"Professor Song, are you alright?"

Lei Ming and Wan Ze both looked over.

Professor Song’s face was a mask of fury. "Just now, someone calling themselves ’Vandal’ left me a letter, saying they’re going to steal the Tiger Talisman from me at eight o’clock tomorrow! The sheer arrogance!"

A thief brazen enough to inform their victim in advance was indeed arrogant.

"Master Lei, Master Xiaowan, I’d like to hire you both as temporary bodyguards. If anything happens at eight tomorrow night, I need you to step in!"

Professor Song said through gritted teeth, "I’ll take responsibility for anything that happens! If you know how to use a gun, I can apply for one for you. I guarantee there’ll be no problems!"

Wan Ze and Lei Ming exchanged a look.

Lei Ming hesitated before asking, "Professor Song, given our relationship, of course we can help. But could you first tell us, what exactly is this Tiger Talisman?"

"It’s a monarch’s Tiger Talisman from the Ying Kingdom period. I came across it by chance... It’s just an ordinary Tiger Talisman."

After Professor Song spoke, Lei Ming secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After the Rain Bell incident, he had an almost conditioned reflex. He was terrified of provoking another group of ruthless thugs who didn’t play by the rules. If his junior brother, Wan Ze, got hurt because of it, his conscience would never recover.

"Ah Ze, what do you think?"

"We’ll go. I can’t stand it when people get this cocky. Besides, Professor Song is one of us!"

Hearing Wan Ze’s words, Professor Song was filled with relief and wasn’t quite as angry as before. "I certainly can’t have you helping for free. Five thousand each."

"Professor Song, you’re too generous." Lei Ming’s face broke into a wide grin, but he immediately looked to Wan Ze. Only after getting a nod from him did Lei Ming smile and say, "Then it’s settled. But Ah Ze, shouldn’t you let your family know? Are we going straight to Professor Song’s place tonight?"

"Okay, I’ll call home."

"Alright, let’s go, go, go!"

Lei Ming, in the driver’s seat, turned the car around and headed for Professor Song’s house.

The two men had serious expressions, only to then hear Wan Ze on the phone with his home’s landline, trying to come up with a clumsy excuse for his absence. It was utterly comical.

Professor Song couldn’t help but glance at Lei Ming. Although neither said a word, it was clear a whole conversation had passed between them.

...

"Is he really a high school student?"

"As real as it gets!"

"... The young generation is truly formidable!"

"Tell me about it! In a word: Impressive!"

...

"Done." Wan Ze put the phone away and let out a long breath. Seeing the two guys next to him sitting ramrod straight, he guessed they had figured out what was happening and couldn’t help but clear his throat.

Unexpectedly, Professor Song was the first to speak. "Master Xiaowan, are you interested in archaeology?"

Wan Ze smiled. "Professor Song, are you trying to recruit me for your team?"

Professor Song nodded and said bluntly, "Archaeologists like us often run into trouble. We would be overjoyed to have a talent like you..."

"I’m only a freshman in high school. College is still a long way off," Wan Ze said, shaking his head.

"When you take the college entrance exams..." Professor Song started, then suddenly realized something was wrong. He whipped his head around to look at him. "What did you say? A freshman? You’re only a freshman?"

"Pfft!" Lei Ming couldn’t hold it in again.

Wan Ze shot him an exasperated look. Lei Ming immediately started coughing and focused on his driving.

Professor Song didn’t pursue the topic any further.

Only a freshman?

He’s only a freshman?

A Martial Dao genius like him would indeed be wasting his talent by following him to the National University to study archaeology.

So he dropped the subject altogether.

「A little over ten minutes later.」

The three of them finally arrived at Professor Song’s residence. To their surprise, his two students were sitting on the stairs, with takeout boxes by their feet. The moment they saw Professor Song, they scrambled to their feet, looking awkward and flustered. "Professor!"

Seeing his two foolish students, Professor Song’s expression softened for a moment, but he quickly put on a stern face. "What are you two doing here? Isn’t there enough chaos already?"

"Professor, we rushed over as soon as we heard about the thief’s letter..." The two students’ eyes were filled with earnest sincerity.

Professor Song didn’t say anything more. "Let’s talk inside."

He took out his keys and opened the door, and everyone filed inside.

These days, Professor Song lived alone. His wife had passed away from illness years ago, and his daughter was studying abroad. The home felt rather empty. Just inside the door, two photographs were visible. One was a family portrait: a young Professor Song holding a baby, next to a sweet-smiling young woman. The other was a photo of him and his daughter on her eighteenth birthday.

Wan Ze gave the photos a quick glance before looking away.

When the two university students saw him, they acted timidly, filled with awe. They showed no hint of disdain despite Wan Ze’s age.

After all, ever since the Black Mountain incident, they couldn’t help but be reminded of his ruthless efficiency in killing whenever they looked at him.

’Pissing him off could get you killed for real!’

"Master Lei and Master Xiaowan will be staying with me for the next two days. You two should get back to what you were doing; don’t neglect your research projects." Professor Song took off his jacket, initially intending to toss it aside, but then he remembered what happened at Lingyun Manor... He hesitated. A fierce battle might break out later, so he dutifully put it back on.

"Professor, could this just be a prank?" one of the students asked uncertainly.

Professor Song looked at him. "Better to believe it and be wrong, than to not believe it and be right."

"In that case, Professor, we’ll get going."

The two students were reluctant to leave.

Professor Song nodded in acknowledgment.

But not two seconds after the students had closed the door, a frantic knocking began. "Professor! Professor, open the door! Something’s happened!"

Professor Song’s expression changed. Thinking the self-proclaimed Vandal had arrived, he rushed over to protect his students. But Lei Ming was faster, yanking the door open.

He saw the lead student holding up an arrow with an unopened note tied to it. "Professor! This! We found this on the wall by the door!"

The two students rushed back inside, their faces tense with anxiety.

Lei Ming paused, then quickly dashed to the doorway, but he couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

"Don’t touch the letter," Wan Ze said suddenly.

But as he spoke, the student holding the arrow had already touched the letter. He hadn’t opened it, but as he looked up, the finger that had made contact felt like it had been pricked by a needle. He dropped the arrow instinctively.

When they looked again,

the hand that had touched the letter was already bright red.

"So itchy... My hand is so itchy..."

The student cried out, startling his companion. Professor Song’s face changed as well. Just as he was about to step forward, he heard Wan Ze say, "He’s been poisoned. Contact Dr. Fang first. Professor Song, get me two gloves."

Wan Ze’s orders instantly stabilized the group.

Professor Song called Old Fang.

Meanwhile, Wan Ze put on the gloves and began examining the note. Lei Ming, who had been checking the doorway for intruders, hurried back, closing the main door and drawing the curtains as well.

"Heh."

Wan Ze scoffed when he read the message on the note.

He handed it to Professor Song.

After reading it, Professor Song flew into a rage out of sheer humiliation. "This bastard is watching us!"

"What’s it say?" Lei Ming walked over quickly.

Wan Ze held the note open. "He knows you. He says Professor Song isn’t playing fair by hiring a Martial Artist for help, so he’s decided to upgrade the game."

"Upgrade? Dammit, that son of a bitch is full of tricks." Lei Ming was so angry he laughed, but then he rubbed his chin. "He knows me? Then I guess he must have some real skill."

Wan Ze remained silent, his mind racing. ’From the moment we arrived at Professor Song’s house to this little note, he’s seen everything. It means his eyes have been on this place the whole time. More importantly, it proves he knew where the Tiger Talisman was from the very beginning, but he didn’t make a move.’

’Is he really going to wait until eight o’clock tomorrow night to act?’

’Or is it... that he can’t get the Tiger Talisman?’