Yin Luoling sat cross-legged in the center of the quiet room.
Spiritual energy circulated around her body, yet it carried an indescribable sluggishness.
She slowly opened her eyes, a flash of irrepressible frustration flickering deep within her gaze.
‘Too slow… still too slow.’
She sighed inwardly.
‘I still need the Tower… Should I share the secret of the Tower with Lin Huan after all?’
Dealing with Lin Huan in the short term was impossible, so Yin Luoling had already decided to focus her attention on seizing the treasure.
There were still two years before the nearest treasure was due to appear, but to obtain it, she would need to be at least at the early stage of Foundation Establishment.
Even though spiritual energy was dwindling, talents continued to emerge in endless waves.
The geniuses of the Martial Arts Sects were not to be underestimated.
While she lacked their resources, she possessed no shortage of methods.
However, all of this was predicated on her having the strength of the Foundation Establishment stage.
But if she lost the Tower, it meant she would be restricted by Lin Huan in the future…
Without even thinking deeply, Yin Luoling could immediately visualize the lecherous expression Lin Huan would wear as he blackmailed her.
In the midst of her internal conflict—
Knock, knock, knock.
A clear rapping at the door interrupted her thoughts.
Yin Luoling snapped back to reality and said softly, “Come in.”
The door pushed open, and Lin Huan poked his head inside.
“Cultivating?”
Yin Luoling shook her head slightly.
“The spiritual energy is too thin; cultivation is ineffective. What about you? Why are you looking for me?”
“Has the other side contacted you lately?”
Yin Luoling continued to shake her head.
“Ever since I followed your instructions and informed them of the Ling Residence’s defenses, there has been no contact.”
“That’s not bad. Since they caught Jiu Ge as the mole, they will obviously lower their guard against everyone else.”
Lin Huan smiled as he walked into the room, making himself right at home.
Even after knowing everything he did.
Yin Luoling had no objections to Lin Huan’s thick skin.
After all, even if she did, he likely wouldn’t listen.
However, she asked with some curiosity, “Since you exposed Jiu Ge, aren’t you afraid he’ll suffer a sudden disaster? Or be killed outright?”
“I’ve thought about that.”
Lin Huan plopped down onto the chair by the bay window and took a bite out of a snow pear from a nearby fruit plate.
“But the possibility is slim. Since the opponent could quietly wipe out Member Zhang’s family and suppress the news for three months, they certainly aren’t reckless brutes.”
Such people are most likely deliberate and calculating in everything they do.
“They will definitely investigate the Ling Residence in secret.”
They won’t act until they’ve fully grasped the situation.
“While such an enemy is difficult and terrifying, they are also easy to deal with in a certain way.”
They maintain a high level of self-confidence in what they believe, see, and think.
“Faced with their own conclusions, they won’t easily change their judgment.”
The other side only asked you about the defenses of the Ling Residence and didn’t mention anything else.
So, when they get a lie from Jiu Ge, they will easily realize he’s lying and conclude that he is the mole I sent out.
“At this point, they will be very confident that they’ve seen through the flaw and believe Jiu Ge is the only mole. But they would never imagine that the real mole is actually you!”
“In this situation, there’s a high probability they won’t alert the enemy by killing Jiu Ge recklessly, or they would lose the advantage. So, they will likely only keep an eye on Jiu Ge and definitely won’t watch you.”
“My second spy!”
Seeing Lin Huan’s smug expression, Yin Luoling rolled her eyes and continued, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll actually betray you?”
“Even if I can’t kill you myself, there’s no restriction against using someone else’s blade.”
Lin Huan took another loud bite of the crisp, juicy snow pear.
A bit of juice slid down the corner of his mouth, which he carelessly wiped away with his sleeve.
He swung his legs, which were too short to reach the ground, his eyes clear.
“It’s a gamble.”
A gamble…?
She thought Lin Huan would spout some grand philosophy, but she hadn’t expected it to be so simple and crude.
“Do you want me to lose? To lose to some bad people of unknown origin who plan to do evil in Qingmu City and cause my parents a headache?”
Yin Luoling’s pupils narrowed slightly.
It was clear her psychology had been completely grasped by this boy.
Indeed, the risk of sharing secrets with this new “Lin Huan” was simply too high.
“So, I’m betting that you have a conscience and that you care about my parents. I’m betting you’ll help, and it looks like I’ve won.”
Yin Luoling simply closed her eyes to avoid looking at Lin Huan’s smug face, but she still had some doubts.
“But what if the other side isn’t as cautious as you think and wants to kill Jiu Ge directly? What will you do then?”
“No need to panic. I’ve already sent people to protect him in secret.”
Yin Luoling had no more questions.
She more or less understood what Lin Huan was trying to do.
After all, who would have thought that a 10-year-old child’s body would house such deep, calculating thoughts?
“Now that we’re done talking about this, why are you still lingering here?”
“Besides passing on false intel and coordinating with their movements, actually… I have one more favor to ask.”
“What…?”
“You can read and write, right?”
“Yes.”
In order to understand ancient texts, Yin Luoling had spent a lot of time studying ancient characters, visited many academies, and met many famous teachers.
It could be said she was definitely not a mere brute.
“Didn’t I want to set up that private school? It’s just that because of the Black Wind Hall, it didn’t work out. If I hire someone, it’s easy to leave a trail; any adult would likely be caught by the tail. So, I was wondering if you could be the instructor?”
“If it’s children, it can only be seen as children learning from each other. After all, you’re only 8 years old — on the outside.”
The opportunity had come.
Yin Luoling was inwardly delighted.
She had been worrying about how to get Lin Huan to help her open the Tower, and now wasn’t the opportunity right here?
“What’s in it for me? My foster parents have the merit of raising me and saving my life.”
“What do those children have to do with me? You don’t actually think I’m some kind-hearted little girl, do you?”
Yin Luoling’s cool gaze looked directly at Lin Huan, the coldness in her eyes devoid of any emotion.
“Half a month.”
Lin Huan suddenly threw out a number.
“How about I give you usage of the Tower for half a month every month?”
Hearing this, Yin Luoling smiled inwardly, though her face remained calm.
“Words are empty. I’ve seen your method of snatching things from a distance very clearly. You say half a month, but isn’t the time of retrieval entirely up to your mood?”
“Lin Huan, don’t think you can use such empty promises to make me work for you willingly.”
“I am only temporarily not your enemy, and that is only temporary. Besides, I could just as easily kill you after you deal with the Black Wind Hall.”
Lin Huan took another bite of the snow pear, juice spraying.
He swung his legs, the smile gradually fading from his face as he regained his composure.
He said leisurely, “True, words are empty. But this time, I only want to prove my sincerity.”
With that, Lin Huan flipped his wrist and placed the “Tower” directly on the table.
“Take this. For these two weeks, I won’t take it back.”
Having said that, Lin Huan stood up and left without giving Yin Luoling a chance to react.
He walked away arrogantly, munching on his pear without any delay.
Such decisiveness caused Yin Luoling to frown, unable to tell what he was plotting.
Ignoring the puzzled Yin Luoling still in the room, Lin Huan stroded away without stopping, heading straight back to his small courtyard.
However, Lin Huan’s eyes were fixed on the system screen.
[Status Window]
Name: Lin Huan
Age: 10
Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 4 (Peak)
Cultivation Techniques: Qi Refining Art, Yili Jiang Shihui, Quiet Shadow Under the Moon
Constitution: Poison-Eating Primal Spirit Physique
Mastered Techniques: Zeng Family Ancestral Secret—
[Magic Treasure: Nine-Aperture Exquisite Tower (Pair)]
He didn’t need to look at most of this.
The most important thing was that a month ago, Lin Huan had discovered an extra entry in his status panel.
The information he obtained from the system about the Tower made him incredibly envious.
No wonder Yin Luoling was so desperate for the Tower.
It turned out the functions of this Tower were even more powerful than his system!
Over the past month, Lin Huan had been researching how to enter the Tower, but he hadn’t succeeded.
While it frustrated Lin Huan, it also made him wonder: since the Tower was so important to Yin Luoling, why hadn’t she been anxious at all this past month?
Could it be that entering the Tower required a specific technique?
Of course, if he asked directly, Yin Luoling would definitely not agree, let alone tell him.
To obtain the secrets of the Tower, he had to use a clandestine maneuver.
That was right.
On the surface, Lin Huan’s visit today was for the sake of the school, using the Tower as a bargaining chip for Yin Luoling’s help in teaching.
But in reality, it was a test!
He wanted to see if Yin Luoling knew how to open it!
Giving her half a month was to observe whether Yin Luoling’s strength would increase through the Tower during that time!
If it did, it meant she had a way to enter!
When the time came, he would use the system’s remote recovery method to force Yin Luoling to share it with him.
If Yin Luoling didn’t improve, it meant something was wrong with the Tower, and he could have an open discussion with her.
After all, in her past life, Yin Luoling had used the Tower to cultivate, which meant she knew how to get in.
If she couldn’t get in this life, it was definitely because of him.
Furthermore, Lin Huan sensed the problem lay with the word “Pair.”
The system’s description stated there was only one Tower.
It was highly likely that it required two people to enter.
Following this most probable line of thought, Lin Huan had carried out this series of operations.
Even if he was wrong, there was nothing to lose anyway.
Next, all he had to do was wait.