Ku Jian’s sudden revival caught everyone off guard. Even though Nan Mengling reacted instantly, she couldn’t give chase in time.
“If we can’t catch him, don’t bother. Let him run. After all… even if we did, killing him wouldn’t be easy.”
Zhou Jiuyu gently held back Nan Mengling beside him.
Don’t be fooled—they’d blown Ku Jian’s head off, but that was a sneak attack! One surprise strike wouldn’t work twice. Next time they crossed swords, *their* heads might roll.
His Spirit Energy reserves were still low; Nan Mengling’s strength wasn’t yet enough… Facing such a foe left them helpless.
“Mm…” Nan Mengling nodded, though a trace of reluctance lingered in her eyes.
She’d thought herself strong—yet couldn’t even handle a mere avatar of the Sword God.
“No need to feel down. The day will come when you storm Sword God Mountain yourself,” Zhou Jiuyu said, ruffling her hair.
After comforting his silly maid, he turned to Tong Che standing nearby and handed him the complete Primordial Breathing Technique manual. “Take it and return to City Four. You’ve got your own troubles. You helped me twice—I won’t drag you into mine.”
“Master, I can’t accept this! For you, I’d go through fire and water—it’s only right…”
Zhou Jiuyu glanced at Tong Che’s white-knuckled grip on the manual. Without further words, he took Nan Mengling’s hand and headed back to the Sanctum. Time to intensify his silly maid’s training.
Seeing Zhou Jiuyu’s cool indifference, Tong Che’s heart went ice-cold as he clutched the manual.
“Guess I bet on the wrong horse…” He sighed deeply, resentment simmering inside.
He’d swallowed his pride, played the grandson, completed every task—even defused another crisis for Young Master Zhou! Past friction aside, couldn’t he spare *one* favor?
The new lord of City Four had arrived far sooner than expected, purging old factions backed by the previous ruler. His Shadow Syndicate was already under siege. Desperate, he’d come here begging for help.
And this was the result?
“Just a breathing manual? I’m Eighth Tier—my Spirit Energy potential is maxed out! What am I supposed to do, bribe the new lord with this?” He shook his head.
Breathing techniques mattered to commoners, not elites. Average ones boosted accumulation 4–5x; top-tier, maybe 7–8x. Barely a difference… especially when your talent’s capped.
A pond only holds so much. Once full, even a downpour just spills over—useless.
“Still… better than nothing. Maybe it’s tradable if it’s high-grade…” His expression turned bitter. He couldn’t afford to offend Zhou Jiuyu. Swallowing pride, playing grandson—no choice. Helpless. Truly helpless.
“Wait… this…”
After flipping through the Primordial Breathing Technique briefly, Tong Che’s expression shifted slightly.
The “incomplete” version Zhou Jiuyu gave him before? Just… *one paragraph* of this!
The full technique spanned ten pages.
He swallowed hard, performed the full cycle exactly as written—and felt Spirit Energy explode within him. His face transformed; his eyes sharpened with awe.
“So the ‘incomplete’ technique was a fragment of a fragment! Less than one percent! Damn… this is insane… Hell—what kind of heaven-defying technique is this?!”
He glanced around nervously, then carefully tucked the manual away.
Another full breath. A massive surge of energy flooded his veins. Ecstasy lit his face.
“Over a hundred times faster accumulation! And… I can *feel* the Ninth Tier threshold! This isn’t just quantity—it’s a qualitative leap!”
All disappointment vanished. After a dizzying wave of joy, he looked up—but Zhou Jiuyu was gone.
Zhou Jiuyu now seemed utterly enigmatic.
“This time… I truly met a benefactor. Buddha bless me—I finally bet right!” Heart pounding, Tong Che resolved: he’d cling to this “grandfather’s” leg for dear life.
Buzz—
His phone vibrated. A message from his Sanctum contact:
[Sword God Mountain is pressuring them. Targets: the two you asked me to secure spots for. Get out while you can. That’s all.]
Tong Che’s face tightened. Neutrality meant offending both sides. Only two choices:
Report Zhou Jiuyu’s return to the Sanctum official—earn favor, prove loyalty, escape cleanly.
Or… follow Young Master Zhou all the way.
Eyes closed, after long hesitation, he placed the call.
Pacing anxiously. Waiting.
Beep…
Beep…
Beep…
The ringing reached Zhou Jiuyu back at the Sanctum. The moment “Tong Che” flashed on screen—before he could answer—his consciousness blurred.
Beep…
Beep…
Beep…
Zhou Jiuyu pressed a hand to his forehead, sat up in bed, and silenced the blaring alarm.
“Why wake up *now*?” He pressed his lips together, frustration mixing with helplessness.
He and Nan Mengling had just returned to the Sanctum. He was about to head to his room to explore further intimacy with his silly maid… just as her face turned shy and flustered—*ring!* The sweet dream shattered.
“But why’d I set this alarm… Oh. Right.”
He dressed quickly. Real-world matters today.
August 29th.
Xiao Lü had secured his spot at Tianhai Martial Academy yesterday—a spirit energy martial academy ranked just below the elite schools in the capital and Shanghai. Registration day.
After a quick tidy-up, he took the subway. The academy sat in City Three, close to his apartment. Just register, peek at what weirdos his roommates might be, then head back.
Coincidentally, he spotted a familiar face on the train.
“Airi, where are you headed so early?”
“None of your business,” Akizuki Airi hmphed lightly.
“Oh? Then I’ll sit across and leave you alone. Guess we’re not that close yet,” Zhou Jiuyu said, starting to rise.
“Wait, wait—don’t go!” She grabbed his sleeve, biting her lip. “Going to register… classes start on the 1st.”
He sat back down, inwardly smirking. Handling Akizuki Airi was effortless now.
He’d seen through her: she *seemed* like a bratty tsundere, but was really just a love-starved, lonely girl.
In short—easier to fool than Nan Mengling.
“Wait…” Airi suddenly narrowed her eyes. “Where are *you* going on this line?”
Tentatively: “Tianhai Martial Academy?”
Zhou Jiuyu nodded.
Airi pressed her lips together. A secret thrill bloomed in her chest…
Attending the same school as Jiuyu-kun…
