Chapter 28

C28 – The First Meeting with the Principal

“No! I don’t recognize it! You’ve mistaken me for someone else!”

Zhou Mu’s head shook like a bobblehead, leaving Goldie completely baffled.

What happened to the deep bond between master and servant?

What about the love and affection?

In just a few minutes, he’s pretending not to know her?

“Boss...”

Goldie almost called out instinctively, but then a light bulb went off in his head.

Could this woman... possibly be too formidable even for the boss to handle?

“Boss, what’s with the act? You look ridiculous!”

Goldie didn’t hold back his mockery, acting as though he truly didn’t recognize Zhou Mu.

“And you?”

The woman turned her gaze to Hai Ming and inquired.

“I’m an orphan!”

Hai Ming declared with conviction. After a brief pause, he added, “And so is he!”

Zhou Mu: “...”

“Enough with the charade. Your stories are already legendary across the university. The sole heir of the Zhou family, with elders wielding absolute influence over both the military and commerce in Ambergrasp province. A prodigy of this generation, having bonded with two lordly spirit animals, the dragon and phoenix species. As long as you don’t meet an untimely end, you’re destined for greatness.”

The woman’s laughter was light and airy, and as she moved, the atmosphere seemed to shift. “You’re not too shabby either. A support spirit animal with such a rare skill—if nurtured properly, you’ll have the elite vying for your allegiance.”

“Thank you for the vote of confidence.”

Zhou Mu nodded, shooting Goldie a knowing look, prompting him to leap from the woman’s embrace.

“Heh, such a dull man. But I’m in no rush; our paths will cross again.”

The woman sent a flirtatious look Zhou Mu’s way before sashaying off.

“Tsk tsk, Uncle Zhou’s going to be one lucky man with her...”

Watching the woman’s retreating figure, Hai Ming quickly wiped the drool from his lips.

Caught between frustration at unmet expectations and the envy of wishing to be in another’s shoes!

“You’re overthinking it. I won’t be going home for a whole year.”

Zhou Mu remained humble, eschewing any sense of self-importance. “But what exactly happened with this attack? And the Beast Tide—I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off.”

“The Beast Tide was merely a diversion. The Brightsmiths’ true target is the Fire Grounds.”

“The Fire Grounds?”

Hearing the principal’s words, Zhou Mu was puzzled.

It was his first time hearing the name, and his instincts...

Never mind, he thought, dismissing his earlier intuition as incorrect.

“The Fire Grounds is a secret realm under the control of the Ambergrasp area command, rich in molten ore used for crafting armor and weapons. It’s the military’s vital resource, and a place your Uncle Zhou holds in high regard. These secret realms are scarce, controlled only by powerful entities, such as the Sanctuary for Spiritual Growth at Bayshore School and the Animal Whisperer Union’s Ten Thousand Spirit Forest.”

The principal fell into a thoughtful silence before continuing, “The Brightsmiths are composed of beings with human souls and beastly bodies, capable of manipulating lower-tier fiend beasts to some extent. While their beast tide seems aimed at attacking various towns, their true target is the Fire Grounds. Should the Fire Grounds fall, the area command of Ambergrasp would be severed, significantly weakening its strength and its ability to maintain stability across the cities. In such a scenario, Ambergrasp would be at a severe disadvantage.”

“I see!” Zhou Mu nodded, grasping the situation.

“In this battle, even the elusive Vision of the Ended and Poisongarde made an appearance. Following a fierce conflict, the Brightsmiths were driven back, with a few casualties on their side, marking a victory for us.”

The principal paused briefly, then turned to Zhou Mu, “What’s your next move?”

“I’m heading to the Sanctuary for Spiritual Growth to boost my strength as quickly as possible. If it weren’t for the awakening of my bloodline, I might not have survived the Sinister Six’s onslaught. Considering the sheer power of just one Sinister Six, I wouldn’t stand a chance against the Vision of the Ended or the Poisongarde.”

Zhou Mu looked up, his gaze steely with resolve. The sense of powerlessness he’d felt against the Sinister Six had pierced his heart. He was determined to become the strongest, to gain the power necessary to protect himself.

“That’s a wise decision,” the principal affirmed, gesturing with a wave of his hand as two white flowers materialized from nowhere. “These are the keys to the Sanctuary for Spiritual Growth. Once you arrive at the entrance, crush them, and you’ll be transported inside.”

“Thank you, Aunt!” Zhou Mu accepted the keys, then something seemed to cross his mind. “When I stepped out earlier, I encountered someone who appeared to hold a grudge against me.”

“The plan was to allocate one of the three spots this year to him, but you slew the Sinister Six and saved hundreds of students. Given the significant advancements at the Sanctuary for Spiritual Growth, I’ve awarded the spot to you instead.”

The principal dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand, “No need to worry, you’re in my domain. No one here will dare to challenge that decision.”

“I understand!”

The ensuing conversation was filled with the usual parental small talk. The principal inquired extensively about Uncle Zhou, but Zhou Mu had little to offer. His responses were mostly evasive, enough to muddle through.

By the time he stepped out of the office, night had already fallen.

Zhou Mu didn’t linger; idleness had nearly driven him to hatch a bird from sheer boredom. He was eager not to waste another minute.

As Zhou Mu disappeared into the evening, the principal pulled out his phone.

“The soul and body are in seamless alignment, with no trace of rejection. There’s no scent of rot or decay, not like those half-dead relics. It’s almost certain the soul is untampered with. It seems to have encountered some fortuitous event.”

“Thanks for your diligence!”

“Words alone? How about showing some gratitude with a meal?”

“The Brightsmiths are getting restless again. Let’s discuss this another time when the opportunity arises.”

“...”