Liu Yanran: Am I really wrong?
“No!”
“He found us!”
Feeling Lin Dong's captivating gaze approaching, several of Ye Tong's followers either tumbled out of the bushes or fell from trees.
Their eyes, however, were filled with terror.
Lin Dong's reputation was too terrifying!
Lin Dong did not easily let go of Ye Tong's followers.
This road was opened by him, and these trees were planted by him. He casually transferred their points to Skinny Monkey before letting them leave the Secret Realm.
For the next half-day, no one foolish enough came to bother Lin Dong.
Soon, it was time for the Assessment to end.
Lin Dong glanced at the few Demon Wolves. It was a pity he couldn't take Yao Beasts out of the Secret Realm, otherwise, he really wanted to take a few Demon Wolves out to guard the Lin Family's gate.
This would surely scare the various forces in Yunlan City, making them never dare to be arrogant towards the Lin Family again.
Even if Lin Dong wasn't in the Lin Family, the Yao Beasts could protect Butler Fu and the Lin Family members for him, so he wouldn't have to worry about their safety.
He would only wait until he left the Secret Realm to see if there were any Demon Wolves in the mountains around Yunlan City before making further plans.
…
On the plaza.
A huge vortex appeared out of thin air, deep and vast, and figures emerged from it, none other than the Disciples of the Outer Courtyard.
They held their tokens, discussing animatedly, some joyful, some sad.
Some looked at a long string of numbers, overjoyed, feeling certain they would enter the Inner Courtyard.
Some looked at their empty point totals, utterly dejected.
This time, they would have to wait until next year for a chance to enter the Inner Courtyard, missing the best opportunity to Cultivate, and their future achievements would also be lowered.
But with the rankings not yet released, most people felt anxious.
Everyone queued up to hand their tokens to an Assessment Elder to record their scores, and only then would the rankings be announced. Lin Dong and Skinny Monkey were at the very back, unhurried.
“Where’s Brother Han?”
“Did any of you see Bai Han?”
At this moment, Lin Dong heard a familiar voice. Liu Yanran kept asking the emerging Disciples if they had seen Bai Han.
Unfortunately, all the Disciples shook their heads, somewhat surprised. Wasn't Bai Han the number one in the Outer Courtyard? Seeing Liu Yanran's anxious expression, could something have happened?
Lin Dong was surprised. After not seeing her for a few days, Liu Yanran had actually Broken Through to the Ning Dan Realm.
It seemed she had obtained some fortuitous encounter in the Secret Realm, which was why she wasn't with Bai Han and the others.
As Lin Dong had thought, Liu Yanran had obtained some opportunities as soon as she entered the Secret Realm. She had Cultivated in seclusion for a day before coming out to kill monsters.
After coming out, she searched for Bai Han and the others but found no trace of them. She could only kill Yao Beasts herself.
It wasn't until she left the Secret Realm and still didn't see Bai Han that Liu Yanran felt something was amiss.
Liu Yanran also saw Lin Dong and couldn't help but be stunned, as if somewhat surprised; “Lin Dong? How are you still alive?”
“You should be concerned about whether your Brother Bai Han is still alive!”
Lin Dong crossed his arms, glancing at her indifferently, a smirk playing on his lips.
Liu Yanran believed Bai Han was the true Genius, and she constantly called him a good-for-nothing.
She even broke off their engagement because of it.
He wondered what expression Liu Yanran would have when she learned that Bai Han, the Genius, had been defeated and died at his, Lin Dong's, hands.
Consider it a surprise for her.
Skinny Monkey clicked his tongue, “What a pity, to be widowed at such a young age!”
“What do you mean?” Liu Yanran's pupils contracted, a premonition of misfortune rising in her heart. Didn't Brother Han go to kill Lin Dong?
But how was Lin Dong still alive, while Brother Han was nowhere to be seen…
Liu Yanran quickly thought of another possibility, but then shook her head: “No, impossible. How could Lin Dong, a good-for-nothing, kill Brother Han?!”
“Brother Han must have been delayed by something; he'll come out a little later!”
But as time passed, the vortex passage of the Secret Realm slowly closed, and an increasing sense of unease rose in Liu Yanran's heart.
Could Brother Han really have met with an accident?
Liu Yanran looked at the Assessment Elder: “Elder! There's still a fellow Disciple who hasn't come out yet. Can you please delay closing the Secret Realm exit?”
She simply couldn't believe that Bai Han would have an accident.
With Bai Han's strength at Ning Dan Realm third level, and a top-grade Magic Treasure from the Bai Family on him, if anyone were to have an accident, Bai Han would not.
“You're talking about Bai Han, aren't you? He's dead!”
The Assessment Elder glanced at Liu Yanran, as if recognizing Bai Han and her relationship, and sighed.
His words struck Liu Yanran like a lightning bolt, causing her delicate body to tremble uncontrollably, as if she might collapse to the ground at any moment.
“How is that possible?!”
“How could Brother Han have an accident?!”
Liu Yanran found it hard to accept, looking hopefully for another answer: “Elder, you must be lying to me, right?”
“Why would this Elder lie to you?!”
“Bai Han was defeated by Lin Dong and died in the belly of a Yao Beast! This is the truth witnessed by everyone.”
The Assessment Elder shook his head, his words filled with regret. The other Disciples all nodded, indicating that what the Elder said was true.
“Bai Han actually lost?!”
The Outer Courtyard Disciples who came out of the Secret Realm did not know what had happened inside.
Upon learning of this, they all looked at Lin Dong with awe. Didn't this mean Lin Dong was now the number one in the Outer Courtyard?
“Brother Han lost?!”
“Lin Dong, you actually caused Brother Han's death?!”
Liu Yanran's eyes instantly turned red, like a crazed female dog, ready to devour someone, she lunged at Lin Dong with bared fangs and claws: “I'll kill you!”
Why was Brother Han dead, while Lin Dong stood here perfectly fine? She wanted to avenge Brother Han!
“Presumptuous!”
“While I am here, how dare you attack a fellow Disciple?!”
“This is a small punishment for you; do not let it happen again!”
Before Lin Dong could act, the Assessment Elder let out a cold shout. A terrifying pressure swept over, sending Liu Yanran flying backward, slamming heavily onto the plaza.
“Pfft!”
“How could Brother Han die? How could he leave me?!”
Liu Yanran spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, collapsing to the ground on the spot, utterly losing face, her expression somewhat dazed.
“It's all you, Lin Dong!”
Liu Yanran was distraught, her eyes filled with venom as she looked at Lin Dong. She didn't think Brother Han was wrong for trying to kill Lin Dong; she only thought Lin Dong deserved to die.
“Clang!”
Just then, a recording crystal suddenly rolled in front of Liu Yanran.
A recording crystal could record everything that had happened and present it perfectly.
Liu Yanran saw a light screen projected by the crystal, and a familiar figure flew up. It was the scene of Lin Dong savagely beating Bai Han, and she froze on the spot.
“Is this the Genius you chose?”
“Heh heh, he couldn't even withstand one blow from me! He's utterly pathetic!”
At this moment, Lin Dong's somewhat disdainful voice sounded. He glanced at her indifferently. For him, Liu Yanran and he were no longer people from the same world.
But, was it possible to say he didn't hate Liu Yanran? Of course not.
Lin Dong was not some old monster; he couldn't remain completely unfazed by everything.
Didn't Liu Yanran look down on him as a good-for-nothing?
He just wanted Liu Yanran to see how pathetic the Genius she chose was in his hands!!
Liu Yanran stared blankly at the scene repeatedly playing on the recording crystal, watching Lin Dong, like a Heavenly God descending, brutally beat the Dao Companion she had chosen.
Was I really wrong?
After a long time, a deep sense of regret couldn't help but rise within her.