The Privilege of Being Top of the School

While Ba Jie was having a rough time, Lin Mo's situation was far better.

Early in the morning, Xie Yuling had already gone downstairs. By the time she reached Lin Mo's floor, he happened to open his door just as she arrived. Their eyes met, and both smiled.

Footsteps echoed one after another in the quiet hallway.

Once they reached the first floor, Xie Yuling could no longer hold back. She leaned closer to Lin Mo, her voice brimming with awe and delight.

"I checked this morning—there’s not a single bruise or swelling left on my mom’s face! That medicinal oil of yours is absolutely miraculous!"

Lin Mo raised a finger and shook it leisurely in front of her.

"Nope, nope, nope. It’s not the oil that’s miraculous—it’s me. The Rejuvenation Talisman I gave you had an even better effect. Of course, to make it easier for Auntie Zheng to accept, a little disguise was necessary."

Xie Yuling recalled the various talismans Lin Mo had given her.

She knew Chu Miaomiao only had a Protective Talisman.

But she? Rejuvenation Talismans, Invisibility Talismans, Five Thunder Talismans... she had them all, every kind imaginable.

A warm current flowed quietly through her heart, making her cheeks flush slightly.

This feeling of being special, of sharing a secret only the two of them knew—it left her both comforted and strangely unsettled.

Clearing her throat, she suppressed the odd sensation and turned serious.

"So, what really happened last night?"

At first, she’d thought her mother was just unlucky. But the moment she heard the Protective Talisman hadn’t been on her when it happened, she knew something was off.

Even if she couldn’t see the red mist, a woman’s intuition left her uneasy.

Lin Mo considered for a moment before briefly explaining the matter of He Meihua and the cursed object.

"Don’t worry," he said, watching Xie Yuling’s furrowed brow with a firm tone.

"Keep the Protective Talisman on you, and even if that thing were ten times stronger, it wouldn’t harm you in the slightest."

His words carried absolute confidence, but Xie Yuling’s concern didn’t fade—it simply shifted direction.

"Then... are you planning to track down that witch?"

"Yep. That cursed object is an evil artifact, and I’m certain that witch has more than just one. So she has to be found."

Truthfully, it was a mission from the System.

But even without it, Lin Mo would have sought out the source and eradicated it.

Seeing his certainty, she couldn’t help but ask,

"Then... can I come with you?"

She’d wanted to ask last night but had been too afraid.

Now, she finally dared to voice it.

"Sure," Lin Mo replied casually, without a hint of hesitation.

Xie Yuling’s prepared arguments lodged in her throat.

Had he refused, she would’ve countered with questions about the talisman’s effectiveness.

But his immediate agreement left her oddly embarrassed.

"If I go... will I end up like those dumb heroines in dramas? Getting captured and used against you?"

She eyed him cautiously.

After all, so many clueless female leads in shows charged straight into danger despite having zero skills.

Lin Mo reached out and placed a hand on her head.

"Don’t worry. The talismans I gave you are effective. You won’t turn into one of those useless heroines."

Xie Yuling wasn’t like ordinary people to begin with.

Even if she relied on his talismans, Lin Mo hoped to train her into someone who could stay calm in danger—someone who could protect herself and others.

Especially now that he knew this world had traces of the supernatural.

That’s why he was willing to let her join.

As he’d said, with the Protective Talisman, even a cursed object ten times stronger couldn’t harm her.

Unless the enemy surpassed him.

But someone stronger than him wouldn’t bother with such underhanded methods to craft dark artifacts.

They wouldn’t need to slowly refine cursed objects through others—they could just wreak havoc in some third-world country without consequences.

Lin Mo wasn’t stupid.

—System: Isn’t it because I’d never assign you an impossible mission?—

That afternoon, Lin Mo knocked on the office door.

"Reporting in."

Without waiting for a response, he walked in—no teacher would stop him.

As the top-ranked student, he enjoyed the highest privileges.

Lin Mo strode straight to Chen Xiaoya’s desk.

Her computer displayed an unfinished test paper.

Seeing him, Chen Xiaoya looked up proactively. "What’s up?"

"Teacher, I need to skip evening self-study tonight. There’s something I have to take care of."

Lin Mo had never asked for leave before, so his sudden request made her probe further.

"Is something wrong?"

"It’s my landlord’s issue. They need my help. Just for tonight."

Hearing this, Chen Xiaoya didn’t refuse.

"Alright, I’ll note it down. Stay safe."

"Got it."

With that, Lin Mo’s gaze shifted to another teacher in the office—the homeroom teacher of Class 7.

She taught Chinese, but not for Class 8, so their interactions were minimal.

Still, Lin Mo approached her.

"Hello, Teacher Xu."

Teacher Xu looked surprised. She knew Lin Mo but hadn’t expected him to seek her out.

"Lin Mo, is there something you need?"

"I’m here to request evening leave for Xie Yuling. I hope you’ll approve."

Teacher Xu frowned slightly. Xie Yuling was her student, but having a Class 8 student request leave for her seemed inappropriate.

"Why didn’t Xie Yuling come herself?"

Lin Mo replied calmly, "You’re aware of her family situation. She’s quite introverted, and today there’s a family matter. She might not make it back for self-study."

Teacher Xu recalled Xie Yuling’s background.

Facing the school’s top student, she knew there was no need to be overly rigid.

Strictly enforcing rules here would only create unnecessary conflict.

Everyone knew even the principal favored Lin Mo.

After some thought, Teacher Xu waved her hand.

"Fine, just this once. If Xie Yuling needs to skip self-study regularly, her guardian must come to the school to apply."

Lin Mo nodded earnestly. "Just tonight. Thank you, teacher."

The perks and privileges of a top student.

Lin Mo knew them well—something as simple as this was easily managed, even for a top-ten student.