After a simple breakfast, Lin Luoluo began gathering her things, ready to head out for the Spirit Tamer assessment that day.
The two sisters knew nothing about everything that had happened outside that morning.
That was exactly what Bai Chen wanted.
Murder was against the law, even more so in this world.
The man he had killed was a Jiang Family enforcer, someone extraordinary in both strength and status.
If he told the two women, it would only place an immense psychological burden on them.
Bai Chen still remembered that Lin Chuchu had always had a weak heart.
In any case, he had dealt with the traces he left behind, so there probably wouldn't be any trouble.
That was what Bai Chen thought.
"I'm full! Chuchu, I need to change clothes and get ready to go!"
Lin Luoluo ate the last grain of rice in her bowl, patted her tummy with satisfaction, and spoke to her younger sister.
"Mm! You can do it, sis!"
Lin Chuchu nodded vigorously and waved her little fists to cheer her sister on.
Bai Chen carried Lin Luoluo steadily back to the bedroom.
Lin Luoluo began rummaging through her wardrobe.
She didn't have many clothes, and most were soft, comfortable things to wear at home.
The white dress she had worn yesterday was already her prettiest outfit, but it clearly wasn't suited for a fight.
After searching for a long time, she finally took a neatly folded set of old clothes from the very bottom of the wardrobe.
It was an old school uniform, washed somewhat pale.
It was the uniform Lin Luoluo had worn to school before she dropped out. For her, many of the memories it brought back were unpleasant.
Lin Luoluo looked at the uniform in her hands with a complicated expression, but determination soon took its place.
Before long, the girl appeared before Bai Chen again, changed into the uniform.
The simple school uniform looked utterly charming on Lin Luoluo!
Her full chest filled out the slightly tight white uniform shirt, tracing a breathtaking curve, as though it might burst at any moment.
Her slender waist was narrow enough to fit in a hand, forming a striking contrast with those ample curves.
Beneath the short uniform skirt was a pair of straight, shapely, fair legs.
Bai Chen couldn't help marveling inwardly that good-looking people really did look good in anything.
Though the old uniform had been washed pale, it didn't look shabby on her at all. Instead, it gave her an enticing air of innocence mixed with a hint of restraint.
She looked like a perfect school beauty who had stepped out of a manga.
"Let's go, Xiao Bai. Let's say goodbye to Chuchu."
A barely noticeable blush touched Lin Luoluo's face as she spoke softly.
She could feel Xiao Bai's gaze seemingly lingering on her, and it made her a little shy.
When the sisters stood together again, the moment of parting finally arrived.
"Sis, you can do it! You'll definitely pass the assessment!"
Lin Chuchu's eyes were red as she opened her arms and held her older sister tight.
She knew how much her sister had sacrificed and endured for this day.
"Mm, don't worry."
Lin Luoluo hugged her sister back, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly. She gently patted her sister's back and reassured her:
"With Xiao Bai here, I'll be fine.
Once I pass the assessment and become a real Spirit Tamer, I'll be able to earn lots and lots of money. Then I'll buy you new clothes and delicious food, and get your illness cured."
"I... I'm fine, sis. You have to take care of yourself first!"
Lin Chuchu could no longer hold back her tears, and they fell as she spoke through sobs.
The sisters embraced for a long time before reluctantly parting.
After saying goodbye to her sister, Lin Chuchu turned her gaze to Bai Chen beneath Lin Luoluo.
She walked up to Bai Chen, slowly crouched down, and stretched out her arms to carefully hug his bouncy body.
"Xiao Bai..."
Lin Chuchu pressed her cheek against Bai Chen's cool body and whispered:
"I'm counting on you to look after my sister. Please, make sure you keep her safe."
Bai Chen was quietly moved by the girl's words.
He extended a tentacle and gently patted Lin Chuchu's shoulder in response.
Bai Chen's response seemed to put Lin Chuchu considerably more at ease.
"Sis, Xiao Bai, be careful on the way!"
"Mm!"
Lin Luoluo and Bai Chen both nodded emphatically.
It was time to set off.
Several tough black tentacles extended from the lower part of Bai Chen's body, quickly forming a comfortable black seat beneath Lin Luoluo and supporting her steadily.
Then more tentacles stretched outward like the jointed legs of a spider, touching the ground lightly and lifting Lin Luoluo off it.
"Let's go!"
Sitting on the "throne" formed by the tentacles, Lin Luoluo swept her little hand forward, pointing spiritedly toward the door.
The dream she had suppressed for so long finally had a chance to set sail again today.
A light called hope shone in her eyes.
Underground City.
Spirit Master Hall.
Although it was only eight in the morning, the place was already packed.
All because today was the day of the Spirit Tamer assessment.
The Federation's assessment was conducted in the form of a Live Simulation,
and because the machines were distributed by the Federation authorities and consumed an enormous amount of power every time they were activated, it was held only once every six months.
The people who had come to participate were a mixed crowd.
There were uniformed youths from minor factions and Lineages in the Underground City.
There were people who had taken the assessment many times but still hadn't passed,
and quite a few veterans who had been down the mine tunnels several times. They were thoroughly confident about taking the First Tier Spirit Tamer assessment, so they waited calmly.
At the front of the hall, a group of students in school uniforms gathered together, standing out more than anyone else.
"Our class president, Chu Feng, is taking the assessment today too. He'll definitely get the best result!"
"Yeah, yeah! His Contract Spirit is a B-Rank Silver Moon Snow Leopard, and it's already level nine. At that level, it's no weaker than those veterans who've been down the mine tunnels a few times."
The classmates chattered among themselves, their gazes turning toward a handsome young man in a school uniform with medium-length hair.
His name was Chu Feng, the class president of senior year's Class Two.
His family actually wasn't particularly well-off, but his father was a Second Tier Spirit Tamer.
A few years ago, his father had struck it lucky and brought him a B-Rank Contract Spirit cub from a mine tunnel that hadn't undergone Corruption. That was how he had become quite powerful at such a young age.
He waved a hand modestly, but his tone was full of confidence as he said:
"Passing the assessment shouldn't be a problem. After all, the assessment isn't like going down a mine tunnel.
Even someone with a D-Rank Contract Spirit has a chance of passing."
"But I probably don't have a shot at first place."
Chu Feng looked toward a beautiful figure not far away, a trace of admiration flashing in his eyes.
"With junior Jiang from the second year here, first place won't be mine.
Her Contract Spirit is an S-Rank Cold Moon Fox. Even though she only contracted it recently, its base strength alone is far greater than my Silver Moon Snow Leopard's."
Hearing his prized student's modest words, Zhang Yan, the teacher leading the group, smiled faintly and patted him on the shoulder.
"Xiao Feng, don't belittle yourself. No matter how powerful an S-Rank Contract Spirit is, Jiang Ruoxue only contracted hers yesterday. Her coordination with it is far behind yours."
"You still have a chance at first place. If you can get an A-Rank evaluation or higher, it'll be a huge help whether you join a Mining Team or apply to the Spirit Master Academy later."
Chu Feng quickly nodded. Besides being modest, he had deliberately mentioned Jiang Ruoxue just now so that he could draw his attention over to his side.
He had secretly loved Jiang Ruoxue for a long time.
He had originally thought that if he trained his B-Rank Contract Spirit hard enough and raised its strength, he might be worthy of her Jiang Family.
But now Jiang Ruoxue had contracted an S-Rank Contract Spirit.
That had already left him staring at her dust, unable to catch up. But a young man's feelings were hard to hide, and he still couldn't help wanting to attract her attention.
Just then, another commotion broke out nearby.
At that moment, Jiang Ruoxue seemed to look over at him because he had just mentioned her name.
Chu Feng immediately grew a little nervous. He hurriedly pretended not to care and found something to talk about.
"What's happening over there? Why is it so noisy?"
One of his classmates immediately answered:
"From what they're saying over there, it sounds like a cripple actually came to take today's assessment too."