Chapter 34: I’ll Wait Four Years for You

September 1st. The new semester had begun. All students, both new and returning, at City No. 1 High School gathered on the sports field waiting for the opening ceremony.

Soon, it was Zhou Chen’s turn to speak. He had received the school’s prepared speech the day before, but he decided he didn't need it. He chose to improvise on the spot. Throughout the entire speech, he spoke mostly about his homeroom teacher, Gu Zhaoyue. Nearly 60% of his words were dedicated to praising her, molding her image into that of a responsible, caring, and peerless educator. He touched upon every virtue—love, morality, joy, wisdom, and scholarship—until Gu Zhaoyue, sitting below the stage, was blushing furiously, her eyes signaling him to stop.

Seeing her face flushed so deeply it seemed as if it might drip with water, Zhou Chen decided to stop teasing her. He concluded the speech with a brief thanks to the school and its leadership.

He declined the school leaders’ offer to host a celebratory banquet at a grand hotel that evening and instead asked them to drive him to the high-speed railway station, with Gu Zhaoyue accompanying him. His train ticket left him with very little time; he needed to enter the station.

Outside the entrance of Baoqing Station, Zhou Chen stood with his crossbody bag, backpack, and suitcase, facing Gu Zhaoyue for a final farewell.

"Sister Zhaoyue, I’m leaving now. Can you stop being so reserved?"

Gu Zhaoyue gave a sweet smile and kissed him on the cheek. "Peking University gathers the elite of the entire country; there are no shortage of stunning beauties like Cai Yameng there. If, after you graduate, you still firmly choose your Sister Zhaoyue, then we shall go and get our marriage certificate."

Gu Zhaoyue knew this young man liked her, but the age gap between them was significant, and they had once been teacher and student. While her own parents would certainly support it, Zhou Chen’s parents were another matter. After all, a woman being three years older is a blessing, but nine years older? That is a heavy burden. She said this for Zhou Chen’s own good. She knew clearly that with his brilliance, he would inevitably attract many admirers in Beijing, many of whom would surely be more exceptional than her. Better to be clear now than to be cheated on later.

"Sister Zhaoyue..."

Gu Zhaoyue smiled gently. "Don't worry. I won't go on any more blind dates. I will wait for you for four years."

A soft spot in Zhou Chen’s heart was touched. Four years might not be much for someone like him who had just graduated high school, but Gu Zhaoyue was already twenty-seven. Waiting four more years would make her thirty-one—an age when women are often left behind and find it difficult to find a suitable partner. It was no exaggeration to say she was betting her lifelong happiness on this. Zhou Chen had no words; who could not love such a woman?

He took a gift box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a bracelet with a small bell. The chain and the bell were both made of gold. It had cost him over 20,000 yuan—a small sum compared to his net worth of over two million. After becoming the top scorer in the college entrance exam, many wealthy individuals in Baoqing had tried to curry favor with him by sending gifts, and the school had awarded him a million yuan as well.

Of course, the bracelet was just a cover. What he was truly giving Gu Zhaoyue was a Soul-Devouring Insect hidden within the accessory. It was a Grade 2 insect, capable of killing even modern practitioners like Chen Wenxu.

"You must wear it, and don't take it off even when you shower!" Zhou Chen cautioned her solemnly.

"I will."

As the high-speed train pulled away, Zhou Chen gradually left Baoqing City behind, moving further and further away. Next stop: Beijing!

...

Zhou Chen had already contacted the admissions office of Peking University to inform them he would be one day late. Peking University was naturally patient with a national top scorer; they not only handled his enrollment process but also waived his tuition and provided him with a private dormitory. Zhou Chen did not refuse, as he needed the space to cultivate and refine the energy fed back to him by the exotic insects.

The journey from Hunan Province to Beijing took seven or eight hours, followed by a taxi ride to the university. The sky was gradually darkening. Looking at the bustling streets of the capital, Zhou Chen was filled with anticipation for his upcoming university life. He wondered what kind of people he would meet, what friends he would make, and what games he would play against unknown enemies. He didn't know whether disaster or opportunity would come first.

He didn't know which would come first, but he did witness a major traffic accident. Just as he was approaching an intersection, a thunderous crash pulled him from his thoughts. He cast his spiritual sense toward the scene. A fully loaded truck had collided with a bus that was crossing the street.

During this evening rush hour, the bus was packed. The impact was severe, and blood immediately covered the ground. Countless screams and cries for help filled the air. Zhou Chen’s heart tightened, and he urged the driver to open the door. The bus was crowded; if rescue didn't arrive in time, the casualties would be massive.

He could not stand by and watch such a tragedy. Though the techniques he practiced were unconventional, there was no good or evil in the methods themselves—only in the heart of the practitioner. As the saying goes, "With great power comes great responsibility."

The driver, not fearing that Zhou Chen would run off—since his luggage was still in the trunk—stopped the car. Zhou Chen rushed toward the scene with only his crossbody bag. He opened it to reveal a cloth pouch containing rows of acupuncture needles of varying sizes. These were all pure gold, custom-made by a jeweler. Gold needles were less irritating, highly stable, and possessed a special bio-magnetic field capable of regulating the human body’s electrical currents. He hadn't expected to use them so soon.

Zhou Chen arrived at the scene immediately. Traffic police were already organizing rescue efforts. In these golden minutes, the police were shouting, asking if there were any doctors nearby. The situation was critical; if not handled properly, the resulting social outcry could cost the officers their jobs.

Two officers watched as a youth, looking impossibly young, sprinted toward them. Before they could even register his movements, he had inserted several gold needles into a victim whose carotid artery had been slashed by broken glass.

"Hey, what are you doing!?" an officer asked in confusion.

Then, they watched in shock as the blood gushing from the victim’s wound slowed and then stopped entirely. Zhou Chen ignored their astonishment, focusing entirely on saving the casualties. Time was life. The phrase had never been more fitting than in this urgent situation. Every second counted; if he hesitated for even a moment, a life might be lost.

He pushed his spiritual sense to the limit, scanning the injuries of the victims with lightning speed and applying the most effective treatments possible. The gold needles in his hand moved with precision, finding their marks on the vital acupuncture points.

"Save me, please save me..."