CSMCDB - Chapter 117
Chapter 117
In early May, the fourth-year students officially graduated.
Each class held its own social gathering, and the A-Class graduates were awarded Excellent Graduate badges by their instructor. Meanwhile, Wen Yuncheng and Lin Jinyu, the two S-Class graduates, were awarded Best Graduate medals by Tao Jingyun.
Of course, the G-Class and some F-Class students had to worry about their future entry into Z-Class.
With only two graduates, S-Class was not as lively as the other classes. After the medals were awarded, the headmaster offered a few words of encouragement and then let them go.
"Just like that… I've graduated from the academy," Wen Yuncheng mused, feeling that academies on the Starry Sky Continent were truly different from those in her previous world. Graduation was surprisingly simple.
[…That's probably because you're in S-Class.]
Maybe so, Wen Yuncheng thought. After graduating from Star Academy, one could still return; all it took was submitting an application. S-Class graduates were held in high regard within the academy.
However, there was one thing: graduates like Lin Jinyu and Yao Mu might be invited back by the academy to teach students or share their cultivation and combat experience. But Wen Yuncheng would never have such an opportunity. Even if Tao Jingyun dared to invite her, Wen Yuncheng wouldn't dare to accept.
"Little Ice Mountain, will you have time to watch my competition at the auction house?" Wen Yuncheng rubbed her hands together. After graduation, the only thing left on her current schedule was this guest appearance at the event.
"…I'll go watch." The tips of Lin Jinyu's ears turned red, but she couldn't help but say, "Can you not call me that? …I'm eleven months older than you."
"But 'Big Ice Mountain' doesn't sound as nice." Ever since last week, when Lin Jinyu had let it slip that she had long known Wen Yuncheng secretly called her "Little Ice Mountain," Wen Yuncheng had started calling her that openly.
Eleven months older? Heh, if you added our two lifetimes together, you'd have to call me 'Auntie'!—though that was nothing to be proud of. Wen Yuncheng only thought this to herself.
However, if Lin Jinyu didn't like the nickname "Little Ice Mountain"…
"Xiao Yu?" Wen Yuncheng blinked, testing the waters. "Xiao Jinyu? Aiya, that sounds like 'little goldfish'…"
With a sharp zheng, Wen Yuncheng jumped back several steps in fright. Her voice trembling, she waved her hands repeatedly. "Don't, don't, don't! Don't do it! Aren't we just discussing it? How about I call you Yu Yu?…"
"Shut up!"
"Yu… Beauty Yu?—Ahhh, I was wrong, I was wrong!" Seeing Lin Jinyu raise her hand to form a sword array, Wen Yuncheng apologized profusely. She started whining coquettishly, "You've changed! You'd even strike me now! I'm no longer the little treasure you cherish in your heart, I…"
"Shut up!" Flustered and angry, Lin Jinyu waved her hand, and the sword array completely surrounded Wen Yuncheng. A cold aura burst forth. Wen Yuncheng sneezed inside, which made Lin Jinyu, with a cold expression, retract a bit of her Star Power. "Even if it's… a nickname, it should be a bit more normal."
Lin Jinyu was still so thin-skinned and easily embarrassed. Wen Yuncheng didn't dare tease her anymore. She softly called out, "Big Sis Yu," and saw the base of Lin Jinyu's ears turn completely red.
Before Wen Yuncheng could laugh out loud, the Star Power of the sword array erupted. Lin Jinyu controlled the icy aura and froze Wen Yuncheng solid.
The silently observing 1947 sighed: Flirt all you want, Lin Jinyu will just freeze you without a second thought.
…In the very end, after being thawed out, Wen Yuncheng was prodded by Lin Jinyu's sword to go soak in the Fire Tempering Bath for two hours before being let out.
As for terms of endearment between the two… Wen Yuncheng's nicknames for Lin Jinyu were whatever came to mind. As long as she wasn't afraid of being frozen, she could call her anything. Lin Jinyu, on the other hand, was more proper, simply calling her "Yuncheng" as usual.
It was an extremely ordinary form of address, but when spoken by Lin Jinyu in that clear, cold voice, even with her expressionless face, the two syllables would linger, enter Wen Yuncheng's ears, flow through her veins, and wrap around the tip of her heart, leaving only endless palpitations.
One night, Wen Yuncheng woke up with a start, her face flushed and her heart racing. She raised a hand to cover her eyes, reflecting and calming herself for a good while. Before 1947 could ask anything, she threw out a "Shut up," then fumbled her way to the bathroom for a shower.
"If only Lin Jinyu could become the Sect Master of the Flowing Cloud Sect tomorrow, and we could get married the day after… how wonderful would that be."
1947 remained completely silent. In late May, the weather grew hotter, gradually turning into early summer. It was normal for the kid's heart to be restless and for her thoughts to run wild, perfectly normal… After all, the kid was an adult now.
Host: Wen Yuncheng
Race: Human
Age: 19
Class: Mechanical Overlord
Level: 44
Experience: 445/35000
Points: 3135
Level 44, Star Lord 2nd Layer.
Before going to support Teacher Yan, Wen Yuncheng had finally managed to raise her star level to the 2nd Layer of Star Lord. At least it wasn't as embarrassing as being a 1st Layer Star Lord like before.
Hmm, perhaps defeating the 3rd Layer Star Lord contestants put forth by the other auction houses with the strength of a 1st Layer Star Lord was more embarrassing for them?
In any case, it was now June. Wen Yuncheng moved out of her dormitory, not forgetting to take the maid outfit Lin Jinyu had given her, and temporarily relocated to Yan Ling's house in the city center.
The Star King-level shadow guards Yan Ling had assigned had also arrived. Originally, Yan Ling had planned to hire two male Star Kings, but after learning that her little cub Wen was a girl, she planned to switch to two female Star Kings. But then she remembered that Wen Yuncheng liked Lin Jinyu, so in the end, it became one male and one female Star King.
Both were partners who had been employed by the auction house for many years. A secret protection mission like this was a piece of cake for them.
Shadow Guard Number One: Tan Xingyu, male, forty-three years old, Star King 2nd Layer.
Shadow Guard Number Two: Lu Manfeng, female, forty-two years old, Star King 3rd Layer.
Aside from meeting Wen Yuncheng on their first day and introducing themselves, these two seniors never showed themselves again. Yan Ling gave them two rooms in the house above Wen Yuncheng's for convenience in protection and surveillance. If Wen Yuncheng went out, they would also conceal themselves and follow from a distance, without disturbing her activities. If she were to be attacked, they could react immediately.
Even if the one attacking Wen Yuncheng was a Star Venerate, they could send out a call for help and react in the first instance.
Wen Yuncheng was very satisfied with Yan Ling's arrangements. She was also very respectful toward the two seniors.
Of course, Wen Yuncheng felt that if she were to take on bounty missions and run all over the continent in the future, the two seniors would probably be exhausted from following her. But when that time came, she thought she would give these two seniors some extra compensation.
News of the joint competition organized by the various auction houses was gradually hyped up. It was at this time that Wen Yuncheng followed Yan Ling to the Star Auction House.
"This is my younger brother, Yan Ci. You should have met him once." Although Yan Ci's image hadn't been great that time, it didn't matter. In his older sister's heart, this stinky little brother never had any image to speak of. Yan Ling patted Yan Ci's back, unable to resist using a bit of force, making the dapperly dressed Yan Ci cough for a while, almost unable to catch his breath.
"Cough, cough cough…" Yan Ci caught his breath and shot Yan Ling an indignant glare, but hastily averted his gaze when she raised her hand again. He straightened up, adjusted his clothes, and then solemnly extended his hand. "I'm Yan Ci. In the future, if you need any items or want to sell anything, you can come to me for help!"
"Thank you, Brother Yan Ci. I might have to trouble you a lot in the future." Wen Yuncheng shook Yan Ci's hand, revealing a brilliant smile.
"Haha, it's fine, it's no trouble at all! Since you've called me 'Brother,' I'll definitely handle anything you need properly!" Yan Ci's eyes lit up, and he laughed with great pleasure.
"This is my father. You can just call him Uncle." Yan Ling pointed to a serious-faced, middle-aged man sitting in the seat of honor. After introducing him to Wen Yuncheng, she glanced at her dad. "Dad, can you not scare her like this? I brought my disciple here to get familiar with the auction house, not for you to put on a stern face."
"…" The expression on Yan Ling's dad's face immediately faltered. He gave an awkward laugh. "Isn't this… isn't this the first time you've brought a boy home…"
"This is my disciple!" Yan Ling said, speechless. "Come on, call him Uncle Yan."
"Hello, Uncle Yan!" Wen Yuncheng said with an obedient look.
"My dad has been stuck at the 2nd Layer of Star Venerate for many years… but he's a Star Venerate, nonetheless. If a Star Venerate-level person bullies you in the future, you can ask my dad to step in." Before Yan Ling could finish, the old man of the Yan family couldn't hold back anymore:
"My dear girl, your old dad is just a bag of old bones…"
"…But it's not like I can't take action." Receiving a look from Yan Ling, his tone instantly shifted, and he agreed. Old Man Yan's tone softened. He nudged the elegant woman beside him with his elbow, but she slapped his arm away. "My Old Yan just has a strange temper, don't take him seriously. He's been bragging to everyone these past two years about how Yan Ling took on a genius disciple."
"What are you talking about? Who was bragging? Was that bragging? I just accidentally mentioned it while chatting with them…" Old Man Yan was so agitated his beard bristled. However, before he could finish his loud rebuttal, his voice trailed off when Mother Yan shot him a sideways glance. "Fine, I really wasn't bragging. I was just… showing off a little…"
"This is my mother. You can just call her Auntie Yan." Seeing this, the corners of Yan Ling's mouth couldn't help but lift as she made the introduction with a smile.
Wen Yuncheng blinked, realizing that Teacher Yan's family atmosphere was genuinely warm. Teacher Yan's status in her own family was truly high, and she was truly doted on. —It made sense. Yan Ling was already a 3rd Layer Star King. Once the Life Transformation Fruit was fully digested, it wouldn't be impossible for her to break through to Star Venerate in one go, relying on her enlightenment.
Teacher Qiu Fei, on the other hand, was still stuck at the 2nd Layer of Star King… Sigh. Wen Yuncheng's gaze drifted. Who could she blame? Her teacher was Yan Ling. Nothing to be done about it. In the future, if these two teachers had another conflict, Teacher Yan's martial strength should be able to completely crush Teacher Qiu's.
"My grandfather is currently roaming the world, seeking opportunities and enlightenment for a breakthrough. He won't return to the auction house unless something major happens. You won't be able to meet him today."
Wen Yuncheng nodded obediently. Yan Ling waved to her family and then took Wen Yuncheng to meet the others. "The Star Auction House has eight elders. They're all old-timers here. I'll take you to meet them. If you ever have a problem and can't find Yan Ci, you can ask them for help just the same."
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