As the lecture ended and students began to file out, Lin Yun gathered his notes. He prepared to visit the library after this.
But before he could take more than a few steps towards the door, a loud, arrogant voice cut through the classroom chatter, deliberately aimed at him.
"Well, well, if it isn't the Lin Clan's prodigy who tries to blow up the academy one cauldron at a time!"
Lin Yun paused and turned. Leaning against a desk with a sneer was a young man about his age, dressed in lavish robes embroidered with the character "Wang".
He had a haughty, entitled look on his face, the very picture of the "classic young master" trope Lin Yun had read about so often.
This was Wang Kun, the third young master of the Wang Clan, one of Fortune City's seven major clans.
Unlike Ji Xuan, whose arrogance was cold and calculating, Wang Kun's was loud, brutish, and relied entirely on his background to bully others. He was the kind of character who existed to be a stepping stone for the protagonist.
Lin Yun glanced at him, his expression utterly bored, and then turned to leave as if he had heard nothing.
Wang Kun's face darkened instantly. Being ignored was a greater insult than any retort.
"Stop him!" he barked to the two lackeys flanking him.
The two burlier disciples moved to block Lin Yun's path to the door, crossing their arms.
Lin Yun stopped and slowly turned back to face Wang Kun, his gaze calm. "What do you want?"
Wang Kun strutted forward, a contemptuous smirk on his lips. "It's nothing much. I'm just here to give you some friendly advice. For the upcoming alchemy assessment at the end of the month... don't participate. Take a nice, long rest. You're clearly not cut out for it."
The alchemy assessment? Lin Yun's brow furrowed slightly as he rifled through the original owner's memories. This wasn't just a routine test.
The memories clarified. This particular assessment was a ranking competition. The top ten disciples would be granted a precious qualification—entry into the "Deep Sky Valley," a restricted area behind the academy.
The Deep Sky Valley was essentially a beginner's secret realm. It was rich with spiritual herbs and other resources, yet the dangers were managed and relatively low. It was a perfect training and resource-gathering ground for promising disciples, a significant opportunity for any student.
The pieces clicked into place in Lin Yun's mind. So that's it.
The alchemy 'accident' orchestrated by Ji Xuan and Nangong Qing'er, and now this blatant intimidation from Wang Kun... it was all to eliminate competition for those ten spots. They wanted to thin the herd, to get rid of potential rivals and secure more chances for themselves and their factions.
But a question nagged at him. The original Lin Yun was famously incompetent. His alchemy skills were pitiful, and his cultivation was weak. Why would they bother targeting him? He was no threat to the top ten.
Unless... they weren't just targeting threats. They were targeting everyone from prominent clans who might have a sliver of a chance, or perhaps they simply enjoyed asserting their dominance and eliminating even the most remote possibilities. Or, a darker thought surfaced, they were specifically targeting the Lin Clan's reputation.
Lin Yun looked at Wang Kun, his expression unchanging. "Is there anything else? If not, I'll be leaving."
His tone was dismissive, as if he were dealing with a buzzing fly.
He turned his back on Wang Kun once more, a move that sent a wave of shocked murmurs through the remaining students.
Wang Kun's face flushed with rage. "You dare ignore me?! I said stop him! Teach this trash some manners!"
His lackeys moved to grab Lin Yun's arms.
"Stop!"
A clear, firm voice rang out. Hua Mengyan stepped forward, placing herself between Lin Yun and Wang Kun's lackeys. Her delicate features were set in a stern expression.
"Wang Kun, what is the meaning of this?" she demanded. "Bullying a fellow student in broad daylight? Or have you forgotten that you are still on probation for fighting in the dining hall last week?"
She took a step closer, her voice dropping but losing none of its authority. "If I report this to the discipline elder right now, do you think you'll still be eligible for any assessment, let alone the one for the Deep Sky Valley?"
Wang Kun's arrogant smirk vanished, replaced by a look of furious frustration. He glared at Hua Mengyan, then at Lin Yun's unconcerned back. The Hua Clan's influence was significant, and her threat was real.
"Tch! Always hiding behind a woman, Lin trash!" he spat out, a last, feeble attempt to save face.
"This isn't over! Just you wait for the assessment!" With a final, venomous glare, he waved his lackeys off and stormed out of the classroom.
The tension in the room dissipated. Lin Yun turned and gave a slight, polite nod to Hua Mengyan.
"Thank you," he said, his tone sincere but still reserved.
Hua Mengyan studied him for a moment, that strange feeling returning. The old Lin Yun would have been trembling, profusely thanking her, his face pale with fear. This Lin Yun was... calm. Grateful, but calm. As if the confrontation was a minor inconvenience.
"You're welcome," she replied softly. "Be careful. Wang Kun holds a grudge."
Lin Yun simply nodded again, then turned and walked out of the classroom, heading towards the library as if nothing had happened. His calm departure under the gaze of his classmates only added to the growing mystery surrounding him.
From their seats at the front, Ji Xuan and Nangong Qing'er had watched the entire exchange.
Nangong Qing'er's perfectly sculpted brows furrowed slightly. She leaned towards Ji Xuan, her voice a hushed whisper.
"Did you see that? Lin Yun... his demeanor has changed. He didn't even flinch. He looked at Wang Kun as if he were looking at a stone."
Ji Xuan's eyes, which had been following Lin Yun's departing figure, held a trace of cold contemplation. He had noticed it too. The cowering, nervous boy was gone. In his place was someone whose calm was unnerving.
"Indeed," Ji Xuan replied, his voice low. "It seems a brush with death can change a person." But his eyes held a flicker of doubt. This change felt... too abrupt. Too profound.