Chapter 040 Our Young Master Wants to See You (First Update)

"Uh..." Qian Baidu grinned apologetically, "Negotiator Sheng, it's not that I refuse to pay the medical expenses—it's just that this fat idiot is too debauched! All his money gets thrown at the girls in the Spring Courtyard. I didn't even manage to snatch a single copper coin!"

Beside him, the chubby Gu suddenly leapt up from the ground, anxiously pleading, "Boss, if you're leaving, wherever you're going, can you take me with you?"

Xin Lang replied, "I'm at a bottleneck in my cultivation. I need to get out, clear my mind, and seek a way to break through. If you want to come along, that's fine, but let me warn you, the place I'm heading to doesn't have any girls from the Spring Courtyard!"

"Ah... then... maybe I should stay! I have to focus on my training, or else this stinking old man will keep bullying me!" Gu said nervously.

Gu had managed to advance to become a Level Seven Martial Apprentice only because of his special constitution. If he were separated from women, it would be much harder for him to progress further.

At Xuanyang Academy, Xin Lang was closest to Gu and Qian Baidu, so before leaving, he let them know. Besides, he wasn’t sure whether he would ever return once he departed.

Xuanyang Academy was only a low-level martial arts institution. Once Xin Lang advanced to the rank of Martial Artist, staying there held little meaning. If he wished to go further on the path of martial arts, he would have to choose a higher-level academy.

Returning to his dormitory, Xin Lang packed his daily necessities into the Upgrade Device’s “backpack”—including bedding, washbasin, and so forth. Though he now had money, having endured hard times, he knew the value of thrift. He loaded everything he could into the backpack.

Besides daily items, Xin Lang also packed all his pharmaceutical tools into the device’s backpack. At present, the backpack had ten storage slots. In the past half month, Xin Lang had already exchanged his two hundred thousand gold notes for gold coins—filling two slots to the brim. Daily necessities took up one slot, pharmaceutical tools another, and assorted herbs and medicines yet another. That left five slots still free.

After tidying up his belongings, Xin Lang surveyed the room one last time. Satisfied that nothing was left behind, he stepped outside.

As he pushed open the door, instead of seeing the open view beyond, he was blocked by a turbulent wave.

"Uh... Headmistress..."

The ground outside was slightly higher than the room, and Xin Lang was only sixteen or seventeen—shorter than the twenty-year-old Meng Linglong. His face nearly collided with her ample chest.

Meng Linglong used her formidable assets to push Xin Lang back into the room. She glanced at the empty space and frowned, "Xin Lang, what are you up to? Even if you’re broke, you can’t sell the academy’s property!"

"Uh..." Xin Lang glanced around the empty room, realizing it would be impossible to explain where all the items had gone.

Unable to offer any plausible explanation, he resorted to shamelessness, "When I enrolled, I paid for everything in this room! The academy waived my tuition, but the board and lodging were still a hefty expense. I had no choice but to sell some items to get by!"

Meng Linglong had thought Xin Lang was the mysterious person who spent thirty thousand gold coins to buy the Earth-level low-tier technique 'The Inch Force Fist.' But seeing him sell even his daily necessities, she began to doubt her assumption.

"Xin Lang, are you really penniless? If so, why did you spend a fortune to purchase the Earth-level technique from Luoyang Academy?" Meng Linglong probed, staring into his eyes.

"Ah... Headmistress, surely you don’t think I was the one who bought that Earth-level technique at the auction? I do want an Earth-level technique, but if I were to study one, I’d subscribe to it here at our academy! Look at me—I’m this poor. If I had money, I’d have gone to the library to subscribe to an Earth-level technique long ago!" Xin Lang replied.

"You make a fair point," Meng Linglong admitted, though she still harbored suspicions.

"Well... If you have no further business, Headmistress, I'll take my leave," Xin Lang said, realizing Meng Linglong was far more astute than Meng Chuchu and wanting to avoid further entanglement lest she discover something.

But Meng Linglong remained stubbornly in front of him, blocking his way. "Summer vacation is here—what are your plans, Xin Lang?"

"Heh... Given how broke I am, I’ll just find a few jobs to earn some living expenses!" Xin Lang laughed.

"Oh..." Meng Linglong's eyes flickered. "Xin Lang, I’m here to let you know: given the honor and contributions you’ve brought to the academy this semester, we’ve decided to waive your tuition and board for next term. Furthermore, if you represent us in the Nine Academies Martial Arts Tournament in Jiuyang City, the academy will provide you with free Earth-level techniques for study, and any rewards you win will be yours alone!"

"Waiving tuition and board, and offering Earth-level techniques for free?" Xin Lang exclaimed in surprise.

Meng Linglong’s offer was extremely generous, making it hard for Xin Lang to refuse.

"Xin Lang, enjoy your vacation, and we hope to see you back at Xuanyang Academy soon!" Meng Linglong said, turning and leaving the dormitory, not giving him a chance to decline.

Meng Linglong hadn’t intended to promise so many benefits, but seeing how thoroughly Xin Lang had sold off his room’s contents, she feared he might never return. So she offered him generous terms, hoping to keep him at Xuanyang Academy and thereby create greater value for herself.

Xin Lang, having lived two lives, was far more experienced than Meng Linglong. He fully understood her calculations. But his heart was set on cultivation, determined to advance to Martial Artist, and for now, he had no intention of considering her enticing offer.

Xin Lang left Xuanyang Academy and headed toward the city gates of Jiuyang City.

He wasn’t in a hurry to leave town, however. Passing by the city's most famous 'Steamed Kung Fu' bun shop, he bought two hundred buns, then found a secluded corner and stored them all in the Upgrade Device’s backpack.

Time was frozen within the backpack—not only did it keep items fresh, but no matter how much time passed, the buns would always come out piping hot.

Xin Lang had already tested this feature, which was why he dared to buy so many buns at once.

Besides buns, he purchased some preserved meat, and prepared over ten wine jars, planning to store some spring water as well if the opportunity arose, just in case.

Buns, preserved meat, and wine jars occupied another storage slot, leaving four slots still free.

He intended to buy more living essentials, but was intercepted by two men.

"You’re Xin Lang from Xuanyang Academy? Our young master wants to see you—come with us!"

PS: Brothers, don’t go anywhere—the second update will arrive in two minutes! In the meantime, feel free to throw those votes my way!