Luo Qingchuan more or less understood what Su Yingxue’s most dreaded “heart puzzle” was.

He gently held the girl’s hand and sat with her on the bench by the other wall.

Su Yingxue’s cheeks were flushed red, and she kept her head buried, saying nothing.

When the students’ aptitude assessments had nearly concluded—

Lu Wu stepped to the center and waved his wide sleeve. The Spirit-Seeker and Truth-Breaker Mirror, along with the wooden table, all vanished like a magic trick, drawing gasps of amazement from the students.

With his hands behind his back, Lu Wu was about to smile and announce the next part of the day, when his expression subtly shifted.

Just now, his divine sense had suddenly detected a hazy and terrifying aura—like a fanged beast hidden at the bottom of the Nether Sea—someone stronger than Lu Wu himself!

The aura felt slightly familiar...

Was it her from Quexie?

Why was she here? Wasn’t she assigned to handle the case of the Foundation Establishment battle at the bar?

But since the woman didn’t appear openly, Lu Wu acted as if nothing had happened and said calmly:

“Alright, tongxue, thank you for your hard work and cooperation. Next, it’s time for class placements.”

“Class placements?”

“Lu laoshi, there’s only this few of us. We still need to split into classes?”

“How are we getting divided?”

The students buzzed with questions.

Lu Wu patiently waited for half a minute, then smiled and said, “You should know, in the cultivation sects of the past, and in most ancient traditions, taking disciples and becoming a master was a very formal affair. The three of us teachers will each take on different students so we can teach according to their strengths and have more time to guide you individually.”

At this moment, the two laoshi beside Lu Wu stepped forward.

“I’m Zhang Jin,” the male teacher said with a stern face. “I specialize in talisman arrays and alchemy. I’m not like Lu qianbei. If you become my student and don’t apply yourself, I will punish you.”

Luo Qingchuan glanced at Zhang Jin.

He looked to be in his thirties, with upright features and a square face. His expression was so stiff it seemed he lacked any compassion.

But Luo Qingchuan knew this person’s mind was devious and twisted. Though the future hadn’t yet arrived, it was unclear whether Zhang Jin had changed or not—and whether he’d still do that thing to his students.

In any case, he was worth keeping an eye on.

“Lin Yu,” the female teacher said briefly. She looked like a mature jiejie (older sister) in corporate attire, with a striking figure and a short, to-the-point manner. “Sword cultivator.”

Quite a few male students suddenly became interested in swordsmanship. Even those with existing traditions started considering betraying their own sects.

Then came Lu Wu’s turn. He spoke slowly: “I specialize in Five Elements techniques and also body cultivation, with a rather broad range of knowledge. Even if you’re not assigned to me, you may still come to any of us three with your questions.”

“I’ve already reviewed your basic profiles. Now I’ll assign you each a personal master. Once I call your name, please go to your designated teacher.”

Lu Wu began reading names.

Naturally, the most talented—Zuo Tian—was assigned to Lu Wu.

Zuo Tian was the protagonist of destiny. He could learn anything with ease, making him a perfect fit for Lu Wu.

The reason Zuo Tian would frequently use a sword in the future came down to two points. One, he thought swords were cool. Two, he would obtain an ancient immortal sword. Why wouldn’t he use it?

Su Yingxue was assigned to Lin Yu to specialize in swordsmanship.

Luo Qingchuan ended up with Zhang Jin. He stood and walked over to him, noticing that Zhang Jin’s students were all rather average in talent.

Zhang Jin’s gaze lingered on Luo Qingchuan for just a moment before moving away indifferently.

Though Luo Qingchuan’s senses were far sharper than normal people’s now, he still caught the flicker of jealousy and disdain in that look.

So Luo Qingchuan smiled slightly.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator like Zhang Jin probably didn’t expect that his life had already been marked by a so-called “demonic cultivator.”

“Luo Qingchuan.”

Suddenly, everyone in the gymnasium seemed to hear a soft, drifting voice.

It wasn’t loud—delicate and cute—like a middle school underclassman.

Lu Wu’s expression shifted subtly. He gave Luo Qingchuan a strange and puzzled glance before looking toward the gymnasium entrance.

By now, the sun was high in the sky.

Bathed in sunlight, the girl’s shadow stretched long across the floor, like a sleek black sword.

Her silver-white heels stepped on her own shadow as she walked forward slowly. The skin on her slender calves appeared nearly translucent under the light, with faint veins visible beneath.

Her two small hands were clasped behind her back. Her pale fingers were delicate and soft, and her pink nails bore little white crescent moons.

Lu Wu quickly stepped forward and waved his broad hand in a respectful greeting.

Both of them had the surname Lu, but they were not related by blood.

Lu Chuning nodded slightly, giggling. “Lu Wu qianbei, you were once a star among the heavens. Now you carry yourself so low, like dust.”

Lu Wu gave a bitter smile.

“There are dragons in the heavens, and Lu Wu is not meant to dance with them.”

“Oh? But some people just love dancing with dragons.”

“Hmm?” Lu Wu straightened up, a bit confused.

Lu Chuning raised her fair hand and pointed toward Luo Qingchuan, who was trying to quietly hide among the crowd. She smiled, “I’d like to borrow one of your students. That one.”

The crowd erupted in a buzz.

Luo Qingchuan couldn’t hide anymore. Holding back his panic, he stepped forward.

He pointed to his own face in confusion. “Me?”

He really was confused.

Why… why had Lu Chuning from Quexie come looking for him again?!

How on earth had he been exposed?

Did she already know he was a demonic cultivator?!

Lu Wu felt a tinge of unease. “May I ask… what do you need him for?”

“To make him my student, of course,” Lu Chuning said with a light laugh. “Is that alright, Lu Wu qianbei?”

“It would be an honor.”

Lu Wu hesitated a moment, then asked, “May I know the reason?”

“Hmm… Luo Qingchuan is very good-looking?”

The girl chuckled with her hands behind her back. Her eyes curved in a childish grin, but her dark pupils radiated a quiet stillness, and her red eyeliner added a striking charm.

Lu Chuning stared at Luo Qingchuan and continued with a smile, “I like him quite a bit. You know, the Piercing Illusion mirror is actually a spiritual artifact I crafted. It gave you a pretty good evaluation.”

Luo Qingchuan couldn’t help but shiver.

“I don’t agree.” Su Yingxue walked forward step by step, her gaze as cold as a winter that blanketed the heavens.

This girl with the surname Lu gave Su Yingxue an intense sense of crisis.

She had a strong feeling that if Luo Qingchuan left with Lu Chuning, something terrible would definitely happen. That little brat looked shady as hell!

She was clearly just a kid, yet wore heavy eyeliner trying to act like a mature woman—how awful!

Lu Chuning tilted her head, her voice crisp, “You seem to like him quite a bit? What is he to you?”

Su Yingxue’s earlier imposing aura crumbled in an instant. Her pretty face flushed red, and she pouted, “None of your business… Anyway, if you want to be his teacher, I don’t agree.”

A flicker of contemplation passed through Lu Chuning’s deep gaze.

She recalled that ambiguous selfie.

Lu Chuning’s little face went blank, stunned for several seconds.

Then the corners of her lips curled upward. Her charming gaze slid away from Su Yingxue and landed on Luo Qingchuan with a mysterious smile—like someone who’d found leverage. Luo Qingchuan instantly felt a pang of guilt.

…Crap. Lu Chuning already knows my secret?

Am I going to get kidnapped, locked up, and tortured by her?

Not that kind of thing, please!
…