Chapter 29: A Farewell Meal Held in Advance
When Lin Mo returned to Nuoding Academy, the sun was already slanting toward the west. It was around 3 or 4 in the afternoon.
By Nuoding Academy's routine, afternoons were reserved for students' free activities.
Compared to the bustling mornings, the academy was much quieter now. Only a few scattered students were on the playground, while others sat under the shade of trees in small groups, chatting or cultivating.
Lin Mo headed straight back to Dormitory Seven.
When he pushed the door open, the room was unusually quiet.
Most people were not inside. Based on experience, they had either gone to cultivate somewhere or were busy with their own matters.
Only a handful remained, and Wang Sheng was one of them.
He was sitting cross legged on his bed, cultivating with Calm Mind.
Hearing the door open, Wang Sheng instinctively looked up.
When he saw Lin Mo walk in, he froze. Then surprise burst across his face, and he exclaimed almost without thinking, "Lin Mo? You're back?!"
But Wang Sheng quickly sensed something different.
Compared to before, Lin Mo seemed a bit taller. The contours of his face looked slightly more mature, no longer as childish.
Most importantly, the Spirit Power fluctuations around him had become steadier and more solid.
That was the aura only a true Spirit Master possessed.
Wang Sheng jumped off the bed, rushed up to Lin Mo, circled him twice, and stared him up and down, envy written all over his face.
"You… you were gone so long. Was it… was it to obtain your first Spirit Ring?!"
He kept staring at Lin Mo, as if trying to force the answer out of his expression.
Lin Mo met that look and nodded calmly. "Yeah. You guessed right. I went to obtain my first Spirit Ring."
Even though Wang Sheng had been prepared, hearing Lin Mo admit it still made him suck in a breath. A look of "I knew it" flashed across his face.
He slapped his thigh hard. "Good grief, so it really is! I was wondering why you suddenly disappeared for so long!"
"So you went off quietly to do something huge!"
Then, as if remembering something, he scratched his head. "But… you really kept it secret this time. Not a word leaked out."
"If I didn't have sharp eyes, I wouldn't have noticed the changes at all."
Wang Sheng actually understood Lin Mo's secrecy.
He lowered his voice and tilted his chin toward the others in the dorm, speaking pointedly.
"But that's normal. If it were me, I'd keep it secret too."
"After all, last time… heh. Right after we agreed to keep it quiet, someone turned around and leaked the news and made it known to everyone. You really do have to be careful."
He did not say a name, but everyone there, including Lin Mo, knew who he meant.
After that incident, many people in Dormitory Seven had more or less changed how they viewed Tang San.
Lin Mo only gave Wang Sheng a faint smile and did not continue the topic.
Some things were better left understood, there was no need to drag them into the open.
"Wang Sheng, do me a favor," Lin Mo said. "Go notify everyone in Dormitory Seven. Tonight, I'm treating everyone to a meal on the second floor of the canteen."
Wang Sheng snapped out of his excitement like he had been struck, then his expression turned even brighter.
"Your treat?" His surprise instantly became delight. "That's great! Lin Mo, you're something else. Finally being generous for once!"
He thumped his chest with a loud thump. "No problem. Leave it to me. I'll make sure everyone hears about it."
Lin Mo smiled. "Alright, then I'll trouble you. I just collected my subsidy, so it's a good time to celebrate with everyone."
"Don't worry!" Wang Sheng thumped his chest again. "It's rare for you to treat us. Everyone will definitely show up."
Lin Mo nodded and said nothing more.
The second floor of Nuoding Academy's canteen was far more expensive than the first, but the purchasing power of 1 gold coin was still more than enough.
Treating a dozen or so people from Dormitory Seven to a hearty meal would not be a problem.
Lin Mo was also clear about his plans.
He did not intend to stay at Nuoding Junior Spirit Master Academy until he was 12 like Tang San and Xiao Wu.
According to his original plan, once the second half of the school year ended, he would apply to the dean for early graduation.
Staying here any longer would not help him grow much stronger.
In a way, this meal could be considered a farewell dinner held in advance, a thank you to Dormitory Seven for taking care of him over the past 6 months.
Evening, second floor of the academy canteen.
Compared to the crowded, noisy first floor, the second floor was much quieter. The tables and chairs were also cleaner and more orderly.
Lin Mo arrived early and chose a large round table that could fit a dozen people.
Not long after, the work study students of Dormitory Seven, led by Wang Sheng, began arriving one after another.
Xiao Wu came first. She skipped over, pulled out a chair, and sat down without the slightest hesitation, her big eyes curiously scanning the second floor.
"Wow, the second floor really is better than the first! Lin Mo, you're really spending big today!"
The other work study students sat down as well, faces full of excitement and anticipation.
For them, being able to eat until full on the first floor was already good. Only Tang San and Xiao Wu, who had already become Spirit Masters, could come to the second floor often.
Lin Mo greeted everyone with a smile. "Everyone, sit. Don't be shy. Order whatever you want."
His gaze swept over the group, and a trace of surprise rose in his heart.
Including Xiao Wu, almost everyone from Dormitory Seven had arrived.
But 1 person was missing.
Tang San.
Wang Sheng clearly noticed Lin Mo's expression. He scratched his head, leaned close, and whispered, "Lin Mo, about Tang San…"
"When I went to find him, he said he has to study with Grandmaster tonight and really can't get away, so he's not coming."
The lively atmosphere at the table stiffened slightly.
Lin Mo was not surprised.
After the incident of the leaked news, Tang San's image in Dormitory Seven had already fallen sharply.
Soon, someone muttered bluntly, "Study? If you ask me, a certain someone is just too embarrassed to show up."
"After all, he promised to keep it secret last time, then turned around and leaked it…"
No name was spoken, but everyone understood who those words were aimed at.
For a moment, the mood at the table turned subtle.
[TL: Check out my newly released fanfic
Soul Land: Monarch of Corruption]
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