Chapter 16: Patrol

Glancing back at Zhao Tianxing, who was still standing frozen in place, Zhang Yu urged, "Get to work, Xiao Zhao. Are you loitering here to be lazy?"

Only then did Zhao Tianxing hurriedly catch up, though he couldn't help but steal a few more glances at Bai Zhenzhen as she was serving dishes. He thought to himself, *If I tell this back at school, they definitely won't believe it. Bai Zhenzhen is actually working part-time? Did something happen to her family?*

After completing another patrol round, Zhao Tianxing followed Zhang Yu into a deserted side emergency exit. There, he saw Zhang Yu suddenly sit cross-legged and say, "Don't just stand there; come take a rest with me."

Zhao Tianxing: "Huh? But the Captain told us to keep patrolling. If he finds out..."

Zhang Yu: "The art exhibition hasn't even started yet; what's there to patrol? Besides, in a place like this Central Plaza, do you really think anything could go wrong?"

As he spoke, Zhang Yu smiled and added, "Besides, didn't you want to have a chat with me? It just so happens I can talk to you about the 'Way of the Security Guard.'"

Hearing this, Zhao Tianxing remembered Wang Hai's instructions.

Across from him, Zhang Yu dropped a controversial bombshell: "Being a security guard is all about slacking off!"

Zhao Tianxing: "Huh?"

Zhang Yu continued, "If you patrol a few more times or a few less times, will your pay change?"

Zhao Tianxing hesitated and asked, "It seems... it won't?"

Zhang Yu asked again, "With us here or without us, will the security level of this venue drop?"

Zhao Tianxing scratched his head. "It seems... it won't either? But..."

Zhang Yu: "But the time we steal is our own. Alright, I'll rest for a bit. We'll head out once the exhibition officially begins."

Watching Zhang Yu close his eyes and begin his breathing exercises, Zhao Tianxing grew nervous, fearing they would be caught slacking on the job.

Looking at Zhang Yu, who had fully entered a state of meditative breathing, Zhao Tianxing felt both admiration for his ability to seize every moment for cultivation and a sense that the man was incredibly reckless...

*Wait, wasn't I supposed to talk to him about his medicine buying? How did I end up being dragged into a lecture on slacking off...*

Suddenly, Zhao Tianxing's eyes flickered as he pondered Zhang Yu's words.

Zhao Tianxing was the type who wasn't great at socializing but was highly sensitive and meticulous, always worrying about what others thought and prone to overthinking.

As he reflected on what Zhang Yu had just said, he realized it all seemed to align with his own actions.

*If I ask him a few more questions or a few less, will Teacher Wang Hai stop guiding me?*

*If Teacher Wang Hai loses me as an informant, will he be unable to find out anything?*

*Does Zhang Yu already know what I'm planning? Was he intentionally hinting at it, telling me to slack off too?*

At this thought, when Zhao Tianxing looked at the meditating Zhang Yu again, the man's breathing seemed to become profound and inscrutable.

As the magical power flowed through his body, Zhang Yu silently circulated his energy for one full cycle, pushing his Zhou Tian Qi-Gathering Method to (13/80). Finally, the art exhibition officially commenced.

...

"As expected of an exhibition hosted by Ms. Li; the guests are all either incredibly wealthy or highly influential."

Watching the guests arrive one by one, Zhao Tianxing couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Although he didn't know exactly who these people were, the luxury of their clothing and accessories alone indicated they were worth a fortune.

Even though Zhao Tianxing's father was a minor manager in a company and their financial situation was decent, he could still recognize many luxury items that his family could never afford.

Just then, Zhang Yu whispered from beside him, "Old Zhao, look at that!"

Following the direction of Zhang Yu's nudge, Zhao Tianxing immediately saw a shimmering, golden figure walking in, surrounded by a crowd.

Focusing his gaze, he realized the person's entire skin looked like a layer of gold leaf, reflecting faint glimmers of light.

Beside him, Zhang Yu asked curiously, "What is that? A robot?"

Zhao Tianxing quickly covered Zhang Yu's mouth, nervously watching to ensure the golden man wasn't looking their way before letting out a soft breath of relief.

Releasing his hand, Zhao Tianxing explained, "That is the Songyang City Director of the Xianyun Group. Don't you dare speak recklessly."

"Xianyun Group?" Zhang Yu stared curiously at the golden figure and asked, "Then why... does he look so shiny?"

Zhao Tianxing explained, "That is a Dharma Husk. Don't you know?"

Seeing Zhang Yu's bewildered expression, Zhao Tianxing assumed his family likely hadn't encountered such things, so he explained patiently, "A Dharma Husk... how should I put it? It's somewhat like a prosthetic, but much more advanced than a mere limb."

"In terms of Immortal Dao technology, Dharma Husks have expanded to encompass the entire human body."

"It's as if you can replace any part of the body with a magical treasure, significantly enhancing various abilities while retaining the original functions."

"However, you can only implant a Dharma Husk if your magical power reaches 100 or above..."

Zhang Yu's eyes brightened. He knew that 100 magical power was the upper limit for the Qi Refining stage.

He asked, "Is it 100 points of magical power to implant a husk, or do you have to reach the Foundation Establishment stage?"

Zhao Tianxing: "100 points is enough, but this person is a true Foundation Establishment expert. He comes from a prestigious family and graduated from Wanfa University."

Zhang Yu understood. A Foundation Establishment ancestor had graduated from university only to come down to the first floor to "fish-fry" (bully) the stubborn Qi Refiners.

As more guests arrived, Zhang Yu saw two other individuals who appeared to possess Dharma Husks: one had eyes like gemstones, and the other had a halo floating behind his head. Their appearance was starkly different from the other wealthy guests.

These two, along with the golden Director of the Xianyun Group, acted as centers of gravity, occasionally attracting Qi Refiners who were so awestruck they practically wanted to kneel and kowtow.

By now, Zhao Tianxing seemed to have gradually adapted to his security uniform, no longer appearing so awkward as he watched the guests pass by.

While patrolling, the two of them inadvertently overheard some conversations among the guests.

Some were marveling at Ms. Li Xuelian's immense wealth.

Others were praising the excellence of the paintings and speculating on their immense value.

Naturally, some were discussing the "Heavenly Martial Arts Illustration" painted by a Golden Core True Person.

"Brother Li? Could it be that you are also here to comprehend the Heavenly Martial Arts Illustration painted by Senior Xinghuo?"

"Of course. If a young genius under the age of 20 can master the martial arts within it, Senior Xinghuo will take them directly as a disciple. This news has long spread throughout our Songyang Immortal Dao circles; how could I not come?"

*Wait, there's information like that?* Zhang Yu thought. *And it has spread throughout the Songyang Immortal Dao circles? How come I didn't know?*

Was it because a small fry like him wasn't worthy of knowing?

However, Zhang Yu suppressed his curiosity and decided to perform his duties as a security guard.

He approached the speakers and said politely, "Sir, are you alright?"

The youth who had been speaking had sharp, brilliant eyes and clearly looked extraordinary. He looked at the guard in confusion. "What could be wrong with me?"

The youth said proudly, "I am Lian Tianji from Ziyun High School. Can't you see I'm chatting with a friend?"

Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing looked at him, and then at his so-called "friend."

It was a box placed on a table, its surface covered in a peculiar wooden texture. It looked roughly the size of an urn.

Zhang Yu couldn't help but think, *Schizophrenia? Did he study himself into madness?*

As for Ziyun High School, Zhang Yu was somewhat familiar with it. It was a top-tier school even more prestigious than Songyang High, one of the three great elite schools in Songyang City. To the past Zhang Yu, it was a school he wouldn't even dare dream of applying to.

It was said that the principals of Ziyun High through the generations were famous for their cruel methods, high-pressure environments, and hellish school rules.

Compared to that, the various issues in Songyang High were minor. The legendary campus caste system—where failing students ate in the toilets and the weak were expected to kneel to the strong—was enough to terrify students from any other school.

Looking at Lian Tianji talking to an "urn," Zhang Yu couldn't help but lament that Ziyun High truly drove people to madness.

But just then, the "urn" spoke: "Brother Lian, these two security guards must have misunderstood."

"I am Li Xingyu, a Soul Cultivator from Mangshan High School."

Mangshan High School? A Soul Cultivator?

Zhang Yu remembered; wasn't that the school he had once tried to apply to?

He knew that besides having lower requirements for the total Gaokao score, Soul Cultivators followed a specialized path that required abandoning the physical body.

But looking at the "urn" on the table, he was still deeply shocked. "Mangshan High School... they really do turn people into ghosts."

Zhang Yu quickly apologized to Zhao Tianxing and they left. He then saw Lian Tianji and Li Xingyu exchange a few more words before four propeller-like objects extended from the "urn," and it flew off like a drone.

Watching this, Zhang Yu secretly felt glad that his original self hadn't chosen the path of a Soul Cultivator. Otherwise, he wouldn't even be able to achieve a "transcendental aura," let alone be a cultivator.

*Wait, if that Soul Cultivator has no physical body, how does he plan to practice the martial arts in the Heavenly Martial Arts Illustration?*

Then he remembered the information the two men had mentioned.

*If that's true, then many young geniuses under the age of 20 will probably come to this exhibition just to try and master the peerless martial arts in that illustration?*

At this thought, Zhang Yu's anticipation for the exhibition grew even stronger.

A wage of 400 yuan an hour, money in his pocket, a show to watch, and a chance to comprehend peerless martial arts—who said this job was bad? This job was fantastic.

He turned to Zhao Tianxing and asked, "How about it, Old Zhao? Are you interested in the peerless martial arts in that illustration?"

Zhao Tianxing naturally shook his head.

He had plenty of self-awareness. Such things, which sounded like they could only be mastered by true geniuses or the ultra-wealthy, had nothing to do with ordinary people like them.

Not only was he uninterested, but he also felt a sense of trepidation. Even if the illustration were brought out, he wouldn't even want to try, fearing he would become a laughingstock in front of everyone.

A moment later, Zhao Tianxing, who had just begun to adapt to his identity as a security guard, felt like covering his face and running away to strip off the uniform immediately.

Zhang Yu glanced at the retreating Zhao Tianxing and looked in the direction he had been facing, immediately spotting several familiar faces.

"Huh? Isn't that Qian Shen? And a few others seem to be from our school too?"

Qian Shen had always ranked just behind Bai Zhenzhen in total scores and had maintained his position as the second-best student in the grade since the start of the term.

Zhang Yu patted Zhao Tianxing's shoulder and said, "Old Zhao, look, aren't those our classmates?"

Zhao Tianxing quickly yanked Zhang Yu away, saying nervously, "Turn around quickly! Don't let them see us!"