Three-Headed Wolf Crest

Of course, Qingyang had not expected Lin Jun to figure anything out in a single afternoon. He had asked only to make sure Lin Jun harbored no illusions, to show that he had been watching him all along.

What Qingyang had not expected, however, was that Lin Jun truly began poring over the martial art manual.

"Senior, there are a few things here I do not understand..."

Lin Jun had cultivated this technique to mastery, yet his realm was still not high enough. Naturally, there were many parts of the martial art he did not understand. Since Qingyang was willing, he naturally had to ask.

"Oh? Let me hear them?"

He wanted to see what trick Lin Jun was playing. What could he possibly have figured out in just one afternoon? In Qingyang's eyes, Lin Jun was surely trying to fob him off again.

"Well, regarding the meridians within the body..."

He could not understand it. He could not understand any of it.

Qingyang was somewhat dumbfounded. Every word Lin Jun said was familiar to him, but why did he not understand a single thing once those words were put together?

Was he talking nonsense?

No. Some of the questions Lin Jun asked had even been pointed out to him by his master.

Why?

Qingyang's head buzzed. This was not right. Why did I not understand any of the questions he asked?

And some of those problems were things he had encountered himself, things he had not been able to figure out either.

How did he know?

Surely he could not have comprehended them in one afternoon?

He looked toward Yang Shi, then quickly shook his head. He knew Yang Shi's abilities well enough.

"Senior?"

Faced with Lin Jun's question, Qingyang coughed awkwardly twice.

"Um... I'll explain it to you tomorrow."

Qingyang slipped shamefacedly into the Demon Affairs Prefecture.

He could hardly tell Lin Jun that he did not understand it himself.

That would be far too embarrassing.

Qingyang silently took out the One-Character Yang Strike manual again. It was densely covered in annotations, all left to him by his master.

To answer Lin Jun's questions, he began studying through the night.

By the next morning, Qingyang had finally grasped the crux of Lin Jun's questions and let out a relieved breath.

Now he could finally answer Lin Jun's doubts. His dignity was saved.

With that thought, he confidently opened his door and walked into the courtyard.

At that moment, several people he did not recognize were standing in the courtyard, talking with Lin Jun.

They were probably some new drinking-and-dog friends this fellow had made here.

Thinking this, Qingyang called out loudly to Lin Jun.

"Come here. I'll tell you what yesterday's questions were about."

Upon hearing his voice, the people talking with Lin Jun immediately looked over.

Qingyang felt that the two seemed somewhat familiar, but he did not think much of it.

Lin Jun helplessly shook his head, apologized to Duan Yan and Li Gui, then headed toward Qingyang.

"Listen carefully. Remember this, then go back and ponder it properly..."

Qingyang spoke very earnestly. As though afraid Lin Jun would not remember, he deliberately spoke slowly. Throughout, he kept watching Lin Jun's reaction. When he saw that Lin Jun had not lost focus, he nodded in satisfaction.

It seemed this fellow had indeed improved somewhat over the past three years. At the very least, he was willing to seriously listen to others now.

"I'm finished. Did you remember it?"

Qingyang closed the martial art manual and asked.

"I remembered it. Thank you, Senior."

Seeing that Lin Jun actually knew to give thanks, Qingyang's mood immediately brightened.

"You must know: what comes from paper always feels shallow; to truly understand a matter, one must practice it oneself. With martial arts, what your mind remembers will never be as good as what your body remembers. Try attacking me with what I just taught you."

He genuinely had a favorable impression of Lin Jun now and could not help wanting to make him better.

Lin Jun was somewhat surprised and hesitated.

"Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

"What could be inappropriate about it? Rest assured, I'll control my strength and won't hurt you in return. There's no need to be afraid."

"Pfft."

The moment Qingyang finished speaking, he heard a stifled laugh.

He looked toward the sound in confusion. Li Gui was covering his mouth, trying not to laugh.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing. I just remembered something amusing. Please continue."

The scene reminded Li Gui of the first time he had met Lin Jun. How astonishingly similar it was.

"My lord, go easy on him. Brother Lin cannot withstand your tossing about."

He could not be the only one getting hurt. Li Gui immediately decided to drag Qingyang into the water.

"Of course I will."

Though Qingyang was puzzled, he did not think much of it.

"Pfft."

The veins on Qingyang's forehead bulged as he glared toward the source of the sound.

Over there, Duan Yan could not hold it in either and covered her mouth as she laughed.

"What? Did you also remember something amusing?"

Faced with Qingyang's questioning, Duan Yan honestly nodded.

What kind of people were these?!

Qingyang decided to ignore them. Turning back, he fixed his eyes on Lin Jun.

"Attack me. I'll teach you how to bring out this martial art's power."

Seeing Qingyang had made up his mind, Lin Jun slowly raised his fist.

"In that case, Senior, be careful."

"Come."

Qingyang began carefully observing Lin Jun's stance. He started analyzing the mistakes Lin Jun made while executing the martial art, so he could correct them.

Yet Qingyang soon realized something was wrong. He could not find a single mistake in Lin Jun's movements.

That fluidity, those movements as natural as using one's own hand—it was as though Lin Jun were an old master who had immersed himself in this martial art for decades.

How could this be?

Before Qingyang could think further, alarm bells rang atop his head. His hairs stood on end, and his body instinctively rolled aside like a donkey.

Boom!

Lin Jun's body appeared beside him. His scarlet fist, like forged steel, rubbed against the air and directly produced a sonic boom.

A sudden gale swept through the entire courtyard. Dust from the ground and leaves from the trees were all blown away by the abrupt windstorm, in the direction Lin Jun had thrown his punch.

Qingyang could not help swallowing.

If he had not dodged in time just now, if that punch had landed on his head...

Qingyang shuddered.

Just then, someone knocked on the gates of the Demon Affairs Prefecture.

"Is Lin Jun here?!"

"Coming, coming."

Duan Yan ran all the way over. On the way, she did not forget to make a face at Qingyang, who was crouched on the ground, before opening the gate.

Outside stood a soldier in black armor trimmed with gilded edges, around forty years old. He held a helmet in one hand and a bloodstained cold blade in the other. His face betrayed neither joy nor anger.

Only one thing left a deep impression: he had only one right eye.

"Where is Demon Exorcist Lin Jun?"

Duan Yan pointed at Lin Jun, who was approaching.

Upon seeing Lin Jun, the soldier forcibly squeezed a smile onto his stiff face. It was enough to make children cry at night.

"I am Wang Zhong, Third Seat Lieutenant General of the Vanguard Division. A pleasure to meet you."

"I am Demon Exorcist Lin Jun. A pleasure to meet you."

Wang Zhong did not exchange pleasantries and went straight to the point.

"Demon Exorcist Lin Jun, you slew one Half-Step Boundary Breach Fox Demon, one Origin Transformation Snake Demon, and two Origin Transformation Tiger Demons..."

Wang Zhong took out a slip of paper and actually read aloud, one by one, every Demon Lin Jun had slain since arriving in Green Forest County.

At last, Wang Zhong finished reading. A trace of admiration appeared in his gaze as he looked at Lin Jun.

"The younger generation inspires awe; your future is boundless. The Demon Exorcism Bureau has always rewarded merit, and your achievements are enough to be entered into the register."

Wang Zhong took out a token.

"With this token as proof, your merits can be verified. You may exchange it at the Demon Exorcism Bureau for a Three-Headed Wolf Crest Token."

Three-Headed Wolf Crest!!!

Duan Yan, standing nearby, was completely dumbfounded.

Going straight from an unaffiliated Demon Exorcist to the Three-Headed Wolf Crest by skipping ranks—this was not how rank-skipping was supposed to work.