Master Yan's appearance caused quite a stir among the people around them.
After all, he was highly renowned in Flame City and was an exceptionally rare, powerful Symbol Master.
So the moment Master Yan appeared, he naturally drew everyone's attention.
And most importantly—
Master Yan's words just now had clearly suggested that he wanted to recruit Lin Yan, perhaps even take him as a disciple.
Lin Yan himself was already outstanding. If he could get on Master Yan's good side, he might well secure a place for himself in Flame City in the future.
"Master Yan actually..."
"Who exactly is this guy?"
Liu Qingxu was completely dumbfounded.
After all, she knew Master Yan, so she also knew that he had always thought highly of himself.
Countless young people in Flame City had cracked their heads trying to become Master Yan's disciples, yet he had never agreed to take a single one of them.
She never expected that today, Lin Yan wouldn't merely refrain from asking to become his disciple—Master Yan himself would show an interest in recruiting him and taking him on as one.
The shock this caused Liu Qingxu was beyond words.
Lin Yan raised an eyebrow. He had also heard the intention to take him as a disciple in Master Yan's words, but he had no desire to become anyone's apprentice.
He was just about to refuse.
Unexpectedly, Master Yan seemed to have seen what he was about to do. Still, Lin Yan was very much to his liking, and he couldn't bear to see such a promising talent go to waste.
So Master Yan generously took out two items—a Talisman Token and a dry, unassuming book—then tossed them toward Lin Yan.
"Forget it, young friend."
"I think we're fated to meet, especially when it comes to how you conduct yourself. You're very much to this old man's liking."
"I'm in a good mood today. Take these two things as a gift between friends. They're yours, free of charge."
"If you have time in the future, come to the Curio Pavilion and have tea with me."
With that, he turned and left without another word.
Lin Yan caught Master Yan's gifts, then respectfully saluted him and said,
"Master Yan, I'm Lin Yan of the Lin Clan. I'll remember what you've done for me today. Thank you."
A faint smile appeared on the corner of Master Yan's mouth as he walked away.
As for Lin Yan, he had no intention of continuing to wander around the Curio Pavilion. He planned to leave with Lin Dong.
After all, he had attracted a little too much attention this time. Staying any longer didn't suit his personality.
He still wasn't fond of showing off.
"Let's go, little brother Lin Dong."
With that, Lin Yan turned and said this to Lin Dong.
Lin Dong nodded.
He had already bought everything he wanted, so there really was no point in staying.
He quickly followed Lin Yan.
When the people around them saw that Lin Yan and Lin Dong were leaving,
they all made way for them. Whether it was the respect Lin Yan had shown just now or the regard Master Yan had shown him, they now knew that this young man was no ordinary person.
So they naturally treated him with much more respect.
"Wait, Brother Lin Yan."
To Lin Yan's surprise, as he and Lin Dong were about to leave, the young woman from the Liu Clan, Liu Qingxu, hurried after them.
Lin Yan stopped, and when she saw that he had paused, a warm smile spread across her face.
"Brother Lin Yan, I'd like to be friends with you."
"Only those close to me may have this token. If you don't mind, please accept it."
"If you have time in the future, please visit the Liu Clan. I'll make sure to give you a warm welcome."
As she spoke, Liu Qingxu took a token from her Qiankun Bag and held it out to Lin Yan.
Lin Yan fell silent for a moment, then smiled. "I'm deeply grateful that Miss Liu thinks so highly of me."
"In that case, I'll accept this token for now."
"If I have time in the future, I'll certainly pay you a visit."
With that, he accepted the token and continued on his way with Lin Dong.
Liu Qingxu watched Lin Yan leave, her gaze flickering as she pondered something.
The other passersby, however, were all left completely dumbfounded.
They had been in Flame City for so long, yet this was the first time they had heard of Liu Qingxu of the Liu Clan taking the initiative to befriend a man.
Once word of this got out, who knew how many of Flame City's talented young men would have their hearts broken?
Lin Yan and Lin Dong walked for quite a while before the commotion around them gradually died down.
After all, Flame City was vast. Lin Yan and the others had caused quite a stir near the Curio Pavilion, but once they left the area, nobody recognized them.
The two checked the time and realized they could head back to meet up with the others, so they made their way toward the meeting place.
But all along the way, Lin Dong kept giving Lin Yan strange looks.
Seeing Lin Dong hesitating like this, Lin Yan sighed helplessly. He rolled his eyes and said irritably, "If you have something to say, just say it!"
Lin Dong scratched his head. "I just feel like women really seem to like you, Brother Lin Yan."
"Liu Qingxu is so proud, yet she even took the initiative to befriend you."
Lin Yan had wondered what Lin Dong was about to say. He hadn't expected him to stammer for so long just to say that. He immediately rapped Lin Dong on the head.
"We're just friends. What's the big deal?"
"More friends mean more paths to take. Sooner or later, our Lin Clan will develop in Flame City. Who knows? We might end up working with her family."
Only then did Lin Dong nod sheepishly.
"Right. You really have thought this through, Brother Lin Yan."
Lin Yan couldn't be bothered to say anything more to him.
Before long, he tossed the cultivation manual Master Yan had given him to Lin Dong and said, "Little brother Lin Dong, this should be a basic cultivation method for Symbol Masters. Once we get back, take it and start practicing. I still have some other things I need to cultivate, so I won't have time to learn this for a while."
"By the time I've learned what I'm working on, you should have already mastered the basics. This won't be much use to you then, so I'll take it back from you."
Lin Dong couldn't help but freeze.
He hadn't expected Lin Yan to hand over something so precious to him just like that. He gave Lin Yan a strange look.
He gave Lin Yan an awkward smile. "Brother Lin Yan, this thing must be pretty rare, right? You're just letting me learn it?"
Lin Yan gave Lin Dong a speechless look. "We're brothers. Why worry so much? Besides, you can learn yours and I can learn mine. There's no harm in practicing the same cultivation method."
"We're not enemies, and we're not competing. You're my younger brother. If you can learn it, I'll be happy for you! Why wouldn't I let you study it?"
Lin Dong rubbed his nose, suddenly feeling a little ashamed.
"Heh."
"You're right, Brother Lin Yan."
He suddenly remembered that it hadn't been right to hide the Stone Talisman from Lin Yan. After all, whenever something good happened, Lin Yan thought of him first, while he kept secrets and held things back. It didn't feel very brotherly.
"All right, take it."
"You're a grown man. Be more straightforward. Quit dithering."
"If I'm telling you to take it and study it, then study it properly. Don't embarrass yourself by failing to learn it before I need it back."
Lin Yan shoved the manual into Lin Dong's hands, leaving him no choice but to accept it.
"Okay!"
At last, Lin Dong accepted it without hesitation.
After taking the manual, though, he looked at Lin Yan with even greater warmth in his eyes.
It seemed that, without either of them realizing it, the bond between them had deepened another step.
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