Seeing Lin Yichen say this, Leng Qingning looked as though a massive weight had been lifted off her shoulders, then smiled and said:
"Then I won't disturb Great God Lin's studies anymore. If you ever need anything in the future, just come find me. I'll do everything I can to satisfy you!"
Lin Yichen noticed a hint of ingratiation hidden within her smiling gaze. Although it was concealed very deeply, it was still caught by the current Lin Yichen, and he instantly felt that something was off.
His first instinct was that his identity had been exposed, but upon second thought, that shouldn't be the case. With his current level of cultivation, even a Martial Emperor standing right in front of him couldn't see through it.
With a deep and profound look in his eyes, he looked at Leng Qingning before him, nodded, and said:
"Alright, take care..."
Seemingly sensing Lin Yichen's gaze, Leng Qingning froze slightly as she turned to walk down the stairs. A cold sweat broke out across her back, and without a moment's hesitation, she hurried away.
Watching Leng Qingning's departing figure, Lin Yichen immediately called upon the System.
"System, what's going on with this Leng Qingning? I keep feeling like this person is acting strange."
"Ding! Please rest assured, Host. In this great era, the reincarnation of powerhouses, those who awaken memories of past lives, and those who can foresee the future are all possibilities. This Leng Qingning probably belongs to the category of awakened memories, and most likely witnessed the Host making a move sometime in the future."
Well, well! Hearing what the System had to say, Lin Yichen could only marvel. But on second thought, it made sense—he even had a System himself, so why couldn't someone else manage to awaken some memories?
Totally reasonable!
Having convinced himself, Lin Yichen continued with a curious question:
"Then, System, will another System owner ever appear in this world?"
"Ding! Please rest assured on that front, Host. No matter the world, a second System will never appear. (There never was any such thing as a System to begin with.)"
The System did not speak this last sentence aloud, but instead added it silently in its mind.
Hearing what the System said, Lin Yichen breathed a sigh of relief. After all, a cheat like the System was simply too bugged; if another System owner appeared and set themselves up as his enemy, while he wouldn't be afraid, it would certainly be overwhelmingly exhausting.
After chatting idly with the System for a little while, Lin Yichen returned to his seat. As for Leng Qingning, who might know his true strength, Lin Yichen didn't quite know what to do with her yet.
Since she came to curry favor with him, she probably wasn't a bad person. Killing her was out of the question—after all, he wasn't some bloodthirsty maniac; he only killed those who deserved to be killed.
Of course, he couldn't completely let his guard down either. Just as Leng Qingning was leaving, he had left a strand of Mental Power on her.
Normally, it wouldn't cause any reaction at all, but the moment she attempted to expose Lin Yichen, that trace of Mental Power would directly seal her mouth shut, and Lin Yichen would immediately receive a notification to rush over.
Just as Lin Yichen finished sorting out his thoughts, he felt a fair, slender little hand gently tugging at his clothes.
Following the little hand with his gaze, he saw that it was none other than Xu Shiyue sitting beside him. He immediately asked:
"Hmm? What is it?"
Xu Shiyue remained silent for a long while, just as Lin Yichen began to think she was only tugging at him for fun, a timid, slightly trembling voice reached his ears:
"L-Lin Yichen, who, who was that person just now?"
Hearing this, Lin Yichen looked at Xu Shiyue. This was the first time Xu Shiyue hadn't avoided his gaze, looking straight at him instead.
Lin Yichen had thought it was some major matter, but it was just this? He immediately replied:
"It's nothing, just a recent transfer student. It's my first time seeing her too, we're not close, she just came to me with a minor matter."
Hearing this, Xu Shiyue seemed to heave a sigh of relief, only to realize a second later that her hand was still clutching the hem of Lin Yichen's shirt. Her face flushed red as she pulled her hand back, whispering:
"S-Sorry, I-I was just worried about you."
Seeing her looking so adorable, Lin Yichen couldn't help but raise a hand to pat her head, then smiled and said:
"It's fine, it's good. Keep it up."
She could actually care about other people now; was she far from shaking off her reclusive personality? Not far at all! Thinking of this, Lin Yichen nodded in satisfaction.
This, however, was pure torture for the comrade in the back row, who felt as though salt was being rubbed directly into his wounds. Was this the kind of program a single aristocrat was meant to watch? The worst part was that he didn't even dare to protest, and could only endure it in silence.
Feeling the warm, large hand resting on her head, Xu Shiyue felt as though she was losing her mind. Right now, all she wanted to do was hurl herself fiercely into Lin Yichen's embrace, wishing she could melt into him and let her body become saturated with his scent.
Of course, she was only imagining this; if she actually pulled a stunt like that, Lin Yichen would probably toss her straight out the window.
I'm raising you like a child, yet you're eyeing my body? Have you no shame, you wretch!
Just as Lin Yichen withdrew his hand and prepared to resume studying, their homeroom teacher, Liu Luo, strode into the classroom.
"Clap, clap, clap!"
Stepping onto the podium, Liu Luo clapped his hands, causing everyone to look up at him curiously.
"Classmates, put aside what you have in your hands for a moment and gather at the training room. Today, the school has invited a Grandmaster Stage powerhouse to give a lecture, so you'd better cherish this opportunity!"
Upon hearing that a Grandmaster was going to lecture them, everyone thought they had misheard.
"O-Old—ahem, Teacher Liu, for real? A Grandmaster coming to our school to teach? You're not pulling our leg, are you?"
"Yeah, Teacher Liu, today isn't April Fool's Day either!"
Although they were all somewhat skeptical, a trace of excitement still shone in their eyes. Since Liu Luo had said it, there was a high probability it was true.
The only reason they were doubting him was simply because they usually had such a good relationship with Liu Luo that they couldn't help themselves—it was an instinctive reaction.
Looking at these rascals, Liu Luo laughed and scolded:
"You bunch of brats, stop flapping your gums and hurry up. Don't dilly-dally; you'll see for yourselves once you get to the training room. Listen up, all of you—cherish this opportunity and study hard! Especially you, Lin Yichen, if you don't learn a thing or two, you'd better watch out or I'll skin you alive!"
As soon as those words left his mouth, the entire class burst into laughter.
As the student at Hushi No. 1 High School whose cultivation far outpaced all the others, Lin Yichen had always been Liu Luo's prized treasure—the kind he was afraid would melt in his mouth. Skin him? He'd sooner skin himself than lay a hand on Lin Yichen!
Hearing Liu Luo's words, Lin Yichen also smiled and said:
"Don't worry, Teacher Liu, I guarantee I'll learn every single skill that Grandmaster has to offer!"
Lin Yichen wasn't actually joking. The martial arts techniques of a mere Grandmaster were something he could memorize and master upon a single glance; his Rank 7 Early-Stage Mental Power was nothing to scoff at.
Hearing Lin Yichen's response, Liu Luo nodded in satisfaction. He didn't expect the boy to learn everything—that was unrealistic. In his view, as long as he picked up a bit of the foundation, it would be more than enough for the current Lin Yichen to make a massive leap forward. By then, getting accepted into one of the Four Great Martial Arts Academies would be as easy as taking candy from a baby!
Following that, everyone in Class 1 trailed behind Liu Luo and headed toward the training room.
Before long, Liu Luo arrived at the entrance of the training room, tapped lightly on the door, and said:
"Grandmaster Li, the students have all arrived."
"Come in!"
A voice that sounded rather youthful immediately drifted out from inside the training room.