The commotion from the playground seeped through the classroom windows, disturbing Bai Hao's attempt at focused cultivation. His breathing rhythm faltered as shouts of excitement echoed across the school grounds—even through closed doors, the energy of the crowd was impossible to ignore.
Then came the announcement over the loudspeaker, its crisp tone cutting through the noise and sparking absolute chaos throughout the field: "Following Mu Wanqiu, Suzhou-Hangzhou No. 1 High School is proud to announce another Saint-level Spirit Contract genius—Yun Meng from Class 15, Senior Three!"
Thunderous applause erupted, rolling across the playground like waves crashing against the shore. Spotlights swept across the Awakening Platform, converging on a slender figure standing at its center. The girl under the lights shone with a brilliant aura, her dark hair flowing like silk as she bowed to the cheering crowd—every movement graceful, every smile radiant.
From his seat by the window, Bai Hao only glanced down briefly before closing his eyes and returning to his breathing exercises. His fingers moved in slow, deliberate patterns over the pages of his cultivation manual, as if the hustle and bustle around him existed in a world entirely separate from his own.
After the awakening ceremony concluded, the school held an impromptu award ceremony that stirred something deep within Bai Hao's chest. Standing on the elevated stage, Mu Wanqiu and Yun Meng each received a scholarship of 500,000 yuan—enough to cover several years of living expenses and cultivation resources. The thirty-two students who'd awakened Heavenly Grade talents, whether Spirit Masters or Spirit Envoys, were each awarded 100,000 yuan as recognition for their potential.
Money was essential for both daily life and spiritual practice—for purchasing high-quality spirit stones, medicinal herbs, and advanced cultivation guides. Of course, the more one had, the better their chances of advancing quickly. This was the only part of the ceremony that made Bai Hao feel a pang of jealousy, his hands tightening around his worn manual as he watched envelopes of cash being handed out to his peers.
By the time the other students began filing back to class, Bai Hao had already returned to his seat, leisurely flipping through his textbook as if he'd been there all along. He'd tucked his basic breathing manual into his desk drawer, replacing it with a standard high school text on spiritual history—though his mind was still far from the words on the page.
Soon enough, the classroom was filled with the sound of teenagers enthusiastically discussing their respective talents and abilities. Some laughed as they demonstrated small tricks with their new powers—making pencils float, lighting pieces of paper on fire, or growing tiny flowers from their fingertips. Others sighed with regret, complaining that their Earth-rank or Profound-rank assessments weren't good enough to earn scholarships or attract strong contract partners. The emotions ebbed and flowed through the room like a tide, but Bai Hao remained quiet and indifferent, sitting with his book in hand and looking distinctly out of place.
He didn't share in the joys and sorrows of his classmates. While they celebrated or lamented their fates, Bai Hao was still preoccupied with the mystery of his own abilities—trying to make sense of the chaotic void in his Sea of Consciousness, wondering what had caused the first Awakening Stone to react so violently before the second one labeled him as nothing more than Profound-rank. He simply had no interest in idle chatter when his future hung in the balance.
Across the room, Mu Wanqiu was once again surrounded by a crowd of admirers and potential contract partners. Her Saint-level talent was too dazzling to ignore—everyone knew she'd be admitted to the best universities in the country, and forming a contract with her now would guarantee access to resources most could only dream of. For someone like her, the greatest difficulty in the future would likely be choosing which cultivation path to take, rather than finding the means to pursue it.
As she politely answered questions and declined overly eager proposals, her gaze swept casually across the classroom, seemingly accidentally landing on Bai Hao's quiet figure by the window. For a moment, a strange emotion stirred in her dark eyes—something between curiosity and recognition—before she turned her attention back to the students around her.
Bai Hao, however, had his head bowed, carefully tracing the lines of text in his book and completely unaware of the somewhat unusual look she'd directed his way.
Before Mu Wanqiu could make up her mind to approach him, she was once again swarmed by classmates crowding around her desk, chatting and making a fuss over her talent. She forced a polite smile, answering their questions as patiently as she could, but her mind kept drifting back to the boy who'd seemed so unaffected by all the day's excitement.
By the time she'd finally dealt with the last of her admirers and looked back at Bai Hao's seat, it was completely empty. The chair was pushed neatly under the desk, and his textbook lay closed on the surface—but there was no sign of him anywhere in the room.
Mu Wanqiu was shocked, and even the forced smile on her face froze for a moment before fading completely. She glanced toward the classroom door, a small furrow appearing between her brows as she wondered when he'd left and where he'd gone.
...
Bai Hao walked down the tree-lined path leading away from the school, his backpack slung over one shoulder as he kicked at loose stones on the ground. The sun had begun to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple, and the ancient banyan trees that lined the road cast long, twisting shadows across his path.
"Spirit Envoy, Spirit Envoy…" he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible above the rustle of leaves in the breeze. "If I call your name, will you dare to answer?"
He'd been repeating the phrase for the past ten minutes, half-hoping that something would stir within him, half-amused by his own foolishness. Just as he was about to give up and focus on getting home, he heard a series of hurried yet light footsteps coming from behind—fast enough to catch up to him, but quiet enough to suggest the person was moving with trained grace.
"In the pitch darkness, why do you run so fast—" he began to say, turning slightly as he spoke. "In such a hurry to be reborn?"
Before he could finish the sentence, his foot caught on a raised root hidden in the shadows. He stumbled forward, nearly falling face-first into the dirt—only to be stopped by something soft hitting him right in the chest.
The path home was poorly lit at the best of times, and the thick canopy of leaves above blocked out most of the remaining daylight. The ground was uneven, pocked with holes and covered in twisted roots that made even walking a challenge after dark—let alone running or turning suddenly.
"No, you…" Bai Hao started, steadying himself and pushing whatever had hit him away from his chest. But before he could ask who or what it was, the person behind him spoke first, their voice carrying clearly through the quiet evening air.
"Why are you walking so fast, Bai Hao!"
Her voice was clear and pleasant, like pearls falling onto a jade plate—light and melodic, with a hint of laughter underneath. Hearing someone call him by name made Bai Hao frown in confusion. He turned fully, squinting into the dim light to make out the figure standing just a few steps away.
Even in the fading glow, he could see that she was dressed in white sportswear that fit her slender frame perfectly, making her look both young and elegant. Her hair was tied back in a high ponytail that swayed as she moved, and her features were sweet and delicate—the very image of pure, innocent youth.
After a long pause, during which he tried to place her face, he finally spoke. "Who are you?"
At his question, the girl smiled faintly—her lips curving into a gentle arc that made her eyes sparkle even in the dark. She then gracefully extended her right hand, her fingers long and slender, her skin pale as moonlight. "Hello, I'm Yun Meng from Class 15, Senior Three."
"Who wants to know your name… Wait—your name is Yun Meng?"
Bai Hao was genuinely shocked, his eyes widening as he stepped closer to get a better look. What had been difficult to see from a distance on the playground now became clear and distinct under the faint light filtering through the leaves.
Earlier that day, his classroom had been too far from the Awakening Platform to get a clear view of the second Saint-level talent. Even though he'd heard her name announced over the loudspeaker, he'd never been able to make out her face among the crowd of officials and students surrounding the stage. He'd simply filed her away in his mind as "another genius," never imagining that this same renowned talent would be standing before him now, on a dark path leading away from school.
"Yes, Bai Hao," Yun Meng confirmed, her smile never fading. She lowered her hand and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her movements casual despite the fact that she was one of the most talked-about students in the entire school.
"Why are you—a renowned genius like you—chasing after me?" Bai Hao asked, his voice low as he crossed his arms over his chest. He tried to sound nonchalant, but even he could hear the suspicion in his own words. "Could it be that you have a crush on me?… If you really insist, maybe I'll consider it."
In his mind, Yun Meng's current situation should have been identical to Mu Wanqiu's—swamped with admirers, courted by powerful families, and focused on preparing for the national exams. How could she possibly have any interest in someone like him—an ordinary student with a Profound-rank assessment, someone who'd almost dropped out of school early due to financial difficulties?
"Puff!" Yun Meng let out a soft chuckle, covering her mouth with her hand as she laughed. "With your high self-confidence, don't you ever need to look in the mirror before leaving the house?"
"Then why are you looking for me?" Bai Hao shot back, not at all offended by her teasing. He shrugged his shoulders, his backpack sliding slightly on his shoulder. "To rob me? Robbing women is fine—I've got nothing worth taking anyway—but robbing money? Not a single penny to my name."
Yun Meng shook her head and chuckled again, her eyes gleaming with mischief. She took a step closer, so that he could see the intelligence and determination behind her sweet appearance.
"You'd hope I was here to rob you! I happened to see you as you passed our classroom on your way downstairs—slipping out quietly while everyone else was still celebrating. I've been waiting for a chance to talk to you alone."
She paused, then continued, her voice growing more serious. "I'm not here to take your money or your honor. On the contrary—I'm here to give you money."
While speaking, she slid her backpack off her shoulders and set it on the ground, unzipping it with practiced ease. She reached inside and pulled out a thick wad of hundred-yuan bills, bound neatly with a paper band. One bundle contained ten stacks, totaling exactly one hundred thousand yuan—the same amount awarded to each Heavenly Grade talent earlier that day.
Bai Hao stared at the money, then at her face, feeling as if he must still be dreaming. Are you still half asleep? he wondered, pinching the back of his hand to make sure he was awake. Instead of reaching for the cash, he looked at her warily, his expression guarded.
"You—a Saint-level talented Spirit Master—came all the way out here to mock a Profound-level talented Spirit Envoy like me?" he asked, his voice sharp with suspicion. "If this is some kind of joke, I'm not in the mood."
Without saying a word in response to his accusation, Yun Meng stepped forward and took his hand, her fingers wrapping around his palm as she pressed the thick bundle of banknotes into his grasp. The weight of the money was substantial—heavy enough to feel real, to provide a sense of security that he hadn't experienced in a long time.
"What does this mean?" Bai Hao asked, holding the money but not yet putting it away. "Are you planning to make me your sugar daddy? Because I can assure you, I'm not the one with wealth here."
Listening to his nonsense words made Yun Meng roll her eyes in exasperation, though there was still a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. She pulled her hand back and crossed her arms over her chest, looking at him with a mixture of amusement and frustration.
"What are you thinking? I'm not looking for a sugar daddy—I'm planning to take a risk."
"Gambling?" Bai Hao raised an eyebrow, taking a step back as if preparing to leave. "I don't have the money to gamble with you, and I'm not interested in getting mixed up in anything illegal."
He turned to walk away, making sure to tuck the bundle of cash into his backpack as he moved—but before he could take more than two steps, Yun Meng reached out and grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks.
"Why did you run! I'm not betting against you—I'm betting on myself!" she said, her voice firm and clear.
"Betting on yourself? What do you mean?" Bai Hao asked, turning back to face her and finally letting her explain.
Yun Meng released her grip on his arm but kept her eyes fixed on his intently, her expression serious now. "Although you were officially identified as Profound-rank today, I was standing close to the first Awakening Stone when you touched it. The unusual phenomenon during your test—how the stone glowed brighter than even Mu Wanqiu's did before it cracked—has left me deeply curious. I'm certain your talent isn't actually Profound-rank. Instead, some unforeseen event must have affected the device's ability to perceive your true potential!"
Bai Hao chuckled humbly after hearing her words, a mixture of hope and doubt warring within him. "It seems like you trust me more than I trust myself. If I could feel even the slightest presence of a spirit within me—if I could sense anything besides that empty chaos—I might actually believe that I was some kind of chosen one."
"Forget about what you can or can't feel," Yun Meng said, stepping closer once again. Her eyes were filled with a combination of curiosity and anticipation, and in the dim light, she looked almost fierce in her determination. "This 100,000 yuan is for you to become my first contracted Spirit Envoy! For you, this is a sure win—you get money to support your cultivation and a partner who believes in your potential. For me…"
She paused, then smiled mischievously, her sweet features transforming into something more playful and daring. "What if we find treasure? What if your talent turns out to be something no one has ever seen before? Then this money will be the best investment I've ever made!"
She held out her hand to him again, this time palm up, waiting for his response. "So, do you agree or not?!"
Bai Hao's lips twitched as he looked from her outstretched hand to her earnest face, then down to his backpack where he'd tucked the money. He'd been worrying about finding a suitable contract partner all afternoon—wondering who would be willing to work with someone with his low assessment, how he'd afford to continue cultivating, what his future would look like. Now, out of nowhere, Yun Meng had appeared offering exactly what he needed.
Is there really such a good thing? he thought to himself, feeling a surge of excitement mixed with disbelief. It was like being given a pillow just when you were feeling sleepy—what kind and generous person would do something like this?
He'd been racking his brain trying to decide who to approach about forming a contract, and now Yun Meng was offering herself on a silver platter. How could he possibly refuse?!