In the office, Mentor Yu Xuan gently nibbled on Yan Zhen’s left ear, spreading her Water Mystic Force evenly across the wound with the tip of her tongue.
The room was utterly silent, save for the occasional soft slurping sound.
After some time had passed, Mentor Yu Xuan finally released him. She peered closely at the spot. The bruising had completely faded, restoring the skin to its original fairness, and even the cut had been fully healed.
No more excuses to keep going now.
Mentor Yu Xuan couldn’t help thinking, her pink tongue darting out to lick her lips with a hint of lingering reluctance.
She paused, then suddenly realized what she was doing. Embarrassment flooded her heart.
“Yan…”
Mentor Yu Xuan’s voice trailed off as she noticed Yan Zhen’s dazed expression—like he was on the verge of melting away, his eyes unfocused as if gazing up at the stars.
A wave of shame washed over Mentor Yu Xuan. She inwardly berated herself. What was she doing? Taking advantage of Yan Zhen while he was injured with such indecent behavior.
“Yan Zhen, are you alright?”
Yan Zhen nodded blankly.
Seeing this, Mentor Yu Xuan stimulated his forehead with the cooling touch of her Water Mystic Force, snapping him back to his senses.
Yan Zhen shook his head.
“I’m fine now.”
“Mm, no major issues left. You… you should put your pants back on. It’d be hard to explain if anyone saw.”
Only then did Yan Zhen notice his awkward predicament. He hurriedly grabbed his pants and pulled them up over his legs, fastening his collar, belt, and straightening everything out.
“Ahem, Mentor, thank you for treating me.”
Though he itched to make a quick escape from the awkwardness, a thank-you was still in order.
“No need to thank me. It’s what I should do.” Realizing how that could be misinterpreted in the current situation, Mentor Yu Xuan quickly added, “As your mentor, it’s only natural for me to look after my students.”
“Th-then I’ll head out?”
Mentor Yu Xuan hummed in assent. After a pause, she said apologetically, “Yan Zhen, you need to rest up from your injury. Let’s postpone tonight’s… that agreement for now.”
She watched him nervously, worried he might be disappointed. After all, Yan Zhen seemed quite eager for this evening’s Secret Teaching session.
That agreement? Yan Zhen pondered for a moment before it clicked.
Earlier, he’d learned that Mentor Yu Xuan had been secretly practicing Knead Dao. To avoid embarrassment, he’d boldly confessed his own kink, claiming to be a fellow enthusiast. This led her to assume he was in a state of restless agitation and in need of corrective guidance!
With his focus on drawing the Fire Symbol these past couple of days, he’d completely forgotten about it.
Postponed now? Perfect—ideally, indefinitely!
“Got it, Mentor. I’ll take good care of my injury.”
Mentor Yu Xuan felt a weight lift from her heart.
Her educational approach was spot on—go with the flow, and look how compliant he was being now.
As long as she satisfied his curiosity about the opposite sex, he’d focus single-mindedly on cultivation, just like in his previous life.
It seemed her future Secret Teaching sessions would need even more effort. Her current repertoire probably wasn’t enough yet.
She watched Yan Zhen leave the office, then closed the door behind him, drew the curtains, and changed into a fresh mentor’s uniform.
…
Yan Zhen first stopped by Beginner Class 1, but Yan Meng’er wasn’t there. He figured she’d gone off to eat alone since he hadn’t come looking for her—and it was nearly mealtime anyway.
Rubbing his empty stomach, Yan Zhen headed to the cafeteria, grabbed a quick bite, and returned to class.
The room was empty.
Yan Zhen blinked in surprise. A moment later, it dawned on him: everyone else had already gone elsewhere to prepare for class.
Mystic Academy’s schedule was straightforward. Mornings alternated between theory classes and Qi Condensation Class, while afternoons alternated between Mystic Technique Class and Practical Combat Class, switching every three days.
The last day of each month and the first of the next were reserved for the Monthly Assessment and results announcement. Those who met the cultivation benchmarks would “level up”—from Beginner to Intermediate, Intermediate to Advanced. The Nine Stars Ranking, open only to Nine-Star Mystic Practitioners, would also update.
Beyond that, students who reached Mystic Scholar would join the Seed Echelon, preparing for advanced studies at Holy Land Academy.
All of that still felt distant to Yan Zhen.
This morning had been Qi Condensation Class, so the afternoon was Practical Combat Class—at the Outdoor Dojo, no less.
When Yan Zhen arrived at the Outdoor Dojo, class hadn’t started yet. Students were warming up in pairs.
He glanced around and realized he was the only one without a partner. With a shrug, he began warming up solo.
In a corner, Mi Xue’er and Yan Ruyu were paired together. Spotting him, they hurried over.
“Yan Zhen, I heard you clashed with the Discipline Mentor earlier?”
“You okay, Little Brother Yan Zhen?”
They noticed the two or three tears in his clothes, their eyes filling with concern.
Yan Zhen shook his head. “Nothing serious—just a minor injury. Mentor Yu Xuan already treated it.”
The two girls breathed a sigh of relief.
“How’d you end up crossing the Discipline Mentor?” Yan Ruyu asked worriedly. “What happened?”
Yan Zhen gave them a quick rundown of events.
Mi Xue’er thought for a moment. “So it was because of Meng’er?”
“Don’t tell her. No need for that girl to overthink it.”
With that, Yan Zhen resumed his warm-ups.
The Practical Combat Mentor arrived, and class began. Pairs took turns sparring on the platforms while the mentor offered commentary and guidance from below.
As Yan Zhen debated which platform to join, someone blocked his path—the senior from Class 1 who’d picked a fight with him right after enrollment.
The leader and his two buddies were all Six-Star Mystic Practitioners, with the rest at Five-Star.
They’d tried to hassle him before, but Mi Xue’er and Yan Ruyu had pulled him away before it escalated. Then he’d blocked a palm from Lan Ke, earning their respect and dousing their underestimation. Now, with Practical Combat Class allowing free opponent selection, dodging a challenge would brand him a coward. Time to settle those old scores.
The trio came to provoke him, Yan Zhen met their challenge, and after some pointless trash talk, the system task triggered.
【Ding! Key Plot Activation】
【Current Plot—Chapter 77: Crushing Six-Star】
【Role-Playing Requirement: Defeat a Six-Star Mystic Practitioner in crushing fashion, then taunt them to all three come at you at once】
【Completion: 0%】
“Go get ’em, Little Brother Yan Zhen!”
From the sidelines, Mi Xue’er cheered enthusiastically, her beautiful eyes sparkling. As a reincarnator, she knew just how cool Yan Zhen was about to be.
She’d fallen for him at first sight—lusting after his body, really—but her total surrender had begun with this very fight.
Yan Ruyu, on the other hand, was worried. A straight-up duel favored Yan Zhen greatly; he’d even thrashed the Seven-Star Mystic Practitioner Liu Xing. But she knew these class guys loved dirty tricks and schemes, impossible to guard against completely.
One slip, and he’d fall into their trap—especially since this was a rules-bound platform match.
On the platform, the two youths faced off.
The new student taken under Mentor Yu Xuan’s wing, Yan Zhen
VS
Intermediate Class 1’s strongest senior, Wang Dong!
The Practical Combat Mentor watched with keen interest. Sensing the Mystic Practitioner auras slowly rising from both, he silently gauged how many rounds the fight would last.
It was one of his hobbies.
The veterans knew it well and promptly asked for his take.
The Practical Combat Mentor spoke measuredly. “The tide will turn after ten rounds. Victory will be all but decided by fifteen. They might have trump cards, of course, but I doubt either will use them here.”
Then, the battle began.
