Early morning.

Lu Ming stared at the day's breakfast. There was a gla.s.s of boiled water, a steamed bun and some rice.

"Xiaobai."

"Yes."

"Why aren't there any Liangpi…"

"Everything was finished last night."

"Huh?"

"My shower took too long yesterday. I felt hungry and hence I ate it."

"Shower…"

Lu Ming was dumbstruck for a long time.

Afterward…

He bowed his head silently while eating the steamed bread with rice.

After a long while…

He returned to the room.

He posted a question in the lifestyle section of an Internet community forum. "h.e.l.lo, what should I do if I am too good-looking? Everyone around me likes me. Is there any solution? This is urgent, looking forward to a solution."

The first reply—Is this a male or female?

The second reply—That goes without saying, It must be a male.

The third reply—All the more interested now that he is a male.

The fourth reply—Perhaps the author of the first post is not wide awake. I have a weak bladder. Let me hit him with it and wake him up.

The fifth reply—Why did the owner of the previous post use the word 'hit'?

…

Lu Ming looked at the multiple replies and gave up.

Fine, it seemed that it was useless to pin his hopes on the netizens to give him an answer. Therefore, he pondered for a long while and decided to use his own method to solve this matter.

"Xiaobai."

Lu Ming called Xiaobai to his room.

"Yes."

Xiaobai came over obediently.

"Close the door."

Lu Ming told her.

"Huh?"

Xiaobai closed the door, looking somewhat dazed.

"Look at me."

Lu Ming stared at the young girl in front of him.

"Ahhh…"

Xiaobai blinked, her small face blus.h.i.+ng. She felt somewhat shy as she looked at Lu Ming, pinching the corner of her s.h.i.+rt tightly.

How annoying!

What does Master want?

From the looks of it…

Cras.h.!.+

Lu Ming raised his hand and smacked her head.

"Yah!"

Xiaobai covered her head. "That's painful…"

"Can you feel pain?"

Lu Ming was between laughter and tears. "You are so young, but look at what you are thinking about all day long! When I brought up the topic of showers yesterday, I was lecturing Xiao-Xiaojian. It was a random a.n.a.logy. Do you understand?"

"Oh."

Xiaobai's face was blus.h.i.+ng.

"Come over here!"

Lu Ming sounded upset. Xiaobai walked over to him looking embarra.s.sed.

"Does it still hurt?" Lu Ming asked.

"It still hurts."

Xiaobai felt aggrieved.

"This girl…"

Lu Ming rubbed her small head. He felt amused at the sight of her anxiety. "Do you like me?"

"Well… ah!"

Xiaobai panicked slightly. Her face turned red as she said nervously, "Of course not…"

"Really?"

There was a shadow of a smile on Lu Ming's face.

"… Just slightly."

Xiaobai bowed her head, feeling somewhat embarra.s.sed, speaking in a faint mosquito-like voice.

"Young girls like you…"

Lu Ming felt gratified and amused. "Don't think about such messy things in the future. You are still young. You don't need to experience any of this. Do you understand?"

"I am no longer young!"

Xiaobai straightened her back.

Lu Ming looked at her, pretending not to hear her.

However…

The young girl in front of him had grown prettier as days pa.s.sed. There were some things that had to be made clear to her.

She had had no one to lean on since a young age. Her father was always fooling around outside…

Therefore, after getting to know Lu Ming, she might have developed some subtle feelings for him. She might not even be aware of what she was feeling.

Dependence?

Grat.i.tude?

Perhaps both.

The little girl was still young and it was alright for her to be confused. But Lu Ming must not be muddleheaded. He was an adult. He must not abuse her trust.

This was basically about one's upbringing.

Since Old Jiang did not teach her, as her master, he had to make it clear to her.

"Xiaobai.

"You are still young.

"You don't know much about feelings.

"Well…

"How should I say it? When you grow up and you have the ability to think independently and be aware of your feelings, then they can be considered real. Do you understand?"

Lu Ming said cautiously.

"I understand."

Xiaobai blinked and continued with the topic, her tone very serious. "I know that Master is doing this for my own good. As I am underage, there are a lot of things that I am confused about and I may not be able to comprehend. I am not mature psychologically and physiologically. I am vulnerable and could be easily hurt. My feelings might be hurt in complicated relations.h.i.+ps, and I might confuse other feelings as romance. Therefore, it is forbidden to have a relations.h.i.+p now."

Lu Ming did not come to his senses for a long while.

d.a.m.n!

She sounded very mature!

"My father bought a book on 'Why You Can't Fall In Love With A Minor'…"

Xiaobai wore a serious expression as she elaborated. "I read it and I remember what was in the book. However, I was nine years old then. Therefore, I don't think my father bought this book because he was worried that I would start an early relations.h.i.+p… There was a time when I was worried that my father might be caught and locked in prison for three years."

Lu Ming almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

Goodness!

He did not know that Old Jiang had this kind of past!

Tsk tsk…

"He was too much!"

Lu Ming was filled with emotions.

Old Jiang was such a b.a.s.t.a.r.d. He would not leave underage girls alone!

"Yes."

Xiaobai agreed with him.

Afterward…

Lu Ming seemed to come to his senses.

Oh.

d.a.m.n!

Xiaobai was a minor as well…

"Master.

"Cultivation and love are the same."

Xiaobai said very seriously, "Why must one finish nine years of compulsory education before one can start to cultivate? That is to have the correct cognition and independent thinking abilities! There may be age restrictions for ordinary people. But I'm not ordinary. I memorized the nine years of compulsory education by heart long ago.

"I could think independently when I was twelve years old!

"Oh, right."

Xiaobai suddenly thought of something. "I once partic.i.p.ated in an independent thinking survival score rating…"

"How did it go?"

Lu Ming was curious.

"My score was higher than my father's," Xiaobai said in a very serious manner.

Lu Ming rolled his eyes. That was because Old Jiang's score was too low! That childish Old Jiang… He was being hunted down everyday. He could not think independently!

He would certainly rank first in terms of being hunted down…

However…

Come to think of it…

Lu Ming had been accustomed to the obedient Xiaobai standing by his side. He had almost forgotten that she was a top-notch genius!

She had amazing talents!

Given her talents and critical thinking abilities, even if she was only twelve years old, her emotional intelligence was much higher than homebodies who stayed at home, playing games and reading novels and had social anxiety, refusing to go out…

"Master.

"Rest a.s.sured. I am a mature individual."

Xiaobai was very serious. "I am not one of those children who did not have proper fundamental values. I know what I am doing. Please believe me."

With that…

Xiaobai leaned close to Lu Ming. She tip-toed, stretched out her hands, wanting to pat Lu Ming's forehead to show that she was mature. However…

She could not reach it…

Lu Ming was speechless.

"Humph!"

Xiaobai wrinkled her exquisite nose.

Buzz—

Xiao-Xiaobai appeared under her feet.

Xiaobai seemed to be floating. She tip-toed and touched Lu Ming's forehead with her small hands. She then retracted her hands, feeling satisfied, smiling happily.

Lu Ming was between laughter and tears.

He felt bizarre and touched at the same time.

This girl…

"Master, I have declared my owners.h.i.+p…"

Xiaobai was elated.

Cras.h.!.+

Lu Ming smacked her head.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch…"

Xiaobai rubbed her small head.

"This is for acting like an adult."

Lu Ming was amused. "We will talk about it when you grow up…"

"Very soon then!"

Xiaobai was proud of herself.

These days, Xiao-Xiaobai had learned to buy seafood on its own. At times, it would bring live seafood back with it…

"Okay, okay, okay."

Lu Ming stroked her little head. "Then let's wait until you grow taller."

"Really?"

Xiaobai was elated.

"Yes."

Lu Ming felt amused.

…

Moments later.

Xiaobai went to the kitchen and brought a bowl of Liangpi with her.

Lu Ming was speechless.

"Didn't you say that there were no more left?"

Lu Ming glanced at Xiaobai.

"I just bought them."

Xiaobai turned around, a pink blush visible on her tender small face.

Fine.

The young girl had learned how to lie now.

Lu Ming was between laughter and tears.

He was too thirsty after eating the steamed bun and rice. Since there was Liangpi now, he should enjoy them.

Ss——

Liangpi gasped as he slurped the Liangpi.

This is so cool!

This…

What was wrong with him!

Goodness. It seemed that Master could not kick his habit…

What to do?

Xiaobai left the room looking sad. She wondered if she should reconsider her feelings for her master.

…

Lu Ming switched on the tv.

He had the habit of eating while he looked at the tv screen.

"News report…"

"The Starry Sky Pavilion was robbed…"

"It was a hundred years old shop, but its reputation was in tatters…"

"Eh?"

Lu Ming looked up in surprise.

Starry Sky Pavilion…

This name sounded familiar…

Initially, he ignored the news. However, after listening to the description in the news, he checked the location of the Starry Sky Pavilion and was surprised to discover that…

The Starry Sky Pavilion seemed to be in the direction that Xiao-Xiaojian told him about previously!!!

That direction…

It was interesting.

Perhaps Xiao-Xiaojian's instincts were right again?

There was indeed someone at the Starry Sky Pavilion who was targeting him?

Who could it be?

Lu Ming pondered about it. In his short lifetime, he did not offend many people. No one would spend a huge amount to make a deduction about him…

Oo…

What kind of deduction was it then?

Could it be like 'Mirror, mirror, who is the most good-looking of them all' and he was being deduced as that person?

Well…

That was possible!

Lu Ming believed so.

However, nevertheless, there might be danger… After all, the previous person who was derived from this kind of deduction was almost killed by her stepmother…

Lu Ming thought about it. "I guess I have to be on my guard."

Xiao-Xiaojian cast a look at his foolish master.

He was hopeless.

Seriously…

Perhaps after Xiaobai made known her feelings for him, the guy seemed to be very proud of himself. Although he seemed to be lecturing Xiaobai, he was smiling the entire day.

"Can you stop smiling like that?"

Xiao-Xiaojian sighed. "You look like a chrysanthemum."

Lu Ming took a glance. "I don't have any wrinkles on my face. Why would I look like a chrysanthemum when I smile?"

"A daisy then."

Xiao-Xiaojian sneered.

"I am too das.h.i.+ng…"

Lu Ming rebuked.

"A firm daisy."

Xiao-Xiaojian explained.

Lu Ming fell silent for a moment and contained his smile. The nonsense sword spirit did not know how to appreciate his looks. He would bash it to death sooner or later.

…

That afternoon.

Lu Ming was about to go to the Card Creators a.s.sociation as usual to cultivate when he received a special message!

The Human Resources Department of Tian Du City had organized activities related to the graduation season and had invited the various a.s.sociations to partic.i.p.ate. This was commonly known as an on-campus job fair…

The on-campus job fair would occur after graduation season!

Of course.

This was the reason why Lu Ming was given special treatment!

Lu Ming never expected that the Human Resources Department would invite the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation!

"Cough."

Li Haoran coughed. "It was sent to everyone on the mailing list…"

This was true.

It was sent to a group of recipients.

After the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation officially started its operation, it was registered as an official a.s.sociation and it enjoyed all the rights and access that other a.s.sociations had!

"Graduation season…

"The on-campus job fair of The First Academy…"

Lu Ming's eyes lit up.

"Master."

Li Haoran was cautious. "It is better if we don't partic.i.p.ate in this."

"Why?"

Lu Ming found it odd.

"The compet.i.tion is too stiff."

Li Haoran had a bitter smile on his face. "All of the graduates of The First Academy are six-stars… They are much stronger than the members of our a.s.sociation. I am afraid they won't want to join us."

The Sword Card Master a.s.sociation was too small.

Their a.s.sociation only had a few members. They could not compete with the a.s.sociations of the Elementalists, Summoners, and Energy Warriors who had many members?!

No one would want to join them!

Even if they joined them, they did not have any resources for them!

There was nothing!

There was absolutely nothing!

The Human Resources Department purely extended the invitation to them as a friendly gesture… If they really partic.i.p.ated in it, it would be very humiliating.

"Let's not be anxious."

Lu Ming smiled as he looked at the invitation.

In the past…

He idled around and he was not serious about the operation of the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation. But right now, the shop in Qing Ming City was gone and the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation had become Xiaobai's and his house!

Since it was their house, they had to work hard for it!

In order for the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation to become stronger, the first priority was to recruit more members!

Especially…

Talented disciples!

Shus.h.!.+

Lu Ming opened the invitation and took a serious look at it.

Hehe.

On-campus job fair…

…

At this very moment…

In The First Academy's office.

The dean was getting prepared for the upcoming graduation season. Everything was in good order and well arranged.

"Are the events ready?"

"Yes."

"That's good."

The dean felt gratified when he suddenly thought of something. "Oh, by the way, how's Lu Ming doing?"

"He is in the process of learning new skills."

The a.s.sistant reported. "Ever since he received the graduation certificate, Lu Ming is very serious about learning from the Card Creators a.s.sociation and the Swordsman a.s.sociation. Your trust was well-placed."

To him, the dean had given him special privilege by allowing him to have an early graduation.

Which level was Lu Ming at now?

Four-star!

What was the graduation requirement?

Six-star!

Lu Ming had no way to meet the requirement!

Notwithstanding that the Millennium anniversary would be very compet.i.tive!

Therefore, the dean arranged for Lu Ming to have an early graduation at this time of the year so that he could have the best resources and treatment!

"That's good."

The dean smiled. "Are there still people who are checking on Lu Ming?"

"Yes."

The a.s.sistant nodded. "According to your instruction, we have made sure that no one knows that the graduate is Lu Ming. But some people managed to find out his student number."

"That is alright."

The dean waved his hands.

Lu Ming's student number was not linked to any records. There was no profile or photo.

After all, he merely joined the school for three seconds…

There was no whatsoever information on him!

"You are being too nice to him."

The a.s.sistant sighed.

"Perhaps."

The dean looked to the distance and smiled. Perhaps he had made a fuss out of it. Even if Lu Ming enrolled into school, he might not get to join the graduation season. But it was nice not to have anxiety over possible troubles in the future…

It was wonderful.