Eldritch Horror Theatre

Give it all to that Sword Comprehension Institute student? Isn’t that a bit too generous?

He stared blankly for a moment before realizing exactly who Expert Fu meant by ”research assistant.”

Yuan Fang’s first reaction was to look at Li Weixuan beside him.

But Li Weixuan was also frowning, clearly stunned by this excessive generosity.

Though his methods bordered on the extreme, the Night Watchers weren’t pedantic enough to care.

In truth, before the man himself arrived, the group hadn’t been overly concerned about the testing methods during their discussions.

If the claims about the White-Headed Sanctuary and the Archipelago proved true, the Night Watchers would almost certainly offer a reward. Yet judging by his tone, he was turning it all down?

Granted, Ji Liushuang had indeed participated in the test and contributed. As a nominal member of the team, an increase in her strength would naturally benefit Professor Fu. But this payout was still far too indirect.

And Ji Liushuang wasn’t even a student of Apocalypse—though she was supposedly the nominal next heir to the Ji Clan.

Was that a factor here?Or was it simply as the rumors claimed: that he favored Ji Liushuang as if she were his own daughter?

”Then I will thank Professor Fu on Liushuang’s behalf.”

Countless thoughts flashed through both their minds in that brief moment, but Li Weixuan was a straightforward man. He laughed heartily and took the lead in voicing his stance.

”Very well, I will submit this request along with the rest of the report,” Yuan Fang agreed.

Since the leader of the Academy—and the Sword Comprehension Institute by extension—had spoken, Yuan Fang naturally had no objections. As he agreed, he couldn’t help but sigh.

”Honestly, this makes my report incredibly simple to write. Dealing with Your Excellency is truly a pleasant experience.”

It was glaringly obvious that he wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about paperwork either.

”We will leave it at that, then. Shall I take this back with me?”

Without waiting for Fu Qian’s response, he turned back to Li Weixuan and snatched the report from the table.

”That would be best. It saves me the trouble of having someone deliver it to you.”

Li Weixuan’s posture was casual.

”I’ll see you out.”

...

He had lived up to expectations, submitting a report that might correct the Night Watchers’ previous errors.

Furthermore, there was an unexpected harvest. More of the Academy’s newly advanced demigod’s past had been laid bare, proving him to be far more trustworthy than previously thought.

This development clearly put Li Weixuan in an excellent mood.

After Fu Qian offered some polite pleasantries and promised to visit the Night Watchers whenever he had the time, Yuan Fang took his leave, completely satisfied.

”Professor Fu.”

Almost immediately after, Chang Mo, who had stepped away earlier, hurried over to greet him.

Her timing was so seamless that it was obvious she had been closely monitoring the outcome of the three heavyweights’ discussion.

Further away, one could see that Classmate Liushuang hadn’t left yet either.

Only this time, surprisingly, Professor Chang wasn’t here to talk about the report.

”According to Liushuang, the Heart-Questioning Sword Prison she used during the test was comprehended through the inspiration she received while working under Your Excellency?”

Her current priority was plainly the matter of Classmate Liushuang’s new technique.

...

All progress comes down to good leadership. Is her awareness really that high?

Hearing this, Fu Qian glanced at Classmate Liushuang in the distance.

He could understand her motives. She wanted to emphasize that her job as a Laboratory assistant hadn’t delayed her cultivation in the slightest, and had even provided tangible benefits, all to prevent the Academy from forcing her to quit the part-time job.

Unfortunately, judging by her tone, Professor Chang Mo clearly didn’t buy it.

It wasn’t surprising. Professional discrepancies aside, ever since Classmate Ji took the job, his own time spent actually manning his post had been exceedingly limited. It was genuinely hard to imagine what kind of guidance he could have possibly offered.

Even though her comprehension of the Heart-Questioning Sword Prison really might have had something to do with him.

Back then, the sword heart had used her as a medium, attempting to trap him with that very technique.

”I merely provided some minor assistance. It mostly came down to Classmate Liushuang’s own comprehension,” Fu Qian admitted, nodding matter-of-factly.

...

You actually took the credit for it...

Professor Chang clearly hadn’t expected Fu Qian to shamelessly accept the credit without batting an eye. For a moment, his image in her mind reached a whole new level.

It was at this moment that Brother Weixuan’s good mood truly showed itself.

Facing the dumbfounded Chang Mo, the normally busy dean chose to watch with keen interest, showing absolutely no intention of intervening.

”I had Liushuang demonstrate it for me just now,” Chang Mo said. ”It is indeed a miraculous ability, but it places a significant burden on her body. Furthermore, it faintly deviates from the sword path in the traditional sense.”

It was obvious that Chang Mo was genuinely worried about her beloved disciple, rather than just looking for an excuse to vent her frustration over her report being rejected.

”Can Your Excellency confirm that repeated use won’t have any detrimental effects on her mind?”

No wonder she looks a bit sluggish. Did she actually cast the Sword Prison again?

Glancing at Ji Liushuang, who was walking up from behind, Fu Qian gave a faint nod, signaling that there was nothing to worry about.

”Hmph, so Professor Chang is worried that I am leading her student astray?”

”Because I am just a lottery-winning gambler from Apocalypse, completely incomparable to the orthodox path of true cultivation?”

But before Classmate Liushuang could respond, he whirled on Chang Mo. His tone turned suddenly sharp, acting as though he had suffered an unbearable insult.

”Why would Your Excellency think that? I—”

Chang Mo was clearly caught off guard by this sudden, aggressive posturing.

After all, based on her understanding of him, if someone accused his powers of being nothing more than a winning lottery ticket, his typical response would be to shoot back, ”Where’s your lottery ticket?”

Naturally, her subconscious attempt to defend herself was instantly cut off.

”Heh, why don’t you ask Professor Jian Jingzheng over there whether or not I’ve successfully comprehended the True Intent of the Sword Dao?”

Sneering repeatedly, Fu Qian suddenly gestured to the side.

...

The group was currently standing in a central hub of the Sword Comprehension Institute.

When the three heavyweights emerged earlier, they had already attracted a fair amount of attention. Many passersby were watching them from afar, including Jian Jingzheng, who had served as their guide.

Having clearly overheard the conversation, his expression was incredibly colorful at this moment.

Especially after noticing that the dean still showed no intention of intervening, he finally gave up on pretending to be deaf and braced himself as he walked over.

”Professor Fu has previously... indeed mastered a sword intent akin to slaughter.”

He was, of course, referring to the previous sword heart incident, specifically the trick Fu Qian had shown off when explaining why he had trespassed in the Sword Pavilion.

Back then, because his sword intent had been so overwhelmingly similar, he was even suspected of being the true culprit.

”Such a thing actually happened...”

This incident clearly hadn’t been widely publicized within the Sword Comprehension Institute. Chang Mo, who never expected such a twist, could only mutter to herself in disbelief.

”It seems Professor Chang still doesn’t believe me. Very well—”

However, her lackluster reaction seemed to trigger Professor Fu’s dissatisfaction all over again.

Flicking a nonexistent sleeve, Fu Qian turned to the certain someone beside him who had been enjoying the show this entire time.

”Dean Li, please enlighten me.”