One in the morning. Having finished his security work, Zhang Yu was packed into the subway and bus, making his way back to his rented room in the suburbs.
The subway and buses were still crowded at one in the morning because that was Songyang City's late-night rush hour, when plenty of people were fighting their way to or from work.
Back home, he showered, then checked his account balance, wondering if he could afford an air conditioner. Eight thousand three hundred in savings suddenly made this month feel a lot more comfortable. But two weeks from now it would be next month, when he'd have to repay a 15,000 loan.
He recalled Bai Zhenzhen's words. *A school contract, huh?* If signing meant a large monthly sum, he wouldn't worry about the loans at all. But he also knew dwelling on it was pointless. Everything — his showing before the painting, the school's contract — ultimately came down to his own talent and strength.
He took out the Nerve Supplement he'd bought at the stationery store by the school gate and swallowed it. Then he sat cross-legged and began circulating the Zhou Tian Qi Gathering Method, feeling strands of Spiritual Machine flow into his body.
Today, for the painting trial, he'd switched his Feather Book's Focus to the Heavenly Martial Heart Refining Art, so the Zhou Tian Qi Gathering Method wouldn't switch back for twenty-four hours. But his Dao Heart wasn't yet Level 3, so he couldn't cultivate the Heart Refining Art anyway, and next he needed to prepare for the competition to raise his Mana.
The Zhou Tian Qi Gathering Method, though unable to advance quickly today, was already Level 4 — enough to efficiently raise his Mana on its own.
The night passed quietly in Zhang Yu's steady breathing.
---
Early the next morning, the moment Zhang Yu entered the classroom, he noticed something different.
Normally, most students at Songyang High devoted themselves daily to their own studies, paying little attention to other ordinary students. Two people in the same class might go months without exchanging a word. When Zhang Yu walked in each day, nobody ever looked at him. Only people like Zhao Tianxing worried over whether their classmates were watching.
But today, ever since he entered, classmates kept stealing glances at him. Zhou Tianyi patted his shoulder. "The news that you became the Golden Core True Person's disciple is all over the class. Word is, the people who went to the exhibition with Qian Shen mentioned it in the group chat."
School was one of the fastest-spreading places for rumors. And since Songyang was an elite high school, heavy on cultivation pressure, sterilization, and phones, rumors spread even faster. Even yesterday's photos of Zhang Yu in his security uniform were circling the chat groups.
Zhang Yu chuckled. "The class has started spreading my story? That's the Songyang speed for you."
In this life of bitter cultivation, feeling others discuss his excellent performance behind his back was one of the few pleasures he had left.
But then he thought of a problem. Yesterday, Li Xuelian had quietly told him about rejecting him. So many present had no idea he'd actually been turned down — they all still thought he was about to become Starfire's disciple.
"If I go clear this up at the podium, I'd look pretty stupid. Let them spread it. They'll forget soon enough."
He closed his eyes and resumed circulating the Zhou Tian Qi Gathering Method. The chatter was just a passing amusement. His real goal remained raising his Mana for the city-wide competition.
But he hadn't managed more than a few breaths before the homeroom teacher, Su Haifeng, called him out.
---
The last time Su Haifeng called him for a talk was on Zhang Yu's third day in this world. Back then, he still didn't understand Songyang High deeply enough. He'd even initially mistaken Su Haifeng for a good teacher who cared about poor students.
Now, following behind the man, Zhang Yu could feel the terrifying pressure radiating from this Elite Class homeroom teacher who was also grade director. Wherever Su Haifeng passed, the classroom fell silent. Qian Shen didn't dare move. Zhao Tianxing sat back down and grabbed a book. Even Bai Zhenzhen sat bolt upright.
This was Su Haifeng, the first-year grade director — countless students' birthmark-of-doom, author of the research paper "On the Application Prospects of Electroshock in High School Teaching." A man who could make a stray dog passing by stop and read a few pages.
In the office, this demon king smiled at him. "I heard Starfire True Person wants to take you on as his disciple?"
Zhang Yu had no intention of deceiving the school into thinking he'd joined the Golden Core's ranks — an easily exposed lie that would only leave him on the back foot. "No. Starfire True Person's terms were lacking, so I turned him down."
Su Haifeng's mouth twitched. This Zhang Yu was poor, had given him not a single gift in three months, and now that he'd finally made a name for himself, he had the audacity to put on airs.
"Is this a way to drive up your value before signing the contract…? These poor folk inflate at the drop of a hat." He suspected the contract wouldn't sign easily.
After a pause, Su Haifeng took out a document. "The school has learned of your performance at the Central Tower exhibition. Although your grades have slipped, your PE teacher criticized you, and a collection agency even called me — still, the school keeps talent close to heart. We've decided to offer you help."
Zhang Yu narrowed his eyes. *Opens his mouth and it's pure manipulation*, he thought, guessing this was groundwork to set terms.
Su Haifeng placed the document before him. "We've prepared a financial-aid contract, much better than the poor-student subsidy plan. Take a look."
Zhang Yu glanced over it. Once signed, the school would wire him ten thousand a month, but the money had to be repaid, at lower interest than a loan. Otherwise, whether he got into university or not, he must work ten years at an enterprise under the school's education group.
Songyang High belonged to the Wanxing Education Group, which belonged to the Wanfa Sect among the Ten Great Sects. So signing meant ten years at Wanxing. And during university applications, the school had the right to decide which university and major he applied to.
"Ten thousand a month in exchange for signing an indentured-servitude contract?" Even without seeing other students' contracts, Zhang Yu could tell this one was insulting.
"Teacher, this compensation is too low. I earned 800 an hour as a security guard at Central Tower."
"Can a temporary job last?" Su Haifeng dismissed it, then changed tack. "I know it's a bit low, but the school leadership does what it does for a reason. We have no first-hand data on the painting trial — what was tested, the criteria, how the examinees performed — let alone the fact that you never even mastered the martial arts. And your grades this month have slipped."
"The school runs on grades. The 700-point six-subject system is far more Daoist, reasonable, and valued by the board than the Celestial Combat Painting. The contract can't escape that."
What Su Haifeng said wasn't without merit. At Songyang High, scores ultimately mattered most. Besides himself, no one knew the difficulty and power of the Heavenly Martial Heart Refining Art, let alone its Level 3 Dao Heart requirement. And Zhang Yu held no distribution rights over it, nor anyone to vouch for him.
"I can't possibly accept this contract."
Su Haifeng smiled faintly, thinking, *About to raise the price?* "Don't be hasty. I'm your homeroom teacher. I can fight for a bit more."
"Then can you match the terms you offered Bai Zhenzhen?"
Su Haifeng laughed first, the meaning obvious. "I don't handle Bai Zhenzhen's contract. But I can give you an answer — she's the grade's top scorer at 650 points. What's your score?"
"So if I become the grade's top scorer, everything is negotiable?"
Watching Zhang Yu's serious face, Su Haifeng withdrew the contract. "How high you score is up to you. The contract mainly depends on grades — the details allow some adjustment, but it splits into four tiers: A, B, C, and D."
"The monthly exam is two weeks away. If a D-tier contract doesn't satisfy you, we'll talk again after your results come out."