitting the ground, everyone gradually saw her appearance clearly.
An angel? No! Like the elf princess from fairy tales!
While marveling at her appearance, more were puzzled why she looked about their age. Was it some youth-preserving technique?
But three people were stunned. Lu Nan, besides surprise, looked with complex eyes at that figure walking toward him. She was—the student he once thought was the worst.
The student who had recently shown him shocking performance in the trial competition... and now, when they met again, their relationship seemed to have reversed.
He was still a teacher, but she was no longer that bad student.
"Su Jiu!"
"Big sister!"
Su Xiaoyu and Lu Ke's voices shouted simultaneously. Unlike Lu Ke's disbelief, Su Xiaoyu felt more sudden understanding. Those miraculous herbs and egg liquid—if Su Jiu was a member of some mysterious organization, he'd believe it!
It was big sister who gave him the courage and opportunity to catch up to Liu Lin!
On the other side, feeling her face burning red, Lu Ke suddenly cried and laughed. From looking down on her, to treating her as competition, to now being an existence she could no longer reach.
She felt no different from a clown.
"Smack!"
"Stop acting crazy here. I'll check your copying situation later!"
Suddenly a hand smacked the back of her head. Lu Xin rarely showed such ungentle action, frowning at Lu Ke, thinking: No wonder she's been silly since childhood, hopeless.
Su Jiu came before Lu Nan, looking at this young man with gold-rimmed glasses who wasn't so young, smiling: "Old Lu, I'm back. Help me with a leave slip."
"Misjudged... didn't expect I'd misjudge too."
Lu Nan snapped out of his daze, shaking his head with a bitter smile: "Youth in fine clothes on spirited horses. Even more impressive than Old Huang back in the day. Deputy department level... high school senior, haha."
He didn't know if years later he'd sigh that there was one type of student called genius, and another type called Su Jiu.