Chapter 80: Deliberate Targeting

"Can those with higher cultivation levels see my hidden ailment at a glance?" Zu An couldn't help but ask. "Then I'll really be too embarrassed to face anyone in the future."

Jiang Luofu smiled and shook her head. "You don't need to worry. I happened to learn about it through another channel. You don't have to worry about others finding out."

Zu An secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but the next second, he was filled with rage. It must have been that scoundrel Ji, who probably blabbed about his condition to pick up girls.

Damn it, what about medical ethics?!

"Ahem, we've strayed from the topic," Zu An quickly changed the subject to hide his embarrassment, bringing up the purpose of his visit again. "This 'teacher' title I'm asking for requires no salary, no official position, and I won't actually be teaching students. I just need an officially recognized identity."

Jiang Luofu hesitated, then shook her head. "If it were someone with an excellent reputation and strong abilities, who donated 7.5 million taels, I might be able to push past objections and agree. But you know what impression you usually leave on people. If I dared to let you be a teacher, I'd probably be drowned in criticism the next second, and Brightmoon Academy would become a laughingstock. I'm not willing to take that risk."

She paused and added with a smile, "Who told you to hide your talents all these years? Haven't you just shot yourself in the foot?" Of course, she had no idea that the former Zu An was genuinely useless, not someone who was hiding his talents.

Zu An wasn't surprised by this outcome; he hadn't truly expected to become a teacher at the academy. He changed his tone, revealing the real purpose of his visit: "If I can't be a teacher, then just give me a qualification to enter the secret realm."

Although spending 7.5 million taels for a secret realm qualification seemed like a loss, the IOU for 7.5 million taels was already a white elephant, and keeping it would prevent the "Rich Lady's Joy Ball" from working. Furthermore, while he had a good chance of qualifying if he relied on his actual skills in the selection, he wasn't 100% confident. If he encountered some monstrous genius, he'd be finished. This matter concerned the safety of his "little brother," so he couldn't allow any accidents, hence buying peace of mind with money. Besides, if he could use an IOU to build good relations with the high-ranking officials of Brightmoon Academy, it seemed worthwhile. The longer he stayed in this world, the more he felt the academy's extraordinary status.

Jiang Luofu's eyebrows furrowed. "Do you know that the secret realm only opens once every few years? Each time, only the most outstanding individuals from each academy are qualified to enter. Countless geniuses fight tooth and nail for these spots. How can they just be given away?"

Zu An snorted, "I don't believe a respectable principal like you has so little power. 7.5 million taels, you know, that's not easily earned."

Jiang Luofu's beautiful eyes fixed on him, as if she could see through any of his lies. "What do you want to do in the secret realm?"

Zu An replied, "Of course, it's for natural treasures and to see if there are any fortuitous encounters." He didn't plan to mention the Phantom Lotus of No Trace, to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Jiang Luofu nodded. "That's true, the secret realm is hugely appealing to any cultivator. However, countless eyes are on the qualifications for the secret realm, and there's also supervision from the Imperial Clan Affairs Department. I can't just hand them out to anyone."

Zu An immediately grew anxious and was about to speak, but she interrupted him. "Don't rush, let me finish."

"Although I can't directly give you the spot, I can manipulate things behind the scenes to arrange some relatively weaker opponents for you. This way, you can legitimately obtain the qualification, and the academy won't have to bear so much pressure."

"Do I have to participate in the competition?" Zu An hesitated. He had too many trump cards he didn't want to expose in public. His true goal was to hide behind the scenes as a low-profile master.

Jiang Luofu said earnestly, "Although I don't know why you chose to hide your talents in previous years, this world values strength above all else. As long as you are strong enough, you will gain a continuous stream of status and resources. It's like 'the fast get faster'; the strong will grow ever stronger, and the gap with the weak will widen, making it very difficult to catch up."

"So I don't quite understand your reasons for hiding your talents. Perhaps you were wary or afraid of something before, but now I can tell you that you are a part of our academy. You don't need to fear any enemies. With our academy's protection, you can fully display your talents, and it will be easier for me to provide you with more resources."

Zu An felt a little touched. He could sense that she genuinely wished him well, but the reason was hard to explain. He couldn't exactly tell her that the previous Zu An was truly useless, could he?

After some thought, he changed the subject: "Um, if my enemy is His Majesty the Emperor, can you still protect me?"

Jiang Luofu, who had been speaking passionately, choked on her breath upon hearing this, and her fair face flushed slightly. "Then I really couldn't protect you. Humph, but His Majesty is no ordinary person. Do you have the ability to offend him?"

Zu An said awkwardly, "Just kidding. Don't worry, I'll keep the principal's words in mind and perform well from now on. Should I head to class now?"

Jiang Luofu crooked her finger. "Didn't you forget something?"

Zu An subconsciously leaned his face closer to hers, thinking, *Is she going to kiss me goodbye? Am I really that charming? Well, a kiss from such a beautiful and enchanting woman wouldn't be a loss.*

Jiang Luofu, however, instinctively leaned her head back, increasing the distance between them. "What about the 7.5 million taels you mentioned earlier?"

Only then did Zu An realize. He laughed sheepishly, took off his shoe, pulled the IOU from the sole, and handed it to her, placing it on her desk.

Jiang Luofu: "..."

With a look of disgust, she used a pen to pry open the note. Upon seeing its content, her delicate eyebrows twitched. "It's an IOU?"

Zu An said with a grin, "Given the academy's standing and your abilities, Principal, I imagine collecting a debt from the Plum Blossom Gang won't be difficult."

Jiang Luofu said with a half-smile, "I was wondering why you, young man, were so generous, donating 7.5 million taels to the academy just like that. Well, it balances things out. I was feeling a bit bad about you earlier, but now I'm somewhat more at ease. I'll arrange the spot for you. Now, hurry along to class."

"Alright then, goodbye, beautiful Principal!" Zu An waved with a smile, running faster than a rabbit.

Jiang Luofu's red lips curved slightly upward as she murmured to herself, "He's quite an interesting young man."

However, when her gaze fell upon the IOU and she remembered he had pulled it from the sole of his shoe, her smile froze. She felt as though there was a faint smell of feet in the room. After putting the IOU away, she flicked her finger and simply tossed the pen into the trash.

Zu An walked towards the classroom with a light step. Having settled a major issue, a weight was finally lifted from his mind. Still, losing 7.5 million taels just like that felt a little painful.

*Never mind,* he thought. *I'll just leave it with the beautiful Principal for a few days; consider it a betrothal gift. I'll get both her and the money back eventually.*

If anyone in the academy knew his thoughts at that moment, their jaws would surely drop. Many men admired Principal Jiang, but he was the only one bold enough to harbor such intentions.

When he returned to the classroom, he found that the class had already started. The teacher was a skinny, middle-aged man with greasy hair and a distinctive center-parted fringe.

As Zu An tiptoed towards his seat, there was a sudden loud slap on the podium. "Who told you to come in?!"

The loud noise startled many sleeping students awake, and all eyes turned to Zu An.

Zu An felt bewildered, wondering why this man was angry with him. He could only say, "Um, I saw the teacher was speaking so earnestly just now, so I didn't dare to disturb and just tiptoed in."

The man with the center-parted hair snorted, "You were clearly late but didn't report it, just swaggered right in. You have no respect for your elders!"

Zu An instantly felt a pain in his crotch. This guy was clearly making a big deal out of nothing. *I don't even know him, so why is he targeting me like this?*

The other students in the class watched the scene with schadenfreude. Clearly, Zu An's previous popularity with beautiful women had made countless men frustrated, so they naturally wished to see him humbled.

However, Zu An calmly replied, "I was late because Principal Jiang called me for a talk. If the teacher doesn't believe me, perhaps you can ask the Principal yourself?"

The skinny, middle-aged man with the center-parted hair choked on his breath. *This guy is using the Principal to pressure me?*

Rage +44 from Yang Wei!

Seeing the name in the system background, Zu An instantly gasped. *Hmm, indeed, the name fits the person. You can tell just by looking at his face.*

At the podium, Yang Wei was filled with suspicion. *Could this guy be related to Principal Jiang? I've never seen Principal Jiang pay so much attention to a student.*

*Someone asked me for help. I thought dealing with an ordinary student would be easy, so I readily agreed. Now it seems a bit troublesome. But I'm already in this together, so it's too late to regret it.*

"Why did Principal Jiang want to see you?" To dispel his doubts, Yang Wei quickly pressed.

Zu An shrugged. "Just asking if I was getting used to the school, things like that."

Yang Wei frowned. "You may return to your seat." He then resumed lecturing, but in his mind, he was pondering the true relationship between Principal Jiang and Zu An. She had never shown such concern for a student before.

After thinking for a moment, he suddenly realized. Principal Jiang had been alone for years; apart from the girl in the other class, he had never heard of her having any other relatives or friends. How could she have any connection with this guy?

*It must be that the Duke of Brightmoon's Estate asked her to look out for him a little, and she gave him a few instructions out of courtesy. Humph, I almost fell for his bluff!*

Rage +58 from Yang Wei!

Sitting in his seat, Zu An was taken aback. *Is this guy never going to quit? Why is he picking on me?*

He secretly became alert. *Where exactly did I offend this guy?* But no matter how much he thought, he couldn't recall any past grievances with him. *Could it be that I'm too handsome, causing too many women to admire me, and the woman he likes is one of them?*

"Boss, you're really amazing!" At this moment, Wei Suo's distinctive voice came from beside him.

"I'm amazing at many things, which one are you referring to?" Zu An asked.

Wei Suo gave a thumbs-up. *This unique, shameless demeanor—truly worthy of the boss!* "Of course, it's about winning 7.5 million taels at the Silverhook Casino. The news has spread everywhere, and everyone's guessing how you did it."

Zu An chuckled. "Naturally, it's all thanks to my unique charisma."