Chapter 462: Is There a Difference?

The next day, Jiang Cheng arrived at the Director's Office, pushed the door open, and saw Ma Ming talking with a teacher from the Alchemy Workshop.

Seeing Jiang Cheng come in, he immediately stopped the conversation, smiled and said, "Director Jiang, just now the Cui Director from the Principal's Office came by; you weren't here yet. Cui left a message saying Principal Xu is looking for you; after you arrive, please go to the Principal's Office for a visit."

"Principal Xu is looking for me?"

Jiang Cheng was slightly startled.

Doesn't Xu Juan have his contact information?

If there's something, couldn't they just call directly?

As for sending someone specifically, should he go? "Yes."

Ma Ming beamed.

"Director, do you know what it is?"

Jiang Cheng asked curiously.

"This, this…"

Ma Ming gave a wry smile, "Director Cui left a single sentence and then left; I just wanted to ask, but there wasn't time, let alone…"

Moreover, the other party was looking for Jiang Cheng, not him, so he didn't dare to ask further.

"Alright, sorry to trouble you, Director. I'll go over there."

Jiang Cheng asked casually, without much hope.

"Alright, alright."

Ma Ming nodded his head like a chick pecking at grain.

Walking on the way to the Principal's Office, Jiang Cheng guessed something.

Could it be that his passing the assessment and becoming a Rebel Soldier had reached Xu Juan's ears?

It must be said, this possibility is high; after all, Xu Juan is the head of the academy, and if someone in the academy passes the assessment, the Base wouldn't fail to inform her.

Soon, he arrived outside the Principal's Office, and saw the door ajar.

He was about to raise his hand to knock when a mature woman's voice sounded from inside, "No need to knock, just come in, and close the door as you do so."

So Jiang Cheng pushed the door open and stepped inside, and as he closed the door, his gaze also turned toward the interior.

Xu Juan still wore the same attire as when they first met, but now she stood by the window, gazing at the surrounding scenery.

After hearing the door close, she turned, pointed at the sofa and coffee table ahead, and said, "Sit down. You must have guessed why I called you here."

"It's about me passing the assessment and becoming a Rebel Soldier, right?"

Jiang Cheng found a seat and asked.

"That's right."

Xu Juan walked slowly forward,

"When we first met, I thought you were just talking, and over the past two months I almost forgot about it, but I didn't expect you actually took the assessment and passed it on the first try. Frankly, you have indeed impressed me."

"..."

Hearing that, Jiang Cheng didn't know what to say.

"Should I thank you for finally seeing me, or… oh, so you have looked down on me from the start?"

"You should also know that many teachers in our academy are also Rebel Soldiers."

"Yes."

Jiang Cheng nodded.

However, such teachers mainly teach students cultivation and combat.

In places like the Alchemy Workshop and Seal-Making Department, which are more support-oriented, the proportion of Rebel Soldiers among the teachers is very low.

It's easy to understand: time spent researching pills and talismans is insufficient, and any extra energy left for combat? In that case, naturally one cannot pass the assessment stages. "So, what are your plans from now on?"

Xu Juan sat opposite, staring straight at Jiang Cheng.

She of course knew that discussing these matters over the phone was more convenient.

But demeanor and expression are things that cannot be seen over the phone.

"What are your plans moving forward?"

Jiang Cheng furrowed his brows, looking at her with puzzlement.

"Of course, it's the same as before: every morning I refine two batches of top‑grade Awakening Pills, on Tuesday and Friday afternoons I teach the academy students, and the rest of the time I devote to cultivation,"

"Since I passed the assessment, I am also a Rebel Soldier, so I can use the Base's Virtual Combat System without limit. Honestly, this greatly improves me, and moreover, if there are missions, I will carry them out."

"I know."

Xu Juan said, "What I'm asking is, if you receive a mission, do you really intend to carry it out?"

"What does the Principal mean?"

Jiang Cheng sensed the subtext, as if she didn't want him to undertake the mission?

"Your skill in alchemy is second only to Director Ma, and your talent surpasses his. If something were to happen to you during a mission, it would be a major blow not only to our academy but also to the entire Hope City, so…"

Xu Juan leaned back, resting on the sofa, "You don't need to carry out the missions assigned by the Base. Moreover, you shouldn't proactively take on missions; just focus on alchemy teaching at the academy. Of course, the benefits of being a Rebel Soldier you can retain, including the monthly Contribution Points and the right to use the combat system."

Jiang Cheng, hearing this, took a deep breath and asked, "Is this a notice from the Principal or from the Base?"

"Is there a difference?"

Xu Juan gave him a glance.

"My role is not only the academy's Principal but also one of the two Vice Leaders; my words just now represent both the academy and the Base."

Jiang Cheng was truly taken aback by what he heard.

But upon serious thought, Xu Juan being an Eight‑level Primordial Force Grandmaster makes sense.

Even so, he shook his head.

"Principal, I understand your good intentions, but I cannot enjoy the benefits of being a Rebel Soldier on one hand while neglecting my responsibilities on the other."

"Your responsibility isn't to carry out missions, but to refine alchemy and to train more alchemists; if you had to choose one of the two, training more alchemists is more important. Do you understand?"

Xu Juan furrowed her eyebrows and, with added emphasis, said.

"But as a Rebel Soldier, carrying out missions is also something one should do, so regarding what the principal said, please forgive me for being unable to agree."

Jiang Cheng replied without hesitation.

This is one reason, though it's a rather unimportant one.

The most important reason is contribution.

He doesn't want to feel the sting of an empty purse when buying treasures.

And refining alchemy, the Awakening Pill is ultimately just a Three-grade Elixir; as his strength grows, the profit it yields will diminish.

Only missions will bring considerable Contribution Points income.

Xu Juan's pupils narrowed slightly, and her tone softened a bit, "My tone just now may have been a bit harsh, but I always speak that way; Hope you don't mind."

"It's fine, I can understand," Jiang Cheng said.

The other party is both Vice Leader and principal, and also an Eight-level Grandmaster strongman; in every respect, in Hope City they are an undisputed core figure, even if they don't show it outwardly, they still have inner pride.

"Some missions look simple but can actually bring various accidents, including the seemingly simplest—Patrol Passage. This routine mission, you'll join in a few days; if you're careless, it could endanger your life. Though the probability is low, it's not nonexistent."

(End of chapter)