Chapter 23: The Talk

Chapter 23: The Talk

1:00 AM.

After completing his security shift, Zhang Yu was on his way back to his suburban rental through the crowded subway and bus. The reason the subway and bus were so packed at 1 AM was that this time was the peak late-night rush hour in Songyang City, with many people commuting to and from their night shifts.

After returning home, he took a shower and checked his account balance, contemplating whether he could finally afford an air conditioner.

With 8,300 in savings, he felt a sense of financial abundance this month.

However, the thought of having to repay a 15,000 loan in two weeks made him frown.

He recalled what Bai Zhenzhen had said.

He muttered to himself, "A school contract, huh?"

If signing the contract could provide him with a substantial monthly income, he wouldn't have to worry about the loan.

But Zhang Yu knew that overthinking wouldn't help. Whether it was his performance in the Heavenly Human Martial Chart or the school contract, everything ultimately depended on his own talent and strength.

With that in mind, he took out the Neural Filler he bought from a stationery store near the school and swallowed it.

Then he sat cross-legged on his bed and began to channel the Celestial Circuit Qi Siphon, feeling the threads of Spiritual Mechanism flowing into his body.

Although he had switched his Feather Scroll's specialization to the Celestial Martial Mind Cultivation Manual for the Heavenly Human Martial Chart test, the Celestial Circuit Qi Siphon would need 24 hours to switch back before he could resume rapid progression.

But since he hadn't yet reached the third level of Dao Heart in the Celestial Martial Mind Cultivation Manual, he couldn't practice it anyway. He also needed to prepare for the Magic Competition to boost his Magic Power.

Even though the Celestial Circuit Qi Siphon couldn't progress rapidly today, its current fourth level was already helping him effectively increase his Magic Power.

So, the rest of the night passed in silent meditation.

...

The next morning.

As soon as Zhang Yu entered the classroom, he noticed something different from usual.

In Songyang High School, most students focused on their studies and cultivation, rarely paying attention to their classmates.

Even classmates might not speak to each other for months.

Zhang Yu was usually ignored when he entered the classroom.

Only someone like Zhao Tianxing would worry about whether his classmates were looking at him.

But today was different. Zhang Yu could clearly feel that some classmates were sneaking glances at him.

As soon as he sat down, Zhou Tianyi patted his shoulder and said, "The news about you being taken as a disciple by the Golden Core Sage has spread around the class."

"It seems a few people from the art exhibition mentioned it in a group chat."

As everyone knows, schools are one of the fastest places for gossip to spread.

Songyang High School, being a prestigious high school with intense cultivation pressure and a large number of students, made the spread of rumors even faster.

Not only were text messages flying around, but even photos of Zhang Yu in his security uniform from yesterday were circulating in the group chats.

Zhang Yu chuckled.

"So, my story has started spreading in the class? Truly, Songyang speed. Let it spread, then."

In these days of forced hard practice, feeling others' attention and discussion about his excellent performance was a rare pleasure for Zhang Yu.

But then he frowned, thinking of a problem.

Yesterday, Li Xuelian had secretly called him to a small meeting and told him she would reject him.

This meant that many people present didn't know he had actually been rejected by the Golden Core Sage. They all thought, as Li Xuelian had said, that he was being taken as a disciple.

"If I go to the podium to clarify, it would be pretty silly."

"Forget it, let them spread whatever they want. They'll probably forget about it in a while."

Zhang Yu closed his eyes and continued to channel the Celestial Circuit Qi Siphon, meditating and absorbing Spiritual Mechanism.

The classmates' discussions were just a temporary amusement.

As planned, his main goal was still to boost his Magic Power and prepare for the city-wide Magic Competition.

But before he could meditate for long, he was called out by his homeroom teacher, Su Haifeng.

...

The last time Su Haifeng called him for a talk was on the third day after Zhang Yu arrived in this world.

Back then, he didn't fully understand Songyang High School or its teachers.

He even mistakenly thought Su Haifeng was a caring teacher who helped poor students.

But now, as Zhang Yu followed Su Haifeng out of the classroom, he could feel the terrifying aura of this Demonstration Class homeroom teacher and grade head.

As Su Haifeng walked past, the classroom fell silent, and many students trembled.

Qian Shen remained motionless, focusing on his meditation.

Zhao Tianxing, who had just stood up to go to the bathroom, quickly sat back down and picked up a book.

Even Bai Zhenzhen sat up straight like a model student, her eyes glued to her textbook.

Everyone's nerves were on edge, hoping Su Haifeng wouldn't notice them.

This was Su Haifeng, the grade head of the first year at Songyang High School, feared by countless students and the author of the research paper "The Application Prospects of Electroshock in High School Teaching."

A man so intimidating that even a dog passing by would stop to read a few pages.

Zhang Yu followed Su Haifeng to his office, where the demon-like teacher smiled at him and said, "I heard the Starfire Cultivator wants to take you as a disciple?"

Zhang Yu didn't lie about the Golden Core Sect's intentions, knowing that such a lie would be easily exposed, putting him in a passive position.

So he honestly replied, "No, I felt the Starfire Cultivator's terms were a bit lacking, so I declined."

Su Haifeng's lips twitched.

This Zhang Yu, who came from a poor family and hadn't given him any gifts in the three months since school started, was now trying to act superior after gaining some attention.

"Is it about the contract... trying to raise your value?"

Typical of these poor students to get arrogant so quickly.

But this made Su Haifeng realize that the contract might not be as easy to sign as he thought.

"Hmm", he mused, then took out a document and said, "We've heard about your performance at the Central Tower art exhibition."

"Although your recent grades have dropped, you've been criticized by the sports teacher, and you haven't been buying medicine actively, and even the collection agency called me, the school still cares about talent and wants to provide you with some assistance."

Zhang Yu's eyes narrowed.

No wonder Su Haifeng was known as a master of psychological manipulation at Songyang High School.

Zhang Yu recalled what Bai Zhenzhen had said about the contract and guessed this was the setup for the contract negotiation.

Sure enough, Su Haifeng placed the document in front of him and continued, "The school has prepared a scholarship contract for you, with better terms than the previous Impoverished Student Aid Plan. Take a look and see if you have any issues."

Zhang Yu scanned the document and saw that if he signed the contract, the school would give him 10,000 yuan per month, but this money would need to be repaid, albeit with a much lower interest rate than a Spiritual Loan.

Additionally, the contract required him to work for ten years at an enterprise under the school's educational group, regardless of whether he went to college or not.

Songyang High School was part of the Ten Thousand Stars Education Group, which was affiliated with the Myriad Laws Sect, one of the Ten Great Sects.

This meant that if he signed the contract, Zhang Yu would have to work for the Ten Thousand Stars Education Group for ten years.

Furthermore, during the college application process, Songyang High School had the right to decide which university and major he could apply to.

"Ten thousand yuan a month, and I have to sign this indentured contract?"

Even without seeing other students' contracts, Zhang Yu could tell this one was quite disrespectful.

Zhang Yu put down the document and frowned, "Teacher, this is too low. I earn 800 yuan an hour as a security guard at the Central Tower."

"Is a temporary job really a long-term solution?" Su Haifeng countered, then changed the tone, "I know the terms of this contract are a bit low, but the school leadership has their reasons."

"After all, what exactly was tested in the Heavenly Human Martial Chart? What were the selection criteria? What were the specific qualities of all the candidates? The school doesn't have first-hand information to make a judgment, especially since you didn't manage to cultivate the martial arts from it."

"Moreover, your grades have dropped significantly this month."

"The school, after all, is a place that values grades. The six-subject 700-point evaluation system is more in line with Xian Dao principles, more reasonable, and more valued by the school board. The contract process can't escape this focus..."

Zhang Yu's frown deepened, as Su Haifeng's words made sense.

At Songyang High School, grades were the top priority.

After all, no one at the school knew the specific difficulty and power of the Celestial Martial Mind Cultivation Manual, let alone the requirement of a third-level Dao Heart.

And Zhang Yu didn't have the right to spread the Celestial Martial Mind Cultivation Manual, nor did he have anyone to vouch for his claims about it.

Zhang Yu: "I can't accept this contract."

Su Haifeng smiled, thinking that Zhang Yu was about to negotiate.

He said calmly, "Don't rush. As your homeroom teacher, I can help you get better terms."

Zhang Yu: "Can you offer me the same terms as Bai Zhenzhen?"

Su Haifeng didn't answer directly but laughed, the meaning behind his laughter clear.

Then he said, "Bai Zhenzhen's contract isn't under my jurisdiction, but I can give you a response. She is the top student with 650 points. How many points do you have?"

Zhang Yu: "If I become the top student, can we negotiate everything?"

Seeing Zhang Yu's serious face, Su Haifeng smiled and put the contract away.

"Your grades are up to you."

"The contract mainly depends on your grades, with some flexibility in the details. But overall, it's divided into four levels: A, B, C, and D."

"There's a monthly exam in two weeks. If you're dissatisfied with a D-level contract, we can talk again after your next exam results."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end