Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Differential Treatment
Lu Bingning’s pretty face flushed beet red. She never expected Lin Yun to be so sudden. At that moment, her heart pounded furiously, and she stood there, utterly dazed.
"Lin Shan, I’ll kill you!" Watching Lin Yun’s move, Tang Wushuang completely lost his mind. Witnessing Lin Yun kiss Lu Bingning with his own eyes, the rage in Tang Wushuang’s heart erupted like a volcano.
Seeing Tang Wushuang’s flustered rage, Lin Yun sneered inwardly. The only reason he had done that was because he had sensed a Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist lurking in the shadows.
This Martial Artist was at least at the Eighth Layer of the Qi Sea Realm, and Lin Yun was currently no match for him. He provoked Tang Wushuang to force this person out into the open; after all, having someone lurking in the shadows was never a good thing.
"Die! Golden Light Seal!" Tang Wushuang roared, his hands rapidly forming a Seal Technique. Instantly, a massive golden seal materialized in the air and came crashing down on Lin Yun.
Seeing the seal blazing with golden light, the surrounding crowd of onlookers scattered in terror. If that seal landed, the entire inn would be razed to the ground.
Yet Lin Yun, standing directly beneath the golden seal, showed no signs of panic. With his keen perception, he knew the hidden Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist had made his move.
Just as he expected, right as the golden seal was about to crash down, a dark figure instantly flashed to Tang Wushuang’s side. With a single point of his finger, the blazing golden seal dissipated into nothing.
"Young Master, we are inside the County City. Even you are not permitted to use a Martial Skill with such a wide, destructive range," the black-robed man said to Tang Wushuang as the seal vanished.
Hearing the man’s words, Tang Wushuang’s expression turned incomparably cold. He glared at Lin Yun, his eyes brimming with a murderous intent so intense it was as if only tearing Lin Yun to shreds would satisfy his hatred.
"Tang Wushuang, Bingning is the woman I love. If you want to settle this, do you dare fight me to the death at Yanhuang Academy?" Lin Yun said calmly, looking at him.
Completely enraged, Tang Wushuang heard Lin Yun’s challenge and accepted without a second thought. "Fine! Once we’re at the Academy, I’ll kill you with my own two hands."
"Haha, good. I hope Young Master Tang is a man of his word and doesn’t try to pull any dirty tricks on the way to the Academy," Lin Yun said.
"Hmph. Don’t worry. I, Tang Wushuang, am a man of my word. Your life is mine to take, and mine alone," Tang Wushuang snorted.
The black-robed man at their side glanced at Tang Wushuang, then back at Lin Yun. ’This ordinary-looking boy is quite impressive,’ he thought, his estimation of Lin Yun soaring.
’With just a few simple words, he’s made it impossible for the Young Master to move against him now. And once they’re in the Academy, even being a member of the Royal Family is useless.’
At the Academy, everything depends on strength and talent. Family background is completely useless. Even a direct heir to the Royal Family can’t use their status to oppress others.
"Hmph. I’ll be waiting for you at the Academy." With a final snort, Tang Wushuang stormed off, his face dark.
’Everything went smoothly.’ Lin Yun’s plan was actually quite simple: infuriate Tang Wushuang, force the black-robed man to show himself, and then verbally provoke Tang Wushuang into agreeing to a fair fight.
Tang Wushuang had agreed without a second thought. Now, at least on the journey to the Academy, Lin Yun wouldn’t have to worry about an assassination attempt from him. As for a life-and-death battle once they were there, Lin Yun had no fear of Tang Wushuang.
Lin Yun had no confidence in taking on the entire Yunlu County Prince’s Mansion, but he felt very certain he could handle Tang Wushuang alone.
According to what Lu Bingning had told him, the Academy’s recruitment process was not the same for everyone. There was a huge distinction between the scions of Noble Families and ordinary Martial Artists.
For one, their method of getting to the Academy was completely different. As long as the children of Noble Families met the requirements, they would be escorted directly to the Academy by its teachers.
Ordinary Martial Artists, however, not only had to meet the requirements but also had to pass the Trial Road. Only those who completed the Trial Road could enter the Academy and become true students.
The Trial Road was fraught with danger, a path specially created by Yanhuang Academy. It was overrun with Demon Beasts and bandits. Every year, over ten thousand ordinary Martial Artists would set foot on the Trial Road, but fewer than a thousand would ever complete it.
It was precisely because he knew about the Trial Road that Lin Yun had devised this strategy. Otherwise, if Tang Wushuang were to arrange for a Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist to ambush him on the path, even if he survived, it would be incredibly troublesome, especially since he’d also have to deal with Demon Beasts and bandits.
He continued chatting with Lu Bingning for a while, only leaving after Lu Tao and Guan Renjie returned to the inn.
Seeing his sister acting so warmly toward a rather plain-looking young man, Lu Tao asked curiously, "Sis, who is that guy?"
"A friend," Lu Bingning replied with a smile. Lin Yun had instructed her not to reveal his identity to anyone, not even Lu Tao and Guan Renjie.
Back in his room, Lin Yun went to bed early. Representatives from Yanhuang Academy would arrive in the County City tomorrow, which was also when enrollment would begin.
The night passed without incident. The next day, Lin Yun and Qin Feng rose early. The registration site was located at the Yunlu County Prince’s Mansion.
After breakfast, the two of them arrived before the Prince Manor. There were two distinct registration points: one for the scions of Noble Families and one for ordinary Martial Artists.
’Sigh... A good status is useful no matter where you are. It makes things so much more convenient.’ He sighed. If he weren’t a wanted man, his own status would have allowed him to use the Noble Family registration point and head directly to Yanhuang Academy, completely bypassing the Trial Road.
"Lin Shan, you’re here!" Lu Bingning called out from a distance.
"The Trial Road is fraught with danger. You have to be careful," Lu Bingning reminded him as she approached.
"Yeah, I know," he replied with a smile. They didn’t chat for long, as Lu Bingning was afraid of exposing Lin Yun’s identity.
He watched as Lu Bingning walked through the main gates of the Prince Manor, where the registration point for Noble Families was located.
Only after the figures of Lu Bingning and her two companions vanished did Lin Yun lead Qin Feng toward a side entrance. This area was nothing like the registration point for the Noble Families.
A long queue already snaked back for dozens of meters. It was clear just how alluring the prospect of entering Yanhuang Academy was to ordinary people.
This was an opportunity to change their entire lives. If they successfully completed the Trial Road and became students of Yanhuang Academy, these ordinary Martial Artists could become the new nobility of Yanhuang Country. Their descendants would never have to struggle as desperately as they had.
A full two hours later, it was finally their turn. The Academy staff member in charge of the assessment took out a transparent stone and instructed Lin Yun and Qin Feng to infuse it with their Elemental Power.
"Nineteen years old, Fifth Layer of Opening. Qualified." Lin Yun did as instructed. The staff member read the numbers on the stone and announced flatly.
"Nineteen years old, Seventh Layer of Opening. Qualified." Next up, Qin Feng passed as well.
