Silence!
The moment he finished speaking, the surroundings fell into a dead quiet. Everyone turned to look at him. Upon seeing the shackles on his wrists, expressions of curiosity or disdain appeared on their faces.
The attendant, however, reacted quickly. With a professional smile, she said,
"Sir, we do not recommend drinking alcohol on the train. You can wait until we arrive at your destination and visit a tavern. Furthermore, the train does not offer alcoholic beverages. Do you have any other questions?"
Her words were reasonable, justified, and polite, which made Zhou Yang feel a bit embarrassed.
He patted his waist, instinctively reaching for a drink to mask his inner awkwardness. His hand found nothing, and only then did he remember that his wine gourd was gone.
Alas!
This journey without alcohol will be difficult to endure.
"Miss, you can go about your business. There's nothing else."
Zhou Yang waved his hand repeatedly. The attendant smiled and turned away.
Beside him, Wu Zheng wore a peculiar expression. The person before him was too unusual. He had seen people who liked to drink, but never one so addicted. Didn't he know his current predicament?
The others were speechless. To act like this just because he couldn't drink? He was like a reincarnated drunkard.
Suddenly deprived of alcohol, the Senior Disciple seemed to transform.
He became taciturn, gazing out the train window at the passing scenery with a longing look.
On the other side.
Spirit Mystical Realm.
A ten-meter square platform was crowded with identical figures.
A day had passed, and the usage time for the Spirit Mystical Realm was drawing to a close. Lin Yu also opened his eyes, ending his day of cultivation.
"Hoo~"
He exhaled a breath of stale air, feeling a sense of fulfillment. The sorrow brought about by the Senior Disciple's capture had been temporarily suppressed.
He looked up at the numerous clones still seated cross-legged, comprehending the mysteries of skills. With a thought, all the clones instantly turned into light and merged into his body.
Concurrently, hundreds of folders appeared in his mind.
Each folder had a number, from one to one hundred. One contained the experiences and insights of the first clone, and one hundred contained those of the hundredth clone.
In this aspect, it was more refined than the Shadow Clone Jutsu he knew from his previous life, with no risk of becoming an idiot from the overwhelming information.
He focused his mind and opened each folder, absorbing the necessary experiences and insights.
As these experiences and insights merged into his mind, his proficiency and understanding of various skills rapidly increased.
While each clone might lack wisdom and independent personality, such pure clones could often perceive details that he himself might overlook.
Suddenly, he stopped and exclaimed, "This method is excellent!"
Clone number three had conceived a notion related to cloning: "Clone Teleportation Technique!"
This concept was simple: it allowed the main body to teleport between its various clones, similar to Shisui's Body Flicker Technique in Naruto or the Divine Fire Clone Technique in Xuan Yuan Sword: The Gate of Heaven.
Lin Yu's heart raced. If this technique could be successfully researched, his safety would be greatly guaranteed.
He studied it carefully, receiving the insights from clone number three. When he had absorbed them all, he sighed in disappointment, "It's not feasible."
This Clone Teleportation Technique was a combination of two skills. To master it, one had to first learn a Teleportation Technique and then fuse the two skills.
"So, I need to learn a teleportation-type skill," Lin Yu murmured to himself.
He pondered for a long time, his brow furrowed.
Where could he find a teleportation-type skill?
Let alone space-type skills, even ordinary skill crystals were hard to come by.
Right, he could check the auction house. he thought to himself.
"There's an auction tonight, and the Li family assets I've listed will also be auctioned. I hope to find something suitable at the auction."
Lin Yu made up his mind and glanced at his wrist communicator. Time was up.
As expected, after a short while, the sound of bells rang out in the air.
Lin Yu stood up and walked outside.
As soon as he stepped out, a duty teacher was already waiting.
"Student Lin, please return your token."
Lin Yu took out his token and returned it. The duty teacher took it and examined it carefully. After confirming there were no issues, he said respectfully, "Please proceed!"
Lin Yu nodded and walked out.
He left the school and walked through the streets.
Jicheng was as bustling as ever. The sounds of people's discussions reached his ears from time to time. He didn't pay much attention to them until he heard a particular conversation that made his heart leap and his body tremble, causing him to stop in his tracks.
"Did you know? Zhou Yang has been convicted!"
"Who is Zhou Yang?"
"He's the Senior Disciple of Supreme Academy, the Rank 7 expert who fought and defeated Professor Wang a few days ago."
"Hiss~"
Some gasped, some sighed, and some gloated.
"Alas, I met that Zhou Yang once. He seemed like a righteous person. Who knew he would commit such a cruel act?"
"You can't judge a book by its cover. Look at me, I look quite ugly and fierce, don't I? But my heart is exceptionally pure."
"I don't judge by looks, but I do judge by height."
"My brother is 1.9 meters tall. What do you think?"
"I don't just look at height, I also look at the wallet. No wallet, no talk."
"I..."
As Lin Yu walked, rumors of Zhou Yang's conviction and his escort to Central City for sentencing were rampant.
Lin Yu's brow was furrowed throughout his journey. The small flame in his heart burned incessantly. By the time he exited that street and reached Jicheng Square, his face was terrifyingly grim.
Why?
There must be something wrong with this.
Lin Yu looked ahead, feeling as if he was enveloped in a fog. With a grim expression, he headed home.
As soon as he returned home, his wrist communicator beeped.
He opened it.
Many people had sent him messages.
He checked them one by one. After reading them, his mood improved slightly.
Zhao Ke: "Don't pay attention to the rumors. I believe the disciple of the Sword God Senior would not kill an entire family without reason. These rumors must be mistaken. Don't let them affect you. The truth will eventually come to light."
He replied with thanks for the concern.
He was an orphan and had been reticent and preferred solitude since childhood, with a touch of reclusiveness. He only became friends with Zhao Ke because they were deskmates for three years and Zhao Ke constantly encouraged him. Otherwise, he wouldn't have actively sought to befriend anyone.
Whether it was his previous incarnation or his former self, his personality was always solitary.
Now, in his distress, Zhao Ke's concern was like a shot of adrenaline, significantly lifting his spirits.
He opened another person's message.
Professor Wang: "There are many doubts about this matter. You don't need to worry. From what I understand, Zhou Yang is not the type of person to exterminate a family. Furthermore, my investigation suggests that someone may have deliberately framed him. Rest assured, and do not let it affect your cultivation."
Lin Yu: "Thank you for your concern. I understand."
He used to have no friends, and now that people cared, he felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.
He opened each chat window.
Feng Xiaoyu: "Big Brother, you have to be strong!"
Lin Yu smiled wryly, feeling as though she thought he wasn't strong. He replied with a smiley face.
Secretary Qian: "Come out for a drink!"
Lin Yu: "No thanks!"
Lin Yu had no mood for drinking.
Secretary Qian: "Come out, I have some information that will interest you."
Lin Yu's interest was instantly piqued, and he sat up abruptly.
Lin Yu: "Where? I'll be there immediately."
Secretary Qian: "Hero Tavern!"