Give Him a Punch

"Lin Mo, what are you mumbling about? A Harry Potter spell?"

Beside him, Tong Dong, who was struggling with a physics problem, suddenly raised his head with a baffled expression.

Lin Mo absentmindedly traced invisible patterns on the desk with his fingertips, unconsciously muttering something under his breath.

The Divine Refinement of the Great Void Method was operating on its own in his mind. It was profoundly complex and far more interesting than the exercises in front of him.

"Nothing, just blessing your physics problem. Keep going," Lin Mo spouted nonsense casually and waved his hand.

Tong Dong's mouth twitched, but he resigned himself to burying his head back into the sea of questions.

Lin Mo's gaze then turned to the other side.

Under the light, Xie Yuling was leaning sideways, patiently explaining the solution to a math problem to Chu Miaomiao.

Her voice was cold and clear, yet it carried a reassuring logic.

The usually prickly, iceberg-like top student now actually showed a bit of a teacher's gentleness.

Chu Miaomiao nodded repeatedly as she listened, suddenly enlightened.

Lin Mo could not help but nod to himself. This girl's foundation in science was a bit poor, but Xie Yuling taught very well.

The current Xie Yuling was no longer the novice she once was. The Yellow Court Spirit Nurturing Scripture had not only enhanced her memory and spirit, but also unlocked her comprehension.

As long as she wanted to, she could completely catch up to Tong Dong in half a semester, or even surpass him.

However, Xie Yuling did not plan to do so because it would attract attention. She only needed to improve slowly and then control her scores.

After all, improving too much would draw eyes.

At this moment, the phone in his pocket vibrated slightly.

It was a message from Jiang Yunlu.

The content was very long. Between the lines was gratitude for Aunt Qiong surviving the disaster, as well as appreciation for Lin Mo taking time off to find her. There was nothing particularly special, except at the end she mentioned she would come to school normally tomorrow.

Lin Mo put his phone away after reading it.

Not long after, the bell signaling the end of evening self-study finally rang like heavenly music.

The entire G2 grade instantly came alive from the dead silence, with waves of irrepressible cheers and the sound of desks and chairs moving.

"Finally liberated!"

Fang Jun stretched and looked at the G1 freshmen downstairs who had almost all left. He couldn't help but sigh, "Back in the day, we were just as carefree. Now we've become the miserable sandwich layer."

After saying that, he subconsciously looked up at the still brightly lit G3 floor above.

"Forget it, seeing those poor souls upstairs preparing to face their tribulation, I instantly feel balanced."

Fang Jun walked over to Lin Mo in a few steps and familiarly threw an arm around his shoulders. "Let's go, let's go, Old Mo, let's go get some skewers! I know a newly opened place, super delicious!"

Lin Mo shook his head and patted his stomach. "Forget it, forget it. I'm going back to my landlady's place to eat. Auntie saved some food for me."

Fang Jun's gaze swept back and forth between Lin Mo and the graceful Xie Yuling beside him. He then searched around with his eyes before remembering that Jiang Yunlu didn't come to school today.

Finally, he revealed an expression of "those who know, know."

Fang Jun winked and waved at the two of them. "You two take it easy on the way, be safe."

"Get lost!"

"Alright, bye then."

Before his voice faded, he had already run far away.

Why wasn't Cai Junhuang there? Because Cai Junhuang was an art student and didn't have to attend evening self-study; she went to the dance studio right after school.

After seeing Chu Miaomiao into the familiar Volvo and watching Chu Lintian step on the gas and disappear into the night, Lin Mo and Xie Yuling finally walked side by side on their way home.

The night breeze was cool, blowing away the dullness of the evening self-study.

The streetlights stretched their shadows very long.

Xie Yuling kicked a small pebble under her feet. After being silent for a while, she was the first to speak.

"How is it? On Jiang Yunlu's side?"

"Want to hear some gossip?" Lin Mo turned his head, looking at her with a smile.

"I just don't want the class to inexplicably lose a person." Xie Yuling refused to admit it verbally, but her clear eyes betrayed her curiosity.

"Alright, after all, you might encounter it in the future too."

Lin Mo briefly summarized the existence of the Hidden Sects.

"Jiang Yunlu's mother escaped from one of the Hidden Sect families back then, and was later caught and taken back. Now, that family has come knocking again."

Xie Yuling's footsteps slowed down, her brows slightly furrowed. "They want to catch Jiang Yunlu and take her back again?"

"If Jiang Yunlu is taken back, she might have to enter an arranged marriage?"

Lin Mo added some of his own guesses based on Aunt Qiong's analysis.

"Yeah, of course. I guess it's very likely that she will take her mother's place and marry the person who was engaged to her mother."

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Xie Yuling suddenly stopped walking, the halo of the streetlights dancing in her eyes.

"Take her mother's place? Marry... the person who made the engagement with her mother back then?" Her voice was a bit tight. "How old is that person now?"

"Probably... at least as old as her dad. He must be in his thirties for sure," Lin Mo scratched his head.

"...Scum!" Xie Yuling's chest heaved, and finally she squeezed these two words through her teeth. It was a heartfelt disgust and coldness.

At this moment, things like competitors and romantic rivals seemed unimportant.

Therefore, she also did not want Jiang Yunlu to be taken back.

She raised her head, her gaze exceptionally clear in the night, staring straight into Lin Mo's eyes.

"You're going to intervene, right?"

This was not a question, but a confirmation.

Lin Mo looked at the seriousness in her eyes and suddenly smiled, carrying a bit of playfulness.

"Then do you allow it?"

Xie Yuling met his gaze. One second, two seconds.

She nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly, and spoke clearly.

"Allowed."

After the late-night snack, in Xie Yuling's room, there was Ning Qingcheng who should have been asleep, and Xie Yuling who had taken a shower but changed into a tracksuit.

When Lin Mo walked through the wall and entered, a trace of vigilance appeared in Ning Qingcheng's eyes, and then she looked at Xie Yuling's completely normal expression.

Good heavens, he's a repeat offender.

"I actually know about the Hidden Sects too. My dad said they can't be presented in public; they are just a mob and cowardly bandits."

Lin Mo gave a thumbs up. "Well said! So tonight we will first go and take a look at the situation of the Situ family among these cowardly bandits."

Originally, Lin Mo planned to go and understand the situation by himself.

But Xie Yuling said she also wanted to participate, and Lin Mo didn't refuse.

Before Lin Mo even arrived, Xie Yuling had already told Ning Qingcheng about Jiang Yunlu's situation.

Ning Qingcheng naturally wanted to join as well, taking the opportunity to train this disciple. She could live an ordinary person's life, but she couldn't neglect the skills she ought to have.

Thus, the temporary team was formed.

Grabbing the two of them, Lin Mo disappeared from the room.

The three of them flew towards a quiet bar in Yangcheng.

As early as the morning, Lin Mo had already placed marks on those two people.