Martial Soul Hall's Sudden Visit

Xiao Wu heard Lin Yi's inner voice, and a complex surge of emotions welled up within her.

So, Lin Yi felt this way too.

Although he could see the futures of others and knew many secrets, he was actually quite lost himself.

"Lin Yi." Xiao Wu rested her chin on her hand as she looked at him, suddenly saying earnestly, "Thank you."

"Thank me for what?" Lin Yi was somewhat baffled.

"Thank you for being willing to bring me to your home," Xiao Wu smiled, "and thank you for being willing to be friends with me."

Lin Yi rolled his eyes internally at Xiao Wu's words.

[To be honest, being friends with you isn't really a big deal.]

[I just hope that after you go back, you won't pester me, so as to avoid being targeted by the Tang father and son.]

[But then again, Tang Hao should have already gone to find Yu Xiaogang by now, so I suppose I don't have to be quite as afraid of Tang San anymore.]

While he was complaining in his heart, he said aloud, "I should thank you too, for treating me as a friend."

Although Lin Yi said this, his tone didn't sound like he meant it at all.

Xiao Wu naturally heard it, but she pretended not to understand the implication and just laughed it off to gloss over it.

After all, she knew that some things could not be rushed.

Since she had decided to follow Lin Yi, she had to take it slow and not let him grow suspicious.

In the days that followed, Xiao Wu settled down in Lin Yi's home.

Lin Yi had originally thought she would find it boring after a couple of days and leave on her own.

But to his surprise, Xiao Wu seemed very interested in village life.

Wherever Lin Yi went, she followed, and she would even help the village elders with their chores.

The villagers all liked this lively and adorable young girl and often brought her food.

Watching Xiao Wu get along so well with the villagers, Lin Yi became even more puzzled.

[What is going on? I thought you were just playing around, but are you treating this place like your own home?]

[But then again, she seems to have become much more sensible during this time; at least she isn't as bad as I remembered.]

Hearing this inner voice, Xiao Wu felt secretly pleased.

She knew her efforts were starting to pay off.

[Sigh... forget it, let her stay if she wants to; school is starting soon anyway.]

[Besides, having a companion makes the days a little less boring.]

Lin Yi looked at Xiao Wu's busy figure and stopped thinking about her going back, feeling a sense of bewilderment.

This little rabbit really had latched onto him.

Days passed one by one, and in the blink of an eye, it was three days before the start of school.

That day, as usual, they sparred and cultivated in the morning and went for a stroll nearby at noon.

In the evening, just after they finished dinner, Xiao Wu suddenly said, "Lin Yi, let's go back to the academy tomorrow."

Lin Yi pondered for a moment and nodded, "Calculating the time, school is about to start, so let's set off early tomorrow morning."

[Time really flies.]

[I've actually gotten used to this little rabbit during this time, but this identity of hers...]

[If she weren't a transformed Soul Beast, it wouldn't be bad having her follow me.]

[Sigh, I'll see if I can find a way to get the plot back on track when we get back...]

Hearing this inner voice, Xiao Wu's eyes dimmed.

Lin Yi still wanted to get rid of her.

However, she didn't blame him; after all, her identity was special, and it was normal for him, as an ordinary person with Twin Martial Souls, to have such thoughts.

But she wouldn't just accept her fate like that.

Xiao Wu quickly adjusted her mood, a brilliant smile blooming on her face, "Alright, then let's get some rest early and set off tomorrow morning."

With that, she skipped happily back to her room.

Lin Yi watched Xiao Wu's cheerful figure and couldn't help but shake his head, then returned to his own room.

He lay on his bed, which wasn't exactly soft, and his consciousness gradually began to blur.

[We're heading back to the academy tomorrow; I wonder if that guy Tang San will cause trouble...]

[But Tang Hao has already left by now, so I don't have to be so afraid of him.]

[It's just this girl Xiao Wu, she actually stayed at my place for almost the entire vacation...]

[Forget it, thinking about it is useless, time to sleep, time to sleep...]

His breathing gradually steadied, and he finally drifted into a deep sleep.

Early the next morning, just as the sky began to brighten, Lin Yi and Xiao Wu set out on the road back to Notting Academy.

This time, Lin Yi did not take any detours; they set off in the morning and arrived outside Nuoding City by the afternoon.

Seeing Nuoding City within arm's reach, Xiao Wu patted Lin Yi and rolled her eyes, saying, "Lin Yi, I remember it took us two days to get back last time. How is it so much closer this time?"

She was, of course, asking this on purpose, wanting to see how Lin Yi would answer her.

[This question...]

[I can't exactly tell you that I actually went to hunt for a Soul Ring, can I?]

Lin Yi was slightly stunned internally, but he replied aloud, "Last time was the holidays, so I wanted to take you to see more of the scenery. This time is returning to school; it's different."

Xiao Wu chuckled inwardly, but she feigned a sudden realization and nodded, "So that's how it is. I thought you had some secret passage."

Lin Yi gave a dry laugh, "None."

The two chatted and laughed, their pace never slowing, and they soon entered Nuoding City.

The streets were as bustling as ever, with the cries of various vendors rising one after another, and the air was filled with the aroma of various foods, making one unable to resist stopping.

Walking along the main street, they soon arrived at Notting Academy.

Just as they reached the gate, Lin Yi felt that the atmosphere was off.

Usually at this time, the academy entrance should be very lively, with a continuous stream of returning students and parents seeing them off.

But today, the entrance was unusually deserted; only a few students were hurrying in and out, and their expressions were all very serious.

"Lin Yi, Xiao Wu, you're back?!" A familiar voice rang out.

Lin Yi turned his head and saw Wang Sheng running out from the academy, an anxious look on his face.

"Wang Sheng, what's wrong with the academy?" Xiao Wu asked first.

Wang Sheng looked left and right, then lowered his voice and said, "People from Martial Soul Hall are here. I don't know why, but they've already been at the academy for a day."

"Martial Soul Hall?" Lin Yi frowned, "Since when do they pay attention to primary Soul Master academies?"

"I don't know either." Wang Sheng shook his head, "But I heard it's not just our academy; they've sent people to all the Soul Master academies near Nuoding City."

[A comprehensive inspection? Since when has Martial Soul Hall been so attentive to a small place like Nuoding City?]

[Could it be Tang San? Has the information about his Twin Martial Souls leaked?]

[That's not right, Tang San hid it quite well in the early stages.]

[Or is it Xiao Wu?]

[That doesn't fit either; logically, no one should know their secrets.]

Lin Yi's inner confusion deepened.

In his impression, Martial Soul Hall had always taken a hands-off attitude toward primary academies, with only intermediate-level academies and above receiving their attention.

When things happen against the norm, there must be a demon at play.

"Where are the teachers?" Lin Yi asked.

"They are all in the office; Director Su is accompanying the people from Martial Soul Hall," Wang Sheng said, then suddenly remembered something, "Right, Lin Yi, you had better be careful."