Chapter Seventy-Two: Jiacheng University

Following Wu Xiaowen into Jiacheng University, Gu Zhiheng felt remarkably calm inside the entire way.

Though he’d never properly attended classes at any school, he did hold numerous certificates from various institutions. For that, he had to thank Chu Xingran—who loved signing him up for online examinations whenever she had nothing better to do, resulting in him earning credentials from many schools. He had never set foot in a classroom; every exam was taken via video link, sitting for them online.

Even his graduate diploma from Jiacheng University was earned this way, awarded to him when he was just twenty. That was already three years ago. By rights, he was even Wu Xiaowen’s senior.

“Once we step through these gates, I’m officially your senior here. Remember to call me Senior Gu,” he said with a smile, glancing down at Wu Xiaowen.

“Senior? You went to Jiacheng University?” she asked in disbelief. According to her information, he hadn’t attended a single day of school in his life. He’d grown up in the ancestral shrine of the Gu family, only leaving this year. How could he possibly be a student here? It was impossible. Or perhaps he was just making it up.

“You don’t believe me?” He smirked inwardly—so she’d investigated him. Everyone who approached him with such enthusiasm always had ulterior motives, just as his sister had said.

He ignored the look Wu Xiaowen gave him, stepping confidently into the campus.

He hadn’t gone far before he ran into some familiar faces—the professor who had presented him with his diploma, and the president of Jiacheng University.

“Gu, when did you arrive in Jiacheng? Why didn’t you come visit your teachers?” the president exclaimed, delighted, clapping Gu Zhiheng on the shoulder.

The old professor was just as excited, his eyes shining at the unexpected encounter. This was his most outstanding student, after all—though he’d never attended a single lecture. In every respect, Gu Zhiheng was terrifyingly gifted.

“I only arrived yesterday. I came to the university today, but I didn’t want to disturb you,” Gu Zhiheng replied politely, every inch the obedient, well-mannered student.

“Nonsense! You’d never be a bother. Tonight, I’m treating you and your teachers to dinner—you must come!” the president insisted, dragging the professor away in a hurry, as if afraid Gu Zhiheng would refuse.

Gu Zhiheng found it amusing—how could someone of the president’s stature still act so childishly?

Wu Xiaowen, following behind, witnessed it all. So, it was true—Gu Zhiheng really was a student of Jiacheng University. Even the president and Professor Mu knew him well and held him in high regard.

“I never expected you’d really be my senior. But why haven’t I ever seen you on campus?” Wu Xiaowen wondered aloud. It made no sense. How could someone who’d never attended classes be so familiar to the university leadership?

“I’m not just a student of one school—at least twenty universities, I’d say.” He only took the exams; Chu Xingran handled everything else. That was his talent: every university president and senior professor knew him, despite him never once attending a class. But so what? It didn’t stop him from being an outstanding graduate.

Most importantly, he was only twenty-three and already held a stack of degrees—of every kind imaginable. Not that it interested him. To him, they were just pieces of paper, just booklets. All those certificates were sitting in a big box in the ancestral shrine at Jinfeng Town, probably gathering a thick layer of dust by now.

“Come on, let’s have a look around. This is my first time here,” he urged Wu Xiaowen, moving away from the gate.

He had many more identities, but there was no need to share them. Chu Xingran had trained him comprehensively. How could he be some ignorant country bumpkin, as outsiders thought? The world beyond was complicated, and he needed to disguise himself accordingly—never showing his true self.

Besides, if too many spirits discovered his identity, he’d have endless trouble to deal with every day. Whatever the reason, as long as he was a member of the Gu family, as long as he was Gu Zhiheng, that was enough.

“I’ll show you around. After today, you can come and go as you please.” Wu Xiaowen sensed he didn’t wish to say more, so she refrained from further questions, simply leading him toward the teaching buildings and explaining things as they walked.

Gu Zhiheng was uninterested in her commentary; his attention was elsewhere, inspecting the campus for any unclean presences.

He also scrutinized the school’s feng shui, considering whether it needed adjustment. Wu Xiaowen’s explanations drifted past his ears, unheard.

Overall, things seemed acceptable. They’d passed hundreds of people, but only came across one or two spirits who had just taken on human form. They were weak and posed no threat, so he let them be.

“Brother, can’t you tell that some of the students aren’t human?” Wu Xiaowen asked curiously, a hint of probing in her tone. Wasn’t Gu Zhiheng a member of the Gu family? How could he not notice—not only her, but even those with the weakest cultivation?

“And what if I can tell?” he replied. “As long as they don’t threaten ordinary humans, isn’t peaceful coexistence what matters?” She was testing him—this woman was constantly probing.

She appeared pure and harmless, but that was only on the surface. Deep down, she was unchanged in her true nature.

“Did you… see through my true form as well?” she ventured. Playing the fool—this man from the countryside was no simpleton. No wonder he was a Gu; every one of them was cunning and shrewd, never to be underestimated.

“You don’t need to look at me like that. I’ve worked tirelessly for twenty-three years. If I still couldn’t distinguish between humans and spirits, what do you think I’ve been doing all this time?” Gu Zhiheng mocked, gazing down at Wu Xiaowen, who barely reached his chest.

A spirit was a spirit—no matter how clever, they could never match humans in scheming.

“Even Wu Song wouldn’t dare speak ill of me. Do you think you can outdo your own ancestor?” he sneered. “Foolish and ignorant—training all these years and never training your mind.”

Did they really think so little of the Gu family? If the Gu clan could drag Ye Zheng down, what chance did ordinary spirits have?

They were simply taking chances, believing that distance brought safety and the Gu family’s gaze would never fall upon them.

“You’re right—it was the Wu family’s mistake. Please don’t hold it against us.” At the mention of her family’s ancestor, Wu Xiaowen broke out in a cold sweat. Her father and brother had been wrong. The Gu family had always been supreme—if even Ye Zheng was no match, how could they possibly be?