Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Secret Magic Apprentice "Dead?" A seductive voice whispered by his ear, tinged with surprise. To Su Chen, the voice sounded distorted and layered. He couldn’t make out the rest of her words. He felt as if he were in a dream. He managed to open his eyes, but the scene before him remained a blur. Then, in a sudden rush of clarity, it was as if he had broken the surface of the water. Everything he heard and saw snapped into focus. "...Quite the convincing act..." The voice came again. Su Chen was still dazed; his gaze fell upon a pair of pale, slender thighs. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦 A heady fragrance wafted into his nostrils, and Su Chen frowned. The perfume was too strong; he disliked the scent. He subconsciously reached up to rub his nose, only to find his hands were bound. He turned his head and saw they were fastened in black shackles. ’I... I’m not at home...’ He instinctively tried to remember, but a piercing pain shot through his skull as a flood of memories—none of them his own—surged into his mind. A few breaths later, he understood his situation. A complicated expression crossed his face. "Little one..." The seductive voice returned, this time laced with dissatisfaction. "If you can’t handle it, just say so. You’ve completely ruined the mood." As Su Chen looked up, she was already turning away. Her black and red silk nightgown outlined a graceful silhouette. Jiang He, one of Southwind Academy’s tutors in the mystic arts. As for himself... he couldn’t help but lower his head again, the corner of his mouth twitching. He felt a distinct chill below his waist. ’Was I actually being taken advantage of?’ His body’s previous owner wasn’t a student. He was just a refugee in Southwind City, and according to city regulations, he was about to be sent outside the walls as cannon fodder. That’s why he was so desperate to get into Southwind Academy. Under normal circumstances, he had almost no chance of being admitted. Fortunately, he was naturally handsome. After jumping through countless hoops, he’d finally secured a sliver of a chance—and it all depended on the woman before him. As the memories churned, his vision swam. Several distorted characters, like swirling gnats, gradually took shape in a neat formation before his eyes. [Host: Su Chen] [Basic Combat (Mastery--Unequipped)] ’This is...’ Su Chen froze. His heart leaped, and he clenched his jaw, trying his best to suppress the emotional turmoil. He swallowed hard, instinctively focusing his thoughts on the [Basic Combat] Skill. [Basic Combat (Mastery--Unequipped): 64%] [(Note: A result of years of training in your previous life. Equipping will enhance the host’s physical condition.)] ’A gift from my past life?’ Su Chen snapped out of his daze. While his current body wasn’t exactly skin and bones, it was clearly far weaker than the one he’d had in his previous life. "That bewildered look on your face... it’s quite amusing." When Su Chen looked up again at the sound of her voice, he saw Jiang He was now reclining on the sofa, a wine glass in her hand. SNAP— With a light flick of her finger, the shackles on his wrists sprang open. His arms fell free, and he stumbled on the carpet, his eyes irresistibly drawn to the discarded restraints. ’They say... this tutor of the mystic arts became a Professional long ago.’ "Come..." Jiang He beckoned, parting her red lips to take a sip of wine. Su Chen hesitated. He had replaced the original Soul, and while he knew the personality of the body’s previous owner, pretending wasn’t that simple. ’If I get too close, she’s bound to notice something’s wrong.’ Seeing him remain still, a slight smile played on Jiang He’s lips. Her slender finger tapped a letter on the side table. It was on fine paper with gold foil stamping, its corners traced with black geometric lines. ’The letter of recommendation!’ The thought surfaced in Su Chen’s mind, along with an inexplicable surge of longing. This was what his body’s previous owner had come here for. With that, he could enter Southwind Academy and escape his fate as cannon fodder. But... Su Chen hesitated. ’According to these memories, skipping the academy would be trouble... but I need to sort through all this information in my head first.’ ’Besides, this woman is dangerous. The previous owner was perfectly fine... so how did I suddenly end up in his body?’ ’If she realizes I’m not him, she might have me dissected.’ "Having second thoughts?" Seeing Su Chen remain silent and still, Jiang He’s playful expression vanished. She said coolly, "If that’s your choice, then leave." Su Chen glanced at a nearby chair, where a set of slightly worn clothes lay. When she saw he actually intended to leave, Jiang He’s eyebrow twitched with annoyance. She added, "In a few more months, you’ll be forced to join an exploration team. Once you’re outside the city walls, you’re as good as dead." It sounded like both a reminder and a threat. With a rustle of fabric, Su Chen finished dressing. He kept to his predecessor’s quiet and withdrawn persona and moved to open the door and leave. Seeing him move to leave, Jiang He grew irritated. ’I thought I’d have my fun tonight, and gain a nice little pet in the process, but instead...’ Just as the thought crossed her mind, her vision suddenly went black. CRASH! The sound of shattering glass came from behind him. Su Chen, already on edge, spun around in an instant. A grim look flashed in his eyes. He was ready to equip the gift from his past life at a moment’s notice. ’Even if it only gives me a slight chance to fight back, it’s better than being captured without a struggle.’ But a second later, the grim look was replaced by shock. Jiang He was curled up on the carpet, writhing in pain and letting out low, agonized groans. Shards of glass were scattered around her, some already slicing into her delicate skin. ’What the...’ Su Chen’s brow furrowed deeply. "Hh... hhh..." Jiang He gasped for air, her body convulsing. Her voice came in broken fragments. "...call... the Emergency... Department..." The Emergency Department was Southwind City’s dedicated emergency response agency, and their services were notoriously expensive. Su Chen hesitated for a moment. His gaze drifted past the sofa behind her to a long, brown table in the distance. On it lay a small, delicate silver metal bracelet. He had no idea what was going on. He suspected Jiang He was suffering from some sudden illness. ’Should I help her or not?’ Before he could make a decision, a faint CLICK came from behind him, followed by a shrill voice. "If I were you, I’d stay right where you are." He spun around warily. Two figures, one tall and one short, came into view, but they were blurry. Their forms seemed to be veiled in shadow, shimmering under the light like mobile mosaics. The taller mosaic-like figure extended an arm, and Su Chen realized the effect was coming from a piece of clothing. He pulled off the garment, revealing a powerfully built man who glared at Su Chen with ferocious eyes. The shorter one was slowly closing the door. His eyes were dark and menacing. He had a sharp nose and sunken cheeks, and a sinister, almost imperceptible smile played on his lips. "Jiang He..." The man’s gaze merely flicked over Su Chen before landing on the woman moaning on the floor. "Tsk, tsk..." he clucked his tongue, his expression unreadable. Jiang He managed to lift her head. Her face was pale, her forehead beaded with sweat. Forcing down her agony, she squeezed a question through clenched teeth: "This is... a private residence. Who... are you? What... do you... want?" "As expected of a Secret Magic Apprentice who’s passed the Delirious Words Trial. Your pain tolerance is impressive. To think you can still speak after drinking a Withered Grass Potion..." The shorter man spoke in a leisurely drawl as he walked forward. His gaze swept over Su Chen. The boy’s head was bowed, and he appeared to be scared stiff, his eyes vacant and unresponsive. He paid him no mind; he knew the boy’s file. This was exactly how a low-grade citizen should react. Su Chen, however, was reeling with shock, his eyes fixed on the translucent screen that only he could see-- [Discovered Tier One Advanced Profession: Secret Magic Apprentice. May be adopted upon meeting advancement requirements.] [Discovered Advancement Condition 1 for Secret Magic Apprentice, Delirious Words Trial: In complete darkness, draw an inverted cross on your chest with your own blood. Listen to the unknown voices and endure for thirty seconds.] [Advancement Condition 2: ???]