"As for me, I'm a rather idle person. I really hate bringing students along and talking this and that with them, so I haven't been a mentor for many years."

"But, you see, there's a rule in this organization that if an Apprentice Death God hasn't taken on a disciple for ten years, their mentor qualification will be revoked, and their benefits... will be significantly reduced."

"So I just randomly found someone—Mad Spirit, and took on a nominal mentor's position with him, thinking I'd just muddle through, and once he got through the internship period, I could continue my leisurely days."

"But he ended up dying at your hands. That's why I found you, hoping you could replace him. That's my purpose for being here."

As he spoke, Jing took a sip of tea and smiled at Yun You, asking softly...

"I wonder if you're interested in becoming my student and an Apprentice Death God?"

...

The sudden invitation left Yun You a bit bewildered.

Jing, this mysterious powerhouse, was actually asking her in all seriousness if she wanted to become an Apprentice Death God...

What a joke... Yun You had hated Apprentice Death Gods more than anything her entire life and had vowed to wipe them all out... Yet now, Jing wanted her to become an Apprentice Death God?

If she agreed, what did her vow mean? Killing herself?

Yun You's mind was a bit chaotic, with countless thoughts, both good and bad, flashing before her eyes.

However, she remained rational.

After a brief moment of panic, Yun You came to her senses, sifted through the layers of fog, and saw the problem behind this invitation.

"You're lying."

The young girl lifted her head, staring intently into Jing's black eyes.

"Oh?"

Jing squinted his eyes, countering, "Why do you say that?"

"You initially said you didn't like bringing students and that the reason you were a nominal mentor to Mad Spirit was just to fulfill the organizational apprentice recruitment metric, not out of any interest in education itself."

Yun You crossed her arms and spoke slowly, "Since that's the case, after Mad Spirit died, you could easily find someone else to be a nominal student. With your abilities, finding students isn't a problem... They might even seek you out to help you, just to get on your good side."

"Yet you didn't do that. Instead, you specifically found me and named me as your desired student... This doesn't conform to the logic you've shared."

"So it's reasonable for me to suspect that there's some other secret motive behind finding me."

"Clap... Clap..."

Jing couldn't help but applaud.

"You're even more perceptive than I thought, little girl; I admire that kind of person."

"But seriously... aren't you afraid that knowing too much could be a bit dangerous?"

"Dangerous?"

Yun You glanced at him and replied, "Why? Is 'Apprentice Death God Sir' considering silencing me?"

"If you truly had any thought of silencing me, you wouldn't have talked with me for so long."

"Moreover, I'm no longer in control of my own destiny. If I don't learn more information, I might as well be dead and avoid being used like a pawn."

Hearing this, Jing was somewhat at a loss for words.

He felt as if this little girl indeed had him pegged, leaving him unable to retort or reason effectively.

This situation, in the long life of an Apprentice Death God, was a first.

"Sharp-tongued brat..."

He chuckled lightly, but in his heart, he didn't really dislike Yun You's personality.

After all, in a dog-eat-dog world like Nest City, a bit of cleverness is never a bad thing.

"Alright, alright... It seems I can't keep this from you, so I might as well tell you."

Jing drained his cup of tea and began explaining patiently.

"I am indeed Mad Spirit's nominal mentor; in that, I haven't lied."

"However, finding you is not for the so-called teaching performance metrics but rather to recruit you."

"I think... someone as smart as you knows that the upper echelons of Nest City aren't a monolith, right?"

Jing counted on his fingers, "The military, major corporations, the council—everyone has their own forces... Even within the Apprentice Death God Organization, there are different factions."

"And for a faction, the most important thing is always blood... or rather talent."

"I want to recruit as many talented individuals as possible, which is why I found you."

"In the culture of Apprentice Death Gods, the relationship between mentor and apprentice is always the closest, most loyal... Once you become mentor and apprentice, you're basically on the same boat."

As he spoke, Jing removed his gloves, pointing to the Apprentice Death God mark on his wrist, and said truthfully, "My taking Mad Spirit as an apprentice was to bring his mentor Night Blindness—a Tier Three Apprentice Death God with the [Close Guard Sequence]—into my faction."

"And now, to make you my apprentice is naturally for the same purpose."

"While you might not help me in the future, as long as this mentor-apprentice relationship exists, you won't stand against me."

"Wait..."

Yun You suddenly spoke, interrupting Jing.

"According to what you said, if I become your student, then Mad Spirit's mentor Night Blindness would become your enemy, right?"

"After all, I killed his apprentice, and there's no way he'd just let that go, right?"

"Is it really worth it to offend Night Blindness, a Tier Three Apprentice Death God, for someone like me, a commoner? I'm a bit suspicious of your motives..."

"Why wouldn't it be worth it?"

Jing grinned broadly, speaking loudly, "In my eyes, the true value of an Apprentice Death God lies not in their 'lower limit', but in their 'upper limit'."

"That guy Night Blindness is already 70 years old this year, with almost no chance of progressing further, meaning his upper limit is only Tier Three."

"But you... are different; you have a lot of talent... Given time, you might become an astonishing powerhouse."

"So I'm willing to bet on you. As for Night Blindness, a small third-tier, he's not worth worrying about."

Jing did not hold back his praise.

"Honestly, your compliments are making me a bit embarrassed."

Yun You scratched her head awkwardly.

"With you placing me on such a high pedestal, it'd be rather ungrateful to decline."

"But I still want to ask..."

The little girl paused, then lowered her voice cautiously, asking, "Uncle, do I have the option to refuse?"

"..."

Jing remained silent.

After a long while, he lifted his head, looking at Yun You with his exceedingly gentle squinted eyes.

"I, you see, am not a person who enjoys making things difficult for others."

"If you're really unwilling, you can refuse; it's okay."

"It's okay, really, I promise not to pursue it or make things hard for you."

"I don't lie."

That's what he said, but every word seemed to carry an underlying message of "Don't refuse"...

"Refuse and you'll be killed."

That's probably what he truly wanted to say.

"Gulp..."

Yun You swallowed, lowered her head, and stammered, "Alright, alright, alright! I'll agree, okay? Quit using that tone; it's quite scary..."

"I'll agree, alright! I'll be your student!"

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