Come With Me

The most confused among the bunch was the man himself; Richard.

The last thing he would remember is a fragmented recollection of Yang Lin turning about with abnormal speeds, his eyes flared silver, and before Richard could react, he was smacked across the face so hard his world flipped over. Amidst the drowsiness, he felt Yang Lin clutch his T-shirt's collar, yanking him directly at a neck-break pace through the door. Next, he slowly lost his consciousness.

Of course, the guard had seen it all. Out of everyone present, he was in the Martial Divide plane, his senses far eclipsed what these youngsters could understand, but Yang Lin's performance still shocked him silly. He was willing to bet that no one within Yang Lin's plane was his match among mortal cultivators; essentially anyone below the Martial Divine plane. At least, on this ship or from the orphanage.

Gifted people who could reign peerless among their plane are many. After all, the gap in strength between realms under the Martial Divide was almost negligible, these realms are just plain tempering to prepare one's body to become a fledged cultivator. The question was whether this young man would continue to dominate even in higher planes, or not?

[Author Note: A plane is a term used to describe a full stage of cultivation, wherehas realm is a word used to describe the levels within each plane respectively.]

Snapback to the present moment, Yang Lin stepped over Richard's back, and with a stomp, the door frame collapsed with Richard laid prone like a welcoming mat on the floor. Yang Lin walked over his out-cold body. As for everyone else including Ming'er, they seemed to yet try and digest what just happened.

"So cool…" One of the orphans in the back muttered his thoughts. They say that the tongue is the shovel of the heart, as the young girl was dazed, she spoke her mind without a second thought.

"Hey! Shhh!" Another orphan at her side poked her with his elbow, did she try and allocate public hate on herself? Siding with an outsider? Nonetheless, he can't refute her admiration, even he felt his blood boiling. Richard was like a royal figure to the orphans, he was adopted by a strong cultivator as his apprentice, it is said that the cultivator has some weight in the Military School, thus everyone was trying to curry favor with Richard including the guards.

…

By the time Ming'er broke out from her daze, Yang Lin's shadow was already cast over her figure whilst she hugged her knees. As though his actions were translating his feelings, he brought his right palm to gently caress her heated cheek. Of course, it was warm for all the wrong reasons. He felt pathetic at himself, even when they were under the same roof, he could not shield her from getting bullied.

This scene had Ming'er sail back in her memories to when she first met Yang Lin, he was so vulnerable and weak back then. Chased into the forest by animals, seeking safety under the shade of a large tree, he really looked like any other of those unfortunate people.

Now, their roles switched like a dream. As she felt his hand, she closed her eyes and did not resist. Of course, she would not admit that she enjoyed this feeling, having someone who actually cares. Then, she heard him speak, "I'm sorry."

She shook her head inwardly, don't apologize, I'm fine, she wanted to say. However, she didn't utter a single word.

"I only have four hours of free roam every day, I can't always be around you." He added.

You don't have to always be, the sentiment is enough, she thought. Or so she lied to herself.

"Come stay in my room instead," Yang Lin said, shocking not only Ming'er but the guard and the orphans altogether.

Indeed, even though he was yet to finish his assignments, Xiao Ming had already finished her own. Technically, she's free to go wherever she wants, whenever she wants to, even if she desired to stay in another person's room. Many girls have been staying with their female friends, but to leave these two together may cause some misunderstandings.

Xiao Ming was already labeled as the City Lord's property if she happed to lose her chastity during these two months… The guard didn't dare go down that lane with his thoughts. As for Xiao Ming, she felt a bit frustrated as Yang Lin had retrieved his hand, but she felt good inside as she saw he was standing there with an extending palm, all she had to do was grab it and follow him.

"Wait! This…" Ming'er did reach forward and hold his hand, she thought hand-holding is the least she could grant him after he defended her like that. Little did she know that Yang Lin was oblivious to Richard's identity, or that he had bribed the guards.

The one who spoke was the guard, causing Ming'er to flinch and stop, now what? However, she didn't get the opportunity to ponder as Yang Lin ignored the guard and pulled her to leave the room. Now, the guard was in a difficult position, the two were not breaking any rules of conduct, so he can't punish them.

Moreover, it would be ridiculous to punish Yang Lin for hitting Richard directly after Richard admitted to hitting Xiao Ming. Thus, the guard could only watch helplessly as the orphans separated, making way for Yang Lin to guide Xiao Ming back to his room, and she followed behind silently.

Her face was as cold as usual, expressionless, but her little heart was in turmoil.

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News about what the new orphan did soon spread across the ship. The children went frenzy, the new orphan was really playing with fire. In the training facilities, Richard was slowly regaining his consciousness, flanked by his underlings from either side, and the guards on his payroll stood in front of him.

Right now, he had an ugly expression, muttering something to himself, no one knew what exactly.