Chapter Twenty-Five: Truth Revealed Through the Trial of Combat

"We’re fans of Moonshadow, you’re the one who’s brainless…”

“That was clearly an attack just now, how can they just let it go? Anyone with eyes can see that.”

“No wonder Princess Moon wanted to beat him up, he deserved it…”

…

The commotion just now had diverted everyone’s attention, but now Li Daoze, seizing on Lin Qingyun’s words, once again turned the focus, provoking the Moonshadow fans anew.

Lu Hang frowned, his gaze turning displeased toward Lin Qingyun, while an even colder, more irritated glare swept over Li Daoze. He had no tolerance for anyone who created trouble and chaos. Before Lu Hang could intervene to stop them and resolve the matter, Lin Qingyun spoke first.

“Beat me? You’ll need the ability for that. If you really have the skill, I’ll accept your challenge anytime.” Facing the so-called wrath of the crowd, Lin Qingyun was utterly unafraid.

His words only fueled the uproar.

Standing behind Lin Qingyun, Chao-ge and Chu Qing no longer looked worried; instead, their eyes were full of thoughtful contemplation.

The others might not understand the situation, but they had experienced it firsthand. Li Daoze’s provocation and the resulting anger had been sudden, but now they had regained their composure. Since the incident with Nangong Lingyue was something Lin Qingyun had orchestrated himself, could he really not have foreseen today’s outcome? Clearly, Lin Qingyun had anticipated this, and now, as he spoke, they wondered what his true purpose was.

While they pondered his motives, Li Daoze inwardly rejoiced. The more arrogant Lin Qingyun acted, the better. Even if the Enforcement Squad couldn’t do anything to him today, he’d become everyone’s target from now on. Once word spread, someone would surely deal with him in the future.

“How arrogant! You think reaching the Heartstring Realm before enrollment makes you invincible? I’ve already formed my Foundation!”

“Kid, you’re too cocky. We’re Moonshadow fans, and we’re all juniors already…”

“So what if your family’s pharmaceutical group had the resources to push you to the Heartstring Realm early? I’ll soon surpass you after enrollment.”

“Lin Qingyun, you’re just from the Alchemy Department. I’m in the Battle Arts Department—let’s find a chance for a fair duel.”

…

If previously, only Li Daoze was the main instigator against Lin Qingyun, now his words had provoked widespread resentment, drawing the ire of many freshmen and even some upperclassmen who had gathered around.

Especially the new students from the Battle Arts Department, who had crowded in, were instantly dissatisfied with such arrogance.

For a high school, there weren’t many who could reach the Heartstring Foundation Realm before university, but at Haicheng University, which recruited nationwide, every admitted student was one in ten thousand. There were not a few Heartstring Foundation students who were one in a hundred thousand.

The Battle Arts Department had even more, and their combat power was stronger.

And this was just among the freshmen—not to mention that Lin Qingyun’s words had already made many sophomores and juniors eager to teach him a lesson.

“Enough…” Lu Hang hadn’t expected that things would take such a turn even after he stepped in, and seeing the situation escalate, he knew he couldn’t let it continue and prepared to intervene decisively.

“So you’re Moonshadow fans, huh? And Li Daoze, all you bottom feeders want a shot at me? I’ll give you that chance. I hear there’s a real combat assessment for freshmen in a month. As an intern researcher at the Alchemy Institute, I wouldn’t normally need to participate. But I’ll give you all this opportunity.”

“Captain Lu is here today, so we’ll follow campus rules. But since you’re so eager, let’s settle this during the combat assessment. I hope none of you back out then.”

Lin Qingyun was even faster than Lu Hang, and his timing made it seem as if Lu Hang was clearing the field for him.

Of course, Lin Qingyun had deliberately mentioned Lu Hang, but no matter how it sounded, it made Lu Hang uncomfortable.

How Lu Hang felt was none of Lin Qingyun's concern, just as he had no interest in the reactions of others. He had wanted to find a way to join the freshman trial anyway, and now he could simply announce it. As for making enemies of these freshmen, Lin Qingyun didn’t care in the slightest. Others only knew he was at the Heartstring Foundation Realm, but how could they possibly know he’d already broken through to the seventh level?

Even the most outstanding new students at Haicheng University—geniuses like Nangong Lingyue, those with special opportunities, family or sect backgrounds, or even those specially cultivated by the state—could at best reach the fifth or sixth level.

That was already the ceiling for freshmen, surpassing most juniors and even seniors.

Not to mention that Lin Qingyun had once possessed the mindset and experience of a supreme powerhouse; at the same level, there was virtually no way for anyone to defeat him. The threats from the other freshmen meant nothing to him.

Having achieved his goal, Lin Qingyun left with Chao-ge and Chu Qing without another word.

Although the crowd erupted again, wherever he passed, a path automatically cleared for him.

“So he’s really joining the freshman combat trial…” In the back, Zheng Haoyue, who had been watching from the crowd, muttered to herself.

“So arrogant, far too arrogant! I have to reach the Heartstring Foundation Realm soon, just wait and see how I’ll deal with him during the trial…” Li Daoze half-growled, half-whispered, both venting his true feelings and saying it loud enough for others to hear, hoping to rally more enemies for Lin Qingyun.

If Lin Qingyun really dared to participate in the trial a month later, most freshmen would be against him.

“Lin… Qingyun…” Lu Hang watched Lin Qingyun leave, full of confusion. Other freshmen might not sense anything, and even those who had formed their Foundation were only at the first or second level at best—there was no way they could notice. But Lu Hang was different. He’d just tried to suppress Lin Qingyun with a burst of pressure, but the other responded without flinching. That wasn’t something someone newly at the Heartstring Realm could do. Yet, he’d never heard of Lin Qingyun on the Huaxia Genius Rankings…

“Whew…” After following Lin Qingyun out of the crowd and into the Alchemy Department, Chao-ge and Chu Qing both exhaled deeply.

That oppressive atmosphere had been so overwhelming that even just standing by Lin Qingyun’s side had nearly suffocated them.

“Chao-ge… I think I’ll stay with you and join Professor Qian’s research institute…” Chu Qing said quietly.

Chao-ge nodded repeatedly. After this incident, they both felt surrounded by enemies among the freshmen.

“Those stirred up by Li Daoze are all Nangong Lingyue’s brainless fans. Don’t worry too much. Still, joining Professor Qian’s institute is a good idea—I’ll feel more at ease, too. I’ll be working more closely with Professor Qian soon; he’s likely to become an Alchemy Master before long. If you need anything, just go to him. I have to handle some equity transfer paperwork, so I won’t be staying with you.”

Although Lin Qingyun didn’t think any trouble would reach Chao-ge and Chu Qing, he still reassured them and gave them some protection.

As they spoke, they’d already reached the top-floor helipad of the Alchemy Department.

“Oh, right, Chu Qing, don’t forget to ask for your reward—just tell Zhang Baole that it was all your doing, and don’t be polite about it.” Before boarding the aircar, Lin Qingyun reminded Chu Qing with a grin.

Chu Qing nodded vigorously in understanding. As she watched Lin Qingyun leave in the aircar, her heart was in turmoil.

These past few days had broadened her horizons immensely; she’d transformed from an outstanding but ordinary high school graduate into something much more.

In today’s era of hyperactive social media, everything that happened at Haicheng University was known worldwide almost instantly. Among young people, it was all anyone talked about, and it shot straight into the country’s top five trending topics.

Especially since the incident with Nangong Lingyue just days before, the attention around this new wave was even greater.

Meanwhile, at Haicheng University, Nangong Lingyue herself—who had been scheduled for a discreet interview and had someone assigned to greet her—was nonetheless cornered by persistent reporters. Fortunately, the university had arranged for her to be escorted out through a secret route to avoid chaos.

Though used to fame, it was the first time Nangong Lingyue had experienced such treatment. She had no choice but to disable all comments on her accounts, and even shut down her public contact information.

But some things can’t be blocked. Her father was already furious, ready to come drag her back to face the Lin family and practically force her to marry Lin Qingyun on the spot.

Looking back at Haicheng University as it receded into the distance, the usually composed and aloof Nangong Lingyue pressed her temples in distress.

“What is that guy really up to?”

“Did he foresee all of this from the start?”

“Damn him. If only I hadn’t agreed back then…”

Now she almost regretted agreeing to Lin Qingyun’s terms. But remembering the things he’d said he would do, her face flushed. Even if she could choose again, she wouldn’t have a choice. He was the kind of person who would actually follow through—and those were things she couldn’t endure.

“Bastard… scoundrel…”

Lin Qingyun had left, but Haicheng University was in an uproar. This was the most eventful freshman registration ever, the most sensational by far.

Even those freshmen who hadn’t been present were soon eager for the chance to test themselves once they heard the news.

Beyond the campus, the story continued to spread, but Lin Qingyun paid it no mind. At that moment, he was at his parents’ lawyers’ office, handling the paperwork for equity and inheritance.

As soon as Lin Qingyun turned eighteen and entered university, Lin Kunshan would cease to be his legal guardian. Once the formalities were complete, all his parents’ shares and assets would pass to him.

This was why his second uncle and aunt had been so eager to push him toward Ruins No. 18. In his previous life, Lin Qingyun had failed to complete the transfer, and his second uncle and aunt had inherited everything.

Previously, when competing with Quanshui for Li Xiaobo, Lin Qingyun had boasted that, aside from the Lin Pharmaceutical Group, he had billions in assets. That had stunned Quanshui into silence.

But in reality, at that time, he had no authority to access those funds. For daily expenses, it was fine, but for major transactions, he needed Lin Kunshan’s approval. After today’s paperwork, however, everything would be under his control.