Cultivating Trusted Subordinates

Mo Lin leaned back directly, crossed one leg over the other, and said:

"Let's stop beating around the bush. We're both smart people, and keeping up this act is exhausting."

"Are you joking—" Qian Renxue—

Mo Lin casually cut her off:

"Still joking? Joking about what, Young Mistress?"

The moment the words "Young Mistress" left his mouth, Qian Renxue's soul power erupted as though she were about to attack. Yet it quickly settled, and she asked:

"Did Grandfather send you?"

"No. Calling you Young Mistress was only to remind you that I know who you are, and that we're on the same side." Mo Lin still wore that roguish expression.

Qian Renxue's gaze turned cold:

"Then you're her person."

Mo Lin looked thoroughly displeased:

"Listen to yourself. How does that make me her person? I came here only on my own behalf. I have nothing to do with those elders."

Qian Renxue looked at Mo Lin. Never before had anyone acted so roguishly in front of her.

"When did Spirit Hall get someone who acts like a street thug? This is far too casual!"

She said irritably:

"Since you represent only yourself, I won't question how you learned my identity for now. First, tell me properly why you came looking for me."

"Then I'll be direct."

Mo Lin suddenly moved at incredible speed, appearing behind the sofa where Qian Renxue sat. He showed off his strength, hoping the contrast would make Qian Renxue take his words seriously.

The effect was successfully achieved. Qian Renxue considered herself the foremost among the younger generation of soul masters, and she even possessed a head soul bone. Yet just now, all she had seen was Mo Lin's afterimage; she had not seen his exact path at all. This made her take the man seriously.

"Have you been investigating Tang Hao's affairs for some reason?" Mo Lin asked.

"That's right. Is there a problem?" Qian Renxue's tone had become much more serious.

Mo Lin leaned close to Qian Renxue's ear:

"Then I'll be frank. If someone asks you about related matters, don't foolishly point all the blame at Spirit Hall. Appropriately speak ill of another faction as well. You need to distinguish between public and private matters."

After saying that, Mo Lin even blew lightly into Qian Renxue's ear before walking toward the door.

As he grasped the doorknob, Mo Lin added:

"Oh, and one more thing. Just like you, this face of mine is fake. See you~"

Then he departed in a carefree manner.

After Mo Lin left, Qian Renxue sat with a dark expression for a while before touching her earlobe.

"That lecher!"

If Mo Lin had made that gesture while Qian Renxue was speaking with him as Xue Qinghe, she would not have cared at all. However, after Mo Lin exposed her identity, Qian Renxue had shifted into the mindset of a woman and was speaking with Mo Lin as her true self. As a result, she reacted strongly to his teasing.

But why had Mo Lin suddenly begun flirting with women? It certainly was not because he had mastered Yin-Yang Five Thunders. Even with Qi Body Origin Flow and two immortal herbs supporting him, mastering it so quickly would be nothing but a pipe dream!

He flirted with Qian Renxue because this woman had to be flirted with. Mo Lin intended to take control of the entire Spirit Hall in the future, and Qian Renxue was undoubtedly the hardest piece to control. If he did not win her over, it would be difficult to ensure that the Papal Palace and the Douluo Hall—the Elders' Hall—would not come into conflict.

Other than when facing her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, Qian Renxue was proud and arrogant, always looking down on everyone else. Thus, Mo Lin had never expected Qian Renxue to fall for him on her own through something like his personal charm. He had to take the initiative.

Moreover, because Qian Renxue and her mother, Bibi Dong, had almost no communication, even when they met, she called her Sister rather than Mother. The two mother and daughter never interfered with each other's actions, which ultimately caused Qian Renxue's own plan to fail in the original story.

To avoid the series of brain-dead actions Spirit Hall committed in the original story, Mo Lin had to participate in the decision-making for every operation. Therefore, he needed to build good relationships with the key figures in both the Papal Palace and the Douluo Hall.

The day before the tournament began, Mo Lin and Mo Jia arrived at Thunderclap Academy's lodging.

The guard was not blind. Upon seeing the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan elder badges on the left sides of their chests, he immediately let them through and led them to the room where Thunderclap Academy's students were currently gathered.

Yu Tianxin was explaining the key opponents to watch in the tournament and the tactics prepared for tomorrow to the other Thunderclap Academy students alongside the team-leading teacher.

Mo Lin and Mo Jia pushed the door open and walked straight in. The team-leading teacher had just been about to ask, "Who is so rude?" when he saw the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan elder badges. He immediately led everyone in bowing.

"Greetings, Elders!"

Mo Lin gestured for them not to bow.

"No need for formalities. We only came to see how your preparations are going. Well? Are there any major issues?"

The team-leading teacher replied:

"Thank you for your concern, Elder. We have made thorough preparations and will absolutely not bring shame upon the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."

Mo Lin nodded.

"That's good. I have a few matters to discuss with Tianxin, so I'll take him away for a while. No problem, right?"

"Of course. We have more or less finished discussing everything anyway," the team-leading teacher said.

Before leaving, Mo Lin nudged Mo Jia forward.

"This is Elder Yu Jia. If there is anything you don't understand about combat, feel free to ask him~"

Then he grabbed Yu Tianxin and ran outside.

Mo Jia stared blankly at the junior before him, whose eyes sparkled with curiosity and a thirst for knowledge, and clenched his teeth.

"Mo Lin, just you wait!"

Mo Lin brought Yu Tianxin to a forest on the outskirts.

Yu Tianxin had many questions along the way. Although he had spent quite a long time at Thunderclap Academy and only occasionally returned to the clan for visits, he had no impression whatsoever of these two elders—especially the one he was currently following, who looked about the same age as him.

After reaching a place where there truly was no one around, Mo Lin stopped and pointed in a direction.

"Tianxin, face that way and use your fourth soul skill with all your strength."

Though Yu Tianxin did not understand, he still did as instructed.

"Fourth Soul Skill, Blue Lightning Divine Dragon Rush!"

A blue divine dragon shot forward, destroying a large number of trees and tearing through the ground, leaving behind a broad, lengthy trail scorched black by lightning.

Mo Lin extended his right hand.

"Tianxin, watch carefully!"

"Palm Thunder!"

A concentrated bolt of lightning instantly pierced through several large trees, leaving a perfectly round hole of identical size in every tree it passed through.

Mo Lin lowered his hand and looked at Yu Tianxin.

"Well? Can you tell what the difference is between our two moves?"