After finishing his morning routine, Zhao Mu stood in front of the mirror and carefully examined his reflection.
After all, he was about to visit Meng Qiuqiu's hometown. Showing up looking sloppy would be embarrassing, not only for himself but also for his friend.
Since it was a rest day, neither Zhuo Yun nor Lu Yan had gotten up for training.
When they saw Zhao Mu awake so early, Zhuo Yun immediately performed a neat kip-up from his bed and landed on his feet.
"No way, Boss!"
He stared at Zhao Mu in disbelief.
"It's our day off, and you're still getting up this early? Are you planning to train again?"
Zhao Mu laughed.
"I'm just used to it. If I stay in bed too long, I feel uncomfortable."
Soon, the entire dormitory was awake.
The three young men rushed toward the bathroom one after another, nearly starting a small war over who would wash up first.
Afterward, they dug through their wardrobes and luggage, searching for their best outfits.
At eighteen years old, everyone cared about appearances.
Especially when visiting a good friend's family.
Nobody wanted to leave a bad impression.
When everyone was finally ready, Meng Qiuqiu nodded in satisfaction.
"Let's go!"
The group immediately headed out.
Zhao Mu instinctively walked toward the academy's main gate.
However, before he had taken more than a few steps, Meng Qiuqiu hurriedly called after him.
"Brother Mu, wrong way!"
Zhao Mu stopped.
"Huh?"
Meng Qiuqiu pointed toward another direction.
"We're going this way."
Zhao Mu blinked.
"Isn't the main gate over there?"
Meng Qiuqiu grinned.
"My private airship is parked on the academy's landing pad."
Zhao Mu: "..."
Rich people truly lived in a different world.
Even Qingfeng Camp, a military academy directly controlled by the Imperial Military Department, was willing to provide landing space for a private airship.
The group followed Meng Qiuqiu toward the landing area.
As they approached, several formally dressed figures walked toward them.
The leader was a middle-aged man wearing a perfectly tailored black tailcoat.
He had neatly trimmed facial hair and black-rimmed glasses.
The man looked every bit the image of a professional butler.
The moment he saw Meng Qiuqiu, he placed a hand over his chest and bowed respectfully.
"Young Master, I have come to escort you home to Qingzhou."
Meng Qiuqiu smiled and introduced him.
"This is my personal butler, Huo Jun."
The others greeted him politely.
Huo Jun immediately returned the courtesy.
"It is an honor to meet the Young Master's friends."
His tone was respectful and sincere.
"Thank you all for taking care of him during his time at Qingfeng Camp."
After the brief introductions, Huo Jun led them toward the landing platform.
The sight before them left Zhao Mu speechless.
A massive private airship rested quietly on the platform.
The vessel resembled an enormous silver cigar.
Its streamlined body reflected the morning sunlight, giving it an imposing appearance.
This was the most advanced form of civilian transportation within the Xuanfeng Empire.
Not only was it incredibly fast, but it also possessed autonomous weapon systems, defensive barriers, and long-distance navigation capabilities.
Owning one was not merely a symbol of wealth.
It was a symbol of status.
Only the wealthiest and most influential families could afford such luxury.
The four young men boarded the airship.
The interior was even more extravagant than they had imagined.
The moment they stepped inside, several beautiful young women dressed in elegant bunny-girl uniforms lined up neatly on both sides.
Their smiles were sweet and professional.
"Welcome aboard."
"We wish our honored guests a pleasant journey."
Their voices rang out in perfect unison.
Then they bowed gracefully and stepped aside.
Zhao Mu froze.
His eyes widened.
For a moment, he forgot how to blink.
Beside him, Lu Yan looked equally stunned.
The normally quiet young man stared blankly at the scene as though he had entered another world.
Rich people really knew how to enjoy life.
Meanwhile, Meng Qiuqiu seemed completely accustomed to it.
He casually led his friends toward a luxurious seating area.
The sofas were soft and spacious.
The moment they sat down, several attendants arrived carrying trays filled with exquisite snacks, desserts, fruits, and drinks.
The presentation alone looked more expensive than most people's monthly income.
Meng Qiuqiu stretched comfortably across the sofa.
Then he waved toward one of the bunny girls.
"Zhenzhen, my shoulders are sore. Help me loosen them up."
"Of course, Young Master."
The girl immediately walked over and began massaging his shoulders.
Meng Qiuqiu let out a satisfied sigh.
"Ahhh..."
"This month at Qingfeng Camp has been exhausting."
Then he turned toward Zhao Mu and the others.
"Don't be shy."
"Just tell them what you need."
"These are professional attendants hired specifically for this airship."
"Their service is top-notch."
He grinned proudly.
"Even their massage techniques are certified at professional level eight."
Lu Yan immediately lowered his head.
His face turned red.
"No... no thanks."
Zhuo Yun waved both hands rapidly.
"I'm fine! Really!"
Their reactions made it obvious that they wanted to try but were too embarrassed.
Zhao Mu rolled his eyes.
What was there to be embarrassed about?
A free massage was a free massage.
Back in his hometown, a single massage session cost thirty Xuanfeng Coins.
Why refuse something free?
Thinking this, he politely nodded toward one of the attendants.
"Miss, could you help massage my shoulders?"
"Feel free to use more force."
"I can handle it."
The bunny girl smiled sweetly.
"Certainly, sir."
She stepped behind him and gently placed her hands on his shoulders.
A moment later—
"Hiss..."
Zhao Mu inhaled sharply.
Professional indeed.
The instant her fingers applied pressure, he felt the accumulated tension in his muscles begin to melt away.
For more than a month, he had been training almost every day without rest.
Although his physique allowed him to endure the strain, fatigue still accumulated over time.
Now, under the skilled hands of the attendant, his entire body slowly relaxed.
"Sir, you must train very hard."
Her gentle voice sounded beside his ear.
"The muscles around your shoulders are extremely tense."
Zhao Mu closed his eyes and nodded.
"You're right."
Then something unexpected happened.
A warm stream of energy entered his body.
His eyes snapped open.
Spiritual Ability.
The attendant was actually channeling Spiritual Power through her hands.
The energy flowed gently through his muscles, blood vessels, and bones like warm water.
Every trace of fatigue seemed to disappear.
The sensation was so comfortable that it felt like soaking in a hot spring.
Zhao Mu was shocked.
This wasn't an ordinary massage.
The attendant was actually a Spirit Power User.
And judging by the quality of her Spiritual Power, her combat level was definitely not low.
Across from him, Zhuo Yun and Lu Yan stared with obvious curiosity.
The expressions on their faces practically screamed regret.
Clearly, they wanted to try it too.
They just hadn't dared to ask.
Unable to watch any longer, Zhao Mu sighed.
"This is actually pretty good."
"You two should try it."
The moment he spoke, Zhuo Yun immediately coughed.
"Well..."
"If Brother Mu recommends it, I suppose I can give it a chance."
Zhao Mu rolled his eyes.
What a hypocrite.
Lu Yan quickly nodded.
"Me too."
Soon, all four young men were lying comfortably on the luxurious sofas while receiving professional Spiritual Ability massages.
Time passed quickly.
Before they knew it, an announcement sounded throughout the cabin.
"We have arrived in Qingzhou."
The journey was over.
As Zhao Mu stood up, a series of crackling sounds echoed from his body.
His joints felt lighter.
His muscles felt refreshed.
Even the fatigue accumulated from weeks of training had almost completely disappeared.
The effectiveness of the massage was astonishing.
Meng Qiuqiu looked extremely proud.
"The weakest attendant here is an Ability User with a combat level above eighty."
"They specialize in support and medical-type Spiritual Abilities."
"That's why they're assigned to massage services."
Zhao Mu finally understood.
No wonder the experience had been so extraordinary.
The cost of such a service was probably astronomical.
After disembarking, the group finally arrived at the Meng Family estate.
The moment Zhao Mu saw it, he was speechless.
A vast manor stretched before them.
Beautiful green lawns extended as far as the eye could see.
Every tree and flower had clearly been maintained with meticulous care.
It was less like a private residence and more like a luxurious resort.
Waiting outside were rows of servants dressed in immaculate uniforms.
As soon as Meng Qiuqiu stepped off the airship, everyone bowed simultaneously.
"Welcome home, Young Master!"
"Welcome to the Meng Residence, honored guests!"
The synchronized greeting echoed throughout the estate.
Zhao Mu had long stopped complaining about rich people.
At this point, all he could feel was envy.
Surrounded by servants, the group walked through a magnificent garden before arriving at a massive villa.
The front doors opened.
A graceful woman wearing a black cheongsam stepped outside.
Although she wore few accessories, her elegant temperament made her stand out immediately.
Her figure was slightly plump, but it was easy to see that she must have been a stunning beauty in her younger years.
The moment she saw Meng Qiuqiu, her eyes lit up.
She hurried forward and pulled him into a tight embrace.
"My precious son!"
Her voice was filled with concern.
"It's only been a month."
"How have you become so thin and dark?"
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)