Chapter 14: The Leak
Class was about to start, so the occupants of Dormitory Seven reluctantly headed for the lecture hall.
"Let's go, let's go, time for class!"
"Lin Mo, your Charmander is so cool!"
"Good luck in the final exam! Show us what that new Spirit can do!"
Chattering nonstop, they filed out of the dorm one after another.
Before stepping through the door, Xiao Wu shot Charmander one last glare. The little lizard bared its fangs right back at her.
She gave an angry humph, spun on her heel, and marched away.
Moments later, only Lin Mo and Tang San remained.
Lin Mo recalled Charmander into himself and turned to leave, but he noticed Tang San still standing in place.
Tang San's face was clouded, his brows tightly knit, lips pressed into a thin line. He looked like he was wrestling with something.
Lin Mo glanced at him, said nothing, and quietly wondered what was wrong.
Was Charmander's appearance reminding him of Yu Xiaogang's equally external, yet far frailer Luo San Pao?
Tang San stood in silence for a long moment, then seemed to finally make up his mind.
Resolve flashed in his eyes. He let out a slow breath, and his expression steadied.
Seeing that, Lin Mo spoke evenly, "Tang San, let's go to class."
Tang San looked up and met his eyes briefly, then nodded, returning to his usual calm.
"All right."
Without another word, the two left the dorm and walked toward the teaching building.
The morning theory session ended quickly.
The moment the bell rang, Lin Mo closed the book he had been reading, slid it into his desk, and stood with the crowd heading for lunch.
He was in high spirits. His Spirit Power had broken through Rank 10 and Charmander had finally hatched. Even his steps felt lighter than usual.
But just outside the classroom, two figures stepped in from either side, blocking his path with practiced ease.
Lin Mo stopped short and looked up, surprised.
In front of him stood Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang and the rarely seen Dean of Nuoding Junior Spirit Master Academy, Wang Zongchang.
In more than half a year at the academy, Lin Mo had only seen the dean 2 or 3 times, including the opening ceremony. Calling them acquaintances would be generous.
Yet now, the dean wore an unreadable smile as he sized Lin Mo up.
Beside him, Yu Xiaogang still had that stiff, wooden face, but his eyes were sharper than ever, fixed on Lin Mo like he was studying prey.
"Dean Wang, Grandmaster," Lin Mo greeted politely, bowing slightly.
"No need to be so formal," the dean replied, still smiling.
Yu Xiaogang only snorted.
"May I ask why you stopped me?" Lin Mo asked directly.
He doubted they had come just to exchange greetings.
Dean Wang did not answer, only turning his gaze toward Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward, as blunt as ever. "Lin Mo, I heard your Martial Soul has changed. You've reached Rank 10. Release it and let me see."
His tone carried absolute certainty, as if inspection was his right and refusing would be unreasonable.
Lin Mo's brows twitched almost imperceptibly.
He met Yu Xiaogang's gaze and replied calmly, "I did just reach Rank 10."
Then his eyes narrowed slightly.
"But I'm curious, how did you know my Martial Soul changed? It only happened this morning, and I haven't been broadcasting it."
As he spoke, his gaze slid past them to the blue clad youth nearby who was pretending to admire the scenery.
Sure enough, Tang San's body stiffened. He immediately turned his head away, guilt written all over his face.
That reaction confirmed Lin Mo's suspicion.
Tang San had told them.
He had ignored both Lin Mo's words and the dorm's agreement, and reported everything to his teacher.
Caught off guard by the direct question, Yu Xiaogang's stiff expression turned even more rigid.
He opened his mouth, then found no words. For a moment, he stood there in awkward silence.
He knew very well how carefully Spirit Masters guarded information about their Martial Souls, even newly awakened Spirit Scholars. Lin Mo's wariness was exactly what he should expect.
Yet Yu Xiaogang's obsession with variant Martial Souls, especially external Beast Martial Souls, would not let him drop it.
He drew a breath, swallowed the awkwardness, and forced his tone to soften.
"I understand your caution. But your Martial Soul, like my Luo San Pao, is an extremely rare external Beast Martial Soul. I've studied this field for years. No one understands their potential, or the bottlenecks they face, better than I do."
He paused, then forced an amiable smile.
"Let me observe your Martial Soul. If you truly have promise, I can take you as my disciple, just as I did Little San. With my guidance, your path as a Spirit Master will be much smoother."
His voice was filled with absolute confidence, as if being chosen by him was a priceless honor.
Yet deep within Lin Mo's eyes, a flicker of disdain passed, and neither of the two men noticed it.
.....
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