Low Key Individuals 

Edward face turned sour when he heard what his master just said. He didn't want to rely on the Bandit of Solitude for help but it was necessary. The situation extremely frustrated him but there was nothing he could do about it.

"I've been meaning to ask this but why didn't you take the Bandit of Solitude as your student?" Edward knew that his master already determined the identity of the bandit. After all, his master is one of the most powerful beings on the continent. Finding the identity of a student in his own academy is trivial.

"It's because he already has a master" Steven mysteriously answered.

"Who could be greater than you in this academy?" The bandit was the strongest in the generation, which means his master must be equally powerful as well. Edward couldn't think of anyone in the academy who would be qualified to be the bandit's teacher.

"Edward, you don't have to be more powerful than someone to defeat them. Likewise, you don't have to be powerful to be a great teacher" Steven laughed at his student's one-dimensional thinking.

Edward admitted defeat to his master and started to work on his sword technique once again.

In a small dorm of the academy, a young man with black hair, toned build, and a sleepy face was lying down on his bed. In his hands was a piece of profound paper, a material used to create runes for novice. An Grandmaster runes magic expert could create runes out of thin air. Novice rune masters would need to use profound paper to draw runes as their energy stabilities are not sufficient enough to form runes without profound paper.

Suddenly, someone barged into his room.

"Bruce, that demon is looking for us again!" Deion said in a hurried voice.

Bruce placed down the profound paper and looked at his friend with annoyance.

"I told you to knock before you enter my room!"

"There's no time. We need to hide from that demon" Deion quickly closed the door and the blinds fearing that Chef John would kidnap them again for another "lesson".

"Heh, give him a break. He's probably bored because he got dumped or something" Bruce didn't mind Chef John that much because he truly taught him and Deion how to be great chefs and cultivators. Over the past 6 years, the two were put through hell in the name of teaching. But whenever they came out of the hellhole that Chef John put them in, they got stronger.

"Are you kidding me? Who would go out with that demon?" Deion immediately dismissed the idea of Chef John dating someone. He truly believed that Chef John would be single for the rest of his life.

"Anyways, we can escape from him if we just go to the library. Even someone like him can't cause any trouble in there" Bruce's favorite activity in the academy is visiting the library. The Imperial Academy's library contains millions of books including cultivation techniques. Bruce only used his points on the books in the library and so he was able to gain access to everything. His knowledge is much more formidable compared to 6 years ago.

The Imperial Academy operates on a point system. Your points are automatically increased every month depending on your rankings. You can gain points by completing missions assigned by the academy.

Most students would use points for weapons, energy crystals, or precious herbs. Bruce did the opposite by only using his points to gain access to the Imperial Academy. Over the past 6 years, he had read all the cultivation techniques for all the elements and all other sorts of books. His breadth of knowledge increased significantly compared to before. Even so, he still preferred to go to the library every once in awhile to read new books.

"Bruce, as your best friend, you have to stop being a nerd" Deion looked at Bruce with pity in his eyes.

"You may very well die a virgin like Devil John if you keep reading books in the library" Deion pulled out the map to the city.

"Look over here, there are entertainment events hosted in this district that we can go to"

"There are shows hosted in this adult area that we can sneak into" Deion went on and on about different things they could be doing to enjoy life.

"Life is all about pleasure and you my friend, is missing out"

As luck would have it, a sinister being appeared behind them as Deion spewed out his life dreams.

"Oh, I didn't know you guys like to enjoy life that much"

Both turned around just to see Chef John smiling at them. Except the smile wasn't a smile.

"Hello teacher, I see you're looking more handsome than ever. Did you work out recently?" Deion tried to butter up Chef John as a last resort.

"I can't be that handsome since I'll die as a virgin" Chef John pulled out his knife and caressed it. The two turned pale after realizing that their teacher was listening in the entire time.

"Teacher, how long have you been peeping on us?" Bruce tried the gauge the amount of hell they will be put through.

"I started listening in at the part where someone presumed that I got dumped. Then another person thought no one would date someone like me" Chef John leaked his murderous aura and stared at the two lambs.

"Wait teacher, there are witnesses around. You can't do anything to us!" Deion now regretted everything that he said in the last 10 minutes.

"Hmph! You brats have no respect to your teacher. Many people would love to be my students and yet you two are out here mocking me" Chef John started chopping the air which caused cracks in the dorm room.

"Oh yeah, then how come no one new showed up to your class every year" Deion whispered but he realized he fucked up when he saw a demon looking at him.

"It's because you idiots have been spreading false rumors about me!" Chef John screamed into the room.

"Anyway, I'm not here to teach you ungrateful brats anything. I'm here to inform you that I have been assigned a mission by the academy. I won't be back for a couple of months"

For the first time in 6 years, Deion had never felt so much happiness.

'Oh thank you lord for sending this devil away. I promise to donate to charity from now on'

"Oh, someone is a little happy to hear that I'm leaving" Chef John grinned at Deion's happy expression.

"Not at all teacher, you're like a father to me. I can't bare to see you leaving for that long" Deion began his performance.

"Is that right? Why don't you come with me to the mission then" Chef John grabbed Deion by the neck and dragged him out of the dorm room.

"No please, I promise I'll be good when you're gone. Have mercy on my soul!" Deion wailed and tried his best to resist the devil dragging his body.

Chef John released Deion and looked at Bruce who was smiling the whole time.

"Deion and Bruce, you guys are my only students in this life." Chef John finally stopped playing around and spoke to them with a serious expression.

"There's a good chance that I may not make it back in time for the yearly exam so you both will have to place at the top this year"

"Why? We always placed around the 800th rankings. You can't expect us to suddenly reach for the top" Deion complained.

"It's because you both never took the exam seriously!" Chef John turned to Bruce.

"Bruce, it's about time people know the identity of the Bandits of Solitude, don't you think?" Bruce wasn't surprised that his teacher knew. It wasn't difficult to deduce for someone at his level.

"But I make good money every year with Deion. Why do I have to show myself?" Deion handled all the finances from the yearly exam since Bruce tended to spend all his money. At the age of 16, these two young men were much wealthier than all their peers.

"The world is soon changing for the worse. You guys will need to shoulder many things in the future. Hiding behind a mask won't do both of you any good against absolute powers"

"I will leave in a week if you need anything from me, my door is always open" Chef John bid farewell to the boys

Contrary to his outbursts about Chef John, Deion actually views Chef John as a father figure. Deion is an extremely talented individual who happens to also be extremely lazy, like Bruce. Chef John whipped these two young men into shape and changed their mentality. The heavens have granted them tremendous talents and they should not waste it.

"Looks like we're free for couple of months" Deion started to laugh.

"Seems like it, but what did he mean by the world is changing for the worse?" Bruce contemplated on Chef John's last words before he left.

"Who knows but I know what we're going to do next."

"What?"

"We're going on a double date!"