The Lin Family Arrives

Late at night.

Jiang Chuan was suddenly awakened by a ringing phone.

It was actually Lu Qingshan calling. The moment he answered, Lu Qingshan got straight to the point. "Mr. Jiang, your little girlfriend has caused quite a stir in the real world."

Jiang Chuan immediately realized he meant Ling Aoshuang.

"What happened?"

"She killed two ordinary civilians." Lu Qingshan paused. "Under Federation regulations, professionals must never use supernatural powers in the real world. Violators will be severely punished. Even the greatest backing is no exception..."

Jiang Chuan remained silent.

Lu Qingshan immediately changed his tone. "But don't worry. I've already settled the matter for you. Still, you should talk to her. Whatever conflicts she has are best resolved in the Source Realm. Fortunately, this happened in Tianyuan City. Once you get to Skywatch City, she absolutely cannot be this impulsive."

"Thank you, City Lord Lu. I'll remember this favor."

That was exactly what Lu Qingshan had been waiting to hear. He said nothing more and hung up in satisfaction.

Lying in bed, Jiang Chuan felt much more awake.

Why had Ling Aoshuang killed someone? He did not waste words asking, because he knew she must have had her own reasons.

Jiang Chuan had simply, all of a sudden, felt the presence of power.

Lu Qingshan had made it sound easy.

But in reality.

Jiang Chuan knew very well that this was a capital crime.

If it had not been for this connection, then even if Ling Aoshuang was now an SS-rank prodigy and could escape death, she would still definitely face the severe punishment of exile.

Yet now...

Lu Qingshan only needed a single word to casually suppress the matter.

Jiang Chuan suddenly realized that, to the people living in Tianyuan City, the title "City Lord Lu" carried far more weight than his seventh-rank strength.

The next morning.

A fine drizzle drifted through the skies above Tianyuan City.

Jiang Chuan arrived at the city gate to wait. Ling Aoshuang stood beside him, calm as though nothing had happened, as if last night had never occurred.

Su Yao stood some distance away, dressed in dark-red light armor and wearing heavy makeup in an attempt to conceal the dark circles beneath her eyes.

From time to time, she secretly glanced toward Jiang Chuan.

Her gaze was incredibly complicated.

Su Lie stood half a step behind her, forcing a smile at Jiang Chuan from afar.

That's right.

Jiang Chuan had ultimately given him the spot he had won through negotiation.

After struggling for a while, Su Lie still walked over and forced himself to say, "Nephew Jiang, I've investigated everything that happened before. It was all Yaoyao's fault... Yaoyao, come apologize!"

Su Yao stood where she was, her expression shifting between green and red.

Jiang Chuan raised a hand to stop him. "No need, Uncle Su. I left the spot for you because of the favor my father owed before. You don't need to thank me. As for the things you said, you were sincerely thinking of what was best for me. I'm not someone who can't tell good from bad."

Su Lie said, "I still have to thank you for setting aside the spot for Yaoyao despite our past grievances..."

Jiang Chuan reiterated, "Uncle Su, I gave the spot to you. As for whom you use it on, that has nothing to do with me."

With things said to this extent, Su Lie had no face left to continue.

He was not someone skilled at currying favor in the first place.

With an awkward smile.

He returned to Su Yao's side and began quietly comforting her.

Jiang Chuan felt a wave of relief. Though he had given up a very precious spot, he had finally settled this favor.

"They're here."

Lu Qingshan, at the front of the group, suddenly rose into the air and cupped his hands toward the distance. "I am Lu Qingshan. Welcome, envoy of Stellar Crown Academy!"

Everyone turned their eyes toward the sky at once. A silver-white flying vessel slowly descended from the clouds.

Its hull was long and slender.

The emblem of Stellar Crown Academy was engraved on both sides.

It was a six-pointed star surrounding an unfurled scroll.

The flying vessel landed steadily in the open space before the city gate.

The hatch opened.

Two figures emerged one after the other.

The one in front was a woman who appeared to be in her early thirties. Her long black hair was coiled behind her head, her features were refined, and she wore thin-framed glasses over the bridge of her nose. The aura she carried inexplicably frightened everyone who had only just left school...

The instant Xu Yinyin saw her, she became excited. She hurried forward and bowed respectfully.

"Dean Shen!"

The woman nodded slightly. Her gaze fell on Xu Yinyin as she looked her over from head to toe. Her brows furrowed faintly before relaxing again.

Following behind was an elderly man in his sixties. He was tall, with silver hair combed back, a ramrod-straight spine, and a black robe. His triangular eyes gleamed sharply.

His brows were tightly furrowed.

His scrutinizing gaze continually swept across the crowd.

The woman stepped forward. Her gaze swept over the crowd, lingering for a moment on Ling Aoshuang before she spoke. "I am Shen Zhiyi, dean of Darkstar Institute at Stellar Crown Academy. Who is Jiang Chuan?"

Jiang Chuan stepped half a pace forward. "I am."

Shen Zhiyi looked at him.

Before she could speak.

The old man behind her spoke first, his voice shrill. "You're the one who killed my grandson?!"

Jiang Chuan frowned. Exchanging a glance with Xu Yinyin, he immediately understood the man's identity.

He was from the Lin Family.

The report Xu Yinyin had submitted to Stellar Crown Academy had clearly explained Lin Yueming's collusion with the Blood Cat race. It was not surprising that the Lin Family had sent someone to investigate in person.

However.

The way he had opened with that question was clearly problematic.

Jiang Chuan gathered his thoughts and replied, "Lin Yueming colluded with an alien race and harmed his fellow students. He deserved to die. That's right, I acted in time and eliminated that scourge. No need to thank me."

"How presumptuous!"

The old man's expression instantly darkened. He released his powerful aura without restraint, even distorting the raindrops falling from the sky.

However.

Jiang Chuan was not affected in the slightest.

He asked curiously, "What? Do you think I'm wrong? Or does your Lin Family already know about Lin Yueming's collusion with an alien race, so you never thought he had done anything wrong?"

Shen Zhiyi immediately looked at Jiang Chuan in surprise. She had not expected the young man before her to be so perceptive.

Lin Tianzheng's question had been nothing but a rhetorical trap.

It had completely avoided the fact that Lin Yueming had colluded with an alien race.

Whether Jiang Chuan answered yes.

Or no.

He would have been led around by the other man's rhetoric.

Yet Jiang Chuan had not only immediately noticed it and avoided stepping into Lin Tianzheng's trap, but had also sharply turned the tables on him with his words.

"Interesting."

Shen Zhiyi swallowed the words she had been about to say, wanting to see just how far Jiang Chuan could go.

Lin Tianzheng immediately flew into a rage. "Arrogant brat! You dare slander my Lin Family for colluding with alien races! My Lin Family has been loyal to the Federation for generations. Countless descendants have died for the nation! With those words alone, I can sentence you to death!"

Jiang Chuan spread his hands innocently. "I never said your Lin Family colluded with alien races. You said that yourself. Also, can you calm down? If you get so angry that you die on the spot, I'm not taking responsibility for that!"