Chapter 159: Humans, the species most adept at taking advantage of others in their moment of weakness, without exception
The next morning, the sunlight was quite nice, pouring in golden light through the window, illuminating even the floating dust in the dorm room with perfect clarity.
Lin Qingmo sat on the edge of his bed, not in a hurry to go for morning training.
He crossed his legs, his fingertips tapping lightly on the faint blue virtual light screen that only he could see.
He was editing a message.
[Dad Douluo]: Good morning, everyone. Reporting last night's progress,
Zhu Zhuqing, that "little wild cat," paid a late-night visit to seek advice on how to grow stronger. The atmosphere was, at one point, very serious and proper.
After typing, he pressed send.
On the light screen, his ID [Dad Douluo] was followed by the message as it popped out.
Almost at the same time.
On the girls' dormitory side.
Ning Rongrong was sprawled on her bed like she had no bones, hugging a soft pink pillow in her arms, her chin resting on it as she idly scrolled through the chat group.
The moment she saw the message.
She suddenly sat upright with a "whoosh," her eyes widening as all traces of sleepiness vanished.
Zhu Zhuqing? Went to Lin Qingmo's room late at night?
She subconsciously turned her head to look at the bed beside hers.
On the neighboring bed, Zhu Zhuqing lay quietly.
A thin blanket covered her body, and her breathing was even. Her long eyelashes cast shadows and trembled slightly with each breath, making her look deeply asleep.
Ning Rongrong's head filled with question marks.
Did Zhuqing go out last night?
'When did she leave? How come I didn't hear anything at all?'
'Did she really go to find Lin Qingmo?'
Curiosity scratched at Ning Rongrong's heart like a cat.
And in reality, under the blanket, Zhu Zhuqing's body was slightly tense.
She wasn't asleep at all.
From the moment just before Lin Qingmo sent that message, she had been holding her breath.
All her attention was focused on the chat group light screen that only she could see.
The tips of her ears uncontrollably flushed with a faint pink.
He… what will he say?
How will he describe what happened last night?
How will he evaluate her?
A mix of nervousness, anticipation, and an inexplicable embarrassment quietly tightened around her heart.
Zhu Zhuqing remained completely still, not even daring to let her eyelashes flutter too noticeably, afraid Ning Rongrong might notice something off.
The group quickly reacted to Lin Qingmo's message.
The first to respond was Bibi Dong.
[The Pope Herself]: You plan to help her?
Deep within the Pope's Palace in Spirit City.
Bibi Dong sat on her luxurious papal throne, her fingertips casually sliding across the light screen.
Her red lips parted slightly, her gaze carrying little warmth, only a faint trace of scrutiny.
Ah Qing seems to be paying a bit too much attention to that girl from the Zhu family of the Star Luo Empire.
Immediately after.
[Tyrant Dragon Mom]: Being this kind? A method to increase the soul ring absorption limit is so important, and you're still going to tell her? Kid, don't tell me you've taken a fancy to that girl?!
In the dean's office of Blue Tyrant Academy.
Liu Erlong slammed her palm onto the heavy wooden desk, making the documents on it jump.
Her brows shot up, her tone blunt and fiery, full of suspicion.
She understood men far too well.
Especially a kid like Lin Qingmo, who looked easygoing, but who knew what kind of scheming he had inside?
[Little Witch]: So what exactly is the method, Brother Ah Qing! Hurry up and tell us! (Rolling-on-the-floor.jpg)
Ning Rongrong lay on her bed, fingers flying as she typed.
After sending it, she even kicked her legs a couple of times, messing up the blanket.
She really wanted to know!
This was a secret that could break the common knowledge of Soul Masters!
Lin Qingmo looked at the light screen, raised a brow, and leisurely replied.
[Dad Douluo]: The method? I think I mentioned it once in the group before. You can scroll back and check the chat history yourselves.
[Dad Douluo]: Oh right, that was from several years ago. It's probably long been buried.
Seeing this reply, Ning Rongrong froze for a moment, then puffed up her cheeks in annoyance.
[Little Witch]: ??? (angry pufferfish.jpg)
Several years ago?
She wasn't even in the group back then!
Ah Qing is definitely doing this on purpose!
Liu Erlong wasn't distracted and pulled the topic back.
[Tyrant Dragon Mom]: Hey hey hey, don't change the subject. Answer my question. Are you really helping her unconditionally?
Lin Qingmo smiled slightly.
[Dad Douluo]: How could it be unconditional? Do I look like some selfless saint? Obviously not.
[Tyrant Dragon Mom]: Are there conditions? What conditions? Don't tell me you're taking advantage of the situation to have some bad ideas about her?
Liu Erlong's train of thought always seemed to rush in a very specific direction.
At this moment, an ID carrying an icy, indifferent aura spoke.
[Bingbing]: Heh. Humans are the beings most adept at exploiting others' difficulties and taking advantage of others' misfortune, without exception.
In the Extreme North.
At the peak of a lonely ice-covered mountain.
The jade-like tail of the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion lightly swept across the ice, producing a faint rustling sound.
Her gaze "watched" the conversation through the light screen, her tone filled with indifference and mockery toward human nature.
Another day of hating humans as usual.
Lin Qingmo shrugged, long accustomed to Bingbing's venomous remarks.
His fingers moved as he sent another message.
[Dad Douluo]: You're overthinking it. My condition is: in the future, Zhu Zhuqing must join my faction and follow my orders. That's all.
Seeing this message, Ning Rongrong's expression immediately turned surprised.
"Join his faction? That sounds… like signing a contract of servitude."
"For the sake of becoming stronger, the price Zhuqing is paying is way too high, isn't it? Doesn't that basically tie her entire future to him?"
She couldn't help but sneak another glance at the "sleeping" Zhu Zhuqing.
Her heart was filled with both concern and curiosity.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing, who was "pretending to sleep," slightly curled her fingers under the blanket.
Join his faction… that's the condition he mentioned last night.
She knew it, and she had agreed.
But hearing it spoken openly in the group still felt different.
It was as if she had been marked with a clear label belonging to Lin Qingmo.
Because of this "condition," the group sparked into another round of discussion.
[Ice and Snow Maiden]: A faction? Are you planning to establish your own power?
The Snow Empress stood in the midst of a blizzard, dressed in white, her silver hair dancing with the snowflakes.
She looked at the light screen, narrowing her beautiful eyes.
"This human youth… his ambition doesn't seem small."
At first, she only thought him special and a human genius, but now it seemed he intended to step into some kind of larger game and scheme.
[Bingbing]: Hmph. He's just a mere Soul Ancestor, yet his tone is quite grand.
[Tyrant Dragon Mom]: Establishing a faction is no simple matter. It requires a huge amount of resources, and you'll have to face countless open and hidden threats.
Even her small Blue Tyrant Academy had faced plenty of obstacles when it was established.
Let alone a full-fledged faction.
In the chat group, even the usually silent members seemed drawn into the topic.
"Ah Qing is indeed not someone who stays quiet."
Liu Erlong frowned. "What exactly is he trying to do? Relying on that mysterious Titled Douluo teacher behind him? Or… does he have something else to rely on?"
Lin Qingmo looked at the scrolling questions and the silent attention, his expression still calm.
He leaned back against the headboard, slowly typing his reply.
[Dad Douluo]: Whether my tone is big or not, we'll know once I try.
[Dad Douluo]: There are many things on the Douluo Continent that are too inefficient to do alone.
[Dad Douluo]: For example, searching for Sea God Island, searching for the Slaughter City, searching for the Sun Moon Continent. Where would I find the time? Even my master, a Titled Douluo, would probably need to spend quite a bit of time and effort.
[Dad Douluo]: Of course, for now, it's just an idea—still in the planning-on-paper stage. After all, my master only gave me a bit of backing, not a promise to handle everything.
End of Chapter