Volume One, Chapter 51: The Task Guardian

After class, Star Late arrived at the office of the head of the Department of Taoist Studies. The department head was also a member of the Association of Spiritual Masters and greeted Star Late with great respect.

“Consultant Chi, the truth is, we have a small matter we’d like your help with,” he said.

Star Late replied, “Please, just say it directly.”

“You probably know that our department has two kinds of students. Some were born into the Mystical Sect, or discovered by the sect at a young age. These students learned mystical knowledge before university, and some are already spiritual masters of considerable rank.”

These students make up the majority in the department. For example, Fangfei Chu was discovered as a child by the Seven Star Sect for her talent and was accepted as a disciple. Before entering university, she had already become a Ding-level spiritual master and has since advanced to Bing-level.

“But,” the department head continued, “there’s another kind of student. Some are only discovered to have talent at an older age, or awaken their abilities late. These students start late, and some only begin studying mystical knowledge after enrolling at the university.”

Star Late understood and asked, “So you want me to teach them?”

“No, no, no,” the department head quickly denied. “It’s just some basic knowledge, nothing that would require you to teach. What we hope is that you could act as their guardian.”

Star Late listened carefully.

It turned out that the Association of Spiritual Masters had rules: Ding-level spiritual masters couldn’t take on tasks alone. Whenever they participated in a task, depending on its difficulty, an Yi-level or higher spiritual master must act as their guardian.

Most Ding-level spiritual masters at the university don’t belong to any sect and rely on teachers for guardianship.

“We originally arranged another teacher, but they had to take leave unexpectedly, so we’re asking you,” the department head explained.

Star Late agreed.

That very day, she met the students who required her guardianship—three in total, two girls and a boy.

Upon learning their guardian was a super Jia-level spiritual master, the three were excited but nervous, introducing themselves with great caution.

The two girls were named Yixuan Chen and Yuxin Zhao.

Yixuan Chen had grown up abroad, only returning during high school, when her spiritual talent was discovered. Therefore, she started late.

Yuxin Zhao had awakened her abilities at eighteen after a traumatic encounter with an evil spirit. Rescued, she transferred from her original university.

The boy was named Bin Yao, simply because he was a reclusive homebody, rarely going out, so his spiritual talent wasn’t discovered until his teens.

Star Late reviewed their profiles and checked their spiritual power levels.

All three had spiritual power values below 1000, qualifying as Ding-level spiritual masters. Among them, Yuxin Zhao had the highest, over eight hundred, with hopes of breaking through to Bing-level within a year or two.

“What task did you choose?” Star Late asked.

Yixuan Chen opened the Spirit Sprite app and handed Star Late the task they’d selected.

The task was posted in the help section. The client claimed her son had suddenly changed personality, becoming moody and unpredictable. She had taken him to the hospital for multiple examinations, but nothing was found.

She suspected her son had encountered something unclean.

The Association of Spiritual Masters had assessed the task as D-level—the lowest category. Skilled spiritual masters didn’t bother with it; it was too simple, and the rewards were meager.

“Consultant Chi, what do you think of this task?” Bin Yao asked nervously.

Star Late said, “It’s good. Suits you all well.”

The three felt reassured and took on the task.

As the boldest and most socially adept, Yixuan Chen contacted the client. The client, perhaps worried about her son, did not refuse a meeting and sent Yixuan Chen the location.

The site was a handicraft shop, owned by the client.

Arriving at the entrance, even Yixuan Chen felt a bit timid—it was their first task, after all.

“From now on, you’re in charge. Go ahead inside,” Star Late encouraged.

Yuxin Zhao hesitated, “Consultant Chi, what if we mess up?”

Star Late was instantly reminded of the junior disciples at Heavenly Profound Sect, anxious and uncertain on their first missions.

“It’s all right. I’ll be here the whole time. I’ll cover for you. Go ahead, don’t worry.”

With their nerves eased, Yixuan Chen took a deep breath and led the way into the shop.

The owner was a gentle-looking middle-aged woman. She smiled warmly, “Welcome! What kind of handicrafts are you looking for?”

Yixuan Chen glanced at Star Late for reassurance, then gathered her courage. “Ms. Wu, our client, hello. We’re the spiritual masters you contacted through the Spirit Sprite app.”

Ms. Wu looked at them in surprise, “I didn’t expect you all to be so young.”

Sensing her skepticism, Yixuan Chen and the others grew nervous. Star Late whispered, “Discuss the task.”

Yixuan Chen calmed herself. “About your son’s sudden personality change—we’d like to know the details. It will help us determine the cause.”

Ms. Wu was still doubtful. Just then, a middle-aged man entered and asked, “What’s wrong? Problems again?”

Ms. Wu shook her head and explained who Star Late and the others were, then introduced the man, “This is my husband, Mr. Wang.”

Mr. Wang immediately grew angry. “What era do we live in? How can you be so superstitious?”

Ms. Wu looked troubled, “But our son’s situation is truly strange, and the doctors say he’s perfectly healthy. Maybe it really is—”

Mr. Wang cut her off, “If you ask me, it’s just academic stress. Instead of wasting money like this, get him a psychologist.”

Ms. Wu wavered, and Mr. Wang became insistent, “If you youngsters are here to patronize our shop, we welcome you. But if you’re here for these deceitful schemes, don’t blame me for being rude.”

He began to drive them out. Bin Yao shielded Yixuan Chen and Yuxin Zhao, but was shoved by Mr. Wang and nearly fell.

“We’re not frauds. We really are spiritual masters,” Bin Yao protested.

“I don’t care if you are or not. I don’t believe any of it. You’ve come to the wrong place,” Mr. Wang retorted.

Just as they were about to be pushed out, Star Late suddenly called, “Ms. Wu!”

“What?” Ms. Wu answered instinctively.

“Ms. Wu, the reward you listed in your help post was a woven toy, correct?”

Ms. Wu’s cheeks flushed red. When she made the post, she hadn’t expected much. The reward field had no value requirement, so she’d simply snapped a picture of a toy in the shop and uploaded it.