Chapter 22: Cherish Life, Stay Away from Heartless Women!

“There’s a primary-level secret realm near Xuncheng. The spirit beasts inside aren’t particularly dangerous, so all the major factions around the city use it as a training ground for their rookies,” Sun Zhiyuan explained, and Lin Xiao instantly understood his intentions.

“Brother, you’re not seriously suggesting I go train in the secret realm, are you? Forget it, that’s just sending me to my death!”

“Shut up and let me finish. Tomorrow, the top awakened students from all the high schools in Xuncheng will head into the secret realm together for training. I want you to join them and have already signed you up. This is merely a notification. You don’t have the right to refuse.”

Lin Xiao: (;′?????`)

Is there no justice? No law? Do I have no rights at all?

“Is there really no way out of this?”

“Heh, what do you think? Also, you’ll be grouped with the students from Xuncheng First High. You’ll enter with some people from your school. Don’t worry, the mortality rate is low, and dedicated personnel will be protecting you from the shadows.”

Hearing there would be protection, Lin Xiao relaxed a little. It seemed this trip wouldn’t be too dangerous after all; perhaps it would be good to broaden his horizons.

Sun Zhiyuan immediately saw through Lin Xiao’s thoughts.

“If you think having protection means you’re safe, you’re wrong. Let me put it this way: every year, freshmen are sent to this secret realm to train, and every year, some never return.”

“Brother, I’m timid, don’t scare me!”

“I don’t have time to joke with you. Rest well tonight. Tomorrow morning, I’ll take you there myself.”

With that, Sun Zhiyuan left first, leaving Lin Xiao in a state of confusion.

This was a bit too abrupt.

Lin Xiao knew there was no changing the plan just by objecting. He was curious to see how much his strength had improved. Since Sun Zhiyuan wanted him to face the trial, perhaps his current abilities weren’t so bad after all.

Everything would be revealed tomorrow.

Wait! He’d be with the students from Xuncheng First High School?

Would that mean meeting Liu Ruoyan and Ji Boxiao?

Damn! How could he forget about them?

Was it too late to switch teams? He had a feeling those two would try to trip him up.

Maybe he should talk it over with Sun Zhiyuan again.

Knowing he’d be venturing into the secret realm tomorrow, Lin Xiao decided against extra training, choosing instead to conserve his energy for what was to come.

He headed back to his quarters, greeting the elderly residents he passed along the way with warmth and respect.

These were formidable figures, connections that might prove invaluable one day.

“Brother Zhang, good evening! Out for a stroll?”

“Sister Li, you’re looking even lovelier tonight.”

“Brother Zhao, I just saw Sister Wu exercising over there. You might still catch her if you head that way.”

…

Lin Xiao was adept at greeting them all, firmly believing that building strong relationships required elevating his own status. The elders seemed to accept this readily. He couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of their younger relatives addressing him with deference in the future.

Give, give, give~!

When he returned to his room, he found Sun Zhiyuan already back.

“Brother, can we discuss this once more?”

“No negotiations. You’re going to the secret realm tomorrow, no matter what.”

“I know, but can’t you put me with a different group? There are people at First High who don’t get along with me.”

“Oh, that’s even better. First High it is!”

Lin Xiao: (。?`w′?)

Damn! Why did Sun Zhiyuan seem even more excited?

Forget it, let him be.

Lin Xiao wasn’t overly worried; he felt the people at the retirement home wouldn’t send him to his death. This journey to the secret realm probably had another purpose.

But he couldn’t guess what it was.

Because he’d need to go to the secret realm tomorrow, Lin Xiao thought he’d get some early rest. Yet, perhaps from excitement, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

He remembered he’d be joining First High’s group tomorrow and wondered if he could dig up some inside information—he still had a few good buddies there.

Wait, where was his phone?

Suddenly realizing that since entering the retirement home, he’d barely touched his phone, falling asleep right after each training session. It had been nearly a week, and he hadn’t even thought about it. How remarkable.

He used to check his phone no matter how busy he was.

He dug out his long-neglected phone and found it dead. After plugging it in to charge, it powered up and immediately flooded him with messages and missed calls.

A quick glance revealed messages from teachers, from his good friend Zhou Zhi, and, surprisingly, the most from Liu Ruoyan! This caught Lin Xiao off guard.

Hadn’t they broken up? Why was she messaging and calling him?

He ignored her for now and checked the homeroom teacher’s messages.

The teacher was notifying him about tomorrow’s secret realm trip, expressing concern over his awakening of an F-level power—wasn’t this suicide? The teacher asked if Ji Boxiao was trying to target him, and if so, would suppress the matter.

Lin Xiao had a good impression of the homeroom teacher, who’d always helped him out, especially with his work-study arrangements.

He didn’t want to trouble the teacher with his current situation, so he simply replied that Ji Boxiao wasn’t the reason, and that he was now strong enough not to worry, before checking Zhou Zhi’s messages.

Zhou Zhi had been asking after him, worried sick from the days of unreturned contact. As his best friend, Zhou Zhi had awakened an A-level earth ability and was likely to participate in the secret realm trial as well.

Lin Xiao replied after a moment’s thought:

[Read. Don’t worry. See you tomorrow!]

Everything could be discussed in person tomorrow.

He decided not to mention anything about the retirement home for now; given what he knew, telling Zhou Zhi might not be beneficial.

Zhou Zhi didn’t reply, probably busy, and Lin Xiao wasn’t anxious. The rest of the messages were all from Liu Ruoyan.

[Lin Xiao, how dare you hit me. Come out and apologize right now—I might still forgive you.]

[You dare ignore me? Didn’t you always reply instantly, no matter how busy you were?]

[This is your last chance. Come see me. I’m waiting at school.]

…

After skimming through them, Lin Xiao lost interest.

He wasn’t about to become some lovesick puppy—he had no intention of playing the fool.

Anything that could be snatched away was worthless, and besides, Liu Ruoyan was never his type.

He also realized that her messages were partly accusatory, but mostly attempts to arrange a meeting. She probably wasn’t acting out of goodwill; Ji Boxiao had likely put her up to it, hoping for an opportunity to teach him a lesson. Lin Xiao wasn’t that naïve.

Moreover, all her messages were phrased as commands.

Thinking about this kind of woman disgusted him.

He promptly blocked Liu Ruoyan’s green bubbles, her number, and felt much better.

Cherish your life—stay away from toxic women!