The girl was alone in the manuscript room; Shen Ning had locked herself inside for several days straight.
Everything was already prepared; if the school leaders came to question her, she would simply say it was all on Bai Yi’s orders.
The Soulstone, she had decided to drop herself; the experiment, she’d done on her own; even getting lost on campus, she admitted it was her fault for leading Xu Chuyao astray.
Yet after waiting for several days, she stood by the window, gazing outside. The scenery on campus was no different from usual—it was just another peaceful and uneventful day.
Why had it taken so long, and still, nothing had happened to her?
“This is too much. Don’t tell me the teachers only went to find Li Yao. Do they think you just do whatever she says?” Sexually Repressed Shadow protested indignantly. “Didn’t they even consider, not for a moment, the possibility that you were the mastermind?”
It wasn’t upset about being left out—it was just that this conclusion really underestimated people.
“It’s not unusual,” the Defeated Reflection said, “Even in the past, when the Special Group was especially active, Li Yao was always the one calling the shots. Everyone else just followed orders; there was never much room for personal initiative.”
The Milky Ning Reflection took out a small flag from somewhere beneath its robe. “Chuyao once said, as long as you follow Li Yao, even if night falls, you’ll never get lost.”
Are you really treating yourself like a grade schooler…
Sexually Repressed Shadow surveyed the two hopeless companions, then mused with heartfelt exasperation: “Don’t you all think that, in other people’s eyes, we’re pretty much just self-moving machines with no independent thought at all?”
Upon hearing this, even Shen Ning herself couldn’t hold back: “No, it’s not that bad.”
Not that bad? That would be way too sad.
“In any case, you should show a little initiative.” Sexually Repressed Shadow crossed its arms and leaned against the wall. “Chuyao is planning to lay low for a while. What about you, what are your plans?”
Defeated Reflection muttered quietly from the side, “How can you say Chuyao’s laying low? She’s clearly on defense, it’s just… never mind, that’s not the point.”
Shen Ning thought for a moment, didn’t reply, and silently opened the system panel.
[Milestone System cooling down, remaining time: 71:33:41]
Still three days to go.
She put down her phone and messaged her girlfriend.
[Shen Ning: Are you there? Did the teacher or Principal Lü look for you? How did they handle it?]
[Don’t Want to Eat Hands: It’s already over, they didn’t really do anything, just told me to be more careful.]
The girl paused, a little surprised at how easily her girlfriend had gotten away with it. Just how did she manage to slip through so effortlessly?
Well, as long as it’s fine.
Rolling over on the bed, she continued typing another message on her side.
[Shen Ke: So, do you have any plans for the next few days? Are you free in three days?]
[Don’t Want to Eat Hands: Nothing planned, actually I was about to ask you the same thing—are you free in a few days? Let me treat you to a meal.]
Well, isn’t that just perfect.
So, Shen Ning cheerfully made a date for four days later, to visit Xu Chuyao’s dorm again as a guest. For the next three days, she’d wait for the Milestone System’s cooldown to finish; on the final day, she could use Li Yao’s test assignment to pass the time, since she could only see the specific details after the cooldown ended.
“Don’t get too happy just yet. Every time Chuyao invites you out, she’s up to no good,” Sexually Repressed Shadow warned her. “What if there’s trouble again this time?”
Defeated Reflection quickly added, “Don’t say that—besides, every time we go there, we have our own motives too.”
No matter how sneaky Chuyao’s little schemes were, they couldn’t beat her own plan to rack up five-star milestones.
“Well, that’s true.”
Just like that, life at Shengling Academy settled down for a while. Even though she hadn’t attended class, she was genuinely enjoying life in Lianfeng Garden.
Minister Long came by once with news; after learning that the previous incident was a setup, he was furious at Shen Ning County and reprimanded all the security personnel in the city. But just as Xu Chuyao said, those people were just being used—they had no idea what was really going on, so interrogating them further was pointless.
As for Li Yao’s defensive strategy, Minister Long expressed his full approval.
“They’ve retreated, which proves the trouble we caused them wasn’t minor. But there’s no way they’d risk putting all their resources into you alone. You’re still a student, you should just stay at the academy.”
He thought Li Yao would lay low for several months and maybe try again next semester, but Xu Chuyao was already preparing to make a big move and earn more points for Shen Ning.
That was a promise she’d made to herself during the brawl in the forest a few days ago.
If you don’t put in the effort now, you’ll have to fight when the time comes. To avoid having to fight next time, you should ask your girlfriend for help now.
Meanwhile, Principal Lü received several invitations for Xu Chuyao. Sometimes it was the local Security Department inviting her for inspection and talks, other times it was businesses in the city offering money to have her cut the ribbon at their store openings.
Principal Lü flatly refused all these invitations, and then sent someone to investigate. Some of the invitations were genuine—after all, Li Yao was a well-known figure in the central city, and something of a minor goddess among Security Department officials.
But some of the invitations were suspect, sent by people acting on behalf of unknown third parties. Just like Shen Ning County, these people were simply being used and had no idea what was really going on.
In short, anyone coming to see Chuyao during this period was turned away by Principal Lü—except for one.
“Principal, there’s an individual of unknown identity here with an incomplete permit,” the gatekeeper called. “He says he’s from a top-secret department, sent to investigate whether any of our students are involved in criminal activity.”
It was a quiet morning at Shengling Academy, less filled with the sounds of reading and more with the scent of sharpened blades.
“Understood. Please have him wait in the reception area for a moment.”
Principal Lü hung up and quickly dialed another number. “Teacher Yu, that guy Chuyao said would come has arrived. According to her plan, go protect her immediately.”
Once he received confirmation, he could finally relax, tidy up, and get ready to head out, all the while tallying things up in his mind.
Xu Chuyao had predicted a few days ago that Monrose might send someone to investigate the evidence of her conducting private experiments, and had arranged countermeasures accordingly. At the time, Principal Lü hadn’t believed her, arguing that such an old man wouldn’t be watching her projects so closely, or have so much free time.
Besides, she brought Soulstones to school every day—the teachers only found out because her team confessed. How could Monrose possibly know?
And yet, here it was…
Lost in thought, he arrived at the reception room, where a young man in a farmer’s hat sat quietly on the sofa. The gatekeeper had indeed brought him in, but hadn’t offered so much as a glass of water.
Principal Lü waved the gatekeeper away, then greeted the guest. “To what do we owe the honor of your visit? Please forgive us for not welcoming you sooner—my apologies.”
The man stood up and presented a business card. “I am a special envoy, personally appointed by Lord Dylan, here to investigate the case of your student’s alleged involvement in a certain matter.”
“So you’re here on behalf of the venerable Monrose. Special Envoy, a pleasure to meet you.”
Though Principal Lü appeared cordial, his form of address made it clear he was putting the visitor in his place.
So what if you’re important? So what if you have status? In this world, power is what counts. We’re all in the same league—calling you “sir” is just out of courtesy, don’t forget where you are.
The envoy sensed the nuance in his words, so he spoke first: “According to the resolution of the Hearing on the Frey incident, a certain classified project is permitted for limited research only. Any private experimentation is a serious violation. We’ve received information that a student named Xu Chuyao at your academy has violated the Hearing’s decision. I’ve been sent to investigate and require her to answer questions.”
“Then I’m afraid you’re mistaken. There’s no need for words, come see for yourself.”
Without waiting for a reply, Principal Lü rose and led the way to the entrance of the training ground.
“Xu Chuyao is an exemplary student at our school. She’s only eighteen, but she’s already achieved triple defense, and yet she hasn’t let herself slack off, she trains hard every single day. Just a few days ago, she encountered members of the Supreme Society outside and nearly ran into danger. After returning, despite her illness, she decided to train day and night, perfecting a new move that could turn the tide of battle.”
Inside the training ground, a tall and beautiful girl in a JK-style uniform was practicing on several dummies and sandbags. From time to time, she let out a crisp shout, and the sounds echoing around made it feel as though thunder were rumbling in the air, her training was truly fierce.
The only odd thing was that, after each powerful strike, she’d finish with a cute little bow.
“You see, she’s really working hard, up at four in the morning for training, with Heaven watching over her—”