Ding ding ding…
Wang Teng, who was meditating on the rooftop, had his rhythm abruptly interrupted by the ringing of his phone.
"Who is it?"
"An unfamiliar number…"
Very few people knew his phone number. The apartment was fully rented, and he had already taken down the rental notice.
After a moment of hesitation, he still answered the call.
"Hello, is this student Wang Teng?"
A soft, alluring voice came through the phone.
"Yes."
Wang Teng felt even more puzzled. None of his teachers were female, and since she addressed him this way, it clearly wasn't—
"Could you come downstairs for a moment?"
"…Huh?"
"Alright."
Rising to his feet, full of confusion, Wang Teng took the elevator downstairs.
When he opened the building entrance, he saw a striking figure standing there. A trace of shock flashed through his eyes before he quickly suppressed it.
"Hello, my name is Tang Yue. I'm a newly appointed teacher at Tianlan Magic High School."
Tang Yue smiled with narrowed eyes and extended her flawless white arm. As it moved, a faint fragrance drifted toward him.
"Hello. May I ask why you're looking for me?"
Wang Teng narrowed his eyes slightly. Instinctively, he felt trouble had come knocking.
"You're really going to make such a beautiful teacher stand at the door chatting with you?"
Tang Yue completely ignored his lack of courtesy. Her face was full of smiles, without the slightest hint of embarrassment.
Hearing this, Wang Teng became even more alert. Tang Yue looked far too confident—her intentions were anything but pure.
"How could that be? I was just thinking you didn't quite look the part—beautiful teacher? That's rare."
Tang Yue studied Wang Teng's unyielding expression. Her gaze flickered slightly.
This kid wasn't simple. Slippery, like an old fox.
For the sake of her mission, she had arrived here half a year early and used certain methods to enter Tianlan Magic High School.
During this period, aside from working on some research topics, she had been observing Bo City as a whole, focusing especially on monitoring suspicious individuals.
By coincidence, on the day she arrived, she encountered something that piqued her interest. After an investigation, she obtained a file on Wang Teng.
Most of the information was fine—except for the assessment of his strength. That part was clearly inaccurate.
So she observed him in secret.
For nearly half a year.
Contrary to her initial suspicions, Wang Teng had shown no connection whatsoever to the Black Vatican.
Right under her watchful eye, he cultivated steadily, step by step, relying on a magical talent she could not fully discern, reaching an utterly astonishing level in just six months.
The rooftop on the tenth floor was spacious, ideal for cultivation, and allowed one to avoid most human contact—a relatively private area.
She paid special attention to it.
And over time, even if she didn't want to believe it, she had no choice but to.
Six months.
From Initial Tier Level One to Initial Tier peak.
A speed of growth that even the Black Vatican found difficult to achieve.
Even more shocking—his Mental Realm had reached the Third Realm.
This was the most difficult attribute to raise: mental strength.
Not just her—even among the people she knew, anyone who had reached the Third Realm of mental strength was at least a Super Tier mage.
Resources that enhanced mental strength were rarer than those for the Space Element.
From this, she inferred a possibility.
This young man's magical talent was likely directly linked to mental strength enhancement—and not weakly so.
Strong enough to support such absurd progress.
An absolute genius.
Of that, she had no doubt.
What mattered even more was how low-key he was at school.
Today's final exams had even spread the rumor that he had only mastered four stars.
A complete joke.
A man who knew how to hide himself.
A man who cultivated diligently.
A man who avoided interaction and possessed deep, guarded thoughts.
Tang Yue felt that with such a disposition, she had both a responsibility and an obligation to guide him onto the right path—otherwise, someone like this could very easily stray down a dangerous road.
Her thoughts settled.
Tang Yue's expression grew complicated as she tugged lightly at the cord around her neck. A badge slowly slid out from between her chest.
"Take a look."
Pinching the identification badge, she pushed it directly in front of Wang Teng.
Perhaps worried about the dim lighting affecting visibility, she held it very close—far closer than necessary.
Wang Teng's eyelid twitched.
Was she doing this on purpose?
He could smell the faint fragrance on it… even feel its warmth.
"Alright, alright, I've seen it. Teacher Tang Yue—please come in."
Wang Teng stepped aside and gestured.
"Good. No need to be so formal."
Tang Yue put the badge away and walked into the apartment.
When only her back was visible to Wang Teng, a trace of smug satisfaction appeared at the corner of her lips.
---
Tenth floor. Living room.
"What would you like to drink?"
"Red wine."
The moment Tang Yue entered, her eyes lit up. This place was far larger than where she lived, and the decor was excellent.
Especially when she noticed the wine rack—it immediately lifted her mood.
"You really don't hold back."
Wang Teng smiled on the surface while inwardly complaining. He didn't usually drink; those bottles had been sitting there for ages.
Soon, he selected a bottle of red wine, took out two glass cups, uncorked it, let it breathe briefly, and poured two generously filled glasses.
He brought them over and gently placed one in front of Tang Yue.
"Thank you."
After taking a sip, the smile on Tang Yue's face never faded.
Wang Teng sat opposite her and took a small sip himself, not initiating conversation.
Tang Yue clenched her teeth slightly and shot him a glare.
This kid had no sense of atmosphere at all—he didn't even know to open a topic.
"You're not being very honest, you know…"
Pfft—
"Cough, cough. Teacher Tang Yue, you can drink more, but you really shouldn't say things like that."
Wang Teng wiped his mouth, completely caught off guard by her sudden provocation.
Tang Yue immediately realized the ambiguity of her words—she had practically sounded like she was teasing a younger brother.
The thought made her flush slightly, and she quickly explained.
"What I meant is—student Wang Teng, your level as a mage is definitely not just four stars like the rumors say. Don't misunderstand."
After speaking, she steadied herself. She had been thrown off balance by this kid—careless of her.
Wang Teng's expression calmed.
After thinking for a moment, he spoke.
She had tracked him here.
She had pierced through his concealment in a single sentence.
And judging by her manner, she didn't seem to be here to cause trouble—otherwise, they would have already exchanged spells.
Coming to him privately, instead of exposing him at school, meant there were only one or two possible reasons.
"Then what does Teacher Tang Yue intend?"
Wang Teng looked at Tang Yue, who now sat upright on the sofa.
At this point, it was time to state her true purpose.
Having regained her composure, Tang Yue grew serious. A gleam of intelligence shone in her eyes.
"You really are different. Talking to you feels like speaking to an equal opponent."
"Among all the students I've seen, you're the first to give me that feeling."
"You're very smart."
She paused, then took another sip of wine.
"Tonight, I came here with a purpose."
"I want to recruit you into the Judgement Court."
"What do you say—are you interested?"