It was 1 a.m.
Zhang Yu, having just finished his security shift, was squeezing his way through the subway and bus to return to his rented apartment in the suburbs.
As for why the buses and subways were still packed at this hour, it was because 1 a.m. marked the peak of the night shift rush in Songyang City, with many people commuting to and from work.
After getting home and taking a shower, Zhang Yu checked his account balance and wondered if he could finally afford to buy an air conditioner.
After all, with 8,300 yuan in savings, he felt a bit more financially secure this month.
However, the thought of having to repay a 15,000 yuan loan in two weeks made him frown.
He recalled what Bai Zhenzhen had said and muttered to himself, "The school contract?" If signing the contract could bring him a substantial monthly income, he wouldn’t have to worry about the loan anymore.
But Zhang Yu knew that overthinking wouldn’t help.
Whether it was his performance during the Heavenly Martial Diagram test or the school contract, everything ultimately depended on his own talent and strength.
With that in mind, he took out the neural supplement he had bought from the stationery store near the school and swallowed it.
Then, he sat cross-legged on his bed and began circulating the Zhou Tian Qi Gathering Technique, feeling the strands of spiritual energy from the heavens and earth flow into his body.
Although he had switched his focus to the Heavenly Martial Heart Refining Technique for the Heavenly Martial Diagram test earlier, the Zhou Tian Qi Gathering Technique would only be available for rapid improvement again after 24 hours.
Since his Dao Heart hadn’t reached level 3 yet, he couldn’t practice the Heavenly Martial Heart Refining Technique effectively.
For now, he needed to focus on preparing for the upcoming magic competition by boosting his mana.
Even though the Zhou Tian Qi Gathering Technique couldn’t be rapidly improved today, having already reached level 4, it still helped him effectively increase his mana.
Thus, the night passed quietly as Zhang Yu continued his meditation.
...
The next morning, as soon as Zhang Yu entered the classroom, he noticed something unusual.
Normally, most students at Songyang High School were so focused on their own studies and cultivation that they rarely paid attention to their classmates.
Even two people in the same class might go months without speaking a word to each other.
Zhang Yu, for instance, usually entered the classroom without anyone noticing him.
Only someone like Zhao Tianxing would care about whether his classmates were watching him.
But today was different.
Zhang Yu could clearly feel the occasional glances from his classmates as he walked in.
As soon as he sat down, Zhou Tianyi patted him on the shoulder and said, "The news about you being taken in as a disciple by a Golden Core Master has spread in the class. It seems like those who went to the art exhibition with Qian Shen mentioned it in the group chat."
As everyone knew, schools were one of the fastest places for rumors to spread.
And Songyang High School, being a top-tier school with immense academic pressure and a high number of students with phones, was no exception.
Not only had text messages spread, but even photos of Zhang Yu in his security uniform from yesterday were circulating in the group.
Zhang Yu chuckled.
"So my story is spreading in the class? That’s the Songyang speed for you. Let it spread then."
In the midst of the daily grind of intense cultivation, enjoying the attention and gossip about his achievements was a rare pleasure for Zhang Yu.
But then he frowned, remembering a complication.
Yesterday, Li Xuelian had secretly called him into a small meeting to inform him that he had been rejected.
This meant that many people in the room didn’t know he had actually been turned down by the Golden Core Master and still believed, as Li Xuelian had said, that he was about to become a disciple.
"If I go up to the podium now to clarify, it would just make me look foolish," Zhang Yu thought.
"Forget it, let them spread the rumors. They’ll probably forget about it after a while."
Closing his eyes, Zhang Yu continued to circulate the Zhou Tian Qi Gathering Technique, absorbing spiritual energy.
The classmates’ gossip was just a temporary amusement.
As planned, his main goal was still to focus on improving his mana and preparing for the city-wide magic competition.
However, Zhang Yu hadn’t been meditating for long before his homeroom teacher, Su Haifeng, called him out.
...
The last time Su Haifeng had called Zhang Yu for a talk was on his third day in this world.
Back then, Zhang Yu hadn’t fully understood Songyang High School or its teachers.
He had even mistakenly thought Su Haifeng was a kind teacher who cared about poor students.
But now, as Zhang Yu followed Su Haifeng outside the classroom, he could feel the terrifying aura of this model class homeroom teacher and grade-level director.
Wherever Su Haifeng passed, the classroom fell silent, and the students trembled in fear.
Qian Shen didn’t dare move, focusing intently on his meditation.
Zhao Tianxing, who had just stood up to go to the bathroom, quickly sat back down and picked up a book to read.
Even Bai Zhenzhen sat upright like a primary school student, staring intently at her textbook.
Everyone’s nerves were on edge, hoping Su Haifeng’s gaze wouldn’t fall on them.
This was Su Haifeng, the grade-level director of Songyang High School, the man countless students feared, and the author of the research paper "The Application Prospects of Electric Shock in High School Education."
Even a dog passing by him would have to read a few pages of a book.
Zhang Yu followed Su Haifeng into the office, where the "demon king" smiled at him and said, "I heard that Master Xinghuo wants to take you as his disciple?"
Zhang Yu had no intention of lying to the school about becoming a disciple of a Golden Core Master.
After all, such a lie could easily be exposed, leaving him in a difficult position.
So he replied honestly, "No, I felt Master Xinghuo’s conditions weren’t good enough, so I turned him down."
Su Haifeng’s mouth twitched.
Zhang Yu, who came from a poor family and hadn’t given him any gifts in the three months since school started, was now putting on airs after a bit of success.
"Is this about the contract… trying to raise your own value?" Su Haifeng thought.
These poor kids were always so quick to get arrogant.
But this meant that signing the contract later might not be so easy.
"Hmm," Su Haifeng hummed, then took out a document and said, "The school is aware of your performance at the art exhibition in the Central Building. Although your grades have been slipping recently, you’ve been criticized by the PE teacher, haven’t been proactive in buying medicine, and even had debt collectors calling me, the school still cares about talent and has decided to offer you some help."
Zhang Yu narrowed his eyes.
As expected of the man known as the "demon king" of Songyang High School, he was already laying the groundwork for manipulation.
Zhang Yu recalled what Bai Zhenzhen had said about the contract and guessed this was a prelude to discussing the terms.
Sure enough, Su Haifeng placed the document in front of him and continued, "The school has prepared a financial aid contract for you, with better terms than the previous aid program for poor students. Take a look and see if there are any issues."
Zhang Yu glanced over it and noticed that signing the contract would give him 10,000 yuan a month, but the money had to be repaid, albeit with lower interest than a loan.
Additionally, the contract required him to work for ten years at a company under the school’s educational group, regardless of whether he got into university.
Songyang High School was part of the Wanxing Education Group, which was under the Wanfa Sect, one of the ten major sects.
This meant that signing the contract would bind Zhang Yu to the Wanxing Education Group for ten years.
Moreover, during the university application process, Songyang High School had the right to decide which university and major he could apply to.
"10,000 yuan a month, and I have to sign this kind of indentured servitude?" Even without seeing other students’ contracts, Zhang Yu could tell this one was insulting.
He put the document down and frowned.
"Teacher, isn’t this treatment a bit too low? I earn 800 yuan an hour working as a security guard at the Central Building."
"Temporary work can’t last forever," Su Haifeng countered, then changed his tone.
"I know the terms of this contract are a bit low, but the school leadership has its reasons. After all, the Heavenly Martial Diagram test at the art exhibition—what exactly was being tested? What were the selection criteria? What were the specific qualities of the candidates? The school doesn’t have firsthand information, so we can’t make a judgment. Besides, you didn’t master the martial art in the end. On the other hand, your grades have been slipping this month."
"The school is ultimately a place that values grades. The six-subject, 700-point evaluation system is more aligned with the Dao, more reasonable, and more valued by the school board. The contract process can’t escape this fact…"
Zhang Yu’s frown deepened because Su Haifeng wasn’t wrong.
At Songyang High School, grades were ultimately the most important.
After all, aside from him, no one at the school knew the true difficulty and power of the Heavenly Martial Heart Refining Technique, nor did they know it required a level 3 Dao Heart.
Zhang Yu didn’t have the right to spread the technique, and no one would vouch for his claims about it.
"I can’t accept this contract," Zhang Yu said.
Su Haifeng smiled slightly, thinking Zhang Yu was about to ask for a higher price.
He said calmly, "Don’t rush. I’m your homeroom teacher, after all. I can help you negotiate better terms."
"Can you match the terms you offered Bai Zhenzhen?" Zhang Yu asked.
Su Haifeng didn’t answer directly but laughed instead, the meaning behind his laughter clear.
Then he said, "Bai Zhenzhen’s contract wasn’t handled by me, but I can give you a response. Bai Zhenzhen is the top student in the grade with 650 points. What’s your score?"
"If I become the top student in the grade, can we negotiate anything?" Zhang Yu asked.
Looking at Zhang Yu’s serious expression, Su Haifeng smiled and took the contract back.
"How much you can achieve depends on your own ability. The contract is primarily based on grades. While there’s some flexibility in the details, it’s generally divided into four levels: A, B, C, and D. The monthly exam is in two weeks. If you’re not satisfied with the D-level contract, we can talk again after your next exam results come out."
(End of Chapter)