When Qin An left the hall, the Evil Extermination Division members who had come for the selection were still waiting outside.
The moment Qin An emerged, everyone turned to look at him. Curiosity showed on every face, and some wore expressions of open resentment.
Everything Qin An had done in the hall had gone against convention. Those who resented him believed he had simply gotten lucky to end up where he was today.
So their gazes held not just resentment, but a hint of challenge.
Qin An felt their eyes on him as he stepped out. When he saw the resentment in some of them, his fingertips brushed the hilt of Cold Star.
There was still a third hurdle.
He had cleared the first two, but the third stood right before him.
He had to carve out a fearsome reputation in this Imperial Capital, where prodigies gathered like clouds. Otherwise, he would fall from grace in one swift plunge.
He said nothing, thinking instead about how to clear that third hurdle.
Yu Feng approached and glanced curiously at the hall. Then he leaned close to Qin An and lowered his voice. "My lord, we can discuss everything when we get back. We shouldn't linger here."
Yu Feng had accompanied Qin An with a clear purpose: following the Chief Circuit Marshal's wishes, he was to help Qin An during this visit to the Imperial Capital.
But throughout the journey, Yu Feng had not been able to help at all.
So he had adjusted his expectations.
Even if he could not help Qin An directly, being available when Qin An needed a hand would still be worthwhile.
That was why he promptly reminded Qin An that this was no place to linger.
Qin An came back to himself and nodded. "All right.