Chapter 53: Lin Jiangang’s Visit

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Lin Jiangang’s Visit

’Who would be visiting at this hour?’

It was about 10 PM. Classmates, friends, or colleagues wouldn’t choose to come knocking this late. If they needed something, they’d just call.

Fortunately, before Li Heng’s parents could give it much thought, a voice came from outside.

"Excuse me, is Li Heng home? I’m the manager of the City Combat Hall, Lin Jiangang."

’The manager of the City Combat Hall?’

’Why would he be here?’

Li Heng’s parents were puzzled. As far as they knew, the City Combat Hall was an official Alliance organization. Its manager was a civil servant, and not a low-ranking one at that.

Li Heng was also a bit stunned. The mock college entrance exam had ended today, but why would the proctor show up at his door afterward? It was quite unexpected.

"Mom, Dad, I’ll get the door! Manager Lin was the proctor for our mock exam."

Li Heng explained. Though a flash of understanding crossed his parents’ faces, a new question immediately surfaced in their minds: ’Why would a proctor suddenly show up at our door, especially this late?’

Li Heng opened the door to see Lin Jiangang standing alone. Without thinking much of it, he said, "Manager Lin! Please, come in and have a seat."

The moment Lin Jiangang saw Li Heng, his eyes narrowed slightly. ’A flurry of suspicions instantly arose in his mind, but he kept them to himself.’ After exchanging a few pleasantries, Li Heng’s parents led him to a seat in the living room.

As soon as Lin Jiangang sat down, Zhang Yu Yao slipped into the kitchen to wash some fruit and pour a cup of hot tea.

Li Heng was puzzled but didn’t speak up, as Li Guobin seemed even more perplexed and eager for an explanation.

"Manager Lin, hello," Father Li began. "I hope my son didn’t cause any trouble during the mock exam... to make you come all the way out here so late at night." Although he tried to keep his expression calm, his voice betrayed a hint of nervousness and worry.

But Lin Jiangang just smiled, his tone gentle. "My daughter is only in the sixth grade. By age, I should be calling you Brother Li. Brother Li, please don’t be nervous. Li Heng’s performance in the mock exam was outstanding. Not only did he not cause any trouble, but he also killed quite a few soul beasts. The real reason I came to see Li Heng today is because..."

"What?! Hengzi killed soul beasts?!" Zhang Yu Yao was horrified. She suddenly felt her strength drain away, and her body began to tremble.

"Mom, what’s wrong?" Li Heng noticed her extreme emotional distress and saw that she looked unsteady on her feet. He quickly stood up to support her.

Her eyes glistening with tears, Zhang Yu Yao stroked Li Heng’s head. "Hengzi! Let’s not take the secret realm college entrance exam, okay? You can live a happy life with a normal job. Can we please not take the exam?"

Seeing Zhang Yu Yao’s state, Lin Jiangang held back what he was about to say. ’This only made him more certain of his suspicions.’ He then turned to Li Guobin and asked, "Brother Li... is she...?"

Li Guobin’s face showed a flash of understanding. "No wonder! That’s it! No wonder Hengzi stayed in his room for four days without coming out. It’s because he killed soul beasts... Wait. How could Hengzi... have the ability to kill soul beasts?"

As he spoke, Li Guobin’s expression shifted from initial realization to sudden confusion and disbelief.

"Hmm? You don’t know, Brother Li? Li Heng should have become a Soul Apprentice... a long time ago. Isn’t that right, Li Heng?"

Instantly, the gazes of Lin Jiangang, Li Guobin, and Zhang Yu Yao all converged on Li Heng. Though the meaning behind each of their stares might differ, all three wanted an answer from him.

’A long time ago...’ Li Heng thought. ’Well, it has been about a week since I became a Soul Apprentice. I guess that counts as a long time ago!’

"Yes! I’ve been a Soul Apprentice for a while!" Li Heng nodded.

’Our son is a Soul Apprentice?!’

Seeing Li Heng admit it, the faces of both Li Guobin and Zhang Yu Yao were overcome with shock.

This world was divided into ordinary people and Soul Masters.

To become a Soul Apprentice meant leaving the ranks of ordinary people. Although it was the lowest Level of Soul Master, a Soul Apprentice was, without a doubt, a Soul Master!

’Their family had no resources, no special abilities, yet their son had become a Soul Apprentice. Just what kind of effort must he have put in? What hardships must he have faced?’

For a moment, both of Li Heng’s parents’ eyes grew moist, though they expressed it in different ways.

Li Guobin: "You little brat! How could you keep something like becoming a Soul Apprentice from us? Do you have any idea how worried your mother and I get?!"

Zhang Yu Yao: "Hengzi! You must have... suffered so much all this time! It’s because your mother and I are useless. We can’t help you with these things! It must have been so hard for you."

Lin Jiangang remained silent, thinking, ’Good kid! So he really did become a Soul Apprentice a long time ago! Looking at him, I’d bet he’s been one for over a year!’

Hearing his parents’ mix of scolding and apologies, Li Heng quickly tried to comfort them and calm them down.

A minute or two later, after his parents had calmed down, Li Guobin spoke to Lin Jiangang. "My apologies, Manager Lin, for making a scene. By the way, you were saying before that you came looking for our Hengzi because..."

"Actually, it’s because Li Heng is an outstanding student. I want to nominate him as one of ’Maple City’s Ten Outstanding High School Students’ and have him participate in the National Designated Secret Realm Exam!"

’Ten Outstanding High School Students?’

’The National Designated Secret Realm Exam?!’

Li Heng’s parents listened in a daze. They had never even taken the regular secret realm college entrance exam, so hearing about this "National Designated" one left them completely clueless.

Even Li Heng himself was a bit lost upon hearing the unfamiliar term.

However, Lin Jiangang didn’t leave them wondering for long before explaining. "You can think of it as a version of the secret realm college entrance exam that only a small, elite group of students from across the country can take. Soul Energy Universities from every province will send instructors to observe in person, and these instructors will recruit students directly! In other words, just by participating in the National Designated Secret Realm Exam, you’re practically already a student at a Soul Energy University!"

Lin Jiangang had put it in the simplest terms: participating in this exam was like finishing the college entrance exam with flying colors. Acceptance into a Soul Energy University was virtually guaranteed.

Hearing that acceptance into a Soul Energy University was practically a sure thing, Li Guobin and Zhang Yu Yao were naturally overjoyed. They beamed with pride, their eyes fixed on their son.

But Li Heng felt a strange sense of unease. ’This doesn’t make sense! I’ve never spoken with Manager Lin before, and I thought my performance in the mock exam was pretty average. Why would he suddenly offer me such a golden opportunity?’

’Was this too good to be true?’

Li Heng didn’t believe in free lunches, so he couldn’t help but ask.

"Excuse me, Manager Lin," Li Heng began, his tone cautious. "If that’s the case, I can think of many students who are more outstanding than I am. Plus, I didn’t even last a full week in the mock exam, so this opportunity... isn’t it...?"

Hearing Li Heng’s cautious tone, Lin Jiangang thought to himself, ’Still playing dumb with me, huh? With his physical condition and vital energy, he’s clearly on the verge of breaking through to the Soul Warrior Level! Does he think my Great Soul Warrior cultivation is just for show?’

But despite his thoughts, Lin Jiangang considered various factors and decided not to call him out. Instead, he said in a playful tone, "There are plenty of outstanding students. For instance, Lei Mingshan from No. 1 High, An Shengmo from No. 2 High, Zhang Xue from No. 3 High, and so on. Originally, this spot wouldn’t have gone to you, no matter what. Not only are they all Soul Apprentices, but their performance in the mock exam was exceptional. One of them even acquired a soul energy pet from a Mutated Cold Ice Python!"

Li Heng didn’t interrupt. ’A dozen theories flashed through his mind,’ but he said nothing, waiting for Lin Jiangang to continue.

Lin Jiangang watched the silent, thoughtful Li Heng, then suddenly dropped his playful tone. His voice became exceedingly grave. "It is precisely because those students are so outstanding that I had to come see you for myself—to confirm... that my instincts and my judgment were not mistaken!!"