C16 Zhou Lin

"Dad?"

Hearing the girl refer to Zhou Meng that way, Qin Chuan seemed to have a realization. Surprised, he asked her, "Are you Director Zhou's daughter, Senior Zhou Lin?"

Qin Chuan was aware that Zhou Meng had a daughter named Zhou Lin, but he had only heard of her and had never met her.

Zhou Lin slipped on her coat and regarded Qin Chuan with a cool detachment. "Don't try to associate with me. If you're here without my father's permission, you're as good as dead."

Qin Chuan was at a loss for words. Zhou Lin's unreasonableness was astounding. How could she be so aggressive? Yet, recalling the chilling sensation he'd experienced earlier, he had to acknowledge the uncomfortable truth: Zhou Lin possessed the power to end his life in a heartbeat.

She didn't seem much older than him, so how could she radiate such an intimidating presence?

Had she already become a true cultivator?

The thought that Zhou Lin might be a cultivator filled Qin Chuan with a mix of excitement and curiosity. This was his first encounter with a peer who was a cultivator. He was eager to ask Zhou Lin what it felt like, but her stern demeanor made it clear she wasn't interested in conversation.

Meanwhile, Zhou Meng, who lived in the school's faculty apartments, had hurried over after getting the news. He entered the cultivation room in his pajamas and, seeing Qin Chuan and Zhou Lin standing on opposite sides of the rest chamber, smiled and said, "I had intended to introduce you two in the morning. I didn't expect you to be so eager to start cultivating."

Embarrassed, Qin Chuan scratched his head and replied, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause such a misunderstanding."

It was a misunderstanding indeed. Had he known Zhou Lin would be there, he would have avoided the chamber and simply slept outside on the ground.

Zhou Meng's face softened as he said, "Seeing you value every minute and devote your energy to cultivating is truly heartening." He expressed no intent to scold Qin Chuan; instead, he admired his dedication. In these times, it was rare to find young people so committed to their cultivation.

Turning to his daughter, Zhou Meng introduced Qin Chuan. "This is Qin Chuan, my student. He's here with my permission. You can consider him your junior."

Zhou Lin gave Qin Chuan a brief, indifferent look and remarked, "He's too weak."

Qin Chuan couldn't help feeling a bit deflated. Was he being scorned? Yet, in fairness, his abilities paled in comparison to Zhou Lin's. Her mere glance had frozen him in place, too frightened to move.

"Qin Chuan comes from the slums. He's never had the benefit of systematic training or favorable conditions, so his foundation is somewhat lacking. But he does have potential," Zhou Meng explained, trying to mitigate his daughter's bluntness and spare Qin Chuan's pride.

At the mention of Qin Chuan's background, something in Zhou Lin's gaze shifted subtly. The icy facade on her face softened, losing its previous chill and detachment.

"You can have the rest pod. I've rested enough and am off to train."

Zhou Lin checked the time before turning to Zhou Meng, "You can go back now. Everything's fine."

Zhou Meng gave a nod, then turned his attention to Qin Chuan with words of encouragement, "Give it your all. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask Senior Zhou Lin."

"Thank you, Director Zhou," Qin Chuan replied with a smile to Zhou Meng before turning to Zhou Lin, "And thank you, Senior Zhou Lin."

With that, a minor misunderstanding was smoothly put to rest. Observing Zhou Lin vacate the rest pod in the training area, Qin Chuan didn't hesitate to take her place, settling in for some rest.

As soon as he entered the pod, a pleasant, comforting scent enveloped him, bringing Zhou Lin to mind.

"This must be the female senior's fragrance. Time to sleep."

It was Qin Chuan's inaugural nap in the rest pod. Two hours later, he emerged rejuvenated and full of energy.

Stepping out of the pod, Qin Chuan stretched and loosened up his muscles. He was about to begin his training when Zhou Lin appeared out of nowhere, tossing him a set of clothes.

"These are my dad's training clothes. Take a shower and change into them," Zhou Lin said, her gaze cool and detached. "I've looked over your file; you've got decent potential. Find me when you're done."

Without waiting for a response, Zhou Lin turned and strode back to the training area.

Qin Chuan glanced at the clean training clothes in his hands, feeling an unexpected warmth. It had been a long while since he'd experienced such a comforting sensation.

Quickly freshening up and donning the training attire, Qin Chuan made his way barefoot to the training area where he found Zhou Lin effortlessly performing weighted squats with a thousand-kilogram barbell. The sight was astounding; he struggled with basic squats, let alone lifting such weight. Yet Zhou Lin seemed at ease, her strength nothing short of astonishing.

After setting down the barbell, Zhou Lin stretched casually before turning to face Qin Chuan. "Ready to train with me?" she asked.

Caught off guard, Qin Chuan hesitated only for a moment before nodding eagerly, "Yes!"

The opportunity for one-on-one instruction from someone of her caliber was too good to pass up. He couldn't possibly refuse.

Zhou Lin's eyes held a hint of intrigue as she posed a question, "You still have time to back out. Training with me is no walk in the park."

Qin Chuan shook his head, his resolve clear, "I'm prepared for any hardship if it means getting stronger."

"Good," Zhou Lin nodded in approval. "Let's head to the arena."

Puzzled, Qin Chuan followed her to the arena, wondering why they were headed there if they were supposed to be training.

Standing in the arena, Qin Chuan's confusion turned to astonishment as Zhou Lin adopted a fighting stance. He gaped at her, asking, "Our training is sparring?"

"Don't worry, I won't use Genuine Qi," Zhou Lin assured him, her gaze piercing. "How else can I assess your abilities and tailor a training plan for you without a proper bout?"

Qin Chuan sensed something amiss in her response, but before he could ponder further, Zhou Lin launched her attack.