Moving In

At that moment, Yue Guan slowly turned his head.

There wasn't a trace of a smile on his eerily handsome face.

"Uh..." The boy looked as if someone had grabbed him by the throat. The arrogance vanished from his face, replaced in an instant by boundless fear. His legs gave way, and he dropped straight to his knees.

Just then, Lin Ze'an gently tugged at Yue Guan's sleeve and whispered, "Master..."

If he remembered correctly, this was Yan from the Golden Generation, wasn't it?

Feeling his disciple's tug, Yue Guan immediately reined in the terrifying aura around him.

But there was still a trace of displeasure in his eyes as he looked at Yan.

Yan struggled to his feet. All arrogance had vanished from his face, and he hurriedly bowed. "E-Elder Chrysanthemum! I didn't know you were dining here. Please forgive my offense!"

His gaze unconsciously flicked toward Lin Ze'an, sitting quietly beside Yue Guan and watching him.

When he saw the unfamiliar child beside Yue Guan, a flash of understanding crossed Yan's eyes.

Clearly, he'd heard some rumors too—that two elders had personally brought back a child of astonishing talent.

Could this be him?

Yue Guan snorted. "So clumsy and thoughtless! Have you no sense of decorum?"

Then he turned to Lin Ze'an and explained, "This is Yan, one of the Golden Generation I told you about earlier. His Martial Soul is the Flame Lord."

"Once you enroll in Spirit Hall Academy, you'll meet the other two members of the Golden Generation as well: Hu Liena and Xie Yue."

At that, Lin Ze'an stood and cupped his hands toward Yan. "It's a pleasure to meet you, senior. My name is Lin Ze'an. I've just arrived, so I hope you'll guide me in the future."

His gesture made Yan pause in surprise. Even Yue Guan, beside him, raised an eyebrow in mild astonishment.

The boy knew how to handle people—neither servile nor overbearing.

All arrogance had long since disappeared from Yan's face. He hurriedly returned the greeting, a little awkwardly. "Uh... Good to meet you, junior. My name is Yan. Sorry for the offense earlier."

Seeing this, Yue Guan gave a quiet snort. "All right, off you go and cultivate."

"Yes, Elder Chrysanthemum." Relieved, Yan bowed once more and hurried away.

Once Yan had left, Yue Guan turned to Lin Ze'an. "My good disciple, you certainly know how to deal with people."

"But you don't need to be too polite to these youngsters. Stand your ground when you need to; if you're too soft, people will bully you."

Lin Ze'an nodded obediently. "I understand, Master. I just thought we're all from the same sect, so there's no need to sour the relationship."

Yue Guan smiled with satisfaction and said no more.

At last, the sumptuous dinner, with its few unexpected twists, came to an end.

Lin Ze'an had eaten his fill and was thoroughly satisfied. He felt the Soul Power within him growing a little more lively and warm.

Night deepened, but the streetlights on either side of the road cast a gentle glow, keeping the way clearly lit.

As they walked, Yue Guan casually pointed out the buildings around them, introducing them to Lin Ze'an. "That's the barracks for the guard unit directly under Pope Palace. Security is tight, so don't go near it without a reason."

"That's Library Hall. It holds more books and Soul Beast guides than anywhere else on the continent. You'll be going there often enough."

"That brightly lit complex in the distance is the Worship Hall. It's best not to go near it on an ordinary day. Don't disturb the worshippers while they're meditating."

"There aren't many rules in the inner city. Given your status, you only need to show respect to His Holiness the Pope, the worshippers, and the elders."

Before long, the two arrived in a secluded area where the guards were noticeably more numerous.

Lin Ze'an looked around at the many elegant, detached courtyards.

This seemed to be the residential quarter for Spirit Hall's core disciples.

Yue Guan stopped in front of a small courtyard with a blank signboard and pushed open the gate.

The courtyard was tastefully arranged, with a few clusters of green bamboo and a small training ground.

"While we were eating, someone came and arranged the place to your liking. You'll live here from now on. If you need anything, just tell me."

Yue Guan pointed toward another, more imposing cluster of palaces in the distance. "I live over there. Come find me anytime if something comes up."

He escorted Lin Ze'an inside, reminded him to get a good rest, then turned and left.

Standing in the unfamiliar yet comfortable new room, Lin Ze'an let out a long breath.

So much had happened that day. At last, he had a place to call home.

"Once I get my First Soul Ring tomorrow, I'll truly be on the path of a Soul Master. I'm really looking forward to it."

He had just sat down when he heard the creak of the courtyard gate opening.

Lin Ze'an froze for a moment, then immediately grew alert.

His master had only just left, and he'd already given all the necessary instructions. It couldn't be him.

So who was it? Were people really so brazen about carrying out assassinations these days?

"Who's there?" he barked, quickly getting to his feet and heading into the courtyard.

But the moment he stepped outside, he nearly collided with someone hurrying toward him.

Taking a closer look, he realized it was Yan, whom he'd met earlier.

"Senior?" Lin Ze'an asked hesitantly, surprised. "What are you...?"

What had he come for? Could he have taken offense and come to get revenge?

Yan scratched his head and held out the bag in his hand. "I live in the courtyard next door."

"I was too rash earlier. I offended you, and I'm sorry for the trouble."

"I heard you'd just moved in, so I brought some of Spirit City's famous late-night pastries to apologize. You can think of them as a housewarming gift, too."

Lin Ze'an was taken aback by Yan's friendly manner, then smiled and reached out to take the bag. "You're too kind, senior. It was a small matter, so don't worry about it."

As if realizing that his invitation might be inappropriate, he stepped aside and politely offered, "Would you like to come in?"

Yan waved his hand, looking much more relaxed. "No, it's late. I'll head back. Get some rest."

He pointed to a slightly smaller courtyard beside them. "I live right there. Come find me anytime if you need anything."

Lin Ze'an stood at the entrance, watching Yan disappear through the gate of the neighboring courtyard. Then he lowered his gaze to the bag of pastries in his hand.

He let out a soft breath and looked up at the night sky.

This was a little different from what he remembered, but then again, that made sense.

Novels were just novels. In real life, there weren't that many fools.

Yan had been scolded by his master that day, but he hadn't tried to pick a fight with him. Instead, he'd come to apologize.

Lin Ze'an went back inside, set the bag on the table, and took out the paper wrapping.

Inside were several exquisitely shaped pastries, still warm to the touch. They clearly hadn't been made long ago.

"What a coincidence. They're right up my alley," he murmured, picking up a Honey Pine Nut Crisp and taking a bite.

The crisp shell and sweet filling melted in his mouth, bringing a hint of warmth that drove away the night's chill and some of the unease he'd felt as a newcomer.

Once he'd finished eating, drowsiness washed over him.

After washing up, Lin Ze'an lay down on the soft, comfortable bed and waited for the next day to come.