Moonlight lay like water, frozen between the two of them.
At the second-floor library window, Ling Feng's entire body tensed, Soul Power surging beneath the surface as he stared fixedly at the figure beneath the tree.
The person slowly stepped fully out of the shadows.
Moonlight illuminated his face.
His features were ordinary, yet carried a composure and calm beyond his years.
It was none other than Tang San!
Ling Feng's heart abruptly tightened.
It's him?
Why is he here?
How much did he see?
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind like lightning striking flint.
Tang San stood beneath the tree, looking up, his gaze equally sharp, filled with intense scrutiny and a barely perceptible trace of wariness.
One above and one below, the two stared at each other across the distance.
The air seemed to freeze, leaving only the faint whimper of the night wind through the leaves.
Ling Feng's mind raced.
I can't panic.
At a time like this, I need to stay all the calmer.
He drew a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his turbulent thoughts, and showed just the right hint of surprise and confusion as he lowered his voice. "Tang San? What are you doing here?"
He neither chose to flee immediately nor fired back an aggressive question.
His reaction was more like that of an ordinary student caught unexpectedly, somewhat embarrassed but forcing himself to remain composed.
Tang San's gaze lingered on his face for a moment, as though trying to find a flaw.
He was silent for several seconds before speaking, his voice steady but carrying weight. "I couldn't sleep, so I came out to cultivate. I saw someone climb into the library and followed to take a look."
His explanation was perfectly reasonable.
For a Tang Sect disciple, cultivating at night was as commonplace as a daily meal.
Ling Feng felt slightly reassured. At least the other party had not started with swords drawn and bows bent.
He followed the lead, showing a trace of embarrassment at being "caught red-handed," and scratched his head. "Uh... I couldn't sleep either, so I thought I'd find some books to read. I didn't expect the door to be locked, so..."
He left the sentence unfinished, but his meaning was obvious.
Tang San's gaze swept over Ling Feng's empty hands before returning to his face, his tone utterly level. "Did you find the books you wanted?"
The question seemed casual, but concealed a sharp edge.
Ling Feng sneered inwardly, yet betrayed nothing as he sighed. "It was pitch-black. I couldn't find anything. I was just about to head back."
He deftly avoided the specific question of whether he had taken any books, emphasizing only the result.
Their exchange seemed ordinary, yet beneath the moonlight, they were engaged in a silent contest.
Tang San's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
He was certain he had vaguely seen what seemed to be something thick and heavy in the hands of the figure at the window, but the light had been too dim to make it out clearly.
Now the other party's hands were empty. Had his eyes deceived him?
Or... does he have a Storage Soul Tool?
The thought made his heart skip.
A work-study student with a Storage Soul Tool?
Is that possible?
Looking at Ling Feng's face, which appeared especially calm beneath the moonlight, he kept feeling that this boy his own age was shrouded in mist.
Innate Full Soul Power.
Refusing to become Grandmaster's disciple.
Appearing mysteriously in the library late at night.
Every detail was unusual.
"Ling Feng," Tang San suddenly said, his tone still steady, but carrying a seriousness that allowed no evasion, "you seem to... have a lot of secrets."
He finally stopped circling around the issue and chose to probe with a direct thrust.
Alarm bells rang in Ling Feng's mind, but his expression only grew more helpless. "Who doesn't have a few little secrets? Aren't you the same?"
He lightly tossed the question back, his gaze sweeping pointedly over Tang San's hands.
Those hands had evenly proportioned joints and looked ordinary, but Ling Feng knew just how exquisitely they could wield Hidden Weapons.
Tang San's gaze sharpened slightly.
The other party's words seemed to carry a deeper meaning.
He instinctively stilled the minute movements of his fingers.
The two fell into another brief silence.
An invisible atmosphere of mutual distrust spread through the air.
Suddenly, Tang San took an unobtrusive step, his figure blurring in an instant as he slipped soundlessly toward the library wall like a phantom. He actually intended to come straight up!
He had already secretly activated Mysterious Jade Hand.
He had decided to test him at close range!
Ling Feng's pupils contracted.
What a fast movement technique!
Is this Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track?
Seeing Tang San about to propel himself up the wall, a cold gleam flashed in Ling Feng's eyes.
I can't let him up!
I absolutely can't let him examine the inside of the library!
Although he most likely would not discover anything, the risk had to be eliminated.
Just as Tang San was on the verge of rising, Ling Feng moved!
Instead of dodging, he drove his right foot hard against the windowsill and pounced downward like a hunting leopard!
His right hand loosely clenched, the Chaotic Cloak force-generation technique he had just comprehended and had long been itching to unleash erupted within him, driving his arm into a straight punch devoid of flourishes yet packed with terrifying force, smashing toward Tang San's shoulder!
Striking from above, harnessing his momentum!
The punch seemed simple, yet contained the weight and dominance of the Chaotic Cloak's opening move!
The wind of his fist howled, actually producing a dull sound as it tore through the air!
Tang San's expression changed drastically!
He had never expected the other party not only to stand his ground, but to seize the initiative so decisively with such a fierce counterattack!
Caught off guard, he sharply shifted his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track footwork, twisting aside as though his body had no bones while raising his Mysterious Jade Hand across his body to meet that heavy punch!
Thump!
A dull impact rang out!
Fist met palm!
Tang San felt a force as heavy as a mountain, yet carrying a strange vibrating power, slam into him!
Even his tough palms, tempered through cultivating Mysterious Jade Hand, ached and tingled!
His body involuntarily staggered back three steps-thud, thud, thud-before he barely managed to dissipate the impact, crushing a fallen leaf underfoot.
He abruptly raised his head, his eyes full of shock!
What incredible strength!
What a strange way of generating force!
This definitely isn't the strength or technique an ordinary rank-eleven Soul Master should possess!
Using the recoil from his punch, Ling Feng flipped nimbly through the air and landed steadily on the ground, facing Tang San from several meters away.
He shook out his wrist, a trace of an "as expected" expression appearing on his face. Looking into Tang San's eyes, now filled with intense gravity and scrutiny, he suddenly spoke.
His tone was flat, yet like a pebble dropped into a still lake.
"Your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul," Ling Feng's gaze swept over Tang San's right hand, "seems... exceptionally tough?"
Boom!
Those words exploded like thunder in Tang San's mind!
He jerked his head up, his pupils contracting sharply, and for the first time, undisguisable horror and startled suspicion appeared on his face!
The properties of Blue Silver Grass were an absolute secret that he and his teacher had only recently confirmed through research!
Apart from his teacher, no third person knew!
This person!
How does he know?!
How could he possibly see through it at a glance?!
Tang San stared fixedly at Ling Feng. All his earlier probing, conjectures, and suspicions turned into towering waves at that moment, battering his understanding.
This person...
Does he seem to know something?
Who exactly is he?!