"So you saw the handoff and decided to confront this woman yourself?" Yàn Lìqín asked, opening his fan and lazily waving it toward his face.

Yu Quan nodded. He was no longer under the feet of the dainty man but standing in front of him. "I only saw Liàng Píng, and he had chased off after the thief, so I thought I would go to intercept his accomplice."

"...And you ended up getting defeated?"

Yù Quán could feel Yàn Lìqín's slight judgment. "You were watching," Yù Quán spit out. "...You know what she did."

"...Fair. I know your pain."

Yu Quan didn’t believe him. He had a hard time believing any woman would try to harm any part of him. Let alone that specific one. Yàn Lìqín finished writing things down, then slapped the book shut and looked up to meet Yù Quán's eyes.

"Well, that does it for the report." He then stood up, looking a bit more serious than the laid-back personality from earlier. "Yù Quán, I, Yàn Lìqín, first Great Elder of the Yellow Qilin Academy, thank you for your help in our secret mission."

Yu Quan was surprised. What secret mission? Wasn’t their comrade the victim of a robbery? Then Yàn Lìqín continued.

"While the mission to lure and trap an operative of a sect to expose their wrongdoings was under control and did not need your interference, your work was admirable. As a reward for your good deed and considering your appraised potential, I would like to formally invite you to become a disciple of my Eccentric Branch of the Yellow Qilin Academy."

"...What?" asked Yù Quán. Before he could recover from the shock, he received two alerts from the system.

Alert: Secret Mission Completed

Discover the Great Elder hiding in the area

Mission Reward: 5 Points

Alert: Secret Mission Completed

Gain the interest of the Great Elder, Yàn Lìqín

Mission Reward: 5 Points

Quest: Join the Eccentric Branch of the Yellow Qilin Academy and Make it the Top Branch

Time Limit: 6 Months

Quest Reward: 20 Points, [Royal Hive Mind Art]

"Wait, wait, wait..." Yù Quán exclaimed, putting his hands up and motioning him to stop. "What did I even do to be invited to your academy?"

Liàng Píng scoffed and mumbled, "It wasn't for your fighting skills, that's for sure."

Yù Quán grimaced at Liàng Píng's words. He was afraid that his reputation would never recover. Yàn Lìqín opened his fan while turning around. Yù Quán thought he was trying to be mysterious, but after seeing his shoulders slightly bouncing up and down, he could tell Yàn Lìqín was trying to hold in his laugh.

"Okay! I get it," Yù Quán sighed in desperation. "I'm not the best fighter."

"No, no, you aren't. But, you have potential that is top tier," Yàn Lìqín explained. "You can't fight now, but I believe in my appraisal abilities. You will be a dragon among men."

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Yu Quan got excited upon hearing about appraisal abilities. He couldn’t help but ask. “Appraisal abilities? Is it an art or a technique?”

"Nope."

Yu Quan was even more excited. He assumed this meant it was an inherent ability of Yan Liqin. Didn’t that mean he could obtain one as well? “How does it work?”

"I just have a feeling."

"Just a feeling?" Yù Quán asked pitifully like a child told they couldn't have something.

"Just a feeling."

Yu Quan was disappointed. Wasn’t he just following his gut, then? What kind of ‘appraisal ability’ is that? Yù Quán thought for a bit, then posed Yàn Lìqín a question.

"Alright, but why would I join the academy?"

Yàn Lìqín replied so fast it was as if he didn’t need to think. "You lost to a regular civilian kicking your family jewels. Say no, and with your luck, you'll end up a eunuch."

Yù Quán was speechless. He didn’t expect to catch so much flack. Before Yù Quán could think of a comeback, Yàn Lìqín slowly cracked a smile and added, "Of course, protection and cultivation resources are a given. What else are you doing around here, anyway?"

Yù Quán had to agree with Yàn Lìqín. He needed to find out what his plan was. He was transported to this world after he died in the body of another person who looked just like him. He knew what his overall goal was thanks to the quest from the system, but he didn't see the direction he had to take to get there. He was in a brand new environment that was utterly different from his original home. He was, frankly, a little lost.

He took some time to think about the benefits and drawbacks. If he joined them, there would probably be multiple quests, more possibility for growth, and guidance. Sure, he would have more freedom and fewer responsibilities on his own, but he felt he would be lost since he didn’t have the slightest idea of what to do next.

After waiting awhile, Yàn Lìqín turned and began walking away leisurely. While he wasn't directly pressuring Yù Quán, every step felt like the tick of a timer. He didn't want to miss a potential opportunity, but he didn't want to get himself into trouble down the line.

Yàn Lìqín was just a few steps away from turning the corner when Yù Quán yelled, "I'll do it!"

Yàn Lìqín smiled once more, "Good, good. As the newest disciple, take these and meet us at your new home with your belongings." Yàn Lìqín threw two books and a jade tablet, then jumped.

Fwoosh

He was gone from sight. Seeing this feat initially amazed Yù Quán but quickly turned into an eye roll. He realized if he were really going to leave earlier, he would have left like this. He was just walking to push Yu Quan to agree.

Boom.

Yù Quán whipped around to see that Liàng Píng had also left with their captured criminal, leaving a crater where he once stood. Yù Quán grimaced after Liàng Píng's exit.

“...You could at least try to be as graceful as your manipulative Grand Elder, you oaf…”

…

Yàn Lìqín and Liàng Píng were jumping from roof to roof, carrying the detained Su Chunhua. They mainly had stayed silent, with nothing but the sound of the wind and their footsteps... as well as the screams of Su Chunhua, a mortal who had never experienced this level of movement before. Such quiet was uncharacteristic of Liàng Píng, a usually talkative fellow, despite an empty brain.

"What's the matter, Liàng Píng?" Yàn Lìqín asked after a while. Although he was putting on airs as an empathetic master, he just couldn't stand the silence.

"Grand Elder Yan, what is the point of taking in such a pathetic man?"

Yàn Lìqín smiled, "You find him pathetic?"

"Is he not? I mean, there are many strong women, but this one is an untrained mortal. How could a man who would lose to her be worth recruiting?"

Yàn Lìqín let out a hearty laugh that matched his carefree side, unlike his usual refined composure. When he composed himself, he looked back, still smiling but with a somewhat pained face.

"Liàng Píng, you should know our Yellow Qilin Academy's situation."

Liàng Píng's face dropped, and his shoulders drooped upon hearing this.

Yàn Lìqín continued, "The world is full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons. I would rather take a chance and find out he's a paper one than see his potential on the enemy's side." Yàn Lìqín turned back, taking a slight, meaningful pause. Then, he broke out in a sigh.

"Liàng Píng, my dear disciple, our academy is in dire need of tigers."