Chapter 6
Lu Cheng's dormitory is in the Starry Sky area, which is exclusively for the college's special recruits.
Unlike crowded ordinary dormitories, these are all well-equipped single suites with independent meditation rooms and training equipment, fully reflecting the privileges of special recruits.
Lu Cheng arranged Lin Yao in the master bedroom and moved to the second bedroom on his own initiative.
"Yaoyao, this will be our home from now on!"
Lu Cheng excitedly showed Lin Yao around, like a child eager to share a treasure. "Look, this energy retreat room. Although you can't use advanced energy arrays yet, the basic environmental simulation will allow you to practice your perception more comfortably. And this small balcony offers a view of the central training ground..."
He introduced everything in great detail, wishing to present the best to Lin Yao.
Lin Yao had a perfect smile on his face, with a hint of novelty and dependence, and his blue eyes looked around curiously at this stronghold for some time in the future.
But in my heart, I calmly evaluated: the environment is safe, the privacy is good, and the facilities are complete.
As an observer, his scope of activities was limited, but Lu Cheng's privileged status provided him with considerable convenience and cover.
In the following days, Lin Yao began his life as an observer.
During the day, Lu Cheng attended basic theory classes and competency development courses for preparatory students. Lin Yao, as per regulations, spent most of his time in the dormitory, or was accompanied by Lu Cheng for brief outings in the public areas permitted by the college.
He behaved extremely well and always stayed quietly beside Lu Cheng, like a dodder clinging to a big tree.
In public, he always maintained that silver-haired, blue-eyed, delicate and fragile appearance.
When there were curious or inquiring eyes, he would lower his head slightly and subconsciously shrink behind Lu Cheng. A hint of uneasiness and cowardice would appear in his blue eyes at the right time, and he perfectly played the role of a poor F-level kid who needed protection and had low potential.
Lu Cheng was like a mobile fortress, guarding him every step of the way and blocking all unfriendly gazes and possible rumors for him.
In private, Lin Yao was like a precise and cold machine, operating efficiently.
Lu Cheng borrowed the most basic introductory books for him, including "Basic Perception and Meditation of Psychic Powers", "Introduction to Source Pollution", and "Brief Analysis of the Dome Structure of City D".
Lin Yao absorbed this knowledge eagerly, and used his understanding far beyond that of ordinary people to quickly build a cognitive framework of the rules of the new world.
He was particularly interested in the scattered records related to the copies... their types, the rules for opening them, descriptions of the internal environment, and the types of resources known to have been produced.
Occasionally, Lu Cheng would take him to attend some public, non-core theoretical classes.
Lin Yao sat in a corner, as quiet as if he didn't exist. He seemed to be listening intently, but in reality, most of his attention was observing. He was observing the instructor's teaching methods and the depth of the content, the other students' abilities and potential, and the academy's management style and security personnel.
He was like a dry sponge, silently absorbing all useful information.
Every day when Lu Cheng came home, he would enthusiastically share with Lin Yao what he had seen and heard at the academy. Which instructor was very strict, which classmate had a unique ability, and the rumors circulating in the academy about a certain dungeon that was about to open...
Lin Yao always listened quietly, occasionally looking at Lu Cheng with his pure blue eyes, and asking some questions that seemed innocent but could lead the conversation to a deeper level.
"Is that copy... very dangerous? Is there anything special in it?", "What does that mental resonance that the instructor mentioned... feel like?"
Lu Cheng was completely defenseless and would often tell everything he knew without reservation, revealing all the information he knew, just to see that little bit of "thirst for knowledge" light in Lin Yao's eyes.
Under Lu Cheng's supervision, Lin Yao diligently carried out the most basic sensory training. He would close his eyes and "try hard" to "sense" the subtle emotional fluctuations that Lu Cheng deliberately released.
His performance was sometimes good, sometimes bad. Most of the time, he could only vaguely sense a general direction, and occasionally guessed a simple emotional word, but it seemed clumsy and labored. This slow progress was perfectly consistent with the character of an F-level potential, unexpected awakening, and weak foundation.
Although Lu Cheng was a little anxious, he was more encouraging and patient, believing that this was normal.
Once, Lu Cheng was trying to control the awakened lightning energy in his body in the dormitory meditation room. Because he was too impatient, the energy became disordered and a slight trace of irritability leaked out.
Lin Yao showed his "perception" at the right time, gently tugged at the corner of his clothes, and whispered: "Acheng...you seem...a little annoyed?"
This small reminder calmed Lu Cheng down instantly, preventing his energy from spiraling out of control. Although the effect was minimal, Lu Cheng was ecstatic, believing it to be irrefutable proof of Lin Yao's abilities and further solidifying his resolve to train him.
Lin Yao utilized Lu Cheng's tool attributes to the extreme.
He had "inadvertently" revealed an interest in a book called "Analysis of Ancient Rune Fragments" that was only available to the library's top management. Without a second thought, Lu Cheng immediately used his privileges as a special admissions officer to help him borrow it.
The brown-haired boy named Wang Rui, after being given a few special warnings by Lu Cheng during the basic combat class, temporarily stopped his activities. However, Lin Yao had felt that there were malicious eyes watching him from the shadows several times on his way to the living quarters.
He only needed to frown slightly in front of Lu Cheng and show a little bit of uneasiness, and Lu Cheng would immediately be alert and personally escort him or arrange for the college security to increase patrols.
His exclusive role as auxiliary observer, and his constant connection to Lu Cheng, was his ultimate protection. The academy's leadership, for Lu Cheng's sake, turned a blind eye to this F-ranked, unknown individual. Ordinary students, fearing Lu Cheng's power and strength, dared not provoke him.
Lin Yao sat on the small balcony of Lu Cheng's dormitory, looking at the students sweating profusely and working hard to hone their special abilities on the central training ground below.
The sunlight fell on his silver hair, casting a soft halo, and his blue eyes were crystal clear.
He picked up the warm water that Lu Cheng had specially prepared for him, which was mixed with precious energy honey, and sipped it in small sips with a leisurely posture.
It really saves... time and effort.
He reaffirmed this in his mind. With Lu Cheng as his "tool," he could easily handle most of the problems he might encounter after entering the academy without having to do anything himself.
Resources, information, and security were all offered voluntarily. He even had time to think about how to utilize the replica system here and how to more covertly try to repair his broken core.
…
Lu Cheng's kindness to him was pure and passionate.
The young man's love is unreservedly reflected in every detail: he prepares nutritious meals for him every day without fail, and no matter how tiring the training is, he will take time to practice perception with him, and he always holds him in his arms to sleep at night, as if guarding the most precious treasure.
Lin Yao enjoyed this warmth and security as if it were a comfortable luxury.
He did not resist Lu Cheng's hug and kiss, and even felt that the warm touch was quite novel and interesting, which could dispel the cold loneliness left by the old world deep in his soul.
But this enjoyment was always accompanied by a condescending, cold assessment. In his eyes, Lu Cheng's affection was proof of successful manipulation, a sign that the tool was useful.
Tools just need to be easy to use and obedient.
Lin Yao looked at Lu Cheng's nimble figure on the training ground, a faint smile curling his lips. As for whether the tool itself felt happy, whether it was truly devoted, that was not within his consideration.
However, beneath the calm surface, undercurrents are surging.
The look Wang Rui cast from the corner was filled with even more resentment. He seemed to have found a new backer, and his eyes were filled with a sense of confidence.
The rumors about Lu Cheng being blinded by lust and keeping a useless girl never ceased to spread privately, and even showed signs of intensifying. Although Lu Cheng forcefully suppressed them several times, they were not eradicated.
The most important thing is Lin Yao himself. He can't pretend to be an F-level waste forever.
He needs to access the dungeon and recover his strength. But when he starts to really act, how long can this fragile disguise and Lu Cheng's "double-edged sword" of protection last?
Lin Yao put down the water cup, and his blue eyes looked towards the buildings deep in the academy that were guarded by strict energy barriers.
That was the location of the teleportation node leading to the dungeon. He needed more detailed intelligence and an opportunity to break in.
Tools are useful, but they are ultimately external forces. The real power lies in our own hands.
This college life, which began with lies and manipulation, is sliding towards a deeper vortex.
And Lin Yao, the hunter in angel's guise, is ready to start the next stage of hunting.
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