Half an hour later.
In the corner of a bubble tea shop on Tiann University's business street, Ji Jue stared at the almost lted ice cubes in his cup and Wen Wen across the table, who seed like a ghost about to ascend to heaven.
Ever since she left the office, she had appeared utterly spent, walking as if floating, her soul nearly flying off to the Empire.
In her brief lifeti, she had endured a heavy load of unbearable embarrassnt.
"Sis? Wen sis? Are you alright?"
Ji Jue mustered his courage, waving his hand in front of her eyes, "Don't scare ."
It wasn't that he was worried sothing was wrong with her; even if Tiann University blew up, she would be unscathed. He was more worried about what if she did sothing drastic and took him with her!
"…I really want to die."
Wen Wen lay on the table, finally responding with a voice like a wronged soul from the underworld, weeping and lanting, "Why didn't you tell , why didn't you say anything!
Ahhhh, I really want to die! Just let die…"
"It's not like I knew!"
Ji Jue felt innocent, his mind buzzing, "You suddenly pointed at my professor and told she's a alchemy master. I was clueless too! She's been my ntor for two years and I've never seen her wave her hand and change the world or block out the sun. Otherwise, why would I keep it from you?"
And you didn't give a chance to stop you anyway!
Of course, he didn't dare say the last part. What if Wen Wen, in a fit of humiliation, decided to finish him off?
Although she definitely wouldn't do that, when soone's been so nice to you, how could you possibly aggravate them further?
Without delivering a punch that could send Ji Jue and half of Tiann University to heaven thereby destroying his embarrassingly unforgettable past completely.
After chugging two liters of craft beer, Wen Wen finally caught her breath, arms crossed as she scrutinized Ji Jue, making sure he wasn't laughing at her, finally deciding against using the mory Erasure Technique on him.
Why did weird things always happen when it ca to you, you cursed creature?
Is there sothing wrong with you?
Damn it, I'm still so furious! I want to punch you!
Your head would fly off!
She sighed deeply, saying eerily, "It's a good thing I didn't drag you into the Security Bureau. It would've been problematic now. You must have used up all your luck in this lifeti here, huh?"
Ji Jue remained clueless, "Huh?"
"Ye Xian, that's Ye Xian!
The youngest master in the Federation in decades, she received the Redification rating of the Taiyi Ring at twenty-four, and it's said she's only one step away from becoming a Grandmaster now, what do you think?" she glanced at him sideways, irritably saying, "Anyway, just be glad to cling to such a big leg."
"Even if you say that, I still have no concept of it," Ji Jue forced a smile.
"Lawrence, you rember him, right?"
Wen Wen brought up an old friend everyone was familiar with., "If Lawrence's dical expertise was converted to alchemy… it would take him about seventy or eighty more years of hard work to barely touch the footprint that Professor Ye left behind at twenty-four."
"That incredible?!" Ji Jue exclaid.
Unexpectedly, Professor Ye, always quiet and unassuming, turned out to be a powerhouse even surpassing Lawrence like Wen Wen!
Truly terrifying!
Wen Wen rolled her eyes, knowing exactly what he was thinking, "Destructive power is another matter. Although the Embers Path doesn't have much lethality, soone like Professor Ye gets more respect everywhere than soone like who does the rough work."
"I respect you too, Wen sis, sincerely!" Ji Jue imdiately retorted, instinctively, almost wishing he could wear a headband that reads [Loyalty! Devotion!].
"Enough with the flattery, I've embarrassed myself enough this ti. If you really respect , just keep it to yourself, or I might have to kill you and flee to the Empire to make a living."
Wen Wen sighed and glanced at him, "Master Ye is reliable, rest assured."
Ji Jue nodded.
Of course, this was only natural.
He had been with Professor Ye for much longer than Wen Wen had.
To be fair, Professor Ye wasn't the kind of benignant figure from the books who'd sweep the floor fearing to hurt an ant or cherish a moth gauzing the lampshade, but rather, on the very first day he t her, he felt her undisguised indifference, rigor, arrogance, and a completely nonexistent empathy.
In her world, there was no air for fools to breathe.
What's more regrettable is that, in her view, most of the people in this world are fools.
As for Ji Jue?
He was just the one fool among many who was willing to strive to be a little less foolish.
As the only person in her elective class who managed to cling on and pass, he deeply understood her severity.
However, for Ji Jue, all these were almost entirely rits.
A teacher who would pinch her nose, thoroughly correct your pile of rubbish, and provide feedback, reference literature, and guidance, no matter how strict, bad-tempered, or demanding she was, was worthy enough to be revered as a Golden Body in a temple.
As long as you could keep up, she would share all knowledge exhaustively.
As long as you had the talent, she would use it to its fullest, irrespective of the scale.
Otherwise, there were only so many slots for a second-level engineer at Tiann every year; what was Ji Jue going to do, compete with those preposterously powerful golden youths from influential families using just his bare buttocks?
To put it harshly, without Professor Ye's recomndation letter, he couldn't catch up even if he sold his ass!
And as the price for it, being insulted as a try-hard, struggle bug, being ostracized and scoffed at by so-called classmates, Ji Jue really couldn't care less, dwelling blissfully in the sea of knowledge. Go play, losers!
Crack!
The brief conversation ended with a crisp sound.
From Wen Wen's beer mug, a crystal-clear and translucent flower erged, quickly dissipating into nothing.
"Alright, I'm taking off."
Wen Wen stood up, waving goodbye, "Now that you've latched onto a big thigh, hold on tight. When you beco a Great Grandmaster, rember to look out for ."
"So soon?"
Ji Jue was astonished, "Where are you going?"
"The weather's been humid recently, I'm feeling a bit overheated."
Wen Wen turned away, hiding her strained expression, striving to maintain her poise and stature, "I'm off to find so wanted criminals who can't see straight, to have a chat about life and ideals with them."
Tell them their Granny is missing them down below, send them to have a chat with her!
Thus, she departed spiritedly.
Turning awkwardness into motivation, adding bricks and tiles to the number of unmarked graves outside Cliff City.
...
Half an hour later, Ji Jue, who had idled in the tea shop until the last drop of water was gone, finally shuffled back to the office unwillingly.
Bracing himself, he pushed the door open, squeezing out an enthusiastic and innocent smile, like a Samoyed sared with lip marks, "Professor, I'm back."
"Hmm."
Behind the desk, the professor, who was brewing her second cup of strong tea, glanced up at him and gestured toward the chair for him to sit, not waiting for him to gather his thoughts before suddenly asking, "The Chosen Summon from last month, was that you?"
"...Huh?"
Ji Jue stiffened montarily, instinctively trying to cover up, but after hesitating a bit, he finally nodded, "If there was no one else."
Now it was the professor's turn to fall silent.
She looked down, watching the tea leaves undulating in the boiling water until the dust settled, appearing to contemplate sothing or perhaps just zoning out.
After a long while, she sighed deeply.
"You really did give quite the surprise."
"Huh?" Ji Jue looked confused.
"I was originally planning to let you slog it out for another two years, wait till you're in grad school to see how things go, and consider inviting you into the Embers Road... But now, it seems that won't be necessary..."
Professor Ye adjusted her glasses, speaking solemnly, "But before that, I should tell you, a Chosen One who can attract nine Superiors is highly sought after everywhere. No need to tie yourself to just one tree like .
I know Miss Wen might have told you how impressive and well-known I am, but compared to the real giants, I'm just a fringe researcher. I can't offer you anything beyond teaching you to be a craftsman. I can't even fully equip your Matrix.
And if you are willing, these old folks at the Security Bureau, the masters of the Taiyi Ring, the leaders of the Desert Market, or even the Chongguang Church, Huan Yu Heavy Industry, and Hope Hospital would offer astronomical sums. Maybe in another four or five years, you could be another Su Biluo or even another Wen Wen..."
"No, Professor!"
Ji Jue shook his head in fear, "I haven't even passed Level 2! Where do you expect to go?"
It wasn't about urgently trying to show loyalty or latching onto any thigh. It was simply that, after knowing Professor Ye's identity, Ji Jue had never considered any other options.
Let's not even ntion the Security Bureau, which even Sister Wen herself called a quagmire. Other places might be cool, impressive, and powerful, but so what?
When he was poor and unknown, did any of those places even glance his way?
Wasn't it this professor right here who was willing to lend a hand to a poor student who was good for nothing but nial tasks?
"I think it's quite good here with you." Ji Jue scratched his head, slightly embarrassed, "At least, if I had to call soone else 'professor,' I wouldn't be able to open my mouth."
...
Professor Ye didn't say anything, just sipped her tea, unmoved and not looking at him any differently. She seed to sigh as she exhaled:
"That's why it's troubleso."
"Huh?"
Ji Jue was baffled.
"It's not painful to toss aside a cheap wrench, Ji Jue. Sotis, it's more comfortable to work with scraps."
The slightly old alchemy master rubbed her temples, saying slowly, "I originally thought you were just a diocre talent worth a small effort, simple to manage without a burden, since even a poor outco would still be an improvent.
But after realizing I misjudged you, I started to regret... It's been many years since I've handled a Heavenly Artisan material."
Like an old craftsman scrutinizing raw materials.
If it were a stubborn rock, casually crafted, whether ruined, scratched, or shattered, it was simply discarded— even if completed, it was just an ornant with no significant achievent or regret.
But if soone wrapped an origin stone with red silk, entrusting it heavily into her hands, telling her there's a stunningly beautiful jade within, requesting her to carve it ticulously.
What craftsman wouldn't feel anxious?
"Don't worry, I'm just reevaluating myself. I haven't fallen so low as to hand over my projects to soone else."
As Ji Jue grew apprehensive, Ye Xian put down her teacup, stood up, and finally said, "Twelve Superior, each with its drawbacks, yet the Embers Road is the most troubleso. Stepping onto this path whether it's good or bad, no one can say.
But, since Heavenly Destiny has placed you right under my eyes from the beginning, let's see— this material of yours, whether it can turn into Heavenly Artisan or not!"
In that mont, Ji Jue froze, a chill spreading through his body.
He had always thought he had grown accustod to Professor Ye's harshness and could handle even the most troubleso tasks systematically. Brave Ji Jue was not afraid of difficulties.
It was only just now that he realized, the penetrating, cold glints thrown his way from behind those thick glasses,
were telling him,
The real hardening had not even begun!
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