39: Olive branch and poisoned apple, a young man coldly discerns people's hearts.

"Student Lu Yuan!"

Principal Zhang Chengye was the first to greet him, his face beaming, his voice tinged with excitement.

"Good! Excellent! A Second-tier Novice Card Master! Perfect Source Power control! And his combat skills are... simply astonishing!"

He clapped Student Lu Yuan on the shoulder, as if to confirm this wasn't an illusion.

Following closely behind was Deputy Director Li from the Municipal Education Bureau.

He wore an official, warm smile on his face.

"Student Lu Yuan, congratulations. Your performance has surprised all of us."

"The city has key support policies for outstanding talents like him."

"For subsequent cultivation resources, the school will prioritize him. We will also prioritize recommending him for city-level and even provincial-level Card Master competitions and selections."

This was official recognition, a stepping stone to a higher platform.

"Thank you, Principal, thank you, Deputy Director Li." Lu Yuan bowed slightly, his tone calm.

He didn't show excessive excitement, nor was he overwhelmed by flattery.

This calmness made Deputy Director Li and the Principal pause slightly, then their eyes showed even greater appreciation.

Unmoved by favor or disgrace, his temperament was also excellent.

However, official overtures were just the beginning.

"Student Lu Yuan! Over here!"

Manager Wang from Xinghe Group squeezed through, his face full of enthusiastic smiles, a hot-stamped business card already in his hand.

"I'm Wang Hai from Xinghe Group, responsible for talent scouting. Our group is very optimistic about your potential!"

"As long as you're willing, we can provide him with a full scholarship, and he can directly enter the group's core departments after graduation!"

"We can even custom-make cards for him and provide rare materials!"

His voice was loud, not hiding his intention to recruit.

Representatives from several other companies were not to be outdone and gathered around.

"Student Lu Yuan, consider our Tianfeng Technology!"

"Our Shengshi Pharmaceutical can provide top-tier recovery potions!"

"Join our Feihong Logistics, and his future prospects are limitless!"

Business cards were handed to Lu Yuan, and tempting offers were thrown out.

Scholarships, custom cards, lucrative positions, rare resources... these things that ordinary students usually dreamed of were now being showered upon Lu Yuan as if they were free.

On the periphery of the crowd, several middle-aged men, dressed discreetly but with shrewd eyes, also tried to approach.

They were representatives of some second-tier Card Master families in Jiangcheng.

"Young friend Lu Yuan, he's accomplished at a young age." A middle-aged man with a goatee smiled and spoke, his gaze deep, "Are you interested in being a guest elder for our Liu family? Although our Liu family can't compare to those large groups, we still have some influence in Jiangcheng and can offer you some protection."

"The Wang family also welcomes you, and the terms are negotiable," another square-faced man echoed.

Protection?

Lu Yuan sneered inwardly.

Was it protection, or a disguised form of control?

Once he accepted their "kindness," it would probably mean tying himself and that gold card to their chariot.

Facing this sudden "star treatment," Lu Yuan maintained a polite smile on his face.

He took each business card one by one, expressing his thanks.

"Thank you, Manager Wang, for your high regard."

"Thank you, seniors, for your appreciation."

"Mr. Liu, Mr. Wang, I appreciate your kind intentions."

"It's just that this happened so suddenly, I still need time to consider."

His attitude was neither humble nor arrogant; he neither immediately agreed nor flatly refused.

Flawless.

This composure, far beyond his age, made those shrewd businessmen and family representatives nod secretly.

This young man was not simple.

It seemed that taking him, or rather taking his gold card, would not be so easy.

The crowd gradually thinned out a bit, but the gazes directed at Lu Yuan still did not diminish.

He became the undisputed focal point of the entire auditorium.

"Lu Yuan."

A familiar voice sounded behind him.

It was Homeroom Teacher Qianjing.

She motioned for Lu Yuan to follow her to a corner of the auditorium.

The noise here was slightly less.

Homeroom Teacher Qianjing looked at the student in front of her, her eyes complex.

There was relief, shock, but more often, worry.

"How do you feel?" she asked softly.

"Fine," Lu Yuan replied.

"Fine?" Homeroom Teacher Qianjing frowned slightly, "Don't you know what his situation is right now?"

"I know." Lu Yuan nodded, "At the center of attention."

Homeroom Teacher Qianjing sighed, her tone becoming earnest.

"You're more clear-headed than I thought, which is good."

"A gold card... that's a treasure countless Card Masters dream of, a key to the pinnacle, but also the source of potential fatal danger."

"Those people just now, from the government, corporations, and families, you should understand what they value."

Lu Yuan remained silent.

He understood, of course.

What they valued was the Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon, the potential and value it represented.

As for Lu Yuan himself... perhaps a little, but it was by no means the main reason.

"Remember my words, Lu Yuan." Homeroom Teacher Qianjing whispered into his ear, "Don't easily trust anyone, especially those forces who actively show him favor and promise great benefits."

"Beneath their olive branches, there are often invisible shackles."

"Resources, status, protection... these things are never free."

"One wrong step, and you might lose more, even... everything."

Homeroom Teacher Qianjing's gaze carried genuine concern.

She was one of the few who truly worried about him as a person.

Lu Yuan's heart warmed slightly.

"Thank you, Teacher Qian, I will be careful." He replied earnestly.

Homeroom Teacher Qianjing nodded, saying no more.

She had already given the necessary warnings.

The path ahead was for Lu Yuan to walk himself... Meanwhile.

Jiangcheng, a hidden underground stronghold.

Inside the innermost private room of the Nightclub, smoke swirled.

In the main seat, Black Crow sat high, as if enveloped in a layer of frost. His usually expressionless face was even more grim now!

Below, Zhao She's body was hunched, his waist almost bent to the ground. He dared not look up at the person in the main seat, only staring at his toes.

Just now, he had reported everything that happened in the school test, as well as the intelligence sent by that inconspicuous teacher, to Black Crow in its entirety.

"A gold card... three-star... lightning-attribute avian..."

Black Crow muttered to himself, the air pressure in the private room was terrifyingly low.

Several core members didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

"Bald Head Qiang and those other good-for-nothings!" Black Crow slammed the table, his voice icy, "They couldn't even catch a student! And they wasted so many of the gang's men!"

Zhao She's body trembled, his head buried even lower.

"Boss, that kid was too cunning, and... no one expected him to have a gold card, and to... in such a short time..."

"Shut up!" Black Crow interrupted him, a hint of brutality flashing in his eyes, "I don't want to hear excuses!"

"Zhao She, what did you tell me before? Huh?"

"I... I..." Zhao She stammered, cold sweat soaking his back.

He knew he was in big trouble this time.

Not only did he fail to capture Lu Yuan, but he also allowed the other party to reveal his trump card in front of everyone.

This was equivalent to pushing a treasure that could have been secretly acquired directly into the spotlight!

Now, the Black Water Gang was definitely not the only one eyeing that gold card!

The government, large corporations, other underground forces... trying to snatch food from the tiger's mouth would be doubly difficult!

Black Crow took a deep breath. It was done, getting angry was useless.

The key was that gold card!

A three-star gold card!

If he could get his hands on it... his bottleneck in breaking through to a Fifth-tier Card Master would have hope of being broken!

The temptation was too great! He absolutely could not give up!

"Since we can't get it openly..." A fierce glint flashed in Black Crow's eyes, "Then let's do something dirty!"

He looked at Zhao She.

"Zhao She, listen carefully."

"From now on, keep a twenty-four-hour watch on that kid named Lu Yuan!"

"Where he goes, who he meets, what he does, I want to know immediately!"

"And..."

Black Crow paused, a cruel arc forming at the corner of his mouth.

"Investigate his family too!"

"When necessary... we can use them to make a move."

Zhao She's pupils suddenly constricted at these words.

Involving family... this was a major taboo in the underworld, and the most insidious method.

But he dared not hesitate in the slightest, immediately nodding.

"Yes! Boss! I understand!"

Black Crow waved his hand, signaling him to get out.

Zhao She, as if granted a great pardon, bowed and exited the private room.

Inside the private room, silence fell once more.

Black Crow's eyes were no longer brutal as before, but began to twist and contort, stained with a color bordering on madness.

gold card... these two words echoed repeatedly in his mind like a curse.

That was not just a card, that was power, status, a key that could free him from all shackles and crush all opponents!

A gold card!

It must be mine!

It must... be mine!!!