A young heart stirred

For the first time since fleeing the Zhu Family and wandering alone, Zhu Zhuqing truly felt at ease, secure, and warm.

There were no schemes, no conflicts, no coercion—only pure kindness and care. Much of the gloom that had weighed on her heart for so long quietly dispersed at that moment.

Meanwhile, Lin Chen returned to his dorm room and leaned back against the door. He raised a hand and gently patted his slightly burning cheeks, his heart filled with frustration and confusion.

He murmured to himself:

"This is ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. Counting my past life and this one, I've lived for over thirty years. My heart should have long been as still as water, so why did it suddenly start racing today? I actually blushed and felt my heart flutter... Has spring arrived, stirring people's hearts along with it?"

He was utterly baffled. He simply could not understand why the composure he had maintained for so many years had completely crumbled the instant he saw Zhu Zhuqing thank him so gently.

After a quick wash, Lin Chen lay down on his soft bed. His previously exhausted body and mind were now wide awake, without the slightest trace of sleepiness.

He closed his eyes, but Zhu Zhuqing's image kept resurfacing uncontrollably in his mind.

Her cool, stunning face, the gentle look in her eyes as she thanked him, the faint upward curve of her lips—each image appeared with perfect clarity and refused to fade.

He tossed and turned, rolling over again and again, his thoughts in turmoil. For a long time, he could not calm down.

Despite having endured trials of life and death and possessing a temperament far beyond ordinary people's, he was now like an innocent youth, his mind thrown into disarray by the sudden fluttering in his heart.

Time quietly slipped by. Outside the window, the night deepened, with the moon and stars suspended overhead.

After a long stretch of tossing and turning, overwhelming exhaustion finally swept through him. Unable to hold out any longer, Lin Chen sank into a deep sleep.

The next morning, dawn broke, and the gentle morning sun pierced the clouds, spilling over the entire Suotuo City Intermediate Spirit Hall Academy. Golden light passed through the dormitory window and spread softly across the bed, dispelling the lingering chill of the night and illuminating the room's simple, tidy furnishings.

After a night of sound slumber, the academy and its surroundings had completely shed the stillness of the late hours. Students who had risen early to cultivate were everywhere, the soft sounds of circulating soul power mingling with footsteps and conversation, brimming with youthful vitality.

Lin Chen was resting deeply, his body and mind completely relaxed. All the turbulent thoughts that had kept him tossing and turning last night had settled, allowing him a rare, peaceful sleep. Just as he lay immersed in slumber, a series of gentle, steady knocks sounded outside his door, breaking the dorm room's silence.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The knocking was neither too loud nor too soft, gentle and restrained, with a hint of caution. Whoever stood outside was clearly afraid of disturbing his rest.

Lin Chen woke instantly from his deep sleep, his awareness snapping into focus.

Having endured countless trials of life and death, his perception had long surpassed that of ordinary people. Even in deep sleep, he remained extraordinarily sensitive to any movement around him.

In that fleeting moment of drowsiness, he instinctively circulated the concentrated soul power within his body.

Warm, gentle soul power instantly flowed through his limbs and bones, sweeping away every remnant of sleepiness like a fresh breeze.

He became alert and refreshed at once, his eyes clear, without the slightest trace of morning sluggishness or fatigue.

Lin Chen quickly got up, walked to the door, and gently pulled it open.

The moment the door opened, a cool, slender figure came into view.

Zhu Zhuqing stood quietly outside. A simple, plain-colored combat outfit fitted her figure, and her long black hair had been combed smooth and neatly tied behind her head, revealing her delicate features and slender, fair neck.

After a peaceful night's rest, she had fully returned to peak condition. Her aura was steady and concentrated, her eyes bright and clear.

Her cool bearing stood out all the more. Standing in the morning light, she resembled a secluded orchid beneath the moon, pure and untouched by worldly dust.

Seeing Lin Chen open the door, Zhu Zhuqing lifted her eyes slightly. Her voice was soft and quiet, carrying a hint of uncertainty:

"Lin Chen, I thought I'd visit Teacher Mo Yuan early to formally thank him, become his disciple, and settle my enrollment. Did I disturb your rest by knocking at this hour?"

Lin Chen hurriedly waved a hand, his expression warm and natural as he spoke with feigned composure:

"Not at all. I was just about to get up and wash, then go see Teacher once I was ready. You came at just the right time. Give me a moment. I'll be ready right away."

With that, he said no more and turned, walking briskly back into his room.

His movements were crisp and efficient. He swiftly washed, straightened his clothes, and tidied his appearance. Within just a few breaths, he was ready, refreshed and full of energy.

"Let's go. I'll take you to see Teacher."

Lin Chen stepped out and gently closed the door behind him. He gestured warmly to Zhu Zhuqing, then took the lead toward the separate little courtyard where Mo Yuan lived.

Zhu Zhuqing silently followed, and the two walked side by side through the academy's corridors and between its buildings.

The academy was especially lively that morning. Early-rising students walked together in twos and threes, heading either to the training grounds for morning practice or to the dining hall for breakfast.

When passing students spotted the pair walking side by side, their gazes were instantly drawn to Zhu Zhuqing's cool bearing and stunning beauty. They stopped and turned to look, their eyes filled with curiosity and admiration.

"Hey, isn't that Lin Chen? Who's that gorgeous girl beside him? She's way too pretty!"

"I've never seen her at the academy before. Is she a new student? Could she be Lin Chen's girlfriend? They look so good together!"

"No wonder Senior Lin Chen's been single all this time. His standards were just too high! Those looks, that bearing—she's incredible!"

Snatches of conversation continuously reached their ears, while the teasing, curious gazes of the surrounding students kept falling on them.

Faced with everyone's teasing and speculation, Lin Chen, who had long grown accustomed to the academy's lively atmosphere, remained composed. He answered calmly, his voice carrying clearly:

"Don't jump to conclusions. This is Teacher Mo Yuan's new personal disciple, my new junior sister, Zhu Zhuqing."

That simple introduction clearly established their relationship and dispelled everyone's gossip-fueled speculation.

Yet even after learning that she was his junior sister, the surrounding students still let out a teasing "Ohhh—" in unison. Their drawn-out voices were full of mischief, instantly lending the air a hint of romantic ambiguity.

Lin Chen felt rather helpless, afraid that their teasing would make the cool, reserved Zhu Zhuqing feel awkward and uncomfortable.

Instinctively, he reached out and took Zhu Zhuqing by the wrist. Quickening his pace slightly, he led her away from the crowd of teasing onlookers and hurried toward Mo Yuan's courtyard.

They walked briskly the entire way and soon left the noisy crowd behind, arriving outside the quiet little courtyard where Mo Yuan lived alone.

Just as he was about to enter the courtyard, Lin Chen abruptly stopped, a flicker of panic rising in his heart.

Only then did he suddenly realize that he had been holding Zhu Zhuqing's wrist tightly ever since they were among the crowd, never once letting go along the way.

Beneath his palm, the girl's wrist was slender and soft, her skin smooth and delicate. It felt wonderfully pleasant to the touch, its slight coolness transmitting clearly into his hand.

By now, a faint blush had already spread across Zhu Zhuqing's cool face.

The tips of her fair ears had turned slightly red. Her eyes were lowered, her long lashes trembling gently. A touch of girlish shyness and awkwardness had softened her cool bearing, making her look all the more gentle and captivating.

Clearly, being led along like this by someone of the opposite sex had left her shy and distinctly uncomfortable. She had always been aloof and withdrawn, rarely allowing herself to grow close to anyone.

Sensing the subtle romantic tension in the air, Lin Chen's heart tightened. He hurriedly loosened his grip, the roots of his ears instantly burning as he scrambled to explain, at a loss for what to do:

"Sorry, sorry! I got carried away because I was afraid everyone's teasing would embarrass you, so I grabbed you and hurried over without thinking. I really didn't mean to overstep. Please don't get the wrong idea."

He spoke extremely quickly, a trace of panic in his voice as he tried to conceal his embarrassment.