C1 The Young and Handsome Guy in the Campus

At the National Institute of Biological Research, one of the top schools in the country and renowned worldwide, the campus is nestled in a serene, picturesque setting. Many outstanding students have graduated from here, becoming national talents. Every graduation season, biological research units from various countries come to recruit, and those who enter this place are anything but ordinary.

Ji Jinfei stood at the school gate, about 5'3" tall, with a slightly plump figure. Though she had a pleasant appearance, the saying "a little weight can overshadow beauty" seemed to apply. Watching students pass by on campus, her eyes sparkled, and a slight smile played on her lips. She murmured to herself, "Fresh faces, here I come. Today, I must snag one and shed my single status." Just as she finished speaking, she heard a rush of wind behind her. Instinctively, she dodged, but the punch still landed squarely on the back of her head.

"Ouch, Master, what was that for?" Ji Jinfei grimaced, rubbing the back of her head in resignation.

Behind her stood a tall, striking woman in a form-fitting tracksuit that accentuated her curves. She was about 5'11", with features as if painted, resembling a beauty from a classic portrait. This was Ji Jinfei's mentor, Ji Yeying.

Though Ji Yeying was approaching forty, she looked as youthful as a woman in her twenties. In comparison, Ji Jinfei felt at a disadvantage. While she was attractive in her own right, standing next to Ji Yeying, she seemed shorter, a bit plumper, and her mischievous eyes gave the impression she was ready to devour someone.

"Master, could you stop hitting the back of my head? If this keeps up, you'll knock the sense out of me," Ji Jinfei complained while continuing to rub her head.

Ji Yeying shook her fist and said, "All these years, if I hadn't been pushing you, you wouldn't have improved so quickly. Come on, we need to see the dean. Why are you still dawdling here?"

Ji Jinfei reluctantly pursed her lips and went to the security office to speak with the guard. The guard promptly called the dean, and only then did they open the gate to let them in.

Once inside the college, Ji Jinfei was amazed. The students always exuded a youthful energy. Even those who weren't particularly good-looking had a certain sunny vibe. Ji Jinfei was practically drooling at the sight.

"That one, that fresh face," Ji Jinfei quickly zeroed in on a target. Her keen eye didn't fail her as she dashed over and grabbed the young man's hand, asking, "Hey there, got a girlfriend? How about giving me your number? I'm a Demon Suppressing Master, specializing in..."

"Ji Jinfei." The chilling voice from behind made Ji Jinfei break into a cold sweat. Before she could react, a kick from behind sent her stumbling forward, straight toward the young man.

Well, that worked out. Ji Jinfei was secretly pleased, pretending she couldn't stop herself as she lunged at the young man. Unexpectedly, he sidestepped her advance, and she ended up sprawling on the ground.

"What's your name, miss? Got a number? What do you do for a living?" Ji Jinfei lay on the ground, listening to the young man fawn over Ji Yeying. It made her grind her teeth in frustration; this wasn't the first time it had happened.

"Get lost," Ji Yeying snapped, pulling Ji Jinfei up from the ground. "Let's get this done."

"Yes, yes, Master, I get it. As long as you're around, I'll never have a chance with the fresh faces," Ji Jinfei replied helplessly, leading the way again.

As they walked, many handsome guys and pretty girls passed by, their glances subtly directed at Ji Yeying. Compared to her, Ji Jinfei felt overshadowed. She couldn't help but sigh, "Sigh, even an older woman is so popular these days."

"What did you say?" A menacing voice came from behind.

"Nothing at all. We've arrived; this is the office building," Ji Jinfei quickly explained, turning around and sprinting toward the building, skillfully dodging the threatening aura behind her. Ji Yeying watched Ji Jinfei's retreating figure, sighed, and shook her head before following.

Inside the dean's office, any student present would be shocked. The usually serious dean was now cheerfully pouring tea for Ji Yeying and her companion.

Ji Jinfei glanced at the dean, who was nearing sixty, with neatly combed gray hair and a suit that gave him an air of success. However, he was too old for her taste. The tea, on the other hand, smelled delightful and was clearly of high quality.

"It's quite an honor to have the famous 'Demon Suppressing Beauty' Ji here," the dean began, sounding a bit like he was buttering her up.

Ji Yeying let out a cold laugh and said, "Dean, it's because you paid well that I'm here. You know I love money more than anything else. This job pays well—no wonder you're from a prestigious institution with deep pockets."

The dean chuckled awkwardly, then glanced at Ji Jinfei and asked, "And this is...?"

"This is my apprentice, now an apprentice Demon Suppressing Master. Don’t be fooled by her youth; she's quite capable. Her name is Ji Jinfei," Ji Yeying promptly introduced.

The dean nodded, not paying much attention to Ji Jinfei, and said, "Very well, very well. Let me explain the situation here."

Ji Yeying picked up the tea from the table, took a sip, and remained silent. The dean, feeling a bit awkward, continued, "Seven days ago, a creature appeared in our underground lab and has already caused injuries. I've temporarily sealed the lab to prevent anything from escaping, but that's just a temporary fix. That's why we called you in."

Ji Yeying nodded and smiled, "Director, let me be clear upfront. If you want to suppress the demon, that's doable. But according to our industry rules, you need to deposit all fees into my account first. If we go down there and find that the demon's level is higher than expected, the final fee will be adjusted accordingly. More won't be refunded, and less will be supplemented. Do you understand?"

The director was taken aback but managed a smile, "Charging already?"

Ji Yeying ignored him, responding coolly, "These are the rules. You can choose to pay or not, but let me remind you, if I don't take the job, no one else will either. You've heard the rumors, right?"

Ji Jinfei chuckled beside her and added, "In the demon-suppressing field, my master is well-known. Maybe not number one, but definitely in the top three. If she doesn't take it, others won't dare to either."

The director felt overwhelmed by their words, but with the current situation at the academy, he had no choice but to smile wryly, "That's manageable, that's manageable." He then quickly opened his laptop and performed some online transactions. Soon, Ji Yeying's phone chimed.

Ji Yeying handed her phone to Ji Jinfei, maintaining her composure. Ji Jinfei checked it, tapped a few times, and grinned, "All set. The transfer is complete and it's in your secret account. Master, we can go now."

Ji Yeying nodded, looked at the director, and smiled slightly, "Thank you, Director. But I have a question. Normally, demons don't just appear suddenly in a city, especially not in a secure underground lab. I can't believe you didn't have any security measures. What's going on?"

The director's face changed at this, but he quickly regained his composure and said loudly, "How would I know? It just happened. I've transferred the money, and you can name your price. My only goal is to have that underground lab cleared out quickly."

Ji Yeying stared coldly at the dean, who returned her glare with equal intensity. After a long pause, Ji Yeying finally stood up and said, "Jinfei, let's go."

The two walked out of the dean's office, and Ji Yeying closed the door behind them. She glanced back and whispered, "Jinfei, what do you think?"

"There shouldn't be any problem," Ji Jinfei replied quickly. "The creatures underground can't even break through a couple of doors. They can't be that powerful."

Just as she finished speaking, Ji Yeying gave her a light punch on the head. "You fool," Ji Yeying said. "I wasn't asking about the creatures below. I meant the dean. He seemed a bit all bark and no bite at the end, which means this situation isn't as simple as it seems."

Rubbing her head, Ji Jinfei said, "Oh, you meant that. I didn't notice. Master, can we maybe skip the hitting next time?"

"No," Ji Yeying replied loudly. "Get to work. Head to the underground lab."

"How can an old woman with no sense of direction be so fierce?" Ji Jinfei muttered under her breath.

"Jinfei..." The menacing aura behind her grew stronger, prompting Ji Jinfei to leap forward, turning back with a grin. "Master, this way. The underground lab is a bit of a trek from here. Right this way."

The underground lab at the Biological Research Institute was the most secretive place on campus. It wasn't just a facade; many biological research theories originated there. But now, the lab's perimeter was guarded by armed police, including SWAT officers.

Looking at the setup, one might think there was a terrorist threat. Ji Jinfei's eyes lit up as she looked at the officers and said, "I like police officers. Here I come..."

Just as she was about to dash forward, she felt someone grab the back of her collar. Ji Yeying's voice came through, "Focus on the task."

"Alright, alright," Ji Jinfei relented immediately.

"Excuse me, are you the Demon Suppressing Masters the dean invited?" a male voice called out. Ji Jinfei turned to see a handsome researcher in the academy's uniform, and her eyes brightened at the sight.