Not far from the restroom.
A well-dressed young man was casually strolling around.
His name was Zhao Lin, the son of this mall’s owner.
Today, his father had sent him to inspect the family’s property.
In the name of “building character,” but in truth, it was to get this idle young master out of the house instead of holed up all day.
Zhao Lin yawned, scanning the bustling crowd in the mall with boredom.
“Inspect? What’s there to inspect?”
He sneered inwardly.
Dad, Dad, you sent me here just so I could see the empire you built, didn’t you?
What’s the point?
Money, status, beautiful women.
Things ordinary people spend their whole lives chasing—I already have them all.
What else do I lack?
Once I pass the Law Enforcer Examination, who in this world can even compare to me?
Zhao Lin’s gaze swept lazily through the crowd before coming to a halt.
He spotted a snow lotus blooming softly amidst the busy thoroughfare.
Whoa.
He licked his lips.
What a beautiful girl.
Interesting.
He straightened his collar, flashed a confident smile, and walked up to her.
Before he could speak, the pretty young woman looked up at him:
“Xiangyi?”
Zhao Lin froze.
Those clear, limpid eyes stared straight at him, making his heart skip a beat.
A lake that should have been calm and unruffled, yet it was tinged with golden hues like one seeing their beloved, ripples spreading with her emotions.
Just one brief glance, and he was seized by the light burning in those eyes, the breathtaking impression flooding his mind with every breath.
But it stopped the very next moment.
“Ah, sorry.”
With a soft apology, the young woman lowered her head again.
The light receded with her, as if that lamp was never lit for him.
Zhao Lin stood dumbfounded for two seconds, his mind completely bewitched by that fleeting moment, only snapping back to reality after the owner of those eyes had already looked away.
He watched the young woman turn her head, shifting her gaze elsewhere, and swallowed hard.
Absolutely exquisite.
Not one to be missed.
He thought briefly, then spoke up, trying to extend the conversation using the young woman’s “slip of the tongue”:
“You were just calling me? Do we know each other, my lovely miss?”
“My apologies, I mistook you for someone else.”
The young woman immediately denied it without even daring to look at him.
Shy too?
This is getting more interesting.
I must have her.
He propped one hand against the wall beside Shen Ye, leaning in slightly with what he thought was a charming smile:
“Are you here alone? This mall is huge—how about I keep you company?”
“No need.”
Shen Ye frowned, stepping back two paces, her rejection obvious.
“I have company.”
Didn’t I already turn him down? Why won’t this guy let it go?
She sighed inwardly, wanting nothing more than to shake off this person who had latched onto her for no reason.
Ugh, this is exactly why I hate crowded places.
So troublesome.
Zhao Lin’s smile stiffened slightly.
She has company?
He recalled that brief glimpse from before.
The hope brimming in the young woman’s eyes.
Was she waiting for whoever she was with?
That was truly…
something to envy.
He curled his lips into a smile, suppressing the churning emotions inside, and spoke with feigned ease:
“Waiting for your boyfriend? He doesn’t seem to care about you much, leaving you here all alone.”
Shen Ye’s brow furrowed even deeper.
The way this man spoke made her feel disgusted.
Besides, even if the address was wrong, the person he was belittling was her beloved Junior Brother.
“None of your business.” Her voice grew colder. “Please leave.”
Zhao Lin watched the young woman step back in refusal, and the irritation in his chest grew like wild weeds.
Once I’ve set my sights on you, you don’t get a say.
He shifted slightly, reaching out a hand.
Shen Ye’s brow twitched as she detected the faint fluctuation of Spiritual Power in the man’s hand.
Using Spiritual Power on ordinary people in a public place?
Oh wonderful, so the Association’s rules simply don’t exist in some people’s eyes.
Anger rose from the depths of her heart.
Her instincts as an Executor compelled her to channel her Spiritual Power to stop this clueless fool.
But the obstruction in her Spiritual Power Circuits yanked her back to reality in that instant.
She clutched her arm.
No.
I can’t use much Spiritual Power in my current state.
And if I act, and the technique Junior Brother set up for me loosens, that would be even more trouble.
Shen Ye bit her lip, watching helplessly as that hand reached toward her.
“Hey.”
A hand shot out from behind Zhao Lin, clamping firmly around his wrist.
The Spiritual Power circulating in his hand scattered like drifting snowflakes.
Zhao Lin froze, turning his head.
A young man stood behind him, his gaze as cold as the dead of winter in March.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Zhao Lin frowned, shaking his hand, only to find the other man’s grip like an iron vise—unmoving.
“Who the hell are you? Let go right now.”
Lin Xiangyi didn’t answer his question, only glancing at Shen Ye with quiet concern.
Seeing the young woman unharmed, he turned back to Zhao Lin and spoke coldly:
“You were about to use Spiritual Power just now, weren’t you?”
Lin Xiangyi’s voice wasn’t loud, yet every word landed crisply in Zhao Lin’s ears.
“Using Spirit Control Art on ordinary citizens in a public place—you know what the Association would do, right? I don’t need to spell it out, do I?”
Zhao Lin’s pupils constricted slightly.
Damn, I’ve run into someone in the know.
After another failed attempt to break free, he forced a smile:
“Misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. I was just joking around.”
Lin Xiangyi stared at him for two seconds, then released his grip.
“If you have business with this young lady, you can talk to me. I’m her—”
“Friend.”
With that, he ignored Zhao Lin and turned to Shen Ye, speaking softly:
“Let’s go.”
Shen Ye nodded, taking small obedient steps to Lin Xiangyi’s side, following him away.
Zhao Lin stood rooted to the spot, watching the two figures walk off, the smile on his face slowly sinking.
“Young Master!”
Two familiar figures ran over from the side, panting as they scurried up to Zhao Lin—the same two men Lin Xiangyi had encountered in the restroom earlier.
“Go to hell! You two took that long in the bathroom? Who’s the young master here, you or me?”
Zhao Lin cursed, then froze as he took in the two lackeys’ faces.
“What the hell happened to you two?”
The two lackeys were bruised and swollen, looking like they’d just been beaten to a pulp.
One of them shifted his gaze evasively, pointing at Lin Xiangyi in the distance, and spoke:
“We… that guy beat us.”
Zhao Lin let out an incredulous laugh:
“One guy beat both of you?”
The two lackeys hung their heads.
“He didn’t mess with you, did he, Young Master?”
Zhao Lin didn’t answer, just stared in the direction Lin Xiangyi had gone, his eyes dark and venomous.
“Who is that guy?”
The two lackeys exchanged glances, and one leaned in to whisper something in Zhao Lin’s ear.
Zhao Lin’s brow furrowed.
“Azure Cloud Sect? The sect that Shen Ye belongs to?”
“Yes, yes, yes.”
Both lackeys nodded in agreement.
Shen Ye? Lin Xiangyi?
Zhao Lin recalled some recent rumors circulating in the Spirit Taming Realm.
Heh.
A sinister smile crept onto his lips.
Since we’ll be meeting at the examination anyway, don’t blame me for playing rough.