[Host of Yin Han completed the random daily tasks: Good morning, good afternoon, good evening.
Reward: Minor increase in Spirit Power level.]
A wave of exhilaration surged through her entire body as the girl reached mid-stage Three-Stage Spirit Power.
“Such a marvelous achievement deserves a celebration,” suggested the Sexually Repressed Shadow. “Why not have a little celebration with Yao Yao?”
Shen Ning didn’t take its advice, having just said she’d leave right after the kiss.
“I’m heading back now. Good night.”
Xu Chuyao was kissed until she was dizzy, let out a soft “Oh,” and then immediately fell asleep.
Zzz7
Day Five, a traditional Friday. Due to the itinerary, the visitors who had come from afar would spend the weekend sightseeing in the city, so this was their last day at the Academy.
There were no public classes scheduled that day, allowing everyone free time.
As the two main stars of the exchange meeting, the two girls from Class 1, Year 3, were swarmed by many interviews.
These visitors didn’t carry long rifles or pistols but instead held notebooks and pens, jotting down notes while interviewing.
Shen Ning attracted the largest crowd; after all, she had broken records, and countless people wanted to uncover the secret of the girl’s strength.
“Student Shen Ning, may I ask—in your first market ambush, you defeated nearly a dozen opponents with First Rank Spirit Power. Did you ever imagine then that you would break through to Three-Stage Spirit Power just a few months later?”
Though there was no microphone, being surrounded and interviewed sparked the girl’s interest.
“I did think about it,” she replied seriously. “In fact, I planned it quite early on and even considered whether I could break through to Three-Stage before turning nineteen.”
It was true—if you didn’t believe her, just ask Xiao Si Nuo, who had heard her say this during past meetings with Director Luo.
“Wow, that’s an incredible plan, and even more incredible that you actually achieved it. Truly amazing… Next question: a few months ago, your progress wasn’t very fast. What adjustments did you make to suddenly improve so drastically?”
The girl nodded.
“Yes, I did make adjustments. I used to be impatient, always training hard every day, doing all kinds of exercises on the training ground with almost no personal life. Then, a few months ago, I started dating my girlfriend and realized there were many wonderful things in life. I gradually gave up extra training, and then my progress sped up.”
Another round of admiration echoed.
That answer was somewhat counterintuitive but honest, and everyone believed the girl wouldn’t lie about herself.
“Maybe that’s what they call cultivating the self by first cultivating the heart. Truly remarkable. Next question: you’ve been through many battles recently, fighting countless enemies. Any particularly profound feelings?”
“No, I just won them all.”
The white-haired girl answered happily. Nearby, the thunderous girl laughed and chatted as well.
Her interviewers weren’t interested in her actual strength; for those questions, it was better to ask Shen Ning. They mainly focused on Yao Yao’s achievements, such as clearing out the Clown Gang and the two expeditions to Ya Ha City and Freiden Free City.
“The Er Jiu Gang’s conspiracy? How to put it… a scheme that almost fooled someone talented can be called a conspiracy. To me, those little devils are just like children tricking adults for pocket money—too childish. I don’t even bother thinking about it.”
“The Ya Ha City incident was truly perilous. I can’t say much because some people here don’t have the clearance—there are confidentiality restrictions. I can only tell you that the reception we got was full of obstruction. But I had a sudden inspiration, ran out onto the street secretly to investigate, pieced together clues bit by bit, and eventually found the answer.”
“The Freiden Free City incident? Equally dangerous. After reviewing everything, we found that if I hadn’t uncovered certain things in Center City and insisted on proceeding to Free City, Professor Swina would have been fully prepared to launch another attack. Casualties would have been at least ten times worse than reality. Still, I feel some guilt—had I acted earlier, the casualties might have been even fewer…”
Xu Chuyao, who was naturally skilled at speaking off the cuff, was even more eloquent than her girlfriend during the interview.
But as always, results speak for themselves. Whatever she said here was accepted as truth.
She recounted the battles that eradicated the Clown Gang several times and shared amusing stories about the second of the Three Giants of Mining.
The crowd gradually thinned, satisfied with the interview and the notebooks filled with notes.
Just then, a broad-shouldered man squeezed his way in with great difficulty.
“Miss Xu Chuyao, Miss Xu Chuyao~”
He held a notebook larger than the others and eagerly said, “Finally, I get to interview you. I want to ask something a bit different.”
Xu Chuyao sat down and took a sip of tea, lightly nodding. “Go ahead.”
Calm and unruffled, this was the demeanor of a true master.
“I’m very curious—word is you saw through Swina’s true nature very early on,” said the broad-shouldered man. “May I ask how you did it?”
“Yes. The first time he appeared before me, I knew something was off,” Xu Chuyao recalled. “It was on the day of the Trade Plaza battle. He was the leader of the sales team, and I was the squad leader on duty. Normally, we wouldn’t interfere with each other, but he kept trying to chat with me.”
The broad-shouldered man was intrigued: “Did you find his flaw during the conversation?”
“No,” she said. “The fact that he wanted to chat with me was itself a warning. It’s my habit—when someone suddenly comes up to chat, especially without reason and unusually enthusiastic, and likes to show off in front of me, I tend to be suspicious.”
“…Is that so?”
“That’s right.” Xu Chuyao suddenly asked, “What’s your name?”
“Me? I’m… Delu.” The broad-shouldered man stumbled for half a second, then hurriedly said, “I’m also from Freiden Free City. I’ve heard Professor Swina’s name many times and always thought he was an upright and excellent person. If you hadn’t exposed his true face, I wouldn’t have known he was so hypocritical. Truly despicable.”
“Indeed.”
The Prophet Yao Yao thought for a moment. Since this name wasn’t recorded in the original, she didn’t take it to heart.
“Thank you for your answer. I’m off to interview another young lady.”
“All right, go ahead.”
After the broad-shouldered man left, he didn’t head elsewhere but quietly returned to the guest room. Taking advantage of the moment no one noticed, he crossed out his name on the guest registration form—it was not actually “Delu.” Then he left Shengling Academy.
He bought a few towels at a street vendor, wiping away cold sweat while dialing his phone.
“Qi, ascetic brother, are you all right? Guess where I am? I’m in Center City, and I even made a special visit to that young lady. I want to say you were right—she really is something else. She really is… something else.”
The Spirit Power Academy Friendship Exchange, hosted by Shengling Academy and held in Center City, concluded smoothly after the weekend.
In the final two days, the delegation explored the city’s main urban scenery and local customs, spending two wonderful days before each returned home.
Beti had planned to say goodbye to Xu Chuyao but on the last day, a student she was supervising ran into trouble.
The previous evening, a male student hadn’t returned on time and, upon return, gave no explanation. After investigation, it turned out he had gone to the Nantong Bar.
To handle this, she hurriedly led the team back, only sending a message to Xu Chuyao.
[Beti: I’m leaving. I’ve sent you the contact person and location. Remember to find him tomorrow!]
The contact person’s name was Chen Cheng, a relatively important member of the Chen Clan. The meeting spot was a music hall on the city outskirts.
On Monday, Xu Chuyao brought Shen Ning to the location.
Taking a closer look, this was the same place where the Clown Gang’s recruitment gathering had been captured before.
“Shen Cha, do you remember this place… ah, no, you don’t, because you weren’t here that day.”
Shen Ning thought carefully. Indeed, she hadn’t been there because she was at a Lesbian Bar.
Some people get praised for going to a Lesbian Bar, while others get dragged back to school overnight by their teachers for going to the Nantong Bar.
That’s the difference between Second Tier and Three-Stage.
“Let’s go inside and take a look.”
The music hall was filled with the harmonious sound of violins and orchestral music. A man dressed in traditional Tang clothing sat in the front row, gently applauding the performers.
The performance ended, and he stood to greet the two girls.
“Miss Xu Chuyao, Miss Shen Ning, good morning.”
“Hello,” Xu Chuyao said, glancing at the message Beti had sent on her phone. “You must be Chen Cheng.”
In his thirties, with a well-proportioned figure, neither tall nor short, a square-shaped face—just as described.
“That’s right, Miss Xu Chuyao,” Chen Cheng smiled. “Although this is our first meeting, it’s actually the second time we’ve cooperated.”
“The second time?”
“Yes,” he said. “I was responsible for the operation to capture the remaining Clown Gang members and hand them over to the authorities.”
Xu Chuyao remembered—by this logic, the head hawk had been caught by him.