Finally, Jiang Yihua was brought before the professor by the green-haired youth. As the professor already approved of the "Campus Purity Group's" demands, and the scroll in question happened to be the professor's most treasured imitation of the "Huai Sha" from the Teng Dynasty, the professor refused Jiang Yihua's explanation without mercy, demanding the return of the scroll. Otherwise, he threatened to sue Jiang Yihua and request his expulsion.
Moreover, the professor seemed to have done this intentionally, deliberately quoting a price far exceeding the scroll's value.
Jiang Yihua panicked.
Neither option – returning the scroll or being expelled – was something he could afford.
He pleaded, but only received cold laughs and silence.
That evening, for the first time, he bought a bottle of alcohol. At this moment, he hated his own ability more than ever. He summoned his books and, fueled by alcohol, tried to tear out the article. However, not even the paper tore. He didn't even know why his books could absorb ancient texts, let alone how to destroy them.
In desperation, he decided to first borrow some money from Xiao Zhen, then contact relatives and inform his brother about the situation.
However, besides Xiao Zhen and his brother running around to raise half the money, no one else even bothered to respond.
At this point, Jiang Yihua felt despair like never before.
He finally gave the money he had raised to the professor, hoping for a few more days of grace.
The professor, with a cold expression, agreed. However, he still submitted the expulsion request to the school, citing reasons such as: disrespecting elders and teachers, violating school rules, and damaging school property.
Jiang Yihua was expelled from school by the "Campus Purity Group."
If it weren't for Xiao Zhen, who withstood the pressure of being surrounded by a mob to drive everyone away, Jiang Yihua wouldn't have even had time to pack his belongings.
As Xiao Zhen bid him farewell, he said with a helpless expression that he had finally managed to find out the black market price of the ancient scroll, and the money they had raised was enough to compensate for it. However, the professor had quoted double the price, which was why they couldn't afford it.
Therefore, Xiao Zhen believed Jiang Yihua should report the professor.
But Jiang Yihua shook his head with a bitter smile, thinking it was unavoidable. He had no evidence when he paid the money, and he simply couldn't afford to sue the professor. Even if he won, he would face greater ostracism upon his return to school.
Afterward, Jiang Yihua tentatively tried to use his knowledge for his old profession, but all the schools rejected him as if he were a plague after looking at his resume.
With no other option, he had to take a menial job. However, due to his age, he searched for a long time before finally securing a job as a waiter through Xiao Zhen's connections to earn travel expenses to go home.
But a subsequent event completely broke Jiang Yihua.
His younger brother, in an act of chivalry, stopped a rich second-generation individual from harassing a female classmate. This angered the rich second-generation, who then beat his brother into disability on his way home.
His awakened A-grade ability, "Seven Star Saber," was shattered, turning him into a disabled ability user.
Anyone could tell that an ability user of at least fifth-tier had been responsible, but the local police's final verdict was: beaten by a mob of non-ability users.
Ridiculous.
Absolutely ridiculous.
Jiang Yihua stared at the bills and notices in his hands in disbelief. His mind suddenly flashed back to the female classmate who had clashed with the principal's daughter at the beginning.
Jiang Yihua seemed to suddenly understand a principle.
This country publicly protected ordinary people and upheld the first batch of powerful ability users who ruled, yet it had pushed the newly emerging class to the very bottom – ordinary ability users.
They could neither obtain the legal protection afforded to ordinary people nor seize the resources that powerful ability users deserved.
The original law of the jungle, where the weak are preyed upon by the strong, had never changed. It had merely been covered by a layer of illusory disguise, lurking in its original place.
In that instant, Jiang Yihua felt he had "awakened."
He was no longer aimlessly struggling to make a living. He now had a goal – he wanted power! He wanted to become stronger! As long as he didn't belong to this class, he wouldn't have to endure this treatment!
And fate played another trick on him.
Three days later, he returned to his hometown, Jiangzhou Wuhu, intending to care for his brother.
On the train, he was attacked by a demonic beast. But just before being bitten, his ability manifested – a phantom image of a pipa appeared, and a powerful wave of sound repelled the beast.
So that's how it is…
Jiang Yihua understood the true power of his ability.
Thus, in Jiangzhou, he worked during the day to earn money, and at night he cared for his brother, searched for ancient texts, and practiced using his abilities.
Sometimes, his brother would suddenly break down emotionally. Jiang Yihua would watch his brother cry with tears, calling himself useless. He wouldn't speak, but simply hug his brother tighter, letting him cry more comfortably.
Until one day, while searching for ancient texts, a woman in a red robe suddenly asked, "What are you looking for these ancient texts for?"
Jiang Yihua was startled and stammered, "To become stronger…"
"Oh? Do you crave power?"
"Yes…"
Then the woman chuckled and said, "Books like yours are called 'Treasury Scrolls,' and you can only record a maximum of nine books in your lifetime. You've found so many, how many can you actually record? And if you forcefully absorb them, you'll be influenced by the author's thoughts. Do you feel your mind becoming increasingly sluggish?"
"So that's how it is…" Jiang Yihua hugged his books and nodded, then quickly bowed to the woman, "Thank you, young lady, for your guidance. I have nothing to repay you with, but I can treat you to a bowl of wontons?"
"Hahaha… you're truly amusing…" The woman laughed heartily and then said, "Come with me. I can give you power. Do you want it?"
Jiang Yihua didn't answer directly, but he followed the woman to see the "power" she spoke of.
It was a room full of ancient scroll fragments.
Jiang Yihua even found some original texts among them. Although somewhat damaged, the potent spiritual energy emanating from them deeply moved him.
The woman invited Jiang Yihua again, but the naturally cautious Jiang Yihua still refused. The woman was not annoyed, merely stating that he could come to this library to find her often.
Jiang Yihua agreed and, in the following days, frequently visited the woman to discuss books, abilities, and this country.
To Jiang Yihua's delight, the woman shared similar views, yet her insights seemed to extend further than his own. However, this didn't hinder Jiang Yihua from learning to use his abilities from her.
What puzzled Jiang Yihua were the woman's many peculiar habits – for instance, he never knew her name and could only call her "Teacher."
Jiang Yihua initially thought his life wouldn't change for the time being. Once he could use his abilities proficiently, he would rise above his current circumstances, making those arrogant people at Longjing University regret their actions and making Xiao Zhen proud of him.
But what was unexpected, was indeed unexpected.
Jiang Yihua, after studying in the library all night and being exhausted from his usual work, fell asleep in the library.
When Jiang Yihua woke up the next day and checked his phone, he found that his phone had received dozens of calls since midnight.
Upon closer inspection, they were from the hospital.
Jiang Yihua assumed it was about unpaid medical bills again, so he said goodbye to the woman and left immediately.