Chapter 52: Debt Collection

After spending his remaining rage points, Zuan didn’t draw anything new. All he got were messages of “Thank you for participating” and Vitality Fruits.

In total, he drew 55 Vitality Fruits, one bottle of ‘Believe in Brother Chun’, and one Lucky Pill. With more experience, it was easy to discern a pattern: the probability of drawing a Vitality Fruit seemed to be around one in ten. He realized he must have simply had bad luck last time.

He then quietly swallowed the Vitality Fruits one by one, watching as the golden substance slowly filled the first magic array within his muscles. After consuming all 55 fruits, the first array was completely filled, and the second array also gained a small amount of golden substance.

“It really is the Fibonacci sequence,” Zuan murmured to himself. According to the pattern, if the previous number was 34, then the current one would be 55, and this was now confirmed.

As for the small amount of extra golden substance in the second magic array, he presumed it came from an injury he sustained when he accidentally hit a wall while experimenting with the "Great Wind" skill earlier.

Following the Fibonacci sequence, the next magic array would require at least 89,000 rage points. This was truly outrageous! Why did others find cultivation so easy, while he struggled so much to advance even a small rank?

However, he then reconsidered. Others had spent vast resources from childhood, diligently training day and night to reach their current level. He had caught up to their average level in just two or three days, so he really had nothing to complain about.

Through his recent observations, he had largely understood the student hierarchy. Those who reached the fifth rank of cultivation were absolute prodigies, considered geniuses even nationwide. There were only a handful of such individuals in the entire school. He currently knew his nominal wife and Pei Mianman were fifth-rank, and today, Yuan Wendong also seemed to have just broken through to fifth-rank.

Fourth-rank cultivators were considered the school's top students, and their numbers weren't too large. These individuals excelled in both talent and family resources.

Most students in the Earth and Mysterious classes were at the third rank, with some even below it.

Naturally, the Yellow class had the most students, where being just above second-rank was enough to dominate.

Calculating this way, Zuan's current strength was considered average within the entire school. This thought made him feel much better.

The afternoon passed with boring classes and the lottery draws. After class, a swarm of students rushed towards the school gate, heading home. Clearly, enduring such lectures was a great torment.

Even Wei Suo was no exception: “Boss, see you tomorrow!” he said, then darted away, vanishing instantly.

Witnessing this scene, he felt transported back to his school days when the dismissal bell rang and everyone rushed to eat. He had to admit, he missed those times.

Zuan was leisurely packing his things, sensing the new changes in his body after the upgrade. He now possessed the strength equivalent to approximately 143 people. He wondered if, in his previous life, he could have killed an elephant with a single punch.

If he possessed such immense power, how terrifying would the strength of those at the eighth, ninth ranks, or even Grandmasters be?

This world was truly terrifying. If one’s cultivation was low and they dated a high-ranked woman, they might even be accidentally killed by her during intimacy...

If he died like that, he wouldn’t even have the face to meet anyone in the afterlife.

“Brother-in-law, Brother-in-law!”

Zuan looked up and saw Chu Huanzhao excitedly waving at him from outside the classroom. Her bouncy, skipping movements gave her a charming, girlish air, a stark contrast to her usual tomboyish demeanor.

“What do you want?” he asked cautiously after stepping out. Zuan had just been having some inappropriate thoughts, so he felt a little guilty.

“To go home together, what else?” Chu Huanzhao immediately expressed her displeasure. “Hey, what kind of attitude is that? I specifically came to find you right after class.”

“Oh, so you just want to go home.” Zuan sighed in relief. He had thought the girl had some mischievous idea to bother him.

“It’s all because you didn’t come to class yesterday, making me come here for nothing,” Chu Huanzhao scoffed. “I finally caught you today. I promised Mother I’d keep a close eye on you.”

Zuan couldn't help but say, “Didn’t your mother send Hong Xingying to keep an eye on me? Where is that fellow? I need to settle accounts with him today.”

Chu Huanzhao wrinkled her delicate nose: “He seems to have opted to live in the dormitory. He probably fears being punished if he goes home, which is why he doesn’t dare to return.”

“This school also has boarding students?” Zuan was surprised. How similar it was to schools in his previous life.

“Of course,” Chu Huanzhao explained. “Mingyue Academy is the best school in the surrounding counties. Many students from nearby areas come here specifically. Those of us who live in Mingyue City can go home every day, but those who don’t have that option naturally live at school. Look, the dormitories are over there.”

As she spoke, she pointed to the west. Zuan looked up and noticed some buildings faintly visible in the distant forest.

“I see.” Zuan mused thoughtfully, wondering if he should find an opportunity to cause some trouble at the dormitories, which might yield a large wave of rage points.

Just then, he suddenly noticed waves of rage points coming in from the backend. Although each individual amount wasn't large, their sheer number was significant.

“What’s going on?”

He looked up and saw that many people around him were looking at him with hostility. It was then that he noticed he and Chu Huanzhao were walking side by side down the tree-lined street, looking quite like a couple.

What was this "childhood sweethearts" feeling? Zuan was momentarily dazed, but quickly shook his head, banishing the inappropriate thoughts from his mind. Earning rage points was more important.

“Sister-in-law, link arms with me.” Zuan held out his left arm.

Chu Huanzhao looked bewildered: “Why?”

“We’re family, aren’t we? Walking arm in arm like this would show how harmonious our family is, wouldn’t it?” Zuan said with a straight face.

“Do you take me for an idiot? You just want to take advantage of me!” Chu Huanzhao was so angry that she immediately pulled out her Howling Whip and lashed out at him.

“Geez, if you don’t want to, then don’t, but there’s no need for the whip!” Zuan yelled in a panic, dodging her attacks.

Chu Huanzhao, however, relentlessly pursued him: “I’ll beat you to death, you pervert!”

The surrounding onlookers felt a surge of pleasure, thinking, “Serves you right for being a kept man. A rich woman’s temper isn’t so easy to handle.”

The two continued their playful chase until they reached the school gate. It wasn't because Chu Huanzhao had a change of heart, but because "Bright Peak" Lu De was standing there. Wherever he stood, there was an inexplicably oppressive aura that silenced everyone, even Chu Huanzhao.

She stuck out her tongue, put away her whip, and pulled Zuan by his sleeve, walking out. “Hmph, no more yelling. I’ll settle accounts with you when we get back.”

Lu De’s eagle-like gaze swept across the crowd, as if he wanted to nip any troublemaking students in the bud. However, when his gaze fell upon their clasped hands, it narrowed slightly.

What was going on with the Chu family? Were they truly planning for both sisters to marry the same man?

Although such arrangements were not uncommon in this world, they typically involved a male party who was exceptionally outstanding in both family background and personal ability. But what qualifications did this notoriously useless man of the city possess?

Let alone both sisters, even the unaccomplished second daughter of the Chu family was far beyond what this guy deserved.

Zuan, naturally, had no idea he was being watched by Lu De. As soon as he stepped out of the school gate, Cheng Shoubing, who had been waiting there, waved excitedly at him: “Son-in-law, son-in-law!”

“Have you been waiting here all this time?” Zuan felt a little bad. Cheng Shoubing had copied books all night yesterday and now had waited here all day.

“No, no. I went back and slept all day, only coming back this afternoon. Thank you for your concern, son-in-law.” Cheng Shoubing’s eyes curved with a smile. “Oh, Miss, you’re here too.”

Chu Huanzhao hummed in acknowledgment. Her waiting attendant also led a magnificent horse over to her. Even though Zuan knew nothing about horses, he could tell this one was exceptionally splendid, thinking, “Now this is a true steed.”

“Huh, where’s your horse?” Chu Huanzhao looked around, asking somewhat confusedly.

Zuan felt a bit awkward, but Cheng Shoubing honestly replied, “We walked here this morning.”

Chu Huanzhao frowned: “Why didn’t anyone from the mansion arrange a horse for you?”

Cheng Shoubing, standing by, muttered inwardly, "Don't you have any idea yourself?" At the same time, he was somewhat surprised, thinking that the son-in-law seemed to be getting along quite well with the second young lady.

Chu Huanzhao thought for a moment, handed the reins to a servant, and then said to Zuan, “I’ll walk with you. I wanted to stretch my legs anyway.”

Zuan said, “Actually, I wouldn’t mind sharing a ride with you.”

Cheng Shoubing’s expression changed drastically. It was too late to stop him. He thought, "It's over. The second young lady has always had a bad temper; the son-in-law is probably going to get whipped."

“Scram!” To his surprise, Chu Huanzhao only cursed and showed no intention of striking him.

Cheng Shoubing blinked, wondering if he was dreaming. Something felt off.

Just then, a teasing voice suddenly came: “Well, well, you’re finally out.”

Zuan looked back and saw a man with a scarred face leaning against a large tree, watching them. It was none other than Plum Blossom Thirteen.

Zuan said, “Has no one told you that your mouth twists a bit when you smile?”

Rage points from Plum Blossom Thirteen: 178!

Plum Blossom Thirteen’s smile froze. He said coldly, “Go ahead and enjoy your sharp tongue. I’m just here to remind you that the repayment date is one day closer. If you can’t pay up then, I’ll chop off your hands.”

“You owe him money?” Chu Huanzhao, standing nearby, widened her eyes in surprise.

Zuan nodded, silently cursing the previous owner of his body a few times.

Chu Huanzhao thought for a moment, then took out her silver money pouch: “How much does he owe you? I’ll pay it for him.”

Plum Blossom Thirteen was stunned. Had this good-for-nothing really managed to climb so high now, with such a beautiful young lady volunteering to pay his debt?

He instinctively replied, “A thousand taels of silver!”

Chu Huanzhao gasped, immediately stuffing the money pouch back into her robe and taking a step back. “Pretend I didn’t say anything.”

Zuan couldn't help but feel a little disdain. This girl always tried to show off, yet could never produce the money. It was the same in the cafeteria.