Hearing Lin Yun’s words, Guang Tiancheng felt deeply ashamed and embarrassed.
Indeed, all the terms of the bet were set by him. Whether it was Lin Yun failing to reach the top ten and being expelled from the Hansha Army and reported, or Lin Yun reaching the top ten and Guang Tiancheng apologising, these were all his own words. Lin Yun had never actively made any demands.
Moreover, after winning, Lin Yun showed no intention of seeking him out to enforce the bet, which made Guang Tiancheng feel even more humiliated.
“Since I, Guang Tiancheng, made a promise, I will keep my word. I apologise to you. I admit I underestimated you and misjudged you.”
In front of the Hansha Army’s Fifth Battalion Skyfire Guards and Skyfire Chiefs in the courtyard, Guang Tiancheng personally bowed and apologised to Lin Yun.
This action surprised Lin Yun, as he had not actively sought Guang Tiancheng to fulfil the promise. Guang Tiancheng could have easily pretended to be unaware and brushed the matter aside. As long as Lin Yun did not pursue it, it would have been easy to ignore.
Yet Guang Tiancheng chose to approach Lin Yun主动.
“There’s no need for this, Commander Guang,” Lin Yun responded.
After bowing, Guang Tiancheng looked at Lin Yun and continued, “I also said that if you reached the top three, you could make any request of me. If you have any demands, just say them. Since I made the promise, no matter how excessive your request, I will agree to it.”
“Commander Guang, I have no requests,” Lin Yun said frankly.
“You really don’t intend to take this opportunity to make a demand?” Guang Tiancheng asked, astonished.
“Truly,” Lin Yun replied with certainty.
Lin Yun genuinely had no need for anything from him.
“Very well. Since you can’t think of anything now, you can make a request anytime in the future. Also, for tomorrow’s Skyfire Tempering, go early and don’t be late,” Guang Tiancheng said.
After speaking, Guang Tiancheng left with Zhu Xing and A Yu.
After Guang Tiancheng’s departure, the Fifth Battalion’s Skyfire Guards and Skyfire Chiefs in the courtyard immediately surrounded Lin Yun.
“Lieutenant Lin Yun!”
“Lin Yun, you were incredible this time! You even defeated someone in the Tongtian Realm!”
Everyone was visibly excited.
As Lin Yun’s subordinates, his newfound fame meant that in the Skyfire Temple, they could hold their heads high and proudly declare they were under Lin Yun’s command.
…
Since the Skyfire Trial ended, the events of the trial had spread throughout the Skyfire Temple. The news of Hansha Army Skyfire Lieutenant Lin Yun defeating someone in the Tongtian Realm had become a hot topic of conversation.
In a courtyard of a certain Skyfire Temple camp, a Skyfire General named Shu Zhen suddenly stood up, his eyes wide with shock, as if struck by lightning.
“What? My brother is dead?”
Grabbing the collar of the person reporting to him, Shu Zhen demanded, “Are you lying?”
“Commander Shu, how could I dare lie about such a thing? It was Lin Yun who killed Shu Chi,” the trembling messenger replied, his face pale.
The name Lin Yun was not unfamiliar to Shu Zhen, as he had just heard about Lin Yun defeating Bi Chaoqun, a First Layer Tongtian Realm fighter, in the Skyfire Trial.
“That bastard dared to kill my brother. I’ll go slaughter him now!” Shu Zhen, furious, stormed towards the exit.
Having always doted on his younger brother, how could he bear such news?
As a Third Layer Tongtian Realm cultivator, he was confident that if he acted, he could easily kill Lin Yun.
“Commander Shu, please calm down!” the messenger hurriedly blocked Shu Zhen, urgently advising, “Commander Shu, according to the Skyfire Trial rules, life and death in the arena are not held accountable. Lin Yun killing Shu Chi did not violate the trial’s rules. If you go to kill Lin Yun now, you’ll be the one breaking the Skyfire Temple’s regulations. You know how severe the consequences of violating the temple’s rules are!”
Shu Zhen’s anger was doused like a bucket of cold water.
He was well aware of how strict the Skyfire Temple’s regulations were and how harsh the punishments for violations could be, especially if he killed Lin Yun.
The messenger quickly added, “Commander Shu, I fully understand your desire to avenge your brother, but this needs careful planning. Revenge doesn’t have to mean rushing in to kill him. That would only get you in trouble. You can think of other ways, ideally to eliminate him without implicating yourself.”
Shu Zhen, filled with grief and rage, took a deep breath to suppress his impulses.
“You’re right. Revenge doesn’t have to mean killing him directly. I need a good plan. No matter what, I will make that bastard pay with his life!” Shu Zhen said through gritted teeth, his eyes flashing with murderous intent.
…
The next day, at noon, Lin Yun arrived as scheduled at the Earth-Designated Square in front of the main hall.
When Lin Yun arrived, Bi Chaoqun and another Tongtian Realm cultivator who had occupied the ten-metre stone platform were already waiting.
Lin Yun noticed that both Tongtian Realm cultivators looked at him strangely, especially Bi Chaoqun, whose gaze held both displeasure and wariness.
“You two arrived quite early,” Lin Yun said with a grin.
“Hmph!” Bi Chaoqun, with a sour expression, turned his head away, clearly upset and unwilling to engage with Lin Yun.
After all, the news of yesterday’s events had spread, and Lin Yun had gained great fame.
But for Bi Chaoqun, it was a massive loss of face.
The other Tongtian Realm cultivator gave a dry laugh.
Then, they waited in silence.
After about half an hour, Elder Jun descended from the sky, landing in front of the three.
“Elder Jun,” the three greeted with a bow upon his arrival.
Elder Jun looked at them and said, “Since everyone is here, follow me.”
With that, he led the way.
Lin Yun and the others immediately followed.
Lin Yun was, of course, looking forward to the upcoming Skyfire Tempering.
After all, it had been a long time since his physical body had been enhanced.
