Moving In

At that moment, Yue Guan slowly turned his head.

There was not a trace of a smile on that bewitchingly handsome face.

"Uh..." The youth looked as if he had been grabbed by the throat; the arrogance on his face was instantly replaced by boundless terror, and his legs went weak, causing him to collapse directly to the ground.

At this, Lin Ze'an gently tugged on Yue Guan's sleeve and whispered, "Master..."

If he remembered correctly, this was Yan from the Golden Generation, right?

Sensing his disciple's action, the terrifying aura surrounding Yue Guan instantly receded.

However, the look he cast at Yan still carried a hint of displeasure.

Yan struggled to steady himself, his face no longer showing a shred of arrogance, and he hurriedly bowed. "Chrysanthemum... Elder Chrysanthemum! I did not know you were dining here; please forgive my offense!"

His gaze subconsciously flickered toward Lin Ze'an, who was sitting beside Yue Guan and watching him quietly.

Upon seeing the unfamiliar child beside Yue Guan, a flash of realization crossed Yan's eyes.

Clearly, he had heard some rumors—that the two elders had personally brought back a child with astonishing talent from outside.

Could it be him?

Yue Guan let out a cold snort. "Clumsy and reckless, what kind of behavior is that!"

After saying this, he turned to explain to Lin Ze'an, "This is the Yan I mentioned to you earlier, from the Golden Generation. His spirit is the Flame Lord."

"After you enroll in Spirit Hall Academy, you will also meet the other two members of the Golden Generation, Hu Liena and Xie Yue."

Hearing this, Lin Ze'an stood up, cupped his hands toward Yan, and said, "Greetings, Senior. My name is Lin Ze'an. I am new here, and I hope for your guidance in the future."

This gesture not only stunned Yan but also caused Yue Guan to raise an eyebrow in slight surprise.

The child was quite worldly and knew how to carry himself with neither servility nor overbearingness.

The arrogance on Yan's face had long since vanished, and he hurriedly returned the gesture, albeit a bit clumsily. "Uh... hello, Junior. My name is Yan. I apologize for my rudeness just now."

Seeing this, Yue Guan gave a faint hum. "That's enough, go back to your cultivation."

"Yes! Elder Chrysanthemum." Yan felt as if a great weight had been lifted, bowed once more, and hurried away.

After Yan left, Yue Guan looked at Lin Ze'an. "Good disciple, you certainly know how to handle people."

"However, there is no need to be too polite with these brats. You must be firm when necessary; being too soft will only lead to being bullied."

Lin Ze'an nodded obediently. "I understand, Master. I just felt that since we are all of the same sect, there is no need to make the relationship too stiff."

Yue Guan smiled with satisfaction and said no more.

The sumptuous, albeit slightly eventful, dinner finally came to an end.

Lin Ze'an ate to his heart's content. With his stomach full, he felt the spirit power within his body become a bit more active and nourished.

The night grew deeper, but the streetlamps on both sides of the road emitted a soft glow, making the path clearly visible.

As he walked, Yue Guan casually pointed out the surrounding buildings, introducing them to Lin Ze'an. "This side is the barracks for the guards directly under the Pope Palace. It is heavily guarded, so don't go near it without reason."

"That over there is the Library Hall. It houses the largest collection of classics and spirit beast encyclopedias on the continent. You will inevitably have to visit it often in the future."

"The brightly lit complex in the distance is the Consecrated Hall. It is best not to approach it on ordinary days; do not disturb the Consecrated ones in their meditation."

"There are not many rules in the inner city. Given your status, you only need to maintain respect for Her Majesty the Pope, the Consecrated ones, and the elders."

Before long, the two arrived in an area with a tranquil environment and noticeably tighter security.

Lin Ze'an looked at the rows of independent, exquisite courtyards surrounding them.

It seemed this was the residential area for the core disciples of Spirit Hall.

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

The interior was elegantly arranged, featuring a few clusters of green bamboo and a small training ground.

"While we were eating, someone already came to set this up according to your preferences. You will live here from now on; if you need anything, just tell your master."

Yue Guan pointed to another grand palace complex in the distance and said, "I live over there. If you need anything, you can come over at any time."

He escorted Lin Ze'an into the house, gave a few more instructions to get some good rest, and then turned to leave.

Lin Ze'an stood in his unfamiliar yet comfortable new room and let out a long breath.

So many things had happened today, and he finally had a place to settle down.

"Once I obtain my first spirit ring tomorrow, I will truly have stepped onto the path of a spirit master. I am truly looking forward to it."

He had just sat down when he heard the creak of the courtyard gate being pushed open.

Lin Ze'an paused, immediately becoming alert.

His master had only just left and had already said everything that needed to be said; it couldn't be him.

Then who was it? Was assassination so blatant these days?

"Who's there?" he asked in a low voice, rising quickly and walking toward the courtyard.

Who would have thought that the moment he stepped outside, he would nearly collide with a figure rushing toward him.

Focusing his eyes, he realized it was none other than Yan, whom he had encountered earlier.

"Senior?" Lin Ze'an asked with some surprise, hesitating, "What are you...?"

What was he here for? Could it be that he was still upset and had come to take revenge?

Yan scratched his head and handed over a bag he was carrying. "I live in the courtyard right next to yours."

"I was reckless earlier, and I apologize for the offense."

"Thinking that you just moved in, I brought some of Spirit City's famous late-night snacks as an apology, and also as a housewarming gift."

Lin Ze'an looked at Yan's conciliatory expression, stunned for a moment, before smiling and reaching out to take the bag. "You're too kind, Senior. It was a small matter, please don't take it to heart."

Seeming to realize it was only polite, he stepped aside and offered an invitation, "Would you like to come in and sit for a while?"

Yan waved his hand, his expression relaxing significantly. "No, it's quite late. I'll head back; you should get some rest."

He pointed to a slightly smaller courtyard nearby. "I live right there. If you need anything, feel free to come find me."

Lin Ze'an stood at the doorway, watching Yan's back disappear behind the neighboring gate, then looked down at the bag of snacks in his hand.

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

It was quite different from his impression, though that was to be expected.

A novel is just a novel, after all; in reality, there aren't that many fools.

Today, Yan had been scolded by his master, yet he hadn't thought to pick a fight; instead, he had come to offer an apology.

Lin Ze'an returned inside, placed the bag on the table, and took out the paper parcel from within.

Opening it, he found several exquisitely shaped pastries that still held a hint of warmth, clearly freshly made.

"What a coincidence, they're just to my taste," he murmured to himself, picking up a piece of Honey Pine Nut Crisp and taking a bite.

The crispy crust and sweet filling melted in his mouth instantly, carrying a touch of warmth that dispelled the evening chill and the slight unease of being in a new place.

After finishing, a wave of exhaustion washed over him.

Following a quick wash, Lin Ze'an lay down on the soft, comfortable bed, waiting for the arrival of the next day.