While the laws of the True Strategy Dynasty didn't strictly prohibit a man from having more than one wife, a massive harem rarely pleased the women involved.

No one enjoys sharing something they cherish, but the tradition of polygamy had persisted for countless years. While the women could tacitly accept a husband having multiple partners, they couldn't tolerate him bringing home a new woman every other day.

Luo Qingqing stood silently beside Gu Yue Jiaying, nodding shyly yet with a hint of apprehension. Having spent time together recently, she clearly acknowledged Gu Yue Jiaying's status as the primary wife in the household and naturally adopted her stance.

"How could that be..." Qian Jin managed a wry smile. "You are both intelligent people. Can you not discern the truth from the falsehood in her words?" "There is truth, and there is falsehood," Gu Yue Jiaying stated calmly. "At the very least, the part about her having feelings for you is not false. As a woman, I can sense it..."

Luo Qingqing continued to stand beside Gu Yue Jiaying without a word, repeatedly stealing glances at Qian Jin, maintaining the demeanor of a meek young wife.

Qian Jin glanced at Lucifer Flow for a moment longer. "This demoness... she is of the Demon Race..."

"And what if I am of the Demon Race?" Lucifer Flow rolled her eyes and pointed to her lost right eye. "You did that to me! Are you planning to shirk responsibility?"

Qian Jin couldn't be bothered to offer any defense; arguing with this enchantress would only complicate matters. Gu Yue Jiaying was not an unreasonable person, and it would be difficult for Lucifer Flow to deceive her. This time, her bringing back someone named Zhen Ce was merely a subtle way of expressing her thoughts in advance.

"I understand..." Qian Jin simply nodded. Such matters were best not entangled in; admitting it upfront would resolve things more easily.

Gu Yue Jiaying smiled faintly, taking Luo Jin back from Qian Jin's hands and speaking softly. "It's not that I forbid you from seeking others, but there are already five..."

"Five..." Qian Jin felt a swarm of completely unfamiliar magical beasts flying around his head. Luo Qingqing, Gu Yue Jiaying, and the one they knew about hidden away, Qing'er, should only make three. How did the count reach five?

"This Demon Race member..." Luo Qingqing shuffled her small steps behind Gu Yue Jiaying, keeping her head down so as not to look at Qian Jin's face, and whispered, "And Sister Biluo..."

"Lucifer Flow?" Qian Jin scratched his head. "What does this have to do with Biluo..."

"Biluo..." Gu Yue Jiaying savored the name between her teeth and said lightly. "You haven't seen her since you returned, have you? Go to Zhange and check on her. She hasn't been happy or doing well these past few days." Unhappy? Not well? Qian Jin desperately wanted to discuss the issue of Biluo and his relationship with Gu Yue Jiaying and Luo Qingqing first.

"Sister Biluo lived with you in the mountains for two years..." Luo Qingqing looked down at her toes, a blush spreading across her ears and delicate neck. "Given the circumstances, who else would dare marry her besides Brother Qian Jin..."

"Go..." Qian Jin watched Gu Yue Jiaying nod in agreement, gently rubbing his temples. It seemed he wouldn't be able to settle this matter with these two women today.

"Go see her," Gu Yue Jiaying teased Luo Jin in her arms. "She is very distressed right now..."

Qian Jin sighed. The image of Biluo, head bowed with a large hat obscuring her face, exuding an aura of stubbornness and helplessness, surfaced in his mind, stirring a faint, indescribable feeling in his heart.

"Yes, I'll go see her..." Qian Jin turned and took two steps before suddenly stopping, turning back to look at Luo Qingqing. "From now on, pay less attention to that York fellow..."

Luo Qingqing's face flushed crimson, her lips unable to hide her unconcealed joy and delight. Brother Qian Jin was jealous! Brother, did you see that in the stars? Brother Qian Jin is jealous because of me!

Gu Yue Jiaying watched Luo Qingqing's reaction and shook her head lightly. How could one tell from this that this was the business genius constantly praised by the Yongliu Merchant Guild, who remained impassive when negotiating deals with major merchants? A woman, seeing the man she loves jealous because of her, was indeed happier than closing a massive business deal.

The main gate of the Zhange Academy remained the same grand entrance, and the campus was as it had always been.

Qian Jin stood before the gate, gazing at the ancient structure, feeling that something about it was subtly different from his last visit—the atmosphere! Yes, that was it!

The last time, the Zhange Academy exuded a heavy sense of decline. This time, however, the few cadet guards at the gate were brimming with vitality, even possessing a thin, almost predatory air about them.

Fierce, capable, as if ready to pounce and bite anyone they encountered!

The guards at the gate saw Qian Jin wearing the cadet uniform of the Zhange Academy. They quietly maintained their posts; none stepped forward to question him.

Qian Jin walked into the campus and observed the small groups of students on the streets. A feeling of entering a battlefield rose in his heart. Everyone around seemed an enemy, and the air was thick with the scent of intense combat—a scent absolutely absent during his previous visit.

"Interesting," Qian Jin clicked his tongue repeatedly. As a warrior, being in such an intensely competitive environment was highly infectious. A high-tier war academy was indeed much better than he had imagined.

"Excuse me, classmate..." Qian Jin quickened his pace and approached a female magic student clad in a long robe, nodding slightly. "May I ask where Biluo is now?"

The female magic student, who was clutching a thick book of spells, felt a flicker of mild surprise in her eyes the instant she heard Luo Qingqing's name. She truly hadn't expected anyone to come looking for the former star student, Biluo, even now!

"Biluo? You're looking for Biluo? Are you here to gaze upon our academy's genius magician? I can take you to see her..."

Qian Jin heard the pride laced in the voice behind him, yet it was also somewhat familiar, though he couldn't quite place where he had heard it before. He turned toward the source of the voice.

Ai Bijia!

Qian Jin looked at the young female magician before him. Her opulent red magic robe was just as it had been the last time, specially tailored to lose the bulkiness of a standard magician's robe and gain a more eye-catching appeal.

The red gem radiating magical energy was slightly smaller than her previous staff, but the magical elements within were far denser. The entire staff was encased in thin sheets of silver metal—mithril—carved with intricate patterns incomprehensible to ordinary eyes.

"It's you!" Ai Bijia’s eyes widened, staring blankly at Qian Jin. The pride on her face instantly transformed into outright fury. She swung her magic staff in mid-air, spirit energy and magic elements clashing, activating the scrolls woven into her robe.

The passersby, treating the scene as commonplace, retreated to both sides, preparing to make way.

"Seeking death..."

Qian Jin raised an eyebrow. He didn't even bother with the Shadow Step, instead propelling himself forward with a powerful thrust. His speed surpassed that of a warhorse, leaving behind a shattered flagstone where he stood. He lunged toward Ai Bijia, the fierce wind preceding him threatening to blow the not-so-svelte female magician skyward.

The surging magic elements and spirit energy vanished the moment they erupted. The passing students, who had only just started to lift their legs to retreat, were astonished to find that this sudden confrontation was already over!

"Cough... cough..." Ai Bijia desperately tried to pry away the hand clamped around her throat, her feet kicking wildly in the air, trying to find purchase on the ground that gave her a sense of security.

"What... what do you want? Do you know who she is? Xiu Sidake, Vice President of the Crystal Magic Tower! And..."

The four young magician cadets following Ai Bijia stared at Qian Jin in sheer terror. They rapidly gathered magic elements in their staffs but dared not attack immediately, fearful that if this warrior cadet exerted sudden force, he would snap Ai Bijia's neck.

The onlookers shook their heads violently, unable to believe what they were seeing. Ai Bijia, the pride of the Crystal Magic Tower, this sixth-level magician, was being choked by a warrior, lifted high into the air, her legs kicking uselessly, with no sign of being set down.

"What do I want?" Qian Jin scanned Ai Bijia’s four followers expressionlessly. "Launching a magical assault without provocation. If I kill her, even with her father's connections, it'll be hard to avoid being sentenced to the Man-Demon Battlefield in court last time. Even if they use connections to send me there, so what?"

Ai Bijia felt the five fingers gripping her throat tightening, relentlessly, until she could no longer draw a clean breath, her body feeling weak.

Fear! Ai Bijia had never felt fear before. For the first time, true terror flooded her heart. This man... really intended to kill her.

Qian Jin looked at Ai Bijia in his grasp. Committing murder in this environment was not the best course of action. She was merely a worthless life, and incurring trouble over her would only be detrimental to himself if he were indeed exiled to the Man-Demon Battlefield. Releasing her? Qian Jin was reluctant. This woman had attempted to ambush and kill him several times on the road to the Demon Race territory; letting her go now would invite future trouble. But there were so many people watching.

"Qian Jin, you haven't been to the academy for three months, and on your very first day back, you decide to cause trouble? Let her go..."

From not far behind the four magician students came a low voice, one saturated with icy hatred, drawing the attention of the students passing by. A teacher!

The warrior uniforms of the Zhange Academy teachers were distinct; they could be recognized instantly even walking through Yongliu City. Which student of the Zhange Academy wouldn't recognize the teacher's special uniform?

He was stout, with vigorous strides, a head of golden-blond hair contrasting sharply with his furious expression, resembling an enraged lion from the wilderness!

Qian Jin, still holding Ai Bijia by the throat with one hand, turned his head toward the teacher approaching from behind the four magician students. He paused slightly. What kind of day was this? He had run into two acquaintances immediately upon entering the academy!