Reality swiftly answered her. Shi Wuyou found her again—twice—and both newly secured targets slipped away unsigned.

A wave of despair washed over Ling Luo. Worse still, afternoon had arrived: time for Five-Step Fist practice.

“I just wanted to eat a proper meal… Why is this happening to me? Wah… wah… wah…”

She wept silently in a quiet corner.

After hastily composing herself, she shifted back into Luo Ling’s male form and rejoined the group for the afternoon session.

“Luo Ling, where’d you vanish to at noon? Didn’t even see you back at the dorm,” roommate Peilin asked the moment he spotted him.

“Had some personal business. Sorry for worrying you,” Luo Ling replied sheepishly.

“No big deal—just checking,” Peilin waved dismissively. “But… you look kinda pale?”

“Probably skipped my nap. I’ll sleep early tonight.”

Luo Ling offered the excuse—no way he’d admit hunger caused his pallor…

“Wuyou, you’re finally here! Almost late,” Ning Shuang said as the tardy Wuyou approached.

“Sorry, sorry…” Xiao You apologized repeatedly, guilt twisting her stomach for nearly sending her roommate scouring campus.

“Where’d you disappear after lunch? No dorm, no trace. Oho~ Secret rendezvous?” Ning Shuang grinned mischievously.

“No! Don’t spread rumors. Just ran errands—no nap, still tired,” Xiao You defended quickly, voice tinged with exhaustion.

Luo Ling glanced at Wuyou, then looked away.

Honestly, he couldn’t even feel anger toward that persistent girl anymore. After using the Demon Eye multiple times, hunger had drained all irritation. Now he had to stay sharp, hide his weakness—venting was the last thing on his mind.

“Looks like everyone’s here. Line up!” Senior Chen Haolin clapped, positioning the group for practice.

As usual, Seniors Chen Haolin and Wang Hong led Luo Ling’s class through Five-Step Fist drills.

“Alright, listen up… Ready stance!”

…

During the break, Luo Ling sank onto a bench. If he didn’t rest now, his hunger-stricken face would crack under the next round.

Just as he lowered his head—

“Excuse me, have you seen Chen Haolin?”

He looked up. Senior Jinghua stood before him.

“Ah… Senior probably went to buy something,” Luo Ling answered fast, eyes flicking sideways for Haolin’s sudden appearance.

“So practice isn’t over yet?”

Jinghua tucked hair behind her ear; the four-leaf clover hairpin on her bangs caught the light.

“Not yet… He should be back soon.”

“Oh, I’ll wait here then.”

“Um, Senior, take my seat.”

Luo Ling started to rise.

“No need. I’ll stand. You look wiped—rest while you can. Haolin’s kind, but strict. Junior, recharge now.”

“…Okay.”

Luo Ling silently begged her to leave. Every second she lingered spiked his anxiety. If Senior Haolin saw them… one glare might end him.

“By the way—you don’t exercise much, do you? Your stamina seems low,” Jinghua filled the silence while waiting for her Haolin.

“Huh? Uh… yeah, kinda…”

Luo Ling kept replies minimal. He dreaded Haolin witnessing this—yesterday’s hostile glare at boys chatting with Jinghua still haunted him.

“You’d better train hard. Fail the annual fitness test, and graduation’s off the table.”

Her words hit like a brick. Color drained from Luo Ling’s world. His true form was just a delicate little girl, yet the test demanded adult male standards—wasn’t that hellish?! Magic could boost his body, but fatigue would still crush his petite frame. Even a Succubus’s recovery couldn’t spare hours of post-test moaning in bed…

“Ah! I-I’ll train hard… Thanks for the reminder, Senior,” Luo Ling forced a stiff smile.

He *had* to find a way to build stamina. Roommates seeing him collapsed and groaning? Utter humiliation.

Suddenly, a giant “DANGER” flashed above his head. He stood abruptly. “Senior, I’m rested—I’ll rejoin formation. Senior should be back soon.”

“Okay! Keep it up.”

Luo Ling didn’t dare reply. He hurried off just as the senior approached.

“Jinghua? What brings you?”

“No afternoon classes. Came to see you. Unwelcome?”

“Never. Just leading practice—worried you’d be bored.”

“No worries. Curious how our ‘Grandmaster’ teaches juniors,” Jinghua teased.

“Then I await the ‘Sect Leader’s’ verdict.”

“Cheeky! Go on—don’t keep them waiting.”

“As commanded, Sect Leader.”

“I’ll hit you!”

Jinghua raised a playful fist; Haolin feigned a dodge and stepped away.

True to her words, Jinghua watched quietly—but it was just a cover. Her real mission: monitor her boyfriend. With no word from Lady Lilim yet, she had to stay vigilant.

Honestly, she doubted Haolin would cheat… yet a sliver of unease remained.

Watching him perform Five-Step Fist, memories surfaced: their early reconnection, still just acquaintances then. But seeing him again on campus had comforted her deeply. In a new place, familiar faces anchor the heart.

“Hm? What’s this?”

Absentmindedly, Jinghua noticed faint script on her palm—

*8 PM tonight. 6th floor, library. —Lilim*