Sitting beside her was Shi Zhongshan of the Rock Clan.

The two of them nodded and smiled at him with friendly attitudes. After all, they were both from Cangyun Prefecture, making them fellow provincials.

“Shixiong Xiao’s feat yesterday has already spread everywhere.”

Mu Xinlan gave a shallow smile. Her expression was like spring water rippling outward, refreshing and moving. She handed over her disciple token. “Let us add each other as friends. In the future, it will be easier for us, fellow provincials from Cangyun Prefecture, to keep in touch.”

“Me too.”

Shi Zhongshan also handed over his token.

Xiao Che naturally did not refuse and added them both. Another friend meant another path in life.

Just as he finished, a faint medicinal fragrance wafted over. Liu Ruyan, the freshman from the Alchemy Hall, had approached them at some point. She wore a purple dress that complemented her snow-white skin, and her figure was elegantly curved.

“Shixiong Xiao.”

Liu Ruyan’s voice was crisp. “I have heard of you for a long time. I am Liu Ruyan from the Alchemy Hall. How about we add each other as friends as well? If you have any needs for alchemy in the future, you can come find me.”

“Shimei Liu is too kind.”

He added her just as readily. Regardless of what her intentions were, he would add her first and worry later.

This scene immediately caused many male disciples to widen their eyes, followed by low gasps of shock.

“Am I seeing things? Fairy Liu… took the initiative to add him as a friend?”

“She is third on the Beauty List! How many seniors have tried to add her and failed?”

“Just what is this guy’s background? Even Fairy Liu…”

In the front row, Lin Xuan watched Xiao Che being surrounded by the crowd and let out a cold snort before turning his head away. He was flanked by several disciples who also hailed from prominent prefectures.

Feng Mohan sat alone by the window on the far left, cradling his sheathless heavy sword. He kept his eyes closed to rest his mind, completely indifferent to everything around him.

The other freshmen from Tianshu Hall also arrived one after another.

Wu Hong greeted Xiao Che and sat down next to Shi Zhongshan. Since both of them followed a heavy, physical cultivation style, they got along quite well.

The gentle and refined Shen Qinghe nodded slightly to Xiao Che and sat quietly beside Mu Xinlan.

Lu Mingxin found a corner near the front, his fingers tracing something in the air as if calculating.

Soon, a middle-aged instructor with a sharp aura stepped onto the podium and began the lecture.

The content was explained in a way that made deep concepts easy to understand. He started from the most basic sword grips, force application, and the connection between sword strikes. Although it was titled “Basics,” it contained many insights that pointed directly to the essence of the sword.

Xiao Che listened intently. Combining these insights with his own comprehension of the *Pure Yang Golden Fire Sword Manual*, he found the lecture quite rewarding.

During the mid-class break, the hall became noisy.

Xiao Che was chatting with Mu Xinlan and Shi Zhongshan when he suddenly felt the hall go silent. Many gazes shifted toward the entrance.

He looked up.

It was Bai Ling.

His scalp felt a bit numb.

*She couldn’t possibly have found out I earned contribution points from the tower and come specifically to collect the debt, right? But I just spent it all…*

Bai Ling was dressed in a lime-green celestial dress. The hem of her skirt swayed gently, highlighting her jade-like skin and graceful figure.

She wore a charming smile. Her gaze swept across the hall and landed on Xiao Che, after which she walked over with light steps.

Wherever she passed, the disciples reflexively made way for her. Their eyes followed her moving figure as they whispered among themselves.

“Why is she here? Isn’t Senior Sister Bai Ling a teaching assistant? She isn’t in charge of this class, is she?”

“Is she here to find someone? Looking at the direction… It’s Xiao Che?”

“Heavens, he truly is a role model for our generation! Fairy Liu just left, and Senior Sister Bai Ling arrives! This treatment…”

Xiao Che’s heart skipped a beat.

*Oh no! The creditor has come to the door! In broad daylight and under the watchful eyes of the crowd, is she going to publicly demand payment?*

Bai Ling had already reached him. Her eyes rippled with light, her smile full of mirth.

“Junior Brother Xiao, you’re quite hardworking.”

Xiao Che gave a dry laugh, his mind racing to find an excuse.

“Senior… Senior Sister Bai, what a coincidence. I was just planning to…”

Before he could finish, Bai Ling blinked and took another light step closer. Her bright smile made him feel even more guilty.

“Planning to do what? Senior Sister is here because she has official business with you.”

As she spoke, she naturally sat down in the empty seat beside him, her lime-green skirt brushing against the stone bench.

Instantly, this area became the focus of the entire hall.

A flash of surprise crossed Liu Ruyan’s beautiful eyes.

In the front row, Lin Xuan’s face darkened even further.

The discussions among the disciples were becoming impossible to suppress.

“Look! She sat down! Senior Sister Bai Ling actually sat next to him!”

“And they say they have no relationship? They’re practically pressed together!”

“I am so envious! To be targeted by the senior sister ranked second on the Beauty List right after entering the academy… No, she’s the one approaching him!”

“Tsk, what’s so great about him? Isn’t it just because he has a handsome face?”

Looking at Bai Ling’s flower-like smiling face, Xiao Che felt like he was sitting on a bed of needles.

Other than collecting debt, what other “official business” could she have with him? If she brought it up in front of everyone, he would lose a lot of face.

“Senior… Senior Sister, what is it? How about we talk after class?” Xiao Che tried to struggle.

“Sure.”

Bai Ling propped her chin on her hand, looking at him with a beaming smile. “Wait for me at the entrance after class. Don’t even think about slipping away.”

After saying that, she didn’t wait for Xiao Che’s response. She stood up gracefully and left, leaving behind a slender, beautiful silhouette.

Watching her leave, Xiao Che felt even less certain.

*Wait for her? She clearly said that because she’s afraid I’ll run… She really is here to collect the debt!*

Shi Zhongshan leaned over and gave a thumbs-up.

“Shidi Xiao, you’re amazing! Senior Sister Bai Ling came to find you personally and even made an appointment to see you after class! I’m impressed!”

“Indeed, Shidi Xiao. The way Senior Sister Bai Ling looks at you is quite different from how she looks at others.”

Shen Qinghe covered her mouth and chuckled, her tone gentle.

Even the usually quiet Lu Mingxin looked up from his sketching.

“Statistically speaking, it is extremely rare in past records for Senior Sister Bai Ling to publicly schedule a meeting with a freshman. Shidi Xiao, you may have created a new data point for observation.”

“What are you all talking about! I owe her money! A massive debt! She came to demand payment!”

Xiao Che’s scalp felt numb from their words, and he couldn’t help but blur it out.

Wu Hong froze for a moment, then burst into laughter, his palm—large as a cattail fan—slapping down on Xiao Che’s shoulder. “Shidi Xiao, that excuse of yours isn’t even as believable as the ones Er Niu from my hometown makes up!”

Shen Qinghe smiled without speaking, clearly not believing him.

Lu Mingxin analyzed calmly.

“Senior Sister Bai Ling has a transcendent status and immense wealth. Based on common logic, a standard amount of contribution points would not be enough to make her seek you out personally.”

“Such an action would result in more loss than gain for her. Therefore, the theory of ‘debt collection’ is logically inconsistent and cannot be established.”

A light flickered in his clear eyes as he gave his final conclusion.

Xiao Che: “…”

*Fine, no one believes the truth.*

He truly had a grievance he couldn’t voice. He let out a resigned sigh.

During the second half of the class, he was somewhat distracted, pondering how to slip away later.

As soon as the bell rang, Xiao Che grabbed his things and tried to sneak out through the back door.

Just as he stepped out, he heard that soft, flirtatious voice.

“Junior Brother Xiao, where are you going in such a hurry?”

Bai Ling was leaning against a cluster of emerald bamboo. Her lime-green dress complemented the bamboo, making her look more delicate than a flower. She was looking at him with a beaming smile.

The eyes of several passing disciples went straight as their footsteps slowed down.

***

NOTES

Session Glossary Updates (Memorized):

– 蒼雲府 = Cangyun Prefecture

– 柳如煙 = Liu Ruyan

– 美人榜 = Beauty List (Ranking of the most beautiful female disciples)

– 純陽金火劍訣 = Pure Yang Golden Fire Sword Manual

Footnotes:

TN1: Beauty List (美人榜): A common trope in cultivation novels where female students/cultivators are ranked by their appearance and charm.

Translator’s Note: Frednadro Steph, here. Xiao Che is learning that in the world of cultivation, being “indebted” to a top-tier beauty is often misinterpreted as a romantic entanglement. Good luck explaining that one to the fans!

Ink Hub, Frenadro Steph, your translator. Enjoy, and drop feedback; it sharpens the blade.