Communication

“Hmm, not bad, your form is quite standard. You have talent, Mian.”

The bald pastor beside him grinned, revealing a neat row of large front teeth. His gleaming bald head reflected the light from the room.

Mian slowly rose from the ground, shaking his sore arms to relax his muscles. His chest rose and fell slightly, his breathing not yet fully settled. Sweat trickled down his temples, soaking the collar of his training clothes.

“Mr. Musen... I wonder when I’ll ever be able to train like you.”

Mian gazed at Musen’s muscular physique, his eyes filled with deep envy.

Each muscle was as large and hard as rock, veins twisting like earthworms, brimming with explosive power.

“Haha, don’t worry. As long as you keep at it, one day you’ll be just like me,” Musen said, striking a few bodybuilding poses that made Mian’s eyes sparkle with admiration. “Muscles are simpler than life. As long as you put in the sweat and effort, you’re guaranteed results!”

The muscular Musen draped an arm over Mian’s shoulder, flashing a bright smile and giving him a thumbs-up.

“Mm!” Mian nodded firmly.

Mr. Musen is such a kind man, helping me with my training so selflessly. Feeling the warmth and strength of the hand on his shoulder, Mian thought quietly to himself.

Clearly, neither of them realized they were currently in a magic academy, where muscle training was completely out of place.

After taking a refreshing cold shower, Mian let out a big yawn.

The water had washed away the fatigue from his body, but it brought with it an even deeper drowsiness. He dragged his heavy steps toward the bed, feeling every muscle protest with each movement.

“I’m a bit tired. I’m going to turn in for the night... Good night, Mr. Musen.” Mian collapsed onto the bed.

“Mm, good night.” Musen’s figure gradually faded, dissolving like smoke, and finally slipped back into the thick book resting on the table.

After everything that had happened, exhaustion washed over Mian like a tide, quickly carrying him into a deep slumber. His breathing grew steady and long, his chest rising and falling in a rhythmic cadence.

His consciousness grew hazy, then gradually sharpened again, as if surfacing from murky waters.

Mian looked around blankly. Everything was pure white—no buildings, no scenery, just an endless void. This space had no sense of up or down, left or right. It felt as if he was standing on something solid, yet at the same time suspended in midair.

To his surprise, there was another person here.

He was a young man around Mian’s age, with jet-black hair like a raven’s feather and deep crimson eyes. His features were strikingly handsome, yet carried a dangerous allure. A faint, mocking smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

He wore a well-tailored black formal suit, a stark contrast to the pure white space around him.

His appearance seemed vaguely familiar... After a moment, Mian realized he looked very much like Mr. Xia Lun. But the completely different temperament and gaze—Xia Lun’s eyes held warmth and wisdom, while this young man’s were full of playfulness and danger—kept Mian from recognizing it right away.

“Are you... Aise?”

Mian knew his name.

“A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Mian... My apologies for taking over your body earlier without your consent.” Aise spoke slowly, his voice as elegant and pleasant as a violin, each syllable perfectly measured.

Mian scratched his head.

He was somewhat surprised. When Aise first spoke, his first impression was that the man seemed well-mannered and aristocratic—not at all like a villain. This contrast left Mian momentarily at a loss.

“Uh... Is there something you want to talk to me about?”

Oddly enough, Mian found that he couldn’t muster much anger toward him, even though Aise was the cause of all these troubles... This inexplicable calm only made him more vigilant.

Stay cautious. This is just an act.

And also... Teacher Enlaisi was killed by him. Mian reminded himself sternly. The thought of Enlaisi made his heart wrench painfully, and he raised his guard once more.

“No need to be tense, Mr. Mian... I’m here to propose a cooperation.” Aise leaned back, and a sofa materialized out of thin air behind him, catching him effortlessly.

He elegantly crossed his legs and made a gesture of invitation. “Please, make yourself comfortable.”

Mian looked at the sofa that had suddenly appeared behind him and sat down cautiously. Feeling the soft velvet fabric under him, everything felt far too real to be just a dream.

“My father struck me a few times with his blade, so I’m in a weakened state right now,” Aise said bluntly. “Your consciousness can now resist me. Occupying your body won’t be so easy for me anymore.”

“Ha...” Mian wasn’t sure why Aise was telling him this.

“So, I’m hoping that when I need to use your body, you won’t resist,” Aise continued, still smiling. That smile was so perfect it seemed like a carefully crafted mask.

“Why would you think I’d agree to such a request?” Mian asked incredulously.

“I’ll obviously provide my terms. I can promise you that while I’m in your body, I won’t kill innocents or do anything too extreme.” Aise remained expressionless. “You should understand, Mr. Mian, I do have the ability to forcibly take over your body... It would just take a bit more effort. I don’t want to waste energy on such tedious matters, which is why I came to negotiate with you.”

“Then... what is your goal?” Mian asked a crucial question. “What do you want to do while using my body?”

“Goal?”

Unexpectedly, a hint of bewilderment flickered in Aise’s eyes.

“I don’t really have a goal.” Aise shook his head, then grinned even broader than before. “If I had to say... I just want to live as a person, to live peacefully with my parents.”

Mian was rendered speechless.

“So, what do you think? Is that acceptable to you?” Aise said casually, spreading his hands as he lounged on the sofa.

“I refuse.” Mian shook his head.

Aise paused briefly, clearly taken aback that Mian would refuse so decisively.

“You can’t live like an ordinary person. I can’t trust you at all,” Mian said flatly. “And besides, the idea of you using my body to continue your old relationship with Mr. Xia Lun... that disgusts me.”

Aise opened his mouth to say something, but Mian’s figure had already begun to dissolve before his eyes.

Aise narrowed his eyes slightly.

Only he remained in this mental space.

“What a cautious fellow...”