C18 The Dispute!
The door swung open once again, drawing the attention of the three individuals inside the room to a sudden focal point. The atmosphere was rife with awkwardness. A girl stood at the threshold—it was Fatty's girlfriend.
Inside the classroom, Lin Yi and Nuo Juan were seated closely together, with Nuo Juan holding Lin Yi's hand in a display of affection that could only be described as intimate.
The girl at the door blinked, breaking the silence with a hint of humor. "Maybe I should step out for a bit? You two carry on?"
"Uh, no, it's not what it looks like..." Lin Yi stammered, feeling as though he'd been caught in a compromising situation and wishing he could just vanish into thin air.
Nuo Juan, however, seemed far more at ease. "Ah, there's no need! Sister Zhong Qing, you're here early! Please, come join us," she said, releasing Lin Yi's hand and rising to welcome her friend.
...
"Master! The exploration team has returned," announced a soldier clad in armor, kneeling in a room that exuded a sense of gravity.
The man seated before him, dressed in casual attire and of common appearance, was Zhong Wuyan. He paused, his brush hovering mid-air.
"Summon them," he commanded.
"Yes, Master," the soldier replied, bowing his head and withdrawing.
Soon after, a man and a woman entered the room.
"Master!" they greeted in unison.
Zhong Wuyan nodded, setting aside his brush to address them. "Rise."
They stood, their respect evident in their posture.
"What's the situation?" he inquired.
The young man, clad in green armor, stepped forward. "The details are murky, but the spirit animals in the Red Leaf Forest have been unusually agitated of late."
"And yet, there's been no activity from the northern factions," the woman added.
Zhong Wuyan's brow furrowed at the news. "This complicates matters..."
"Sir, should we notify the others?" one asked.
"No need. Those old timers likely know more than we do," Zhong Wuyan replied, returning to his writing. "You're dismissed for now."
"Yes, Master," they responded, preparing to leave.
But just as they turned to go, Zhong Wuyan halted them. "Wait a moment!" He looked at the young man in green armor. "Mo Li, continue to lead the exploration team and keep a close watch on the spirit animals' behavior."
"Yes!"
"Snow Treading, you're in charge of the patrol team now. Keep a close watch on those people in the city for me."
"Yes!"
"That's all! You may go about your business."
"Yes!" "Yes!"
...
Once the two had departed, Zhong Wuyan gazed out the window, lost in thought.
"What a season of change this is. All I want is to live out my years in tranquility, yet why must these jesters insist on disturbing my peaceful slumber..."
...
Meanwhile, in a different location.
Two mysterious figures clad in black robes were seated together, apparently embroiled in an argument.
"Old ghost Nuo! What are you implying?" The taller of the two in the black robe stood up.
The other quickly followed suit, steadying his shoulder, "Dingtian, please, no anger ~"
"Humph!" Lin Dingtian showed no inclination to sit back down.
"Oh dear! Dingtian, hear me out... My apologies, let me explain."
Nuo Shicheng had intended to crack a joke to ease the tension, but Lin Dingtian's stern expression frightened him into correcting himself promptly.
"Dingtian, try to understand. We're short-staffed everywhere, and we simply can't spare anyone else from that side. We have no choice."
"Nonsense! Isn't that Chokburgh lad always so full of bravado? Didn't he claim he could handle it all by himself? Why then does he cower when it matters most!"
Unable to contain his fury, Lin Dingtian unleashed a powerful surge of energy from his being.
"Wow! Dingtian, you've grown stronger again." Nuo Shicheng, astonished, observed the furniture scattered by the blast of energy.
Lin Dingtian remained silent, his expression grave.
"Look, the situation isn't as dire as it seems." Nuo Shicheng gauged Lin Dingtian's mood and, while speaking, produced a box from his pocket.
The moment the box was opened, both men's attention was drawn to the two objects inside.
Lin Dingtian's face softened.
"See, it's not all bad." Nuo Shicheng gave a nonchalant shrug and put away the box.
Lin Dingtian let out a sigh, his demeanor softening, "They were all heroes, but in the end, they can't even enjoy their twilight years in peace."
Nuo Shicheng remained silent, not daring to respond.
Lin Dingtian continued unabated, "Those bastards! It was the same back then, and now, nothing has changed."
He glanced toward Chokburgh as he spoke.
"The truth is, even though nobody has talked about the past, I've never forgotten... I remember how cowardly I was, and it's always bothered me. Every time I think of that general, I wish I could have given my life for him... Do you understand?"
"Dingtian..."
"Enough of that, I need to get going." Lin Dingtian picked up the mask from the table and headed for the door.
"Oh, and don't forget to apply for a few for me. This time... I refuse to be a coward again!"
With those words, Lin Dingtian departed, mask in hand.
"Dingtian..."
Nuo Shicheng stood frozen, staring at the spot for a long while...
...
Back in the classroom, Hai Dafu, the Fatty, gazed at the indecipherable text on the blackboard and yawned out of sheer boredom.
"Yi, I'm so bored!"
Lin Yi, seated upright at his desk, was attentively listening to the lecture and jotting down notes. Without turning his head, he replied,
"All of this will be on the joint examination, and it's only two months away."
The joint examination consisted of four parts: the literacy test, physical test, combat test, and the additional test.
The first three were mandatory, while the additional test, which assessed one's Familiar, was optional. However, for most prestigious schools, this test was of significant importance.
"Ah! My head is killing me! Enough already!"
Fatty clutched his head in frustration.
I can't seem to retain any of this. What am I going to do? You're really putting me, the Fatty, in a tight spot.
Lin Yi glanced at Fatty, who was still visibly distressed, and offered some consolation, "Don't worry. You can still take the additional test. Even though not many top schools might accept you, you can always consider the military academy. Serving your country has its own appeal, and it's quite an honorable path."
"Are you referring to the Alliance Army that combats the Otherkin?" Fatty asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Before Lin Yi could respond, the chair in front of Fatty abruptly scooted up to his desk.
"Hey, hey! Fatty, what are you daydreaming about now?" interjected Zhong Qin. She was somewhat bored, not because she couldn't grasp the topic, but because she found it too elementary and uninteresting.
Lin Yi nodded in agreement and added, "The Alliance Army is permanently stationed along the border. I've heard that the bare minimum to enlist is the strength of a gold-tier. If you were to join, you'd likely end up as nothing more than cannon fodder..."
