"You know, your story sounds a bit too convenient," Pai Kuan said. "However, I can't detect any changes in your body, which suggest that you are telling the truth. All right. I will believe you. That art the white cloud girl used was originally an art her ancestor recovered from inside the dinsion. Perhaps you have found the art from the sa place."
"Perhaps," Amon said. Those acute senses that a Martial Realm cultivator possessed had instead helped him to convince Pai Kuan about his story. In his past life, it was child's play for him to fool lie detector machines and polygraph experts.
"That girl didn't co back from the secret dinsion. Do you by any chance know what happens to her?" Pai Kuan asked.
"No. I only saw her that one ti from a distance. I avoided everyone during my ti there," Amon replied. "So, have I proven my disloyalty to the Lin clan?"
"Hm…," Pai Kuan was massaging his chin again. "All right. We will also have so youths joining the royal academy. They will make contact with you. I hope you can cooperate nicely."
Amon simply nodded.
"I look forward to our future cooperation. I hope for your sake, you don't let us down."
After saying that, Pai Kuan flew up and disappeared into the dark sky.
,m "Hmph, being a weakling is indeed annoying," Amon muttered.
*
Amon spent a couple of hours stabilizing his condition using Nine Moon Restorative Mantra before journeying back to the Lin estate. He changed into another disguise before returning. His body was still hurting, but at least he could walk properly.
Arriving at the estate, Amon heard much commotion. They must have found out about the two Lin's demise.
Amon ignored them. With his normally cold attitude, he didn't draw attention by behaving this way. He went directly to his house and resud his recuperation there.
There was only one month left before enrolling in the Royal Academy. He needed to be in top condition at the ti. So, he focused on recovery.
*
One month later, inside Lin Weida's office, the clan master was reading several report papers from behind his desk. His first son, Lin Bubai was sitting in front of him in silence.
"Has anyone found out the culprit behind Zuyi and Xiaoying's deaths?" Lin Weida asked.
"No, father. Our investigations haven't turned out any result. There is, however, a rumor about activity by White Sect's disciples around the vicinity of the cri scene during that day."
"If it's them, we can't make a move without solid proof. Continue the investigation."
"Yes, father."
"Hm?" Lin Weida's eyebrows were lifted after reading one of the papers on his desk.
"Sothing the matter, father?" Lin Bubai asked.
"The enrollnt for the royal academy is this year? Ti sure flies," Lin Weida said.
Lin Bubai nodded. "It sure is. Although that enrollnt is not sothing that's super important to us, we still have to send our candidates to give the royal family a face. Therefore, we only send those with talents but lack support. This way, we can spare our resources for our top geniuses, and let these second-rate talents grow using the royal academy's resources. Those reports are the candidates recomnded by the prominent families in this clan. The royal academy only provided four spots for our Lin clan, but this year we have twelve candidates being nominated. I'm also surprised to have seen the number of applicants."
"The quantity is not the reason for my surprise," Lin Weida said. "Have you read all the candidates nominated here?"
"I haven't seen them all in detail," Lin Bubai answered.
"Then you don't know that Lin Mo is one of the candidates, do you?"
"Lin Mo…? No, I don't know. It is truly surprising. With how protective Lin Xi is of that boy, I'm surprised she let him go."
"The thing that surprises
is not Lin Mo's na here. It's the na of the person who nominated him," Lin Weida said.
"What does father an? Isn't it Lin Xi who put in his na?" Lin Bubai asked.
"No, It's Lin Fong."
"Lin Fong…? Is he trying to get rid of Lin Mo? But… There need to be signatures from both the candidate and the one who references him. If it is only him, we can just dismiss the application."
"That's what surprises
as well. Both of them signed this paper."
*
Outside Amon's house, Amon was having his regular chat with Madam Lin inside the gazebo. Amon was pouring tea into Madam Lin's cup.
"Thank you," Madam Lin said. She sipped the tea before saying, "Look at you. How fast you have grown. I rembered you are still a tiny boy when I first see you. Now, you are already taller than . It is surprising how ti flies. You are seventeen years old now, an adult. You should think about your future. You need a permanent post in our Lin clan. How about you start by coming to work for
in the prison, you have proven to be a more than capable interrogator."
Amon smiled. He was actually fifteen years of age, but his body was larger than a normal boy's, so his age misunderstanding was never truly suspected. He was more than 1.7 ters tall now with a broad shoulder to match.
"Actually, mother, that is what I wish to talk to you about," Amon said.
"Do you wish to work with ?" Madam Lin asked, beaming.
"I'm sorry, that's not what I an. I an I have been thinking about my future, and I feel like it's ti for
to venture out for an improvent."
"What are you saying?" Madam Lin asked, her smile waning.
"I want to enroll in the royal academy," Amon said.
"What? No! Why would you want to go there? The royal academy is in another city. You should stay here, in this city."
'This is expected,' Amon thought. He said, "There is a ti where every son has to go their own path, every mother has to see her son leave. This is an inevitable process of parenthood."
"Are you teaching
how to be a parent?" Madam Lin chided.
"What I'm trying to say is, I'm truly grateful for all that you have done to . You are a mother every son can ask for. I will never be able to repay your care and kindness, but it is ti for
to forge my own path. I believe I can reach further heights if I spread my wings outside."
"Are you saying the Lin clan is not good enough for you?"
"Yes."
"How dare you!" Madam Lin slamd the table and stood up, her breathing rapid.
"Mother, please don't be angry," Amon said calmly. "You should know, the only one good to
here is only you. I don't bla them. I am already glad that they allowed
to live here all this ti. But I can't grow any further in this place. I need to go out to look for my own opportunity. I promise once I have achieved sothing, I will return to bring you with . We can be together again then, on our own terms."
"I'm happy here. Why would I want to leave?" Madam Lin said, her breathings were still rapid.
"All right. In that case, once I'm strong enough, I will return to this White Cloud city and stay here. We can be together again, but at that ti, I will not be looked down on by the others from the Lin clan."
Madam Lin's breathing slowed down a little. She did admit her other clan mbers were not that welcoming to Amon. She had tried to smooth things over by bringing so families here to socialize with Amon, but Amon was simply too much of a loner. It was a difficult thing to work on.
"I won't sign the application paper, if that's what you ask of !" Madam Lin uttered. Although she understood why Amon wanted to leave, she still couldn't force herself to let him go.
"That's not what I'm asking. I'm simply telling you so you know," Amon said.
"What do you an, soone had referenced you for the enrollnt?" Madam Lin asked.
"Yes."
"Who?" Madam Lin demanded.
"Uncle Fong," Amon answered.
"Him?" Madam Lin frowned. Since when did these two beco close? "I'll talk to him!" She said as she strode away.
"It's pointless. The application with both our signatures is already at the clan master's office."
Madam Lin stopped after hearing it.
"How dare you two conspire behind !" Madam Lin turned back and scolded.
"I'm sorry, mother. I know you won't let
go. That's why I have done this without your consent. I'm truly sorry, but I have made up my mind. I will go to the royal academy one way or another. Even if the Lin clan decided to not approve of sending
there, I will find my own way."
Madam Lin stared at Amon. She could see the resolution in Amon's expression. She knew then that she could not prevent this. The only way was forcefully restraining Amon. But what good would that do? He would no longer see her the way he used to. She sighed. Perhaps it was a mother's fate to see her offspring leave the nest sooner or later. It was just a foolish dream to thought otherwise.
"Do what you like," Madam Lin said weakly and walked away.
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