"You're... that guy from the Jinnan Military District!"
Lena Xu's words burst out. Her expression changed sharply as her gaze locked onto Evan Lin. "How are you here?!"
Her eyes were full of confusion and surprise.
"You two know each other?"
Now, not only Mia Liao, Tyler Tai, and the others were stunned in place—even Allen Ju and Gloria Rong were caught off guard, unable to help glancing over at Evan Lin.
"Is he your friend?"
The man who had just made a move now looked at Lena Xu, curiosity in his voice.
The other man, who had never acted, also glanced at Evan Lin.
"Not really."
Lena Xu shook her head, then sneered. "He fought Grant Yuan in the Jinnan Military District, and in the end my grandfather recommended him to Nightstar."
As soon as Lena Xu spoke, everyone in the room was stunned.
"Grant Yuan... you mean Grant Yuan?"
Tyler Tai couldn't help but speak up.
Selina Wu's face showed surprise. After a moment, her gaze toward Evan Lin flickered slightly.
The moment those three words appeared, the looks directed at Evan Lin grew even more shocked.
And recommended to Nightstar.
That single line was enough to make everyone look at Evan Lin with fresh eyes!
Gloria Rong's eyes widened as she stared at Evan Lin. Remembering how calm he was after healing Wu Zhanyu, she suddenly realized something.
Grant Yuan was the instructor of the Tiger Special Forces, famous for years. Even though he's retired now, his reputation still carries weight.
Evan Lin could actually fight him—and in the Jinnan Military District?
Let alone the fact that he was actually recommended to join Nightstar?
Wanwan Sun, Frank Bi, and Calvin Zheng all stared at Evan Lin like they'd seen a ghost. They'd thought he was just some powerless, background-less nobody.
But now, he wasn't just the Evan Lin Allen Ju kept mentioning—he was a badass who fought Grant Yuan and got qualified for Nightstar!
As long as you can join Nightstar, even if your family doesn't give you a flashy background, that alone means you have the right to build your own clan someday.
But could someone who could fight Grant Yuan in the Jinnan Military District really have zero background or influence?
Thinking it over, even Leon Lu was left dumbfounded for a moment.
Tyson Tai, Kyle Liu, and Charles Cheng all found their throats going dry.
They all understood exactly what it meant to get qualified for Nightstar.
"Haha! Who would've thought you were this badass?"
As everyone fell silent, Wu Zhanyu suddenly burst out laughing, breaking the tension.
He slapped Evan Lin on the shoulder, face full of excitement and genuine admiration. "You actually got to fight the former Tiger Special Forces instructor—damn, I was thinking if I got the chance, I'd spar with you myself."
But now, looks like I'd just be asking for a beating."
Wu Zhanyu sighed, then turned to look at Selina Wu.
Selina Wu's face was full of surprise. After a moment, her gaze toward Evan Lin flickered slightly.
"You..."
Allen Ju, seeing Evan Lin standing there, finally let a rare smile appear on his usually numb face. "You really are full of surprises."
"Back in Whitewood, I already thought you were something special. Looks like I was right."
Allen Ju chuckled.
After everything with Mia Liao, his mood had been gloomy until now—but finally started to lighten up a bit.
"You could fight Grant Yuan and get qualified for the Nightstar assessment. Looks like you really do have some skills."
Finally, the man who had just defeated Wu Zhanyu and Lu Zi'ang spoke up again.
He looked at Evan Lin and paused for a moment. "For the sake of this connection, I won't press you too hard."
"Step back."
He waved Evan Lin away.
His mention of 'this connection' sounded utterly baffling to everyone else.
But Lena Xu understood perfectly.
Listening to the man's words, Lena Xu frowned. Though she disapproved of Evan Lin's attitude, she held her tongue and didn't say what she was thinking.
As soon as those words were spoken, Mia Liao and Tyler Tai's expressions shifted several times, and their gaze toward Evan Lin was tinged with a strange sense of unease.
"If you don't want to fight, you can break a hand and a leg yourself. Then today's matter is settled."
As the man turned to walk toward Lena Xu.
Evan Lin's voice rang out again.
His words made the atmosphere tense up once more.
"Are you seriously refusing the olive branch?"
The man paused halfway through his turn. Hearing Evan Lin, he faced him directly, eyes narrowing: "If I'm not mistaken, you fought Grant Yuan, but even if you won, it was a struggle."
"You got recommended for Nightstar, but in the end, you didn't pass the assessment. You weren't lucky enough to become one of them."
He spoke in a deep voice.
As soon as he finished speaking...
Those who had been shocked by Evan Lin's Nightstar status snapped out of it instantly.
"So he hasn't actually made it into Nightstar?" Charles Cheng suddenly asked.
"Damn, I really thought he'd made it! That scared the hell out of me!" Tyson Tai let out a huge sigh of relief, then grinned. His gaze at Evan Lin lost its shock and turned contemptuous.
"If you'd actually joined Nightstar as a full member, maybe today's issue would be over. But now, your Nightstar status is fake?" Mia Liao raised an eyebrow. "What is this nonsense—phony and deceitful."
She looked at Allen Ju. "You were just happy a moment ago—what's there to be happy about? You got tricked by him."
"Allen, people like him aren't worthy of being your friend. I hope you realize that—realize your own status, and see his ugly true colors."
"He only approached you for his own benefit. You're young and too naive—don't let yourself be fooled!"
Mia Liao's words were harsh, her tone full of admonition, like a teacher lecturing a student.
Allen Ju turned to look at Mia Liao, frowning for the first time. "He's my friend. Whether he's in Nightstar or not, he's still my friend."
Allen Ju emphasized his words.
His tone was resolute.
That attitude made Mia Liao's eyes flash with anger. It was the first time Allen Ju had ever spoken to her like this in her memory.
Before Mia Liao could say anything else...
"What makes you think he didn’t get into Nightstar?"
Leon Lu was the first to object, shouting, "Just because you say so?"
The kid’s outburst made the crowd’s hearts twist with uncertainty.
It was Lena Xu who said Evan Lin was recommended to Nightstar.
Now, the ones saying he didn’t make it into Nightstar are also from Lena Xu’s camp.
That’s a bit contradictory.
"Why?"
The man beside Lena Xu shook his head, then chuckled. "Because I’m Night Han, and he’s Night Ling."
"Because we’re from Nightstar—and we’ve never seen him there."