"A lot of those guys spent some time in Fenglin State. That’s how they heard about your deeds."

"Walls have ears. Word of you has reached many of our colleagues, including some who are taking part in the internal assessment."

"They’re all standouts among the Observatory’s younger generation. Of course, some of them are going to be unconvinced."

Qin Shuang explained, pausing every now and then to take a bite of her food.

Shen Bai stroked his chin. "I can take on someone in the Meridian Realm while I’m only in the Five Organ Realm. Aren’t they scared?"

Qin Shuang rolled her eyes and felt Shen Bai’s forehead.

Shen Bai slapped her hand away. "What are you doing?"

Qin Shuang tilted her head. "I was checking if you have a fever."

"What does this have to do with me having a fever?" Shen Bai asked, exasperated.

Qin Shuang threw her hands up dramatically. "It’s the rumors! They’re always half-true at best. Think about it. In all these years, no one from the Five Organ Realm has ever managed to defeat someone from the Meridian Realm. When a story like that reaches their ears, they’ll naturally think it’s an exaggeration."

"For example, if I didn’t know you and someone ran up and told me that story, the first thing I’d do is send them to the Hundred Medicines Valley."

"To get their head checked, perhaps."

Shen Bai’s lip twitched. "Now that you put it that way, you have a point."

The Meridian Realm was known as a watershed moment for a Cultivator. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

’If you didn’t see it with your own eyes, you’d never believe it just by hearing about it. It really does sound too good to be true.’

Qin Shuang pulled her hand back and quickly shoveled in a few more bites. "So you have to be careful, okay? Those guys are no pushovers."

Shen Bai watched her eat. "From the look on your face, you don’t seem worried about me in the slightest. So why tell me to be careful?"

Qin Shuang tilted her head. "Why would I worry about you? I’m worried you’ll cripple them."

If there was anyone in the entire Observatory who had the most blind faith in Shen Bai, it was undoubtedly Qin Shuang.

Shen Bai shook his head. "Fair point... Hey, are you snatching that piece too?"

Shen Bai stared in disbelief at the piece of meat she had just snatched.

She popped it into her mouth. "Gotta eat more meat. It’s all about a balanced diet."

Shen Bai: "..."

The meal lasted for a full hour.

Once Qin Shuang had eaten her fill, Shen Bai went and settled the bill.

As they were walking down the street, Qin Shuang suddenly turned back.

"Shen Bai."

"What is it?"

"I’m leaving tomorrow. When I get back, we have to spar again. I swear I’ll be able to take one of your punches then!"

Shen Bai looked at the adorable Qin Shuang before him and thought, ’She’s so cute. If I really hit her with one punch, she’d probably cry for a long time, wouldn’t she?’

The two chatted as they walked to the end of the street.

Once Qin Shuang had left, Shen Bai finally headed home.

After lighting the oil lamp on his desk, Shen Bai let Amber possess him.

Once the possession was complete, nearby darkness gathered in Shen Bai’s palm, flowing and swirling over his hand.

[Shadow Walk +2+2+2...]

As his Skill Level rose, time flew by.

...

「The next day.」

When the first ray of morning sun shone in, Shen Bai opened his eyes and let out a long breath.

A line of misty text appeared before his eyes. Thanks to Amber’s bonus, his Shadow Walk Skill Level had improved by leaps and bounds.

Shen Bai stretched. After circulating the Qi in his body, he felt refreshed and invigorated.

’Another new day, another day on the grind.’

Shen Bai freshened up, left the house with Amber, and headed to the Observatory for Dianmao.

Shen Bai grabbed a bite to eat on his way to Dianmao.

After an intense back-and-forth with Long Yan, Shen Bai arrived at the Ding Twenty-Third Division.

Huang Guang and Kong Fang were already geared up and waiting.

Today was the start of a major mission, so they had both arrived early.

"Lord Shen!"

The two men greeted him with a cupped-fist salute.

Shen Bai nodded. "Let’s go. The people from the Ding Division are already waiting in the courtyard."

Without another word, the two men followed Shen Bai toward the Observatory’s largest courtyard.

Before long, the three of them reached the courtyard.

The leaders of the First, Second, and Third divisions were already waiting there.

When they saw Shen Bai, they came forward to greet him.

Even though his Level was slightly lower than theirs, none of them dared to act superior.

The reason was simple: Shen Bai was bound for greatness. Getting on his good side now, even if they never met again, was better than making an enemy of him.

Shen Bai returned their greetings one by one before taking his place at the head of the Ding Division.

This time, the Fenglin State Observatory was taking the matter very seriously, dispatching half of its personnel to ensure the safe establishment of the Yin Post.

After all, this was a critical moment in the campaign against Marquis Fengjiang, and Liu Wufeng wasn’t taking any chances.

Shen Bai stood in his position as Ding Shou, holding Amber and playfully teasing the cat from time to time.

Qin Shuang had already left, early in the morning.

During their meal yesterday, Qin Shuang had been insistent that Shen Bai not see her off, and he had no choice but to agree.

’Qin Shuang must be quite far by now,’ Shen Bai figured.

In his arms, Amber stretched lazily, responding enthusiastically to Shen Bai’s playful pets.

Anyone who knows a Deceitful Beast will tell you: as a proper Deceitful Beast, when it’s time to be cute, you go all in.

Of course, this doesn’t apply to ugly Deceitful Beasts.

Before long, everyone heard an approaching set of footsteps.

Shen Bai looked up to see Liu Wufeng emerge from the two-story building, a map in his hand.

Liu Wufeng had just come to a halt when he surveyed the area, produced four maps from within his robes, and distributed them to Shen Bai and the other division leaders.

Shen Bai took his map and opened it, finding that he had been assigned a position to the south.