(Author notes : There will be some chapters of other characters, as this arc is at its end. So the readers can get an idea about the events in the background)
Location: Spirit city, Spirit Hall Soul Master Academy
The soul guide lamps along the academy pathway had already been lit, casting warm golden halos across the polished stone roads.Students were dispersing after training. Laughter and chatter filled the air—but one particular boy walked alone, Lin Yuan.
He was halfway home when—
"Senior Lin, please wait!"
Lin Yuan froze.His expression immediately soured.
Turning around, he found the last person he wanted to see:
Jun Wuhen.
Calm, elegant, smiling faintly as if the night breeze itself favored him.
Lin Yuan frowned deeper.
"…What happened?"
Jun Wuhen walked up with a relaxed stride, brushing a strand of long hair from his shoulder.
"Why the long face? We're from the same 'home,' after all."
His voice was light, but Lin Yuan stiffened.
Right they both have the same "home."
Their identities as reincarnators had been exposed to each other accidentally—one wrong question, one wrong reaction, and suddenly both realized they were not natives of this world.
And now they were stuck acknowledging that uncomfortable truth whenever alone.
Lin Yuan glanced around to ensure no students or elders were nearby, then jerked his head.
"Follow me."
He dragged Jun Wuhen to a quiet, empty garden behind the medicinal greenhouse.
Once alone, Lin Yuan's expression turned heavy and serious.
He jabbed a finger at Jun Wuhen's chest.
"I know exactly what you want.""But don't you dare try to pursue Qian Renxue."
Jun Wuhen raised an eyebrow.
A slow smirk appeared on his lips.
"Relax.""I wasn't serious…"
He leaned in slightly, blue eyes half-lidded with amusement.
"…But when you described Qian Renxue as the most beautiful and perfect girl in the world, how could I not get curious?"
Lin Yuan's eye twitched violently.
(Author Notes: Lin Yuan simps for Qian Renxue.Years of failing his "Beginner Task: Capture Qian Renxue's Heart" first became a psychological shadow… Then evolved into a full-blown obsession.
Qian Renxue had actually turned the tables on Lin Yuan , doing what he had originally he wanted to do to her. Even if suppressed by the world, a Level 4 manipulator can really manipulates minds)
Lin Yuan's blood pressure spiked.
He glared at Jun Wuhen from head to toe.
Long, elegant hair. Half-open cerulean eyes that seemed to seduce by accident.Clear features, tall figure, natural charm.
Even girls from the senior departments whispered about Jun Wuhen occasionally.
Lin Yuan clenched his jaw.
'Good looks don't help you pick up girls!'
Ding—
[System: Host, that statement is objectively false. Good looks are statistically advantageous when used properly.]
Lin Yuan deflated instantly.
His face twisted into despair.
As far as Lin Yuan knew, Hu Liena was already infatuated with Jun Wuhen, which is kind of open secret in the academy. However , due to certain reasons Jun Wuhen has never accepted Hu Liena's advance.If this damn peacock so much as crooked a finger, she might pounce on him like a starving spirit beast.
The thought made Lin Yuan's face twist.
He was midway through imagining Hu Liena throwing herself at Jun Wuhen when—
"If you like her so much, why don't you approach her?"Jun Wuhen's calm voice cut straight through his spiraling thoughts.
Lin Yuan froze.
A cold shiver ran down his spine.
Approach her?He still remembered — vividly — the last time he tried that.
He had barely taken three respectful, cautious steps toward Qian Renxue when—
A pebble. One moment he was smiling politely…The next moment he was curled on the ground, gasping, after that pebble smashed into his abdomen with precision .
Even recalling it now made his stomach clench.
'Am I only meant to admire her from afar?''Why can't I get her out of my mind?''I want to give her something… anything that might let me get close to her!'
Ding—
[System: Host, these symptoms match the psychological condition known as "Simp Behavior."]
Lin Yuan's eye twitched so hard it hurt.
'Shut up!! You're just a collection of zeroes and ones—what do you know about romance?''You can only lecture about reproduction, not actually practice it!'
The system fell completely silent.
[…]
Lin Yuan smirked triumphantly.
At least he won one argument today.
Jun Wuhen stared at Lin Yuan, who was clearly locked in some dramatic mental battle with his own conscience.He decided to cut in before Lin Yuan's expression twisted any further.
"The reason I came here is for something else."His tone grew more serious."As a member of the Spirit Hall team that won the Continental Elite Young Soul Master Tournament, you should already know."
Lin Yuan nodded, finally pulling himself back to reality.
Jun Wuhen continued,"I heard the higher-ups launched a new joint training programme—the 'Joint Study' between academies."
Lin Yuan's eyes lit up with realization.Of course. This guy must want access to the inner circle of prodigies.
Without hesitation, Lin Yuan slung an arm around Jun Wuhen's shoulder.A little too intimately.
"Wuhen~ how about I introduce you to Jiang Mo and the others?"
Jun Wuhen stepped back half a pace, deadpan."Lin Yuan, they don't even like you. Are you trying to sabotage my first impression?"
Lin Yuan clicked his tongue."If you wanted to participate, you could've easily done it with Hu Liena's help."
Jun Wuhen's lips stiffened.
Lin Yuan's grin grew sharper."But if you used her help, Jiang Mo's group would look down on you."
Jun Wuhen frowned slightly. He didn't deny it.
Lin Yuan continued like a gossiping auntie:"All of them think Hu Liena isn't worthy of the title of 'Saint.'Compared to Qian Renxue—it's like comparing a firefly to the sun."
Jun Wuhen couldn't help but grimace.Even he knew the gap between the two was astronomical.
Finally, he asked dully,"Fine. What do you want?"