By the time Lin Yuan returned home, his heart was still pounding erratically.
"I shouldn't be discovered, right?"
"To think, at such a young age I managed to defeat elite martial artists—did I perhaps overdo it?"
"Could they possibly make that connection and then get in touch with the Eradication Department?"
"What would be the fate of a Cultivator if their identity were exposed?"
"Even just being under suspicion could get you snatched away to the Other Domain for isolation… No one knows exactly what happens there, but anyway, no one who goes to the Other Domain ever comes back."
"If it's proven…"
"Don't panic, many times the enemy hasn't actually noticed anything; it's just us who give ourselves away."
Lin Yuan patted his face and reassured himself, "Plus, my Force of Pollution is still at Stage Three, with no improvement whatsoever. That's the best evidence. If I get too nervous, I might end up exposing myself. So, I must stay calm. After all, they've already driven me out."
He went to the bathroom and splashed his face fiercely with cold water.
Lin Yuan got up and continued upstairs to practice his Sprinting Step.
Even he didn't expect to be kicked out just like that…
Had he known, he would have spent an extra twenty thousand to exchange for the Thunderbolt Step and some basic Martial Techniques.
But even the most basic steps, after a few circuits around the house, made Lin Yuan feel a warming throughout his body, and his earlier panic began to dissipate gradually.
By evening...
After dinner, he called Lin Rourou.
"What happened? Weren't you scammed because you bought that last-minute course? How come I'm hearing that you've become a spy for Descending Dragon Martial Hall?"
Lin Rourou's voice was filled with concern as she asked, "And I heard it was Zheng Yaolie who found out your identity… They've gone too far, cheating people and then accusing them wrongly…"
Lin Yuan asked, "You didn't tell them about our relationship, did you?"
"I didn't."
"That's good… Anyway, now the whole Martial Arts Hall thinks I'm a spy, so I might as well be one. If Rourou, you reveal that you're close to me, you might get implicated too…"
"I resigned."
"What?"
Lin Yuan was taken aback.
Lin Rourou asked, "Tell me, are you a spy?"
Lin Yuan shook his head, "Of course not."
"Then that's settled. Whoever says you're a spy, I'd question it—but it had to be Zheng Yaolie… Ugh… A brother lies, and the other brother frames others. When they found out that it was I who helped you apply for the Martial Arts Hall techniques, they questioned me about it, and I just lost it… Is there no justice in this world? No law? I don't want to stay in such a dark place, so I just quit on the spot and gave them a piece of my mind!"
Lin Rourou listened to the silence on the other end.
She chuckled and said with a laugh in her voice, "You're not feeling embarrassed, are you? There's no need to be. It's not like it was a great job anyway. At best I would have been let go in another couple of years... Plus, my mom has been pressuring me to find a proper job for a long time. Even if it weren't for this incident, I probably wouldn't have lasted another two years."
Lin Yuan said with a wry smile, "That's not how it goes."
"If you really feel sorry, then take me out to dinner tomorrow night, the usual place."
"No problem!"
Lin Yuan nodded without hesitation.
Early the next morning.
Lin Yuan got out of bed early and went off to class with his backpack.
The day's lessons were plain and dull.
However, Lin Yuan actually found pleasure in the process.
The joys of deducing by analogy, the surprises of sudden enlightenment, and the sense of achievement at solving a difficult problem were all not inferior to the gains from practicing Martial Dao.
Lin Yuan then understood why students with good grades got better and better, while those with poor grades seemed to do worse and worse.
Not understanding was truly torturous, but once you understood…
It was indeed very interesting.
This time, Lu Ziyu did not come to disturb Lin Yuan again, evidently showing some level of tact.
After school, there was no need to rush back to the Martial Arts Hall anymore.
Lin Yuan learned Martial Techniques only to cover for himself, but in fact, after obtaining the Dragon Subduing Fist Manual, passing the Dragon Gate examination was no longer a problem.
Since that was the case, it was better to practice well at home.
After mastering these two sets of martial techniques, he could certainly purchase other martial techniques through different channels... Anyway, the basics he needed would be taught at the school too.
Once he got home, the first thing he did was to finish his homework for the day.
Then, Lin Yuan went up to the rooftop again.
In just a few short days, he had already managed to move as fluid as a cloud while walking blindfolded on the bricks, making swift diagonal charges, all with smooth ease. Today, he started trying to position the bricks sideways again...
But this time, the sideway placement was completely different from before.
As he moved, Lin Yuan felt more fluid and smooth in controlling his body.
However, this time, after just over an hour of practice,
Lin Yuan's brows furrowed as he could hear thumping noises coming from below...
It sounded as if someone was moving big pieces of furniture.
He looked down through the half-open door and saw that the apartment door across from his had once again opened, and two movers were bringing in boxes of furniture, big and small.
Standing by, a girl in her early twenties was directing them.
The girl wasn't very old, her hair neatly tied in a ponytail, wearing a tight-fitting white short sleeve with straps showing over her shoulders, extremely short hotpants, yet underneath was a pair of soft black tights, and sport shoes on her feet.
The incongruous mix seemed to exude youth and vitality instead.
When she looked up, she locked eyes with Lin Yuan.
With a pursed lip smile, she said apologetically, "Sorry, am I bothering you?"
Lin Yuan's heart suddenly constricted.
Keeping a calm appearance, he smiled and said, "No problem, the rooftop itself is a communal space..."
The girl asked, "Are you practicing Martial Dao? Are you a martial artist?"
"Not really, I just studied in a martial arts hall for a while. Later, I had a dispute with my mentor, and he falsely accused me of being a spy and kicked me out. So now, I don't plan on joining any martial arts hall and just practice randomly on the rooftop."
Lin Yuan struggled to pretend that he didn't see the strong Spiritual Energy swirling around her.
She was different from any martial artist he had ever seen...
It's because martial artists have strong bodies that they attract more Spiritual Energy to linger in their powerful physical areas; the stronger the physique, the more Spiritual Energy they carry.
But this girl was enveloped in abundant Spiritual Energy from head to toe, even her gestures seemed to move with this energy...
If she were to harness this energy and throw it at him the next moment, he wouldn't find it strange at all.
Martial artist?
Wrong... Impossible...
No martial artist has this kind of weirdness!
Could she be from the Eradication Department?
Have I been discovered?
Or is it... not confirmed yet, just a suspicion?
Did she move in here specifically to test me?
Lin Yuan's Spiritual Power contracted, and his violently beating heart slowly calmed down.
It must not be confirmed yet; otherwise, she would probably have been in my face by now.
"What a coincidence, I am also a martial artist,"
the girl said with a smile. "My name is Lin Zhengying. I rented the apartment across from you due to job relocation. If I ever disturb you with my martial practice or anything else, please be understanding."
"It's fine... We are all martial arts practitioners. A little noise from each other, mutual understanding, that's how it is."
Martial artist?
Bullshit!
This woman simply can't be just a martial artist.
Or perhaps Lin Yuan's previous guess wasn't wrong...
Cultivators are far more powerful than martial artists. If the Eradication Department dares to target cultivators, then what they rely on can't possibly be just martial artists!
But that name...
Lin Yuan suddenly had an ominous premonition!
He had a feeling that it wouldn't be surprising if the next moment the neighborhood became haunted.