329: Set off!

The thread of thought Lin Yu had just managed to gather was completely scattered by this action.

He maintained his cross-legged posture and slowly raised his head.

At the doorway, a petite figure stood against the light, one leg still held in an incredibly cool door-kicking pose. She was wearing a fitted light combat suit that outlined her vibrant physique.

“Big Brother! Let's go!!!”

Lin Yao's voice was clear and loud, filled with uncontrollable excitement, echoing in the empty room.

Lin Yu stared expressionlessly at the completely ruined door.

This door was probably more expensive than the hovercar Li Mo had sent him.

“Do you have any idea how much that door costs?”

“I don't know! But you can afford to pay for it!” Lin Yao carelessly retracted her leg, bounced over to Lin Yu in a few steps, grabbed his arm, and tried to pull him up. “Hurry up! Hurry up! You promised to take me to the trial today! How long have you been late?!”

Lin Yu stumbled from her pull.

Only then did he glance at the time.

He was already five full hours past the time he had agreed upon with his sister.

He had been completely immersed in the exploration of Origin Level skills and had lost all concept of the passage of time outside.

“What's the rush?”

Lin Yu stood up and stretched his body, which had become stiff from maintaining the same posture for so long.

The sensation of muscle tearing caused by the self-created movements had long since vanished under the wash of massive life force.

Now, he felt his whole body brimming with inexhaustible energy.

The hundred-point surge in both Strength and Constitution resulted in an all-around improvement.

“Why wouldn't I rush! I'm practically bored to death!” Lin Yao jumped up and down like an overly energetic little monkey. “Let's go, let's go! If we don't leave now, it'll be dark soon!”

“Didn't you say someone was waiting...”

Without explanation, she pushed Lin Yu toward the door.

Lin Yu was helplessly pushed out of the room by her.

At the entrance, the manager of the Insect Dwelling and a group of attendants were huddled in the corner, silent and terrified, staring at the miserable alloy door, not daring to even breathe heavily.

When they saw Lin Yu and Lin Yao emerge, the manager forced a smile that looked worse than crying.

Lin Yu ignored them, merely speaking lightly into the air as he passed by.

“Charge the door to my account.”

Having said that, he led Lin Yao out of the Insect Dwelling and onto the chaotic streets of the Black Market, under countless gazes of awe.

Lin Yao looked around curiously, full of interest in the bizarre stalls and passersby around them.

“Brother, you've been cooped up for so many days, what were you doing? Can I hear about it?”

“Be quiet.”

“How are we getting there? Should we call a car?” Lin Yao pulled out her terminal, preparing to hail a ride-share vehicle.

Lin Yu did not answer.

He simply raised his right hand.

The complex black pattern that had previously been hidden on his palm suddenly lit up.

Buzz... A slight fluctuation spread through the air.

Under Lin Yao's astonished gaze, a matte black hovercar materialized out of thin air in the open space before them.

It hovered there silently, its sleek body lines full of futuristic appeal, looking like an artifact not belonging to this era.

“Holy... holy shit!”

Lin Yao couldn't help but curse, her large eyes wide and round.

She darted forward, extended her hand, and cautiously touched the cold, smooth body of the car.

“Brother! This! What is this?!”

“A car.”

“Duh! Of course, I know it's a car!” Lin Yao circled the hovercar again and again, her face practically overflowing with affection and possessiveness. “Is this yours? Where did you get it?! Oh my god, is it a hovercar? Aren't they not mass-produced yet? Can it be driven on the road, Brother... How much does this cost?”

The car door silently slid upward.

Lin Yu had already gotten in.

“Get in, let's go.”

Lin Yao's gaze was glued to the car; she couldn't tear herself away.

She suddenly rushed to the car door, gripping the frame with a look of absolute determination.

“Big Brother! Let's make a bet!”

Lin Yu leaned back on the comfortable seat, too lazy to even raise his eyelids.

Here we go.

The Little Girl's true nature was showing.

“Say it.”

“The trial today! If I win, this car belongs to me!” Lin Yao declared with great ambition.

“And if you lose?” Lin Yu countered.

“I can't possibly lose!”

“What if?”

“There is no what if!”

Lin Yu finally opened his eyes and said slowly, “If you lose, you have to give me the south-facing room with the floor-to-ceiling window that you picked out in the new house back home.”

Lin Yao's heroic spirit instantly stalled.

A visible look of conflict appeared on her small face.

She had only managed to wrestle that room away from Mom after persistent nagging; it was the best location in the entire house.

On one side was her beloved room, and on the other, this incredibly cool, dream vehicle right in front of her.

It was so hard to choose.

“Ah... then... then best two out of three!” The Little Girl's eyes spun, and she immediately started haggling.

“Fine.”

Lin Yu agreed readily.

The result would be the same anyway.

Seeing Lin Yu agree, Lin Yao immediately cheered, slipped into the car, and curiously touched and tapped everything inside.

The hovercar smoothly ascended, silently merging into the air traffic lanes above the city.

The car fell silent.

After fussing around for a bit, Lin Yao finally settled down. She sat across from Lin Yu, swinging her legs back and forth.

Suddenly, she spoke again.

“Big Brother, if I renege on the bet, will you hit me?”

The question was abrupt.

Lin Yu broke away from his meditative state and glanced at her.

“Yes.”

His answer lacked any hesitation.

“...”

Lin Yao fell silent, seemingly contemplating something.

The atmosphere inside the car became subtle.

After a moment, she leaned forward again, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret.

“Big Brother, if you hit me, do you think I can handle it?”

Lin Yu's movement paused slightly.

He finally looked squarely at his sister.

She wasn't this shameless before, was she?

Lin Yu looked at Lin Yao's round, rolling eyes, which sparkled with cunning light, showing not an ounce of fear or worry.

She was clearly a little fox who had planned out all her retreat routes.

A complete logical loop instantly formed in his mind.

This so-called “bet” was a complete and utter trap from the start.

Layer One: Lin Yao wins. She rightfully gets the hovercar. As for the room? That was the stake if she lost, and since she won, it naturally remains hers.

Layer Two: Lin Yao loses. She will renege on the debt. She will use every bit of coquetry and childish pleading she has ever learned, hugging his arm and incessantly calling out, “Brother, Brother, good Brother,” until he surrenders.

And then, she will still get the hovercar.

And she absolutely won't give up that room either.

Therefore, no matter the outcome of this trial, the final result is the same.

Lin Yao gets the incredibly cool hovercar, and she keeps her coveted south-facing room with the floor-to-ceiling window.

Hey, don't knock it, this tactic is damn effective against Big Brother!