Lin Kun sprinted all the way to the Academic Affairs Office and reported the incident to Director Yinshu, embellishing it somewhat—though it was basically true.
The moment Director Yinshu heard that Xiao Chenyu was causing trouble again, and that it involved forcibly stealing someone else's spirit beast—which was a far more serious matter—his expression immediately darkened. He had long been displeased with those spoiled young masters and seized the chance to make an example of them.
Before long, Xiao Chenyu and his two lackeys were "invited" to the Academic Affairs Office. Faced with Director Yinshu's harsh questioning and Lin Kun, the "victim," holding the pitiful-looking Little White, Xiao Chenyu tried every possible excuse. But under the testimony of numerous witnesses, he was ultimately dealt a severe punishment: a major demerit, a month of cleaning every toilet in the academy, and compensation to Lin Kun of ten Golden Spirit Coins for emotional damages.
The news quickly spread throughout the academy. The working students felt vindicated, believing Lin Kun had helped them vent their anger. Xiao Chenyu, meanwhile, became a laughingstock. His hatred for Lin Kun reached its peak, though he did not dare openly cause trouble again anytime soon.
Yet Lin Kun could not feel happy at all.
Little White had used a mental skill in public. Although it had been explained as a "spirit beast's instinct to protect its master," its rarity and power would inevitably draw the attention of more interested parties.
Sure enough, that evening, Grandmaster summoned him again and questioned him in detail about what had happened when Little White activated its skill. He tried once more to probe Little White, only to be repelled again by its mental instincts. This made Grandmaster's gaze burn even hotter.
Ning Rongrong also sent someone with a gift "to calm his nerves," along with a note that read: "The little fellow is very interesting. Protect it well. If you need help, come to me." The tone was friendly, but the intent to recruit him was even clearer.
What made Lin Kun even more uneasy was that there seemed to be more unfamiliar faces in the academy. Some appeared to be ordinary students or servants, yet their gazes would occasionally sweep over him and Little White. He even faintly sensed several extremely covert mental probes, but all of them were blocked by Little White's passive mental defense and his own vigilance.
"I can't stay here any longer!" Lin Kun made up his mind. Nuoding Academy had already become the center of a whirlpool. If he stayed any longer, the secrets of him and Little White would sooner or later be exposed.
He had to obtain his first Spirit Ring as soon as possible, then leave this place and find somewhere broader and safer! For example... Shrek Academy? There might be plenty of monsters there, but at least its various factions were not as tangled and complicated as they were here.
However, obtaining his first Spirit Ring required leaving the academy and going to a spirit beast forest. With his current strength, going alone would be extremely risky. Form a team? With whom? Tang San? Impossible. The other working students? They were too weak and might even hold him back.
Just as Lin Kun was worrying over how to obtain a Spirit Ring, an unexpected person came to see him.
It was the shy girl who had previously bought information about Star Pattern Iron and needed Moonlight Moss because her mother was ill. Her name was Liu Yue.
"Lin Kun, thank you for the information last time. My mother's illness has improved a lot," Liu Yue said gratefully. Then, after hesitating for a moment, she asked, "I... I heard you were looking for someone to go to the Spirit Hunting Forest with to obtain your first Spirit Ring?"
Lin Kun was stunned. "How did you know?" He did not seem to have told anyone.
Liu Yue blushed and said softly, "I... I guessed. Your Soul Power seems to have reached a bottleneck... and, and my cousin happens to be a two-ring Great Soul Master. He recently came back on leave and agreed to accompany me to obtain my second Spirit Ring. If you don't mind... you can come with us... so we can look out for each other."
Lin Kun's heart stirred. A two-ring Great Soul Master! This was like finding a pillow just when he was sleepy! Though he did not know the other man's background, Liu Yue did not seem like a bad person. Besides, with his Insight Skill and Little White's senses, he should be able to judge whether the other party had any ill intentions.
This was an opportunity! A perfect chance to leave Nuoding City, obtain a Spirit Ring, and temporarily escape the attention of all those factions!
"Really? Thank you so much!" Lin Kun suppressed his excitement and cautiously asked, "May I ask your cousin's name...?"
"My cousin is Ling Feng. His martial spirit is the Gale Spear. He's a level 27 Agility Type Battle Spirit Master. He's a very good person!" Liu Yue hurriedly replied.
A level 27 Agility Type? His strength was decent, and he was fast enough—well suited for spirit beast hunting. Lin Kun quickly weighed the pros and cons.
"Alright! Then I'll have to trouble you, Liu Yue, and Brother Ling Feng!" Lin Kun finally made his decision. "When do we leave?"
"My cousin said that if there are no problems, we'll set off early in the morning three days from now!" Liu Yue was also delighted to see Lin Kun agree.
After seeing Liu Yue off, Lin Kun's feelings were complicated. Opportunity and risk existed side by side. But no matter what, this was better than being trapped in Nuoding Academy, helpless and unable to act.
He had to use these three days to make thorough preparations!
A new journey was about to begin. And the various factions in Nuoding City seemed to have noticed his movements as well, their undercurrents growing ever more turbulent.
Before you continue