Shen Xiao understood perfectly the doubt raging within Lu Qingyue's eyes, the girl was clearly worrying about the risks that might drag him down with her.
However, with his current level of strength, Shen Xiao was capable of tearing through A-rank missions with ease.
To him, a D-rank mission was nothing more than a joke, a task so trivial that if he were to somehow fail it.
He would be more suited to hanging himself at the academy gates than continuing to bear the title of a genius.
Furthermore, he still had a cache of lottery draws from the system that he hadn't fully touched yet. Imagine, the rewards from just a few dozen previous draws were already enough to let him dominate A-rank missions.
With the addition of three hundred draws from the "Golden Thigh" in front of him, any measure of luck would at the very least guarantee him order-shattering items, wouldn't it?
Moreover, there was a special bonus every time he reached the threshold of the first hundred draws.
His strength was beyond doubt, but he knew he had to protect Lu Qingyue's feelings so she wouldn't feel inferior.
"Qingyue, listen to me carefully. My plan is to hone our cooperation through real field experience," Shen Xiao began, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority.
"Do you know why missions are divided into various ranks? Instructors design D-rank missions for beginners because the risks are minimal. We won't be facing high-profile fugitives, just catching petty pickpockets or tracking low-level monsters bothering the citizens. That's the reason the rewards are low. Through practical training under my supervision, your abilities will develop far more rapidly."
Shen Xiao took a sip of his tea, which was beginning to cool, then looked sharply at the girl across from him.
"Don't think that one month is a long time. Let's calculate logically: an average mission takes ten days. One day for travel, seven days to track the target, and two days for execution and report submission. That's the standard schedule. With a target of three missions in a short period, do you think you still have the luxury to doubt?"
Lu Qingyue slumped despondently.
Her mind went blank hearing Shen Xiao's cold analysis.
She truly hadn't expected time management to be that ruthless.
No wonder her instructor had asked her to give up.
Without the guidance of the man before her, she might still be drifting in naivety, thinking that time was still on her side.
Three assignments in a month?
That wasn't just stress, it was a demand that was nearly impossible for an ordinary student!
"In that case... I will obey all your orders," Lu Qingyue finally said, her voice trembling slightly but full of determination.
She stood up and bowed deeply to Shen Xiao.
"Thank you, Brother Shen Xiao. Thank you so much for giving me this hope!"
Ding!
[Received Favorability from Lu Qingyue. Reward: 100 Fate Tickets!]
Shen Xiao nearly choked with joy.
Again?!
This streak of "Divine Draws" was truly making his heart race.
He immediately helped Qingyue up and gave her a reassuring smile.
"Enough, we are teammates now. Think of this as my indirect way of repaying a favor to someone who once helped me in the past. Besides, I'm taking a 90/10 split because I know your performance will exceed that 91-point score. You don't need to feel indebted, but you must follow my instructions."
Lu Qingyue nodded quickly, "I swear! I will follow your every word without exception!"
"Good. So it's decided, we leave tomorrow at one in the afternoon. But before that, I almost forgot... as a beginner, you must pass a sparring test against members of the Supernatural Club before being allowed to take outside missions. Have you cleared that hurdle yet?"
Lu Qingyue's face suddenly flushed with shame, and she looked down again.
"Not yet... because I didn't have adequate teammates, I never met the assessment standards. But Brother Shen Xiao, don't worry, I will try my absolute best this afternoon to pass the test by myself! I promise!"
"I believe in you. This is my student ID; take it and apply for the team assessment. Their break ends at three in the afternoon; I will come to watch and see how far your abilities go," Shen Xiao said while handing over his golden card.
After Lu Qingyue left, the relaxed smile on Shen Xiao's lips slowly faded, replaced by a silent, bitter laugh.
Staring at the back of the thin girl in her shabby clothes, memories of the dark future hit him once again.
Who would believe that this fragile girl was the figure who would one day become the Rakshasa Empress, Xia Yujue?
Skin as white as snow, hair as black as ink, and thin lips capable of bringing down kingdoms with just one look.
In the future, Lu Qingyue would stand at the highest peak, forcing all races to bow their heads.
One man guarding a city, one man making a hundred races tremble; that was the legend of the Empress who became the pillar of human resistance against the otherworld.
However, all that glory turned into a catastrophe when her last relative died.
The loss of her family changed Lu Qingyue.
The protector of humanity vanished, replaced by a bloodthirsty demon who wanted to destroy everything for revenge.
Without emotional attachment, she slaughtered alien monster races mercilessly, yet she also didn't care if her allies turned to ash alongside them.
The world finally united just to stop one person, her.
And Shen Xiao, in his previous life, was just one of the ants who perished in that disaster.
Now I have awakened once more.
My first thought was to finish her off while she was still weak... but, is that right?
Shen Xiao thought while staring at his hands.
Look at her now, so innocent and suffering.
If I can change her family's fate, perhaps I can prevent the birth of the Rakshasa.
If there is a chance to change everything, I will take that risk!
On the other side, Lu Qingyue walked out of the restaurant with overflowing emotions.
For a month she had searched for teammates only to receive rejection and insults, but today, the best student had reached out his hand.
She felt as if she had just found warmth in the middle of a freezing blizzard.
The hope was real now.
She jogged toward her dormitory to pack, wanting to ensure everything was ready so as not to disappoint Shen Xiao tomorrow.
She even thought of waiting in front of the school gate starting tonight just to make sure she wasn't late.
I must work hard!
I must get the money for Mother's treatment and my younger sibling's school fees! she vowed in her heart.
However, she remembered the challenge this afternoon.
The Supernatural Club's training arena.
She had to pass that hurdle first so that all these plans wouldn't crumble into pieces.