Chapter 22: Intelligence
The moment the words left her mouth, Ning Tian herself stiffened slightly, an extremely unnatural blush quickly flitting across her exquisite cheeks.
She quickly averted her gaze and picked up the booklet again, acting as if she hadn't been the one to say those words just now.
Damn it, what on earth am I saying? Why did I use him as an example? That sounded so weird... Meanwhile, sitting on another chair not far from the two, Lin Xuan—who appeared to be resting with his eyes closed but was actually eavesdropping the whole time—felt his eyelids twitch imperceptibly... How did this get dragged back to me again?
Lin Xuan felt speechless. This truly was the Continent of Romance; it felt like no one knew how to do anything else besides fall in love.
At this moment, Dugu Qing, who had also been eavesdropping for a long time, looked puzzled, his eyes clear yet foolish.
"Lin Xuan, what are Ning Tian and Wu Feng talking about? What's all this about feelings and obsession? And what did you mean by shield versus shield, and spear versus spear?"
Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow at the question. Good grief, I'm already racing on the highway, and you're still asking how to put a coin in this toddler's toy car?
"You're still young. You'll understand when you grow up."
Dugu Qing:???
...Unlike the terrifying difficulty of Freshman Class One, which expelled over ten students in the very first lesson, the already relaxed curriculum of class nine became even easier with Lin Xuan's "help."
Since nearly half the students were unable to attend class today due to injuries, the afternoon session didn't cover much and was spent mostly in a mix of lecturing and leisure.
The fierce sun rose in the east and set in the west, its lingering afterglow dyeing half the sky a fiery red. At this time, the spirit lamps were switched on, their soft light illuminating this ancient academy that had stood for ten thousand years.
"Alright, that's it for today's lesson. Class dismissed."
On the podium, Teacher looked at the more than half-empty seats and the bruises or bandages still visible on many students' faces. She felt utterly exhausted and couldn't even muster the interest to give a concluding summary.
As soon as the bell rang, she immediately declared the end of class and then hurried out of the classroom as if she were escaping.
"It's finally over..."
Many students breathed a sigh of relief, rubbing their still-aching arms or legs as they slowly began to pack their things.
Ning Tian elegantly tidied her desk and stood up to walk over to Lin Xuan's seat.
"Student Lin Xuan, thank you for showing mercy today. I wonder if you are free tonight? Wu Feng, Yun'er, and I would like to invite you and Student Dugu Qing to dinner. Consider it a chance to get to know each other since we've already met on the field."
Hearing this, Lin Xuan subconsciously glanced at Wu Feng, who was standing half a step behind Ning Tian.
He saw that her head was bowed low, and her vibrant red hair seemed a bit dull. Sensing Lin Xuan's gaze, her body stiffened slightly.
She lifted her eyelids to steal a quick glance at him, then immediately lowered her head again like a startled rabbit, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes. She had completely lost the arrogant and cold demeanor she had during the day.
Lin Xuan was quite satisfied with this.
Finally, she's settled down. It's good that she knows to be afraid.
However, he had no intention of accepting Ning Tian's invitation.
"I appreciate Student Ning Tian's kindness."
Lin Xuan stood up and shook his head in polite refusal.
"But I have some matters to handle tonight, so it might not be convenient. Perhaps next time."
Ning Tian showed no disappointment at being refused, maintaining her proper smile.
"Alright then, we'll gather when there's another chance. If you ever need help with anything in the academy, Student Lin Xuan, you can come find me."
Lin Xuan nodded noncommittally and gave a greeting to Dugu Qing nearby.
"I'm heading out first."
"Oh, okay!" Dugu Qing hurriedly waved back.
Amidst the greetings of other students—some enthusiastic, some curious, some restrained or reverent—Lin Xuan walked out of the classroom alone.
Wherever he went, students subconsciously made way for him. The treatment was even more grand than that of their homeroom Teacher, Teacher, who had just left in a hurry.
Watching Lin Xuan's tall and straight figure disappear at the end of the corridor, Wu Feng, who had been keeping her head down, finally raised it slowly.
She looked toward that direction with a complex gaze, then quietly glanced at Ning Tian beside her, who was also silently staring at the corridor exit with a calm expression that revealed no emotion.
Her eyes flickered with light, her thoughts unknown... After leaving the teaching building, Lin Xuan did not return to the dormitory but instead headed straight out of Shrek Academy.
By now, the sky had gradually darkened, and brilliant stars appeared in the night sky. As the evening lights came on, this ten-thousand-year-old Shrek City was completely illuminated by lanterns.
Under the night sky, numerous vendors gathered in the city, creating a dazzling display amidst the surging crowds.
Lin Xuan ignored the surrounding prosperity and excitement, moving with a clear objective through several main roads before turning into the relatively quieter northern district of the city.
The buildings here were slightly shorter, the style more ancient, and the pedestrians much sparser.
Finally, he stopped in front of an unremarkable-looking shop.
The storefront was small and the sign simple, with only four plain words: "Old Zhang's Beef Soup." The wooden door panels were aged, giving off the vibe of a homely little eatery.
Lin Xuan pushed the door and entered. The copper bell on the door let out a crisp "ding-dong."
The lights inside were warm and yellow, and there were only two or three tables of customers. The air was thick with the rich aroma of beef soup.
Behind the counter, a middle-aged boss with an honest face, wearing a greasy apron and sporting a shiny bald head, was looking down and doing accounts.
"Welcome! What would you like to eat, student? Our signature beef soup has been simmering for eight hours; I guarantee it's delicious!"
Hearing the bell, the bald boss looked up, his face immediately piling into an enthusiastic smile and his voice booming.
Lin Xuan didn't look at the menu on the wall; he walked straight to the counter and looked calmly at the boss.
Then, with a flick of his wrist, he took something out of his storage spirit tool and waved it before the boss's eyes.
It was a silver circular badge about the size of a coin, exquisitely crafted, with a pattern resembling a Spider Web engraved on the front.
The moment he saw this badge, the enthusiastic and harmless smile on the bald boss's face receded like the tide.
His eyes suddenly became sharp, and his booming voice dropped into a slightly raspy, low tone.
"Who do you want to kill? What price can you offer?"
Lin Xuan: "..."
"Do all of you people from 'Spider Web' have this occupational disease?"
Lin Xuan took back the badge, looking speechless.
"It's just buying some intelligence, yet you make it sound like an underground assassin organization meeting. Can you be a bit more professional?"
Hearing this, the cold and stern aura on the bald boss dissipated instantly. He rubbed his smooth head, and a smile returned to his face.
"Hehe, habit, just habit... Doesn't it seem more stylish and mysterious this way? Don't mind me, little brother."
He rubbed his hands together and, after sizing Lin Xuan up, whispered in a surprised tone,
"If I'm not mistaken, little brother is a freshman from this year's batch at Shrek Academy, right? Tsk tsk tsk, such a young 'Spider Web' user is truly rare."
Lin Xuan smiled noncommittally.
Although 'Spider Web' sounded very mysterious and high-profile, like some infamous horror organization in the dark side of the World...
In reality, it was a harmless organization that specialized in selling public intelligence, posting missing person or item requests, short-term hiring, and delivering goods.
Since its business did not touch the interests of major powers and basically didn't involve dirty work like murder or robbery, 'Spider Web' dared to open its strongholds in Shrek City.
Lin Xuan had previously managed to gather the materials for making those simple explosives by posting hiring tasks here; otherwise, relying on himself alone, he wouldn't have enough even if he lived next to a volcano and mined every day.
And this time, he was here to collect the intelligence he had ordered from Spider Web earlier.
"Member number 101, it should have arrived." Lin Xuan said in a low voice.
"101? I think a piece of intelligence arrived from the Heaven Dou Empire the day before yesterday. Wait a moment, little brother, let me look for it."
The bald boss scratched his head, turned around, and began rummaging through the cabinet behind him.
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