The empty hallway was utterly silent.
The mall’s background music drifted faintly from the other side of the fire door, serving as the sole accompaniment to the tense standoff between the two men.
“No one’s here. This should meet your expectations.”
Lin Xiangyi spoke first, as casually as if he were greeting an old friend he hadn’t seen in years.
“Hee hee hee.”
As if his thoughts had been read, Zhao Lin laughed, his shoulders shaking.
“You really don’t fear death, do you?”
He licked his lips, a flicker of cruelty flashing through his eyes.
“Don’t worry. Just like you said, no one will ever know what happens here.”
“Even if you die right here.”
His two lackeys were guarding the entrance right now. No one could get in.
It would just be him and Lin Xiangyi here.
“Oh? Is that so?”
A draft of wind blowing through the corridor swept across Lin Xiangyi’s forehead, his hair flipping aside to reveal eyes utterly devoid of emotion.
Zhao Lin stared at those eyes. Amidst his sneering, a sliver of wariness crept into his heart.
Hah.
What am I afraid of?
I’ve already done my research.
When this kid failed his last exam, he couldn’t even use the most basic Five Element Systems.
Five years. A mere five years.
The Life Spirit System is infamous throughout the Spirit Taming Realm for being difficult to master.
In five years, no matter how hard this brat tried, there’s no way he could surpass me!
He’s nothing but trash!
The sneer on Zhao Lin’s lips deepened.
But he was the junior disciple of that man—Shen Ye, the so-called strongest Executor.
So what if I get caught by an Executor this time?!
If I beat him, I’ll make a name for myself in the Spirit Taming Realm overnight!
Zhao Lin hesitated no longer. His body exploded into motion.
He threw a punch, golden spiritual power converging in his hand, aimed directly at Lin Xiangyi’s face.
Strike first!
Metal Element, huh?
He really isn’t holding back.
Lin Xiangyi remained expressionless, watching Zhao Lin charge right up to him.
He tilted his head slightly, and Zhao Lin’s fist grazed past his hair.
Zhao Lin sneered. The spiritual power in his hand instantly morphed into a sharp blade-knuckle, slashing horizontally toward Lin Xiangyi’s neck.
Lin Xiangyi raised his hand.
“Clang—!”
With a piercing sound of clashing weapons, the knuckle blade in Zhao Lin’s hand was knocked away, clattering onto the empty floor nearby with a crisp ring.
Zhao Lin stood frozen, arm still raised, his face a mask of shock.
Lin Xiangyi didn’t pursue. He merely watched him quietly.
“That’s it?”
Zhao Lin withdrew his hand, his expression darkening.
He blocked it?
With his bare body?
Is this the Life Spirit System’s power?
Well, even if he has some skill.
It won’t change the outcome.
“Don’t get cocky, boy!”
He struck again.
“Finally, let me show you a little mercy.”
Zhao Lin grinned maniacally, his swinging fist wrapped in howling wind.
The acceleration of wind and the sharpness of metal.
In terms of attack power, this is my strongest killing move. No one can block it.
“My name is Zhao Lin! Remember it well!”
As his declaration fell.
Behind Lin Xiangyi, a metal spear materialized from thin air, its razor-sharp tip glinting coldly, aimed directly at the man’s defenseless back.
Seeing Lin Xiangyi completely unresponsive, Zhao Lin’s heart soared with ecstasy.
Got him!
I’m about to become famous!
A pincer attack from front and back—did you see that coming, you trash!?
But the very next second.
“Ping—!”
With a crisp sound of metal colliding, the spear he’d counted on as a surprise attack was sent flying by some invisible force, embedding itself into the ceiling and spiderwebbing cracks across it.
At the same moment, Zhao Lin’s fist struck nothing but air.
His pupils contracted sharply.
In his vision, Lin Xiangyi’s figure had vanished into thin air.
This speed! How is that possible!
The next instant, an icy male voice sounded beside him. He turned his head with difficulty, and Lin Xiangyi was already standing at his wide-open flank, as if he’d been there all along.
“I don’t have time to memorize the names of random extras, but I know exactly what you’re thinking.”
“You want to ride on my senior brother’s reputation and step on my head to make a name for yourself?”
Lin Xiangyi’s frigid voice drilled into Zhao Lin’s ears, like the final death knell.
“Then you’re thinking way too much.”
A single punch drove in.
Zhao Lin’s head was smashed into the floor, a dull thud echoing through the corridor.
Lin Xiangyi stood up and shook his hand, as if flicking off something filthy.
Using spiritual power to run wild and thinking you can get away with it.
Without sparing a single thought for ordinary people.
People like you are the ones I hate the most.
He glanced at the corner not far away and spoke.
“Take your boss and get lost.”
With that, he didn’t spare Zhao Lin another glance and strode out of the corridor with long steps.
Zhao Lin’s two lackeys finally scrambled out from the corner, hurriedly propping up the crumpled Zhao Lin, their voices trembling as they asked:
“Young Master, are you alright?”
Zhao Lin didn’t answer.
He only lifted his blood-stained face, staring fixedly at the direction Lin Xiangyi had gone, his gaze so dark it looked ready to drip water.
Lin Xiangyi walked out of the corridor and merged into the flow of people as if nothing had happened.
He rubbed the fist that had just struck Zhao Lin’s face.
Reinforcing the body to achieve enhanced speed and power.
This basic ability of the Life Spirit System—I’ve already mastered it to perfection.
It’s been a while since I’ve thrown a punch, but my skills are still up to par.
Feels good.
He hummed a tune, his mood lifted.
Now, let me think about how to find Xiao Ye.
I should tell her about me beating up Zhao Lin, let her have a good laugh too.
Though, I hope she won’t blame me for not taking good care of her.
I can’t let her catch me on something that would get back to Senior Brother’s ears. I don’t want Shen Ge to be upset with me.
“We now interrupt this broadcast for a missing person announcement. We now interrupt this broadcast for a missing person announcement.”
The mall’s speakers suddenly rang out. A sweet female voice carried clearly through every corner via the speakers scattered throughout the building.
“The lost child Lin Xiangyi, the lost child Lin Xiangyi.”
Lin Xiangyi, mid-hum, froze on the spot.
“Your guardian, Miss Xiao Ye, is looking for you. Your guardian, Miss Xiao Ye, is looking for you.”
“Please report to the first-floor customer service desk immediately upon hearing this broadcast.”
“Lin Xiangyi is approximately 180 centimeters tall, identified by a white jacket and black pants, a young man around twenty years old.”
“He was last seen in the third-floor clothing section.”
“If any customer sees someone matching this description, please escort him to the first-floor customer service desk.”
…What!???
Lin Xiangyi looked as though he’d been hit by a paralysis spell, nailed to the spot.
Passersby stopped in their tracks, their gazes turning in unison toward Lin Xiangyi.
“Is that the guy?”
“That’s him.”
“He’s so tall and he still got lost? How embarrassing.”
Whispers crept in from all directions, crawling over Lin Xiangyi’s body like ants.
His face went from white to red, then from red to green. His facial muscles twitched uncontrollably, eventually freezing into an expression he himself couldn’t describe.
Just then, a small hand tugged at his sleeve.
“Big brother, are you okay?”
Lin Xiangyi looked down. A little boy was looking up at him, his eyes full of sincerity and concern.
What a good kid.
He crouched down, struggling to force what he believed to be a kind smile onto his face.
“I’m fine. Big brother isn’t lost, I just…”
Mid-sentence, he noticed the boy’s face turning visibly pale.
With a cry of “Waaah! So scary! Mom!” followed by fading sobs, the little boy burst into tears, spun around, and ran off without a trace.
Lin Xiangyi stared at the fleeing back, as if struck by lightning.
“His expression is terrifying.”
“He scared a little kid into crying.”
“He got lost himself, and now he’s scaring children too. No shame at all.”
The stares around him grew even sharper.
Lin Xiangyi took a deep breath, calming his emotions.
At that moment, any guilt or worry he’d felt earlier vanished completely.
Right now, he only wanted one thing: to immediately arrest a certain mischievous cat who’d gone running off, and punish her severely!
He slowly rose to his feet, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.
That—
Idiot!!!
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