"Stay at Nightstar—become an instructor!"
"You can think it over. Sure, those fist techniques and forms are strong, but in your hands, they’ll never live up to their full potential!"
"Don’t you want to put them out there—let them shine on a bigger stage?"
When Night Sparrow heard Night Summer’s words, she blurted out, “If you want to be an instructor at Nightstar, you’ve got to put in five full years first—and rack up a bunch of special merits!”
"What I give you is yours. What I don’t give—don’t even dream about it."
Even if my pearls gather dust, that’s my business—not yours."
If you weren’t serving the country, you’d be leaving this courtyard on a stretcher.
Evan Lin paused, shot Su Yuantian a look, and said, "See them out. And get me a room—I need a shower and a change of clothes."
You really think I’m that stupid?
The more Second Brother Su looked at Evan Lin, the more he felt his anger fade away.
He’d long had it with Night Sparrow and Night Summer from Nightstar—especially their stuck-up, holier-than-thou attitude. It was insufferable.
And ‘brigadier’ might not be full general, but it’s just one step away.
"What’s that supposed to mean? Saying we’re not qualified? You think you’re hot stuff just because you know a few fist techniques? Without real power, even the fanciest moves are just for show!"
Not even twenty yet!
A kid this age making brigadier? That’d set all of China buzzing!
Who does he think he is, anyway? Does he really not get how powerful Nightstar is? The examiner should’ve taught him a lesson last time! How long’s it been, and now he’s strutting around like this?" Night Sparrow fumed, watching Evan Lin’s silhouette fade. "Does he really think having a few fist techniques makes him king of the hill?"
Night Summer shot Evan Lin a confident look.
"If I’m just some nobody, why are you begging me to be your instructor? Why did you lose to me so easily? Or are you saying you’re not even as good as a nobody like me?"
Evan Lin waved her off, turning his back to Night Sparrow, not even bothering to look at her.
In Night Summer’s eyes, Evan Lin might not have much muscle, but his fist techniques were pure gold. If Nightstar’s squad learned them, their fighting power would go through the roof.
Night Sparrow and Night Summer only held back their Vajra Realm power, but Evan Lin was holding back something far scarier—his Pointing-to-Mystery Realm strength, the kind that could wipe them out in an instant.
An innocent man gets into trouble just for holding a treasure.
"One set of fist techniques per week?"
Evan Lin looked at Night Summer when he heard this.
"That's right. Just one set."
Night Summer nodded. "If you come back to Nightstar with me right now, I can apply for you immediately!"
"Your appetite is a bit too big."
Evan Lin sneered, "These fist techniques and boxing arts mean nothing to me—they're just toys. But to you, even a single set is enough for you to fight to the death over."
Do you really think I'm an idiot?
Evan Lin looked at Night Summer and shook his head slightly. "As for becoming a Nightstar instructor, first, I'm not interested; second, if you want to be my disciples and learn from me, you still need the qualifications."
Obviously, from where I stand, you don't have the qualifications.
Evan Lin shoved his hands in his pockets and, after speaking, turned away on his own.
"What do you mean! Saying we don't have the qualifications? You think you're something just because you know fist techniques? Without real strength, even the best techniques are just an empty shell!"
Night Sparrow shouted furiously.
She wished she could charge forward right now and beat Evan Lin to a pulp.
"We're Nightstar! We stand for honor and strength! We're nothing like some bumpkin who crawled out of nowhere!"
The more Night Sparrow spoke, the angrier she got, grinding her teeth in frustration.
"If you think I'm just some bumpkin, then why are you begging me to be your instructor? Why did you just lose to me? Or are you saying you're not even as good as this bumpkin?"
Evan Lin waved her off, turning his back to Night Sparrow, not even bothering to look at her.
"You!"
Night Sparrow’s face turned red, completely at a loss for words thanks to Evan Lin.
"You can still think it over. No matter how strong those fist techniques or forms are, in your hands, they’ll never realize their true value!"
"Don’t you want to offer them up so they can be put to greater use?"
Night Summer stepped forward, still trying to persuade him.
"What I give you is yours. What I don’t give you, don’t even think about it."
"Even if pearls are left to collect dust, that’s my business. What does it have to do with you?"
"If not for the fact that you serve the country, you wouldn’t be leaving this courtyard on your feet today."
Evan Lin paused, glanced at Su Yuantian, and said, "See the guests out. And get a room ready for me—I want to take a shower and change clothes."
Hearing Evan Lin’s words, Second Brother Su hurried up. "The room’s been ready for you the whole time. I’ll take you there right away!"
The more Second Brother Su looked at Evan Lin, the more satisfied he felt.
He’d had enough of Night Sparrow and Night Summer from Nightstar, especially their arrogant, nose-in-the-air attitude—it was truly annoying.
"Elder Su, maybe you could try persuading him again?"
Seeing Evan Lin walking away, Night Summer’s eyes flickered. He wanted to go after him and try again, but Su Yuantian and Eldest Brother Su—who’d been silent all along—stepped forward, blocking his path.
"Well… Instructor Xia, maybe you should head back for now."
Su Yuantian looked apologetic. "Instructor Lin’s temperament is always hard to predict, and he’s already said his piece. He’s probably made up his mind."
"Who does he think he is? Does he really not understand how powerful Nightstar is? The last time he was assessed, the examiner should’ve taught him a lesson! How long has it been, and now he’s this arrogant?" Night Sparrow grumbled, watching Evan Lin’s figure fade away. "Does he really think having a few fist techniques makes him so high and mighty?"
"Well…"
Su Yuantian looked from Night Sparrow to Night Summer, a trace of bitterness in his eyes.
He actually wanted to just tell them Evan Lin’s true identity outright, but if he did, Nightstar would never let Evan Lin go.
Just now, during the fight…
Night Sparrow and Night Summer only held back their Vajra Realm cultivation, but what Evan Lin held back was his Pointing-to-Mystery Realm power—the kind that could annihilate them outright!
The reason Su Yuantian was worried before was because, in that kind of situation, things weren’t in Evan Lin’s favor. If he didn’t use his Pointing-to-Mystery Realm power, it really was fist techniques versus fist techniques—cultivation was neutralized, and experience became the deciding factor.
Both Night Summer and Night Sparrow had seen real combat, with plenty of battlefield experience. But in the end, Evan Lin still crushed them one-sidedly.
"Elder Su, he just doesn’t understand what Nightstar really means—you should know." Night Summer looked at Su Yuantian. "If he thinks one set of fist techniques per week is too much, we can make it one set every two weeks."
"That’s possible too."