A choice? I choose to slip away!

Faced with three options from the system that all seemed like traps, Lin Kun felt overwhelmed.

Choose A? Confess to Tang San? Don't be ridiculous. Given Tang San's suspicious nature and his future identity as the Asura God, confessing would be no different from walking into a trap. He might even be dissected and studied as an anomaly. A small increase in trust? It would likely drop his favorability to zero, or even negative!

Choose B? Cling to Ning Rongrong? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's waters run even deeper! Right now, it's just the young miss playing around because she finds it amusing. If he truly got involved, he wouldn't even know how he died. 200 points are a lot, but he'd need to be alive to spend them!

Choose C? Continue to lay low? 50 points was like giving alms to a beggar! Moreover, by not aligning with either side, he'd likely end up being suspected by both, becoming a sandwiched cookie, and dying even more miserably!

"System, is there an option D: explode on the spot and be done with it?" Lin Kun asked desperately.

[Ding! Option D not detected. Please make your choice as soon as possible, countdown 10, 9, 8...]

"Stop, stop, stop! I choose C! I choose C, alright!" Lin Kun shouted quickly. Among the short, he had to pick the slightly taller one. Continuing to lay low seemed relatively safer, at least the initiative was still in his hands... probably.

Lin Kun: "..." Thanks for the encouragement!

Although he had made a choice, the pressure didn't decrease at all. Tang San's scrutiny and Ning Rongrong's probing weighed on his mind like two massive mountains.

"No, I can't stay in the academy anymore! It's too passive!" Lin Kun realized that he had to temporarily leave this place of trouble, find a place to lie low, and improve his strength. "That's right! I can ask for leave to go obtain a Spirit Ring!"

His Spirit Power was currently level 4 (almost 5). Although it was still a long way from level 10, he could use the excuse that he sensed something special about his Martial Soul and needed to find a suitable environment to gain insights into obtaining a Spirit Ring... Anyway, his Martial Soul was strange enough, so he could make up any reason.

No sooner said than done! Lin Kun immediately ran to the Academic Affairs Office and found Director Yin Shu.

"What? You want to ask for leave to go out? To find a Spirit Ring for insights?" Director Yin Shu looked at Lin Kun with an expression that said, "Are you kidding me?" "You're only level 4 Spirit Power, what insights into a Spirit Ring?"

Lin Kun had already prepared his explanation, looking "sincere" and "confused." "Director Yin Shu, I don't know what's going on either. It's just that recently, while cultivating, I've felt my Book Spirit becoming restless, as if it has a special connection to the direction of Wind鸣 Mountain Valley north of Nuoding City... It's like something there is attracting it. Grandmaster said that a Martial Soul's senses are very important, so I want to ask for leave to go and see. Perhaps it will help my Martial Soul grow..."

As he spoke, he secretly circulated his Book Spirit, making it emit faint, restless mental fluctuations, while his face showed just the right amount of confusion and longing.

Director Yin Shu felt the faint but real Martial Soul fluctuations and looked at Lin Kun's "sincere" eyes, frowning. Although Martial Souls developing special senses was rare, it wasn't unheard of. Especially since Lin Kun's Martial Soul was already peculiar, and he had even made a contribution (discovering the Star Pattern Iron ore).

"Wind鸣 Mountain Valley... There aren't any high-level Spirit Beasts there. With your perception ability, you should be fine if you're careful." Director Yin Shu pondered for a moment, "I'll grant you three days' leave. Be sure to be careful, don't go too deep, and if you encounter danger, immediately fire a signal flare!"

"Thank you, Director!" Lin Kun was overjoyed and quickly expressed his gratitude.

With the leave permit in hand, Lin Kun felt as if he had received a pardon. He immediately returned to the Seventh Dormitory to pack a few essentials (mainly dry food and water) and, while no one was paying attention in the afternoon, slipped out of Nuoding Academy.

Breathing in the free air outside the academy, Lin Kun felt completely relaxed.

"Perfect! I've temporarily escaped Tang San and Ning Rongrong's sight! Wind鸣 Mountain Valley, here I come!" Following the map's directions, he walked quickly towards the north. He didn't choose Wind鸣 Mountain Valley randomly; there was indeed a plant called "Wind Whisper Grass" there, which was said to have a mild nourishing effect on mental power, suitable for his fabricated excuse.

However, Lin Kun was completely unaware that as soon as he left the academy, his whereabouts were reported.

In the Academic Affairs Office, Director Yin Shu looked at Lin Kun's departing back and instructed someone in the shadows, "Follow him, ensure his safety, and find out what he's up to. This kid is quite interesting."

"Yes." A deep voice came from the shadows before disappearing.

At the same time, at a secret stronghold of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in Nuoding City.

"Miss, that work-study student named Lin Kun has asked for leave to go to Wind鸣 Mountain Valley north of the city alone." A man in black respectfully reported to Ning Rongrong, who was arranging flowers.

Ning Rongrong paused her movements, a playful smile curling on her lips. "Oh? He slipped away right after I tested him? Is he guilty, or does he really have some secret? Wind鸣 Mountain Valley... Interesting. Send someone to follow him, but don't disturb him. I want to know what he's doing."

"Yes, Miss."

Two groups, one open and one hidden, quietly followed Lin Kun, who had left the city alone.

As for our classmate Lin Kun, he was completely unaware that his brief moment of "freedom" had turned into a "reality show live broadcast," with two "VIP viewers" watching remotely