When Lin Mo returned to Nuoding Academy, the sun had already edged westward. It was around three or four in the afternoon.
By Nuoding Academy's custom, afternoons were left free for the students to spend as they pleased.
The academy was much quieter than it had been that morning. Only a scattering of students were out on the grounds, or sitting in twos and threes beneath the trees, chatting and cultivating.
Lin Mo headed straight back to Dorm Seven.
He pushed open the dormitory door and found it considerably quieter than usual.
Most of the others were out. Judging by their usual habits, they had either gone somewhere to cultivate or were busy with their own affairs.
Only a few people remained in the dormitory, and Wang Sheng was one of them.
He was sitting cross-legged on his bed, meditating to cultivate his Soul Power.
Hearing the door open, Wang Sheng instinctively looked up.
When he saw that it was Lin Mo coming in, he froze for a moment before surprise spread across his face. Almost involuntarily, he exclaimed, "Lin Mo? You're back?!"
But Wang Sheng soon keenly noticed a few differences in Lin Mo.
Compared to before, Lin Mo seemed to have grown a little taller, and the contours of his formerly rather childish face now looked slightly more mature.
Most importantly, the fluctuations of Soul Power coming from him had become more solid. That was... the distinctive presence only a true Soul Master possessed.
Wang Sheng sprang off his bed and hurried over to Lin Mo in a few strides. He circled him twice, carefully looking him up and down, his voice filled with envy,
"You... you were gone for so long this time. Did you... did you go to obtain your first Soul Ring?!"
He stared intently at Lin Mo, hoping to find a definite answer on his face.
Seeing Wang Sheng's curious, envious expression, he nodded and calmly admitted, "Yes, you guessed right. I did go to obtain my first Soul Ring."
Although Wang Sheng had already prepared himself for it, hearing Lin Mo admit it himself still made him suck in a breath, an expression of confirmation on his face.
He slapped his thigh hard and marveled, "Well, damn! You really did! I was wondering why you'd suddenly vanished for so long!
"So you'd gone off to do something big without a word!"
As though remembering something, he scratched his head and said, "But... you really kept it under wraps this time. You didn't let a single word slip.
"If I hadn't had such sharp eyes, I really wouldn't have noticed the changes in you."
Wang Sheng was quite understanding of Lin Mo's decision to keep it secret this time.
He lowered his voice a little and jutted his chin toward the other work-study students in the dormitory, saying pointedly, "But that's only natural. If it were me, I'd definitely have kept it secret too.
"After all, last time... heh, we'd barely finished agreeing to keep it secret before someone turned around and spilled the news, until everyone knew. You really ought to take precautions."
Although he named no names, the few people remaining in the dormitory, Lin Mo included, all understood whom he meant.
After that incident, quite a few people in Dorm Seven had changed their opinion of Tang San to some degree.
Hearing Wang Sheng's words, Lin Mo merely smiled noncommittally and did not pursue the subject.
Some things were best left as a tacit understanding. There was no need to bring them out into the open.
"Wang Sheng, do me a favor," Lin Mo said. "Go let everyone else in Dorm Seven know that I'm treating everyone to dinner on the second floor of the dining hall tonight."
At those words, Wang Sheng abruptly snapped out of his cultivation state, his face full of surprise, which quickly turned to excitement.
He thumped his chest hard with a bang and grinned. "You're treating us? That's great! Lin Mo, you rascal, you're finally being generous for once!
"No problem. Leave it to me! I guarantee everyone will hear about it!"
Seeing how excited Wang Sheng was, Lin Mo couldn't help smiling. "All right. Sorry for the trouble. I just collected my allowance, so it's a good chance to have some fun with everyone."
Wang Sheng thumped his chest again and promised, "Don't worry, I'll definitely tell everyone! It's not every day you treat us. Everyone's sure to come!"
Lin Mo nodded and said nothing more.
Although the food on the second floor of Nuoding Academy's dining hall was considerably more expensive than on the first floor, a single Gold Soul Coin still had substantial purchasing power.
It was more than enough to treat the dozen or so people in Dorm Seven to a lavish dinner.
He had a clear plan for his future. He did not intend to remain at Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy until he was twelve, as Tang San and Xiao Wu would.
According to his original plan, once he finished his studies in the second half of the year, he would ask the dean for permission to graduate early.
Staying here would no longer do much to improve his strength.
In a sense, this meal was also an early farewell dinner Lin Mo was hosting to thank everyone in Dorm Seven for looking after him over the better part of the past year.
That evening, on the second floor of the academy's dining hall.
Compared with the bustle and crowds on the first floor, the second floor was much quieter, and its tables and chairs were cleaner and tidier.
Lin Mo arrived early and chose a large round table big enough to seat more than a dozen people.
Not long after he sat down, the work-study students from Dorm Seven began arriving on the second floor in succession, led by Wang Sheng.
Xiao Wu took the lead, skipping over to the table. Without standing on ceremony, she pulled out a chair and sat down, her large eyes curiously surveying the second floor,
"Wow, the second floor really does look nicer than the first! Lin Mo, we're really making you spend today!"
The other work-study students also took their seats, all wearing excited, expectant smiles.
For work-study students like them, simply getting enough to eat on the first floor was usually good enough. Only Tang San and Xiao Wu, who had already become Soul Masters, could come to the second floor often.
Lin Mo smiled and greeted everyone. "Sit down, everyone. Don't stand on ceremony. Order whatever you want."
His gaze swept over those present, but he felt a little surprised.
Wang Sheng had clearly noticed the surprise in Lin Mo's eyes as well. Scratching his head, he leaned close to Lin Mo and lowered his voice.
"Lin Mo, about Tang San... when I went to find him, he said he had to study with Grandmaster tonight and really couldn't get away, so he won't be coming."
At those words, the lively atmosphere at the table briefly faltered.
He was not surprised by this. After the news of his Martial Soul hatching had been leaked last time, Tang San's image in the eyes of everyone in Dorm Seven had indeed taken a serious blow.
Soon, someone at the table bluntly muttered, "Studying? If you ask me, someone's probably too embarrassed to show his face!
"After all, he promised so readily to keep it secret last time, only to turn around and spill the news..."
Although no names were mentioned, everyone present knew who was being discussed, and the atmosphere grew a little delicate for a moment.