Chapter 318: A Heartwarming Read, With No Fighting Or Killing

Meng Anwen opened his eyes and exchanged a glance with Bai Yiyuan. Both shared a flicker of surprise. Lin Moyu had only been in the Abyss for half a day, yet he returned carrying an overwhelming murderous aura.

Bai Yiyuan’s eyes narrowed as he studied Lin Moyu, who now seemed cloaked in a thick, palpable murderous aura—the kind that could only be born from slaughtering countless lives.

After Lin Moyu had single-handedly wiped out the Drake Legion before, his murderous aura had been intense. But compared to now, that earlier intensity seemed almost trivial. If a low-level class user were to stand before him now, they would likely buckle under the pressure of his murderous aura alone.

Lin Moyu stepped into the courtyard and bowed respectfully to Bai Yiyuan and Meng Anwen, “Teacher, Senior Meng, I’m back.” His tone remained the same, though the coldness in his eyes was unmistakable.

Bai Yiyuan, with curiosity laced in his voice, asked, “What did you do in the Abyss?”

Lin Moyu wasn’t surprised that Bai Yiyuan already knew about his journey. After all, Meng Anwen was far too enigmatic, almost omnipotent in his eyes.

He calmly recounted his actions in the Abyss, and even the always-composed Meng Anwen's expression shifted ever so slightly.

Bai Yiyuan, wide-eyed, exclaimed, “You killed the Tetrawing Bull King’s avatar?”

Lin Moyu nodded, “Yes. With the help of the Primordial Rune skill, my newly awakened talent, and a large number of corpses, I managed to kill him. But I was only able to succeed because he didn’t try to flee. Had he run, I wouldn’t have been able to stop him.”

Bai Yiyuan chuckled lightly, “That stubborn bull. All he knows is how to fight. Fleeing was never an option for him.”

He had crossed paths with the Tetrawing Bull King before and knew him well—stubborn and not too bright.

Meng Anwen studied Lin Moyu carefully before speaking softly, “You’ve done something unprecedented. The Abyss has always been the one to invade—massacring cities, slaughtering people. But you went there and turned the tables, unleashing a massacre of your own.” He paused, his gaze deepening, “However, your murderous aura... it’s too overwhelming. Your heart is in turmoil.”

Bai Yiyuan, nodding in agreement, asked, “Young Lin, how far are you from reaching level 40?”

Lin Moyu checked and responded, “I still have 55% of EXP to go.”

After annihilating the third Demon city, Lin Moyu had climbed to level 39. Although he had spent less than two minutes in the Demon King city, he managed to kill many high-level Demons, including an avatar of a Demon King. Combined with the casualties caused by his Poison Star Ring, this had earned him 45% of EXP.

Bai Yiyuan thought for a moment before advising, “Stay away from dungeons for now. Don’t level up. In your current state, you’re not ready for the class awakening.”

Lin Moyu nodded, already aware of his unsettling state. Despite recognizing the problem, he couldn’t suppress it. A constant urge to kill now gnawed at him, urging him to rush into the Abyssal World or Dragonkind World to unleash more bloodshed. His aura was thick with murderous intent, his eyes icy and distant—so different from before.

Killing Demons and Dragonkind was an entirely different experience compared to defeating dungeon monsters. No matter how many monsters one killed, they didn’t generate murderous aura.

At that moment, Meng Anwen summoned a projection of the Shenxia Tower into his hand, and a beam of light shot from it, enveloping Lin Moyu.

Bathed in its glow, Lin Moyu felt his mind calm. His urge to kill subsided, and the heavy murderous aura surrounding him began to dissipate.

Lin Moyu felt a newfound clarity and expressed his thanks, “Thank you, Senior Meng.”

Meng Anwen nodded, “You spent nearly a month in the Chuangshi Institute’s archives, reading over a hundred books, which helped calm your mind. But it wasn’t enough.”

“Do you think I should continue reading, Senior Meng?” Lin Moyu asked.

“Reading won’t help this time.” Meng Anwen replied, shaking his head. He exchanged a glance with Bai Yiyuan.

Bai Yiyuan caught on and said, “Take a break for a few days. Don’t think about anything, and don’t engage in any activity. I’ll call for you in a couple of days.”

Lin Moyu nodded, “Alright, I’ll take my leave then.”

After he left, Bai Yiyuan’s expression turned slightly strange, “Old Meng, do you really expect me to go to him?”

Meng Anwen flashed a sly smile, "What’s the problem? Can’t swallow your pride for your disciple’s sake?"

Bai Yiyuan shook his head. "No, it's not that... It just doesn't feel right."

Meng Anwen chuckled. "I’ve given you my advice. Whether it right or not is for you to decide. As for me, I’m going to continue investigating that other matter. I’ve already found a lead."

Bai Yiyuan’s expression grew serious, "You’ve figured out who it was?"

Meng Anwen nodded confidently, "Almost. Those pests won’t slip away this time."

At Xiajing Academy, Lin Moyu made his way to the library. Despite Meng Anwen saying that reading wouldn’t help, Lin Moyu still wanted to try. The projection of the Shenxia Tower had suppressed much of his murderous aura, but he still felt a coldness gnawing at him, and his gaze remained unsettling. As he walked, it seemed as though the very air around him chilled. Passing students noticed the eerie atmosphere, glancing at him uneasily.

The library, however, was serene. Students were deeply engrossed in their books, the peaceful atmosphere a stark contrast to the turmoil Lin Moyu felt inside.

As soon as he entered, Lin Moyu noticed Shu Han among the rows of shelves, "She’s here too..."

Shu Han spotted him and approached, offering a gentle smile, "Junior Lin Moyu, long time no see."

It had been some time since they last met. Lin Moyu forced a smile, "Long time no see."

As she came closer, Shu Han's delicate brows furrowed slightly. She could sense something was wrong, though she couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. "Is everything alright?"

Lin Moyu shook his head lightly. "It’s nothing. Could you help me find some books?"

Shu Han studied him for a moment, knowing something was definitely off, but she chose not to press further. Her warm smile remained, "Of course. What kind of books are you looking for?"

"Something heartwarming." Lin Moyu replied, "Nothing with fighting or killing."

Having realized the root of his problem, Lin Moyu sought a way to calm his mind.

Shu Han tapped her chin thoughtfully, "Heartwarming, with no fighting or killing... Hmm, that rules out biographies of great figures or history. Definitely nothing related to the Abyss."

The history of humanity had always been a history of wars, and the biographies of its great figures inevitably revolved around battles and conflicts. Anything related to the Abyss was steeped in bloodshed and destruction.

After pondering for a while, Shu Han could only think of one option—short stories. These light-hearted tales held no historical significance but were often perfect for relaxation. She gathered a stack of such books for Lin Moyu.

Lin Moyu began reading one short story after another, and slowly, his mind started to calm. The tension in his body eased as the peaceful tales worked their quiet magic on him.

As he read, a cold breeze passed by, and a skeleton appeared briefly next to him before vanishing again. Lin Moyu, while immersed in the stories, was also summoning skeletons, replenishing his undead troops. He had done the same while studying at the Chuangshi Institute, and it had become second nature to him.

Shu Han observed Lin Moyu for a moment, then turned and left. Once outside the library, she activated a Teleportation Stone and vanished.

...

The air in the courtyard smelled of herbs, a single breath of which brought clarity and a refreshing sense of peace. This was the Yaoshi Institute of Xiajing Academy—a haven for Concocters, a place dedicated to the art of potion-making. Though not a combat class, Concocter held a respected status, and the Yaoshi Institute was second only to the top three institutes.

Shu Han entered the courtyard and made her way to the back, where an isolated hut stood. Without hesitation, she pushed the door open and walked inside, "Brother."

Inside, a middle-aged man was busy concocting, his hands glowing with a brilliant seven-colored light. The light seemed alive as it entered a bottle, causing the potion inside to glow brightly. This was a skill unique to Concocters.

The middle-aged man responded without looking up, “Han, give me a moment. I’m almost finished.”

Shu Han sat gracefully at the desk, waiting patiently. A few minutes later, with a final flash of dazzling light, the potion in the middle-aged man’s hands was complete.

He gazed at the potion, its liquid shimmering with a seven-colored glow, and exhaled a long breath, "At last, it’s done."

Shu Han smiled warmly, “Brother, there’s something I need to ask you.”

“Go ahead.” He replied, his eyes filled with affection, his tone soft and welcoming.

Shu Han proceeded to tell him about her earlier encounter with Lin Moyu. She described the unsettling coldness in Lin Moyu’s demeanor and the way even the air around him seemed to chill.

“Brother, do you think something’s going on with Lin Moyu?” She asked, her voice filled with concern.

The middle-aged man furrowed his brow, contemplating her words, “From what you’ve said, it’s hard to judge. I’d need to see him myself to be sure.”

Without hesitation, Shu Han grabbed his arm, urging him to follow her, “Then come with me and take a look.”