Chapter 30: Lin Qingmo—You Have Already Earned Death!
The corner of Lin Qingmo's mouth lifted, curving into a playful arc.
"That's it?" he asked lightly.
"Your attack… is already over?"
His tone was gentle, yet laced with icy mockery.
The moment his words fell, he stepped toward Tang San.
The stride looked casual—like a leisurely stroll.
But in the very next instant, his figure closed the distance like a ghost!
"Not good!"
Alarm bells exploded in Tang San's mind as a chill shot straight up his spine!
His footwork changed abruptly, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track activating at once.
Afterimages trailed behind him as he tried to confuse his opponent's vision.
"Petty tricks."
Lin Qingmo chuckled softly, a faint blue light flashing in his eyes.
Completely unaffected by the illusions, his right hand shot out like lightning.
"Crack!"
He clamped down perfectly on Tang San's true wrist!
"What?!"
Tang San's pupils shrank violently, waves of shock crashing through his heart.
Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track—seen through that easily?!
Gritting his teeth, he forced strength through his arm as the Mysterious Heaven Skill surged.
A faint jade-like sheen appeared beneath his skin.
"Break—!"
Tang San roared, struggling with all his might.
Yet that long, slender hand felt like shackles forged from the stars.
It didn't budge in the slightest—if anything, the grip tightened with terrifying force.
"Ugh—!"
Sharp pain made cold sweat bead on Tang San's forehead.
The inner strength he prided himself on vanished like mud sinking into the sea.
An unprecedented sense of panic seized his heart.
His left hand silently slid toward his waist—
toward the Twenty-Four Moonlight Bridges.
His fingers brushed against the icy metal of the Godly Zhuge Crossbow.
'I can only use this!'
A vicious glint flashed in Tang San's eyes.
Once a hidden weapon was fired, life and death would no longer be under his control.
But at this moment, he absolutely could not lose!
"Heh."
A soft scoff sounded beside his ear, like icy water poured over his head.
Lin Qingmo seemed to have been waiting for this all along.
"Can't win, so you want to play dirty?"
His voice dripped with undisguised contempt.
Tang San stiffened, dread rising from the depths of his heart.
Did he already know…?
Before the thought could finish—
A fist rapidly filled his vision!
"Bang!"
A heavy, muffled impact, accompanied by the wail of bone.
"Ah—!"
Tang San screamed as his body staggered backward.
His vision instantly flooded with golden sparks and darkness.
Half his face went numb with burning heat, followed by an explosion of pain.
It felt as though his cheekbone had cracked; a metallic taste spread through his mouth.
"This punch," Lin Qingmo said calmly, shaking his wrist, "is to teach you some manners."
"During academy sparring—who gave you permission to use something that kills people?"
"I—"
Tang San tried to retort, but the pain stole his breath.
"And this kick—"
Lin Qingmo didn't give him the chance, lifting his leg and striking!
"Boom!"
A brutal blow landed on Tang San's abdomen.
His stomach churned violently as he doubled over like a shrimp, tears and snot streaming.
"Let that be for your arrogance!"
"And for those filthy eyes of yours!"
Lin Qingmo's words fell in rhythm with his fists and feet, raining down relentlessly.
"I'll teach you to be cocky!"
"Bang! Bang! Thud!"
Each strike was solid and merciless, the dull echoes resounding across the training ground.
Tang San desperately guarded his head and face, but the rest of his body was defenseless.
Mysterious Jade Hands, before that absolute power, were nothing more than brittle paper.
He was beaten around like a sandbag, tossed left and right—utterly unable to fight back.
"Ah Qing! Hit his left side!"
"Yes, yes! Sweep his legs—his footwork's a mess!"
Xiao Wu hopped around excitedly beside them, her pink eyes shining brightly.
She waved her little fists, enthusiastically directing the "battle."
It was like watching a spectacular show.
"W–wow…"
The students watching from all around had their mouths hanging open.
Several upperclassmen rubbed their eyes in disbelief.
"T–Tang San… is just getting crushed like that?"
"Who is that blue-haired guy?!"
"He didn't even activate his martial soul… that's terrifying."
Those who had originally favored Tang San were now completely silent.
Absolute suppression.
Total domination.
No suspense whatsoever.
Lin Qingmo's movements were concise, efficient—almost elegant.
Yet they carried a suffocating, brutal beauty.
The crackling sounds continued for quite some time.
Finally, Lin Qingmo stopped and released his grip.
Tang San collapsed to the ground with a thud, dust covering his body.
Blood streamed from his nose; his face was swollen like a steamed bun.
Dark bruises ringed his eyes, squeezed into narrow slits, tears mixing with blood and grime.
His once-neat clothes were torn and filthy, stamped with footprints.
There was no trace left of the so-called "genius with innate full soul power."
"Hah—"
Lin Qingmo let out a long breath, flexing his fingers.
Sunlight danced across his azure hair, shimmering faintly.
He looked down at the utterly miserable Tang San—
And suddenly broke into an extremely kind smile.
"Next time you want to spar, remember to say so beforehand."
"I'm always free… to 'guide' you."
His tone was gentle, as if discussing the weather.
Tang San, however, shuddered violently—humiliation gnawing at his heart like venom.
"Xiao Wu, let's go."
"Coming!"
Xiao Wu hopped over like a cheerful little rabbit and naturally hooked her arm around Lin Qingmo's.
The two walked off side by side, their figures perfectly harmonious under the sunlight.
The crowd silently parted to make way, their gazes complicated—a mix of awe, curiosity, and fear.
Only after they had gone far did the whispers explode all at once.
On the ground, only Tang San remained, curled into himself.
Through his swollen eyelids, he stared viciously in that direction.
His fingernails dug deep into his palms until blood seeped out.
The pain wracking his body was nothing compared to one ten-thousandth of the hatred in his heart.
"Lin… Qing… Mo…"
He spat out the name through clenched teeth, each syllable soaked in poison.
Boundless resentment and killing intent surged wildly in his chest.
"You... have already chosen a path to death!"
---
High above Nuoding Academy, within the clouds—
A peerlessly beautiful figure cloaked in black stood quietly.
The breeze brushed past, outlining breathtaking curves.
Bibi Dong's violet eyes gazed downward.
Everything that had just happened had unfolded clearly within her sight.
"His temper's grown quite a bit."
Her red lips parted slightly, voice lazy yet magnetic.
Watching Lin Qingmo dispatch his opponent so decisively, a faint trace of satisfaction flickered in her eyes.
Youth should have such sharpness—such decisiveness.
But when her gaze landed on the pink-haired girl clinging to his arm…
The surrounding air seemed to cool several degrees.
"Hmph."
A very soft snort escaped her.
"He's only been gone a short while, and he's already learned to attract butterflies."
Her slender fingers brushed her sleeve, her tone betraying no clear emotion.
Her powerful spiritual sense spread out like mercury, silently covering the area.
Carefully probing every trace of aura in and around Nuoding City.
No sign of Tang Hao's soul power… at least he's cautious.
The slight frown on Bibi Dong's brow eased.
She had Spirit Hall soul masters regularly patrolling this region.
Tang Hao, for the sake of hiding his son, truly didn't dare approach.
That reassured her somewhat about Lin Qingmo's current safety.
Then her gaze fixed on Xiao Wu.
Pink hair, lively eyes, unguarded intimacy…
"A hundred-thousand-year Soft-Boned Rabbit…"
She murmured, confirming what Lin Qingmo had said in the group.
Her transformation was perfect; her aura concealed exceptionally well.
Without prior suspicion, even Bibi Dong would have needed careful probing to be certain.
Watching Xiao Wu's natural reliance on Lin Qingmo—her unrestrained joy—
Bibi Dong was suddenly reminded of another figure.
Someone from many years ago, equally gentle as water, who had ultimately…
Ah Yin.
Especially that casual, intimate call—
"Ah Qing."
Natural. Familiar. Unconsciously close.
It overlapped faintly with a name in her memory, growing clearer by the second.
"A Rogue Rabbit…"
Bibi Dong's eyes darkened, ripples of thought stirring within.
If she really was the one from the group… this could be interesting.
"Seems I should find some time to properly 'meet' this rogue rabbit."
Her lips curved into a faint, yet heart-stopping smile.
At last, her cold gaze swept over Tang San, lying like a defeated dog.
A flicker of killing intent flashed—then vanished.
Now was not the time.
"Just serve as Ah Qing's stepping stone."
Her black robe fluttered softly as her figure dissolved into the clouds.
—
End of Chapter