Lin Yi and Tang San's Silent Standoff

Tang San looked shocked.

He had pulled every string he had, yet he couldn't find a single piece of information regarding Lin Yi?

Just how mysterious was this guy?

Yu Xiaogang didn't notice Tang San's shock and continued to speak to himself, "There are only two possibilities for a situation like this."

He turned back to look at Tang San. "First, his parents might already be deceased, which is why no records were left behind."

"And the second?" Tang San asked.

"Second." Yu Xiaogang stopped walking and turned to face Tang San. "His identity is not simple, but someone deliberately forged it, allowing him to enter the academy as an ordinary work-study student."

Tang San's gaze turned sharp. "What would be the purpose of doing that?"

"That is exactly what I want to figure out." Yu Xiaogang sat back down in his chair. "Is a six-year-old child worth going to such great lengths to hide his identity?"

"Teacher." Tang San suddenly spoke up. "Do you remember what happened during the Year-End Competition, how everyone was paying special attention to Lin Yi?"

Yu Xiaogang nodded. "I remember. That day was indeed suspicious, but thinking about it now, it might be related to Lin Yi's identity. If he has some unknown background, then it wouldn't be strange for some people in the academy to have known something beforehand."

This explanation seemed to make sense, but Tang San still felt like something was off.

If Lin Yi truly had a background, why would he still be a work-study student?

Why would he endure the impoverished life of the academy?

Moreover, judging by his behavior, he didn't have the arrogance of a noble family's child; instead, he revealed a sense of caution in everything he did.

Tang San speculated, "Teacher, could Lin Yi have been sent by some major power?"

"That possibility cannot be ruled out." Yu Xiaogang sighed. "But his behavior doesn't fit that theory. If he were truly sent by some power, he should be lying low, yet he attracts attention everywhere he goes."

If Lin Yi had heard this, he would surely have vomited blood on the spot.

Give me a break, I'm being very low-key.

But I don't know why they are so focused on me.

To the point that the female lead has even deviated from the original story...

But Yu Xiaogang and Tang San didn't know these things; all they saw was that Lin Yi was very eye-catching.

He was even more of a focal point than Tang San, who possessed Twin Martial Souls and secret techniques from the Tang Sect.

"Right." Tang San was also very puzzled. "His behavior... how should I put it? It's like he's deliberately following some kind of rule, yet he breaks convention when you least expect it."

He remembered very clearly that during the Year-End Competition, Lin Yi's performance far exceeded his peers, yet in his daily life, he pretended to be weak and easy to bully.

This contrast was truly unfathomable.

Yu Xiaogang frowned slightly, lost in thought. "Looking at it this way, the secret hidden behind Lin Yi is far more complex than we imagined."

After a pause, he continued, "The way he acts might be to test the academy's bottom line, or perhaps he is waiting for a certain opportunity."

"Waiting for an opportunity?" A flash of doubt crossed Tang San's eyes, but a thought crossed his mind: could Lin Yi be targeting him?

This thought sent a chill down his spine.

His Twin Martial Souls were his greatest secret; besides his father and his teacher, no third person should know.

But if Lin Yi really knew something...

Tang San asked in a low voice, "Teacher, how do you think we should respond?"

"Wait." Yu Xiaogang sat back down. "Lin Yi will show his true colors sooner or later."

"Then Xiao Wu..."

"As for Xiao Wu, let nature take its course." Yu Xiaogang interrupted him. "Remember, on the path of a soul master, strength is the foundation. As long as you are strong enough, what is meant to be yours will eventually be yours."

Tang San lowered his head and didn't speak.

But Yu Xiaogang could feel that this disciple hadn't fully accepted his advice.

"Alright." Yu Xiaogang changed the subject. "You just returned to school, so get some rest. Starting tomorrow, I will formulate a new training plan for you."

Tang San stood up, bowed respectfully, and then turned to leave.

Walking out of Yu Xiaogang's room, Tang San's mind was still filled with thoughts.

However, just then, a familiar voice came from ahead.

"Lin Yi, where do you say we should go to play tomorrow? I heard there's a Flower Valley outside Nuoding City that's very beautiful. Should we go tomorrow?"

It was Xiao Wu's voice, crisp and lively.

Immediately following was Lin Yi's reply: "We'll talk about tomorrow's plans tomorrow."

Tang San's footsteps came to an abrupt halt.

He looked up and saw Lin Yi and Xiao Wu walking over from the direction of the academy gate.

The two were walking side by side, and Xiao Wu was holding a candied hawthorn, eating it while saying something.

The setting sun stretched their shadows out long, and they looked... surprisingly harmonious.

Tang San's fists clenched involuntarily.

He stood where he was, watching the two of them draw closer.

Lin Yi was the first to notice him, his footsteps faltering slightly as a look of mild surprise crossed his face: "Tang San? Long time no see."

How unfortunate, to run into him here of all places.

Though looking at that expression, he doesn't seem to be in a good mood.

That makes sense; with Tang Hao leaving without a word, he must be feeling down about being an orphan again.

"Pfft!"

Xiao Wu couldn't help but let out a laugh upon hearing the word 'orphan'.

She quickly composed herself, looked at Tang San, and gave a polite nod: "Xiao San, long time no see."

Her use of 'Xiao San' was so courteous and distant that it felt like a needle prick to Tang San.

He took a deep breath and forced a smile: "Yeah, just got back. Are you two... out for a stroll?"

"That's right." Xiao Wu nodded, waving the candied hawthorn in her hand: "Lin Yi took me to eat a lot of delicious things."

As she spoke, she turned to smile at Lin Yi.

That smile was bright and natural, but to Tang San, it was exceptionally jarring.

Lin Yi sensed the shift in the atmosphere and muttered to himself.

The original heroine acting intimate with me right in front of the protagonist?

The air is so awkward I could dig a three-bedroom apartment out of it.

Better make a run for it; I don't want to end up as cannon fodder.

"Well... we just got back and have some things to attend to, so we're heading to the dormitory." Lin Yi said, stepping around Tang San to head toward the dorms.

Xiao Wu nodded and followed naturally behind him, not even pausing as she passed by Tang San.

Tang San felt another pang of pain in his heart and spoke instinctively: "Xiao Wu."

Xiao Wu stopped and looked back at him: "What is it?"

Tang San opened his mouth, only to realize he didn't know what to say.

Ask her why she was distancing herself?

Ask her why she was getting so close to Lin Yi?

Saying those things aloud would only make him seem petty.

"Nothing." Tang San finally shook his head: "Get some rest."

Xiao Wu gave a soft 'mm', turned, and caught up to Lin Yi, the two of them disappearing side-by-side at the end of the path leading to the dormitory area.

Tang San stood rooted to the spot, watching their retreating figures, his fists clenched until his knuckles turned white.

He didn't understand.

He was clearly stronger and more talented than Lin Yi, so why would Xiao Wu choose him?

Was it just because Lin Yi was better looking?

Tang San took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

His teacher was right; on the path of a Spirit Master, strength was the foundation.

As long as he became strong enough, everything would return to the way it should be.