The forest slowly thinned as Lin Ye and Xiao Wu walked forward. Sunlight replaced the shadows of the trees, and the wild aura of the Spirit Beast Forest faded behind them. Ahead, a modest but lively city came into view—Notting City. Lin Ye paused briefly, observing it calmly. "Here we are," he said.
Xiao Wu stretched beside him with a small sigh. "Finally… my legs are tired." After a moment, she turned to him with a suspicious look. "You still haven't explained anything." Lin Ye glanced at her. "Explained what?" Xiao Wu crossed her arms. "How you knew about me and where I was going." Lin Ye smiled faintly. "Of course I'm hiding things." Xiao Wu frowned. "Then why should I trust you?" Lin Ye met her gaze. "Because you already do." She huffed and looked away. "You're too confident."
They entered the city together. The streets were lively, filled with vendors, children, and Spirit Masters. Xiao Wu looked around with curiosity, while Lin Ye remained calm and uninterested. "Stay close," he said casually. Xiao Wu blinked. "Why?" Lin Ye replied, "Because you're not exactly normal." Xiao Wu stiffened before quietly moving closer to him.
Soon, Notting Academy appeared before them. At the entrance, a guard stopped them and asked for recommendation letters. Lin Ye simply said, "No." When the guard tried to refuse, Lin Ye released a faint pressure. It wasn't violent, but it was enough. The guard froze and stepped aside. "...You may enter." Xiao Wu blinked in surprise. "That actually works?" Lin Ye shrugged. "Only if someone stronger disagrees."
Inside the academy, students were training and chatting. Lin Ye glanced at them and said plainly, "They're weak." Xiao Wu rolled her eyes. "Not everyone is like you." As they walked further, Lin Ye suddenly stopped. Ahead stood a calm boy with sharp eyes—Tang San. Xiao Wu followed his gaze. "Who is that?" Lin Ye replied, "Someone interesting."
Tang San noticed them as well. His gaze lingered on Lin Ye, and a faint unease appeared in his heart. He couldn't sense anything from him. When his eyes shifted to Xiao Wu, they paused briefly. Lin Ye noticed everything but simply said, "Let's go." Xiao Wu blinked. "We're not talking to him?" Lin Ye shook his head. "No need." They walked past without stopping. Tang San frowned slightly as he watched them leave.
They soon arrived at Dormitory Seven. Lin Ye pushed the door open, and several students turned toward them. At the center stood Wang Sheng. "New students?" he asked. Lin Ye nodded. Wang Sheng crossed his arms. "The strongest here is the boss. If you want a bed—beat me." Xiao Wu looked excited, but Lin Ye stopped her. "I'll handle it."
Wang Sheng charged forward quickly, but to Lin Ye, it was slow. Lin Ye raised his hand and lightly tapped forward. In the next moment, Wang Sheng was sent flying backward and crashed into the wall. The room fell silent. No one understood what had happened. Lin Ye calmly said, "I'll take the best bed." No one dared to object. Xiao Wu laughed happily and jumped onto a bed.
Night soon fell, and the dormitory became quiet. Most students fell asleep, but Lin Ye remained awake, sitting by the window and looking at the moon. His expression was calm. "Things are already slightly different," he murmured.
Then, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.
[Ding!]
[New Function Unlocked: System Space Storage Expansion]
[Reward: Host may now store living beings (consenting targets only).]
Lin Ye's eyes flickered slightly. "…That's useful." His gaze shifted toward Xiao Wu, who was sleeping peacefully. A faint smile appeared on his face. "Very useful."
He then looked toward another direction—Tang San's dorm. His expression remained calm, but his eyes carried a subtle chill. "Let's see how things unfold."