Chapter 411 – The Southern Guangdong Trip Begins! (3k)
“You are…”
Vice President Yan’s gaze followed Su Jiu’s voice, with a hint of surprise in his eyes. Upon seeing Su Jiu’s face clearly, he then looked him up and down, asking with some confusion, “Student Su Jiu… May I ask what’s the matter?”
The few people beside Vice President Yan also looked over with interest, seemingly curious as to why Su Jiu, who appeared when he was just mentioned, was looking for the former.
“Thanks to the Ice Control technique you gifted me, without it, I probably would have sunk into the sea by now. I didn’t have time to thank you before, so I’ve come specifically to do so now.” Su Jiu glanced at the others, not showing any nervousness, and instead said with a smile.
Upon hearing Su Jiu’s words, Vice President Yan was completely captivated by the incident Su Jiu described. He was first stunned, then a look of surprise appeared on his face. He then forced a smile on his usually cold face and asked, “Can you really use that Ice Control technique? I heard you have dual attributes, so I thought I’d share this simple little trick with you.”
“Student Su, you’re not here to support Old Yan after overhearing our conversation, are you? His technique looks simple, but it actually requires high mental power to control the water’s changes, along with using another high-heat attribute to melt the ice, and then using the ice attribute to condense it. Without extremely high proficiency, it’s simply impossible to complete.”
The previous person, hearing their conversation, raised an eyebrow and tentatively asked Su Jiu. He knew Su Jiu was excellent, but Vice President Yan’s creation wasn’t that simple and practical. He knew how long the latter had been experimenting.
After all, Su Jiu primarily used ice-elemental skills in the World Competition. It was understandable that this person, as the dean of an external department, wouldn’t know.
Hearing this, Vice President Yan also looked at Su Jiu with anticipation, as if expecting her response. He felt that supporting him was far less important than Su Jiu inheriting this skill.
“Since that’s the case, I’ll demonstrate it for everyone.”
Su Jiu naturally didn’t know the conversation that had just taken place, but she understood the meaning of everyone present. She then extended her slightly pale hand, and ice condensed on her palm, accompanied by an eruption of heat.
The ice instantly transformed into an exquisite ice orchid, which Su Jiu gently held in her hand, emitting faint wisps of mist, looking very elegant.
Although it looked like basic ice condensation, the deans saw subtle details. They exchanged glances, clearly showing their shock in each other’s eyes – she completed three steps in an instant?
Vice President Yan suddenly fell silent, narrowing his eyes as he looked at the formed orchid, admiring its lifelike stem and leaves. After a moment, he suddenly chuckled, “You are already better than Lan. Your fire attribute bloodline must be very strong. Mine isn’t as good; ice melts slowly with fire, and the creations are not as vibrant as yours.”
After hearing Vice President Yan’s words, the others looked at Su Jiu as if she were a monstrous talent, only to find her fumbling in her pocket.
“I also guessed that you are a dual-attribute wielder. I have something for you here. Wearing it can enhance the intensity of flames and compensate for the weakness of your fire attribute.”
About a few seconds later, Su Jiu took out a bracelet made of white bone from her pocket and handed it to Vice President Yan with a light smile. The bracelet was speckled with faint flames, as if hiding fire sprites.
It was the previously obtained High-ranking War General level Dragon’s Breath Bracelet.
Without accepting the bracelet, Vice President Yan looked up at Su Jiu slightly, frowning and saying, “Yan teaching you the Ice Control technique was not for any gain. You should take this back…”
“Please listen to me first.”
Casually waving her hand, Su Jiu placed it on the stone table, then looked up at him and said sincerely, “This is not a transaction. Since I learned your special skill, I can be considered a student. It’s normal for students to give gifts to their teachers when they prosper.”
This was Su Jiu’s nature: quick to repay favors; those who helped her, she would repay severalfold – and those who targeted her, she would make her blades draw blood.
Seeing Su Jiu’s serious expression, Vice President Yan, who was not a talkative researcher, sighed and, under the envious gazes of the others, accepted the bracelet, letting out a wry smile, “Then Yan will shamelessly accept it. If you have any questions about ice-elemental matters in the future, we can discuss them then.”
He didn’t mention guidance but rather discussion. In his opinion, Su Jiu’s strength was far greater than his as a researcher. Except for some trivial research, her combat power couldn’t compare to Su Jiu, the World Competition champion.
“Everyone, student, I’ll take my leave now.”
After a few more pleasantries, Su Jiu didn’t stay any longer. She still needed to organize the earnings from this trip. If possible, she might go to Bai Zhi to exchange for some ice-elemental magic crystals – after all, just [Top Leek] had given a large number of intermediate magic crystals, and among them should be many ice-elemental magic crystals.
“We’ve had many monstrous students in our school, but very few remember their teachers’ kindness. On the contrary, it’s always the ‘underachievers’ who come back to see their teachers.”
Looking at Su Jiu’s retreating back, Vice President Yan couldn’t come back to his senses for a long time. Until the fire-elemental dean behind him muttered something, he lowered his head, looked at the flame bracelet, and then at the dancing flames, revealing a less cold smile.
“There are two types of exceptionally outstanding students: one is called a monster, and the other is called Su Jiu…”
…
After bidding farewell to Dean Zi, Su Jiu looked at the lights posted everywhere in preparation for welcoming the Spring Festival. After some thought, she had a new plan.
“Today I’ve achieved about three small goals and have 65 intermediate magic crystals, a big profit… I’ll go see Old Dad, and tomorrow I’ll head to see Bai Zhi.”
Leading E Huo, who was carrying a bag of snacks, back, Su Jiu stood at the school gate, looked up at the slightly dim sky, let out a long sigh, and headed towards a certain place outside.
Her steps passed through various small paths. Magic City at dusk was indeed exceptionally brilliant. The lights spun like tops, and after the crackdown by Magic City University, the gangs had become much quieter.
Su Jiu found a food stall, bought some food, including the sweet and sour pork ribs that both father and daughter loved the most, and continued walking.
“Let’s go, I’ll take you to see Grandpa.”
Finally, she held E Huo’s hand and arrived in front of a post office. Seeing the lights still on inside, she presented her Night Watcher identification and asked the doorman, learning that it was indeed Xingguo Su’s office, she continued upstairs.
This was a leisurely job assigned by the Night Watcher to her old man, serving as a form of anonymous protection.
Arriving at the front gate, Su Jiu paused, stopping outside. Su Xingguo inside seemed to sense something, moved his files aside, then looked up, and was slightly stunned.
“Old Dad, I’m back…”
As father and daughter’s eyes met, they fell into silence after Su Jiu’s greeting…
Su Xingguo, wearing a thick jacket, moved his lips, not knowing what to say. He didn’t have access to much information. Since staying here, he had no authority to know his daughter’s whereabouts.
As a worker of the old school, superiors did not allow communication, so he naturally wouldn’t call his daughter to talk much. After all, he understood that some work could never be discussed openly.
Blinking, E Huo looked at Su Jiu and raised her small hand, carrying the box of sweet and sour pork ribs bought from the street. She stood on tiptoe and gently placed it on the corner of the desk where there were no files, quietly looking at Su Xingguo, and asked in a low voice, “Are you Grandpa?”
“Little friend, you can’t call people that casually…”
Hearing E Huo’s voice, Su Xingguo was startled. He quickly stood up and waved his hands, as if the stiff atmosphere had loosened considerably. Su Jiu stepped forward a few steps and happily hugged E Huo, “Old Dad, this is E Huo, the beast pet I contracted. We usually call each other mother and daughter, so it’s normal for her to call you Grandpa.”
Hearing Su Jiu’s explanation, Su Xingguo finally exhaled a sigh of relief. He looked at E Huo with a peculiar gaze, indeed finding a pair of small horns resembling deer antlers on her little head. He then looked at the food E Huo was offering.
Anyone would like such an obedient little girl.
Su Xingguo slightly got up, then reached out and patted E Huo’s head, smiling and asking, “Okay, I’ll be your Grandpa from now on. What’s your name?”
“E Huo,” E Huo blinked again and said softly.
“E Huo?”
Su Xingguo was stunned for a moment but said nothing. He nodded very seriously and asked E Huo some questions like, “Has your mom eaten on time?” And E Huo, under Su Jiu’s winked instructions, answered them perfectly.
After a long while, Su Xingguo looked at Su Jiu and sighed again, “If your brother were half as good as you, he would have called a month ago to say he was bringing his wife back from the southwest for the New Year, but now not even a ghost of him has appeared. I’ve tried to find someone through my connections.”
“Later, an old friend from the Southwest Military Region told me that this boy, for some unknown reason, got into a fight with someone and seriously injured them, so he was detained in the Southwest Military Region. If that old Night Watcher doesn’t bail him out, he’ll probably be stuck there for a few more months.”
Listening to Su Xingguo’s rambling, Su Jiu listened until he finished, remained silent for a moment, and then said something astonishing, “Old Dad, I’m also going to bring a wife home. I’ll bring my younger brother back then.”
“…Okay.”
Hearing Su Jiu’s words, Su Xingguo was a little stunned. He stared for a long time before nodding slightly. After all, he had a son to carry on the family line; it was enough for his daughter to live her own life well.
She was already excellent enough, and as a parent, he naturally wouldn’t ask for anything more.
As if sensing Su Xingguo’s thoughts, Su Jiu explained a bit more seriously, “Old Dad, it’s not what you’re thinking, she’s not exactly an ordinary human…”
“You don’t need to explain so much to me.”
Without waiting for Su Jiu to finish explaining, Su Xingguo waved his hand and returned to his office chair. A gentle smile appeared on his resolute face, “As long as you like her.”
…
“Last night, I fell asleep without realizing it while playing with my phone. Old Dad must have gone to a meeting or something.”
Time flew by quickly to the next day. Su Jiu woke up from the sofa in the post office. She looked at the empty director’s office, then touched the thick jacket she was wearing and E Huo nestled beside her, feeling a strange warmth in her heart.
“My train to Southern Guangdong is at noon, I need to head to the station now.”
Exhaling, Su Jiu put E Huo back into her spiritual space, then gently put down her old man’s leather jacket and headed towards the station.
