041 : The Storm Approaches.

Lin Tian studied the man before him.

Zhou Jianhong was dangerous—not in the way that warriors or cultivators were, but in a way that only men with power and influence could be. He wasn't someone who fought his battles directly.

He was someone who moved pieces on a chessboard.

And right now, he was trying to move Lin Tian away from Su Yun.

But what Zhou Jianhong didn't know—was that Lin Tian wasn't a piece to be moved.

Lin Tian smirked, his golden eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "You know, I've been given a lot of warnings lately."

Zhou Jianhong remained silent.

Lin Tian leaned forward slightly. "And every single time… they just make me want to push further."

Xu Wei sighed quietly, rubbing his temple. "I told you he wouldn't back down."

Zhou Jianhong let out a slow breath, shaking his head. "I had a feeling, but I was hoping you'd be smarter than this."

Lin Tian tilted his head. "Smarter? Or just more obedient?"

Zhou Jianhong's lips pressed into a thin line. Then, after a moment, he stood up, adjusting his suit. "Very well. Do as you wish. But know this—if you continue down this path, you're putting yourself and Su Yun in danger."

Lin Tian stood up as well. "That's my choice to make."

Zhou Jianhong studied him for a long moment. Then, with a quiet sigh, he turned to Xu Wei. "Watch him."

Xu Wei nodded. "Understood."

Then, without another word, Zhou Jianhong walked past Lin Tian, exiting the office.

The room remained silent for several seconds after he left.

Then, Xu Wei muttered, "You really don't know how to listen, do you?"

Lin Tian smirked. "Not really."

Xu Wei sighed again. "Then you better be ready for what happens next."

Lin Tian's golden eyes gleamed. "I always am."

As Lin Tian left the principal's office, his mind was already calculating his next move.

Zhou Jianhong was the key. He wasn't just some middleman—he was directly connected to the people trying to erase Su Yun's past. But the fact that he had come personally meant one thing:

They were starting to take Lin Tian seriously.

Which meant—he was getting closer to the truth.

But what worried him wasn't himself.

It was Su Yun.

She still had no idea about the forces moving in the shadows, about how her life was entangled in something far bigger than she ever imagined. And now that Lin Tian had refused to back down—the people behind it all would start taking action.

And that meant one thing.

Su Yun was in danger.

Lin Tian exhaled slowly.

"Then I'll protect her."

No matter what it took.

Even if it meant going against an entire world of enemies.

He had five years to complete this trial.

And now—the real battle was beginning.

Lin Tian walked out of the principal's office with steady steps, his expression unreadable. His mind, however, was racing. The meeting with Zhou Jianhong had confirmed what he already suspected—powerful people wanted Su Yun to stay in the dark.

And now that Lin Tian had refused to back down, they would start taking action.

He wasn't afraid for himself. He had lived through countless battles, survived against enemies far stronger than this. Even though he had no Qi, no Devourer Core, no divine strength, his instincts, intelligence, and unshakable will had carried him through before.

But Su Yun?

She wasn't prepared for this.

She was just a girl trying to live her life, unaware that an invisible war was being fought around her. And now, Lin Tian had become a part of it.

As he walked down the hallway, he felt the weight of unseen eyes watching him. Zhou Jianhong's warning hadn't been a bluff. There were people in this school, in this city, who were monitoring him now.

Lin Tian smirked slightly. Let them watch. I'll give them a show they won't forget.

The rest of the school day passed without incident. Lin Tian kept an eye on Su Yun, but she acted as if nothing had changed. She didn't know that a battle had already begun—one fought not with swords or techniques, but with secrets and manipulation.

After school, Su Yun approached him with a small smile. "Are you walking home today?"

Lin Tian glanced at her. "Yeah."

She tilted her head. "You okay? You seem… different."

He shrugged. "Just thinking about something."

Su Yun sighed. "You're always so mysterious."

Lin Tian smirked. If only you knew.

As they walked together, Lin Tian remained alert, his senses scanning for anything unusual. He didn't have divine perception anymore, but his battle instincts were still sharp. He caught subtle movements—a car parked a little too long near the school, a man pretending to check his phone but glancing their way too often.

They're watching her.

Lin Tian exhaled slowly. If they thought they could move without him noticing, they were wrong.

Su Yun continued talking, unaware of the silent war happening around her. "By the way, Lin Tian, you never told me—why did you decide to transfer here? You weren't always in our school, right?"

Lin Tian hesitated for a fraction of a second. She was right.

The memories of his supposed past in this world didn't exist. He had been placed here by the Light Figure, thrown into this world without any history to explain his presence.

But Su Yun had never questioned it before.

And now, suddenly, she was asking?

Something was happening.

Lin Tian forced a casual smile. "I guess I just ended up here."

Su Yun laughed softly. "That's not an answer."

Lin Tian glanced at her, studying her carefully. Did she suspect something? Was she starting to realize that he wasn't like everyone else?

No.

Not yet.

But the fact that she was asking meant that something had changed.

And Lin Tian needed to find out what.

That night, Lin Tian returned to his apartment, locking the door behind him. He didn't turn on the lights. Instead, he stood by the window, watching the city below.

Then, his phone buzzed.

A text message.

Unknown Number: Leave Su Yun alone.

Lin Tian's golden eyes gleamed.

They weren't even trying to be subtle anymore.

He typed a response.

Lin Tian: Make me.

There was a long pause. Then—

Unknown Number: You don't know what you're getting into.

Lin Tian smirked, tossing the phone onto the table. They were scared.

They wouldn't have sent a warning if they weren't worried about him digging too deep.

That meant one thing—he was getting close to the truth.

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