WBICDPH Chapter 14 Part 2

“What?”

Zhe Yu’s smile turned ambiguous.
“Remember—you must maintain this form. If your little beast form grows any larger, it won’t resemble a jade-eyed hound anymore.”

Xiao Lanqi suppressed, for the umpteenth time today, the urge to drag Zhe Yu down with him to mutual destruction.
“Get lost!”

Unwilling to say another word, Xiao Lanqi turned to leave. But after taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped. Thoughtfully, he turned back and gave Zhe Yu a long look.

Zhe Yu was still lounging lazily in the chair, loose hair and dark robes spilling together, making the white jade wine jug in his arms—and the hand holding it—look even paler.

Xiao Lanqi’s gaze lingered on the jug before he hesitated and finally said,
“It’s been many years. You seem to have changed a lot.”

With that, he turned into a wisp of black smoke and vanished into the bamboo grove, leaving behind only one final line:

“But when it comes to him, you’ll never truly become the same.”

—

Lin Jin was dragged around Yan Yu Mountain’s inner sect by Moyuzi in a whirlwind tour. The scenery was undeniably beautiful—and undeniably vast. His fragile body couldn’t take the abuse. By the time they finished one round, his legs felt like they were about to fall off. Learning that classes would start the day after tomorrow only left him physically and mentally exhausted.

The sole consolation was that his residence was extremely spacious. This was probably the perk of having so few people. The martial cultivators they’d passed earlier each had nothing more than a tiny room, while he had three large rooms and an extra courtyard. Moyuzi even told him he had full authority over it—he could plant spiritual herbs or raise spirit beasts however he liked.

That was the best news Lin Jin had heard in days. He did want to plant something—just not right now.

The price of being dragged all over the mountain was waking up the next day sore from head to toe. Lin Jin spent the entire second day flat on his bed. It wasn’t until the third day that he finally had enough strength to get up for morning class.

Since this batch of disciples came from the ranks of rogue cultivators, after entering the inner sect, they not only trained under their masters but also attended lectures, mostly foundational theory like history and geography of the cultivation world.

Theory was Lin Jin’s strong suit, and the classroom was located right within the South Qian Sect, meaning he didn’t have to run all over the place. He was extremely satisfied.

Morning at Yan Yu Mountain was thick with damp mist, mixed with the scent of grass and soil—fresh and pleasant.

Stretching as he walked along the class path, Lin Jin noted that Qiuqiu was still asleep when he woke. The puppy’s injuries hadn’t healed yet, and Lin Jin didn’t have the heart to drag him out at dawn, so he let him sleep in.

“Brother Lin!”

Just as Lin Jin was getting in the mood and considering doing some warm-up exercises on the spot, someone suddenly called out from behind him, snapping him out of it.

He paused mid-motion and turned around—only to see someone he never expected.

The boy looked about seventeen or eighteen, thin in build, with ordinary features but strikingly bright eyes.

He had changed out of his gray cloth clothes from before and now wore a short indigo outfit. His long hair was tied into a ponytail, making him look lively and spirited.

Han Ao!

Lin Jin was genuinely flattered.

He’d just been thinking about how to cozy up to the male lead in class, and now the male lead had come looking for him on his own!

“Oh—good morning!” Lin Jin greeted quickly, afraid of leaving a bad impression.

“Good morning.”

Han Ao jogged over, scratched his head a little awkwardly, and asked,
“Are you heading to morning class too? Do you know where the classroom is? I’m embarrassed to admit it, but even though my senior brother showed me around yesterday, I’m terrible with directions and I’ve already forgotten.”

“I remember. Just follow me,” Lin Jin said generously, waving his hand.

“Didn’t expect you to be this nice,” Han Ao said, visibly touched. He even apologized,
“Sorry about before. When you tried to talk to me, I kept avoiding you. I hope you didn’t mind.”

“It’s no big deal,” Lin Jin replied quickly.
“I was kind of abrupt back then, too—I was worried I scared you and was planning to explain when I got the chance.”

“No, no! Forget it—it’s all in the past. From now on, we’re fellow disciples. If we go by seniority, I should even call you Senior Brother Lin.”

“That’s too formal. Just call me Lin Jin.”

“Alright!”

With the awkward small talk over, the air fell quiet again as the two walked together toward class. Maybe sensing the silence, Han Ao suddenly laughed and tried to make conversation.

“It’s really convenient having the classroom in your own sector. Even an 8 a.m. class lets you sleep ten minutes longer than everyone else.”

Han Ao was still happily chuckling over those ten extra minutes, but after laughing twice, he suddenly seemed to realize something. His laughter cut off abruptly, and even his steps froze.

Lin Jin froze as well.

After hearing that sentence, Lin Jin’s brain short-circuited.

First of all, he was sure The Record of the Arrogant Immortal was not a transmigration novel.

Second, Han Ao’s words just now sounded way too natural.

And finally—what did he just say? What eight a.m.? What academy? What minutes?

The two of them fell into a deathly silence.

At last, Lin Jin swallowed nervously and asked in a trembling voice, almost testing the waters:
“Imperial jade liquor?”

Han Ao’s body jolted, his voice shaking even harder.
“One… one hundred eighty a cup?”

“Odds stay odd, evens stay even?”

“Signs determine the quadrant!”

“Hydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium, boron?”

“Carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, neon.”

“Big hammer, eighty?”

“Small hammer, forty.”

Lin Jin swallowed dryly, a bead of cold sweat sliding down his temple.
“KFC Crazy Thursday?”

Han Ao turned to look at him, eyes practically brimming with tears.
“Venmo me fifty!!!”