By evening, the four brothers from Dormitory 1987 were strolling along the quiet paths of
"That bad?" Rein was so shocked that he lifted up Lin Lei's short shirt. When he saw the vicious wound on Lin Lei's abdomen, twisted and ugly like a earthworm, he couldn't help but hold his breath. George went silent for a moment too, but Yeru just grinned and laughed. "Haha, you guys just haven't seen enough. When I was a kid, I saw stuff way worse than this."
"Yeru, you serious or what?" Rein asked, stunned.
Yeru replied with a smug grin. "Of course I'm serious. I've seen plenty — torturing prisoners to death, watching people fight magic beasts barehanded with their lives on the line. When people fought magic beasts, there'd be a whole crowd of wealthy folks watching. The whole thing was absolutely bloody."
Lin Lei listened to what Yeru described and could easily picture the scene in his mind.
"The academy is much nicer," George sighed.
Lin Lei nodded in agreement. At this hour in the evening, you could often see couples walking together along the quiet campus paths — some holding hands, others riding magic beasts together, all perfectly at ease within the academy.
"Oh, right — Yeru, weren't you supposed to be keeping your girlfriend company tonight? Why aren't you going?" Rein suddenly asked.
Yeru said nonchalantly, "My girlfriend? My brother just came back from the
Rein immediately pulled a look of contempt.
"Lin Lei!" A delighted voice suddenly rang out from a distance.
Lin Lei and the other three turned to look. They saw a tall, striking beauty with flowing golden hair running toward them cheerfully. She stopped in front of Lin Lei and said with joy, "Lin Lei, you're back from the Magic Beast Mountain Range — that's wonderful! You were gone for two whole months. I was worried sick! Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Dilia, I'm fine," Lin Lei answered with a smile.
Lin Lei had gotten to know Dilia right when he first enrolled at Ernst Academy, and the two had a very good relationship. Whenever he was with Dilia, Lin Lei felt completely relaxed, without a shred of mental burden — much like how he felt around his three close friends.
"Dilia, Uncle's carriage is still waiting outside. Don't waste any more time," a cold voice called out.
Lin Lei looked up and saw a young man in an academy robe standing in the distance. It was Dilia's brother — Dikexi, one of the two great geniuses of Ernst Academy. Dikexi's academy robe was immaculate, without a single spot on it. His eyes were clear and piercing.
"Oh." Dilia answered with some disappointment, then turned back to Lin Lei. "Lin Lei, Father wants my brother and me to head back. The carriage is still waiting outside, so I have to go now."
"Sure, Dilia. We'll talk more when you get back," Lin Lei said with a smile.
"Mm, see you then." Dilia was clearly disappointed that she didn't have more time to chat with Lin Lei. Dikexi walked over from the distance, and after just one glance from him, Dilia moved to join his side. Dikexi then turned his gaze to Lin Lei. "Lin Lei, I heard you went to the Magic Beast Mountain Range for training. Congratulations on completing it successfully."
Lin Lei was taken aback.
Dikexi had actually spoken to him?
Dikexi's coldness was legendary at Ernst Academy. Most people felt a sense of pressure just being around him, especially when those clear eyes fixed on someone — the psychological weight of it could make a person feel like they were about to break.
"Oh, thank you," Lin Lei replied.
Dikexi gave a slight nod, then led his sister Dilia toward the academy gates.
……
The next morning, at Pruxus Hall in the Holy Capital,