Brother, Don't Lie to Xiao Rou

After school that afternoon, Lin Hao told his family he had something to do and would not be having dinner with them. Then he wandered around the athletic field with Fang Yao. Seeing the little girl hesitate to speak, Lin Hao smiled. "Are you leaving?"

Fang Yao nodded gently. "I'm leaving tomorrow. We probably won't see each other for quite a long time."

"When I went to the Principal's Office today, I heard the Principal say that Wu University recruitment has been moved up this year. The state's Red-Header Document has also come down, saying that more resources will be directed toward Wu Universities to rapidly cultivate new students. I'm reporting to Shancheng Martial University the day after tomorrow too. I have to thank you for that—otherwise, I wouldn't have gotten into Wu University. We can call each other when we're free, and if you need anything, I'll come find you." Lin Hao comforted her.

"Mm. Then you'd better work hard, idiot. I'll wait for your good news."

Lin Hao immediately straightened his back, his face solemn. "Yes, Fang Martial God!" His voice rang loud and clear.

Fang Yao pursed her lips in a smile, and the sorrow of parting faded considerably.

Meanwhile, in the Principal's Office at Shancheng Martial University, a tall woman with skin as fair as snow sat behind her desk, her brows tightly furrowed. She was Jiang Weiwei, Shancheng Martial University's Acting Principal.

Before long, there was a knock at the office door.

"Come in!" The woman's voice sounded somewhat weary.

"Weiwei, you stayed up late again?" The person who entered was also a woman. She had a fiery figure and wore a crimson dress. Her skin was clear and luminous, and confidence radiated from every inch of her.

At the sight of her, a rare smile appeared on Jiang Weiwei's beautiful face. "Xiao Rui, you saw this year's Red-Header Document too. Every Wu University is recruiting. Do we have any students worth looking at this year?"

The woman who had entered was called Su Xiaorui. She was Jiang Weiwei's subordinate as well as her best friend.

Su Xiaorui was equally helpless. "There are only one or two who are remotely presentable. Aren't all the good seedlings snatched away by those top Wu Universities? Every year, we can only pick up what's left. Back then, we were first in the Hundred Schools League. Ever since Principal Mo disappeared, our school's appeal has grown weaker year by year. Who knows where Old Mo went? His own school is about to go under, and he still doesn't care."

"Xiao Rui, don't say things like that again. Old Mo must have important matters to attend to. Don't forget, he's a Lord-tier powerhouse. Otherwise, he wouldn't have abandoned the school. Besides, since I'm temporarily filling the Principal's position, I have to take responsibility for it."

"But you can't let everything be dumped on you. You're only twenty-two, at the golden age for cultivation. And besides, you're still—"

"Xiao Rui, stop." Jiang Weiwei cut Su Xiaorui off. "Bring me the files on this year's promising recruits."

Seeing that her best friend did not want to mention the matter, Su Xiaorui did not continue. With a flick of her hand, she took out a document from her Storage Space and handed it to Jiang Weiwei. It listed ten students who were still passable this year. But when Jiang Weiwei reached the final page, her expression visibly froze. "Lin Hao, third-year student at Shancheng No. 1 Middle School, awakened an E-rank Lightning elemental ability."

Jiang Weiwei pulled out Lin Hao's file. "Xiao Rui, did you take the wrong one?"

Su Xiaorui glanced at the file she had handed over, then said, "He isn't a promising seedling. He's just someone who came in through the back door. I heard it was an order from above. The admissions department has already sent him an Invitation letter for Special Invited Students. They don't give us any good seedlings, just dump these Second generation types on us. At this rate, our school won't be far from closing down either." Su Xiaorui was so furious, it was as if Lin Hao had dug up her family grave.

Jiang Weiwei pondered for a moment. "School starts the day after tomorrow. We'll see what this Lin Hao is really like then."

At that moment, Lin Hao was already cultivating, completely unaware that he had caught the attention of Shancheng Martial University's Principal and her best friend.

The next day, Lin Hao did not go to school. Instead, he went to Fang Yao's home to see her off. Seeing the reluctance on her face, Lin Hao comforted her. "It's not like we'll never see each other again. Cultivate properly with your father. When the Hundred Schools League comes around in university, I'll give you a surprise."

Fang Yao's eyes lit up at once. She hurriedly grabbed Lin Hao's arm and asked in a coquettish tone, "Idiot, what kind of surprise?"

This sight left the Old Butler, who was preparing to take Fang Yao away, dumbfounded. When had his young lady become like this? I must be getting old. My eyes must be failing me. The Old Butler sank into deep self-doubt.

"Girl, if I told you, how would it still be a surprise? Cultivate well. We'll meet again at the Hundred Schools League."

"Mm, idiot. I believe in you."

On the way to the airport to send Fang Yao off, the Old Butler unexpectedly became gossipy. "Miss, if I'm not mistaken, that boy who saw you off was Lin Hao, wasn't he?"

"Yes, Uncle Li," Fang Yao answered.

"Mm, he looks like a fine young man. I wonder what abilities he has, to make my young lady lose her heart and soul over him." Uncle Li smiled teasingly. He had watched Fang Yao grow up and treated her like his own granddaughter.

"Uncle Li, what are you talking about?" Fang Yao's little face instantly flushed red.

"Alright, alright. Uncle Li didn't say anything." Seeing Fang Yao's embarrassment, Uncle Li dropped the subject.

After seeing Fang Yao off, Lin Hao returned home. Only Lin Yueyue was there. Lin Hao silently began packing his things.

"Ah, if that little girl finds out you're leaving tomorrow, she'll probably make a fuss all night." Hearing the commotion, Lin Yueyue came out of her room.

"I was specially recruited by Shancheng Martial University. The school is right here in town, so I can come back anytime." Lin Hao felt rather helpless. Thinking of how attached his little sister was to him, he found the sudden separation hard to get used to as well. "I'll have to trouble you to take care of Grandma."

"Don't worry. Old Lady is in great health, so you don't need to worry. But you—when you get to university, remember to bring back a few pretty girls. Let the Lin Family branch out and flourish as soon as possible. Only then will Grandma be happy."

Lin Hao's mouth twitched. "Aunt, I'm going there to study, not to pick up girls. Pick up several, even? You should hurry up and find yourself a boyfriend instead. I think Grandma has been looking at you differently lately."

"Tch, studying doesn't interfere with picking up girls. Back when your Aunt was at school, I was practically a campus belle..."

Seeing his Aunt begin boasting about her glorious deeds again, Lin Hao's face darkened as he hurriedly stopped her.

After dinner that night, Lin Hao was cultivating.

"Waaah—" Suddenly, loud crying reached Lin Hao's ears, followed by a rapid pounding on the door.

Lin Hao stopped cultivating and hurriedly opened the door. A cute little girl stood outside, her big tear-filled eyes glistening, her tiny mouth pouting so hard it nearly reached the sky. Without saying a word, she threw herself into Lin Hao's arms and refused to let go.

"Brother, don't you want Xiao Rou anymore? Aunt said you're leaving tomorrow and won't come back!" After saying that, the little girl burst into tears again.

Lin Hao's face darkened. He quickly picked Xiao Rou up and grabbed a tissue to wipe away her tears. Then he glanced at Lin Yueyue behind her, whose expression was merely a little awkward. Aunt, I'm just going to university, not marching off to my death. How did you make it sound like I'll never return?

"Xiao Rou, Aunt was talking nonsense. Brother is only going to university. Xiao Rou will go to university too when she grows up. When you're on break, you can come to Brother's university and play with me." Lin Hao hurriedly comforted Lin Xiaorou.

Hearing her brother say that, Lin Xiaorou stopped crying. "Really? Brother won't lie to Xiao Rou?" Yet her large eyes were still brimming with tears.

Lin Hao wiped Xiao Rou's tears again. "How could Brother lie to Xiao Rou? Shall we make a pinky promise?"

The moment Xiao Rou heard that, she became happy. "Okay! Pinky promise, hang ourselves from the hook—one hundred years, no changing!"

After making the pinky promise with Xiao Rou, Lin Hao reminded her, "Xiao Rou, while Brother isn't home, you have to listen to Grandma and Aunt. Don't be naughty, understand?"

"Okay." Lin Xiaorou nodded heavily.

That night, Lin Hao continued cultivating with a Silver-grade beast core in hand. Within his Mental Space, a pitch-black, ancient Sword Box slowly appeared. Drawn by the energy, the Sword Box gradually opened, and nine Long swords slowly emerged, beginning to frantically seize the beast core energy Lin Hao had absorbed.