The Prodigies War

Clearly excited, Old Mo began to flip through the stack of papers.

During this time, he displayed a whole host of interesting expressions: sometimes frowning, sometimes widening his eyes, and sometimes scratching his head in confusion.

A single glance made Xiaoman feel somewhat dizzy. The papers were filled with complex rune arrays and she didn’t understand a single thing.

She could not help but turn her head to look at Lin Xun and ask, “Can this really solve the problem?”

Lin Xun thought a little before he said, “We’ll know once we try. It should work.”

He did not dare to sound too certain.

Because he was still unsure as to whether Old Mo had the means to realize his solution.

A smile rose from the corners of Xiaoman’s lips as she winked at Lin Xun, “Handsome boy, Big Sister will not let you off if it fails.”

Although it was a threat, Lin Xun’s heart could not help but violently thump at her words. He took a deep breath and asked, “But what if it succeeds? How will Big Sister reward me?”

“With my body?” Xiaoman seductively bit her lip.

“Not realistic. Something else please.” Lin Xun decisively said. He had not lost his rationality due to her beauty and knew that she was teasing him.

Xiaoman raised her brow and pitifully said, “Isn’t Big Sister pretty? How can you so heartlessly reject my goodwill? What do you want? Maybe you want your big sister to catch a few more little beauties to keep you company?”

Lin Xun had a headache. He smiled bitterly and said, “Can we have a proper discussion?”

Xiaoman acted increasingly bitter and sullen, “Are you saying your big sister has no decency? What a cold-hearted little bastard. Big Sister was wrong about you.”

(Chinese wordplay where the word ‘proper’ can also be interpreted as ‘decent’)

Lin Xun was at his wit’s end. Fortunately, Old Mo suddenly raised his head, revealing bloodshot eyes and a deep frown. He anxiously pointed at a rune array and said, “Among the five rune arrays you’ve given me, only this Clear Image Thousand Valley Array clearly doesn’t fit. What function does it have?”

Lin Xun secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He ignored Xiaoman’s resentful gaze and began discussing with Old Mo.

“This array is formed from thirty-six wind attribute runes and seventy-two earth attribute runes. It might appear to be a giant illusion array but if used on the aeth engine, it will combine with the Qingyi True Wood Array to form a new array…”

Lin Xun swiftly explained with frankness and confidence.

As Old Mo listened attentively, a look of understanding gradually appeared on his face.

He quickly asked, “What about this Shatter Gold Array?”

“Simple, the Shatter Gold Array supplements the Treasure Light Gold Flame Array. Both have similar attributes and only through the power produced by their combination will the other arrays harmonize as well…”

“I see, why didn’t I think of this before! Isn’t this the simplest fusion method?” Old Mo slapped his thighs in exasperation and amazement.

“Wait, there’s still something wrong here.”

“Come on, you don’t even know this? Don’t forget that rune arrays are not independent entities but interdependent due to their attributes. Take the Flame Ice Nine Song Array for example…”

“God damnit, I can’t believe you can do that! Why didn’t I think of this before?”

“It’s normal. You focused too much on the fusion and neglected the various changes that can occur between interacting rune arrays.”

The conversation heated up as the young man and old man excitedly discussed over the sheets of runes. Everything was about runes, making it difficult for any outsider to understand.

Xiaoman was completely lost as she listened. She blankly stared at the confident, frank and high-spirited youngster before looking at the humble, student-like Old Mo and suddenly felt a sense of unrealism.

When did this proud perverted old man become so modest? Moreover, he was acting this way towards a mere youngster. This was just inconceivable.

Although Old Mo was extremely arrogant, his abilities were the real deal. He was indeed a first-class rune grandmaster.

If he had not been made to stay in Blood Kill Camp due to some special circumstances, he could have easily become one of Qinglu Academy’s highly respected instructors!

On this note, Old Mo actually had some special relations with Qinglu Academy.

The sight of this extremely qualified rune grandmaster willingly bowing his proud head to a thirteen-year-old boy to humbly seek guidance filled Xiaoman with disbelief.

She even began to feel that Lin Xun was the esteemed master while Old Mo…the ignorant student.

It was a very bizarre feeling which brought unimaginable shock to Xiaoman.

Where did this kid come from? How did he come up with such a magical solution?

Xiaoman’s gaze changed when she looked toward Lin Xun. It was now filled with hints of amazement, admiration, and curiosity. When a woman became strongly curious about a man, the outcome was always difficult to predict.

……

An hour later, Lin Xun’s mouth had become quite parched from all the talking. It was at this moment that a cup of tea was offered to him.

Lin Xun turned his head and saw that it was Xiaoman, causing him to smile, “Big Sister, do you still recall what I said on the way here? Only a mature and intelligent woman knows how to show tender loving care. Like this timely cup filled with kindness.”

He downed the entire cup and displayed a satisfied expression.

Xiaoman spat on the floor and viciously glared at Lin Xun, “What a glib tongue and how bold of you to tease your big sister. You’d better be careful, I might slice up your pretty face next time so no girls will look at you in the future!”

Lin Xun sighed, “I’m not afraid of being disfigured, I’m just afraid that Big Sister might not be able to bring herself to do the deed.”

Xiaoman stifled a laugh and gave him a thumbs-up, “Pretty good. I’ve seen charming young nobles who have all kinds of methods to hit on girls. You are the most shameless and thick-skinned amongst them.”

Lin Xun replied with a serious expression, “This is called hitting on big sisters.”

Old Mo could not help but feel annoyed by their flirting, “Xiaoman, can you stop causing trouble here?”

Xiaoman acknowledged and provocatively glanced at Lin Xun, “Handsome boy, your big sister will be sure to properly ask you more about hitting on big sisters next time. Don’t you dare run away then!”

She turned around and left.

“That woman is a walking disaster!” Old Mo cursed.

“I feel that this big sister is quite a good person. She’s much better than those bad-tempered little girls.” Lin Xun sighed.

……

Blood Kill Camp. A simple stone house.

Xu Sanqi was seated before a desk with his back as straight as a pencil. He was cleaning an old dark silver armor, and there was a sliver of rarely seen tenderness visible on his usually stoic, suntanned face.

It was his rune armament, Wolf Fang of the Moon, and it had accompanied him through many battles for dozens of years. However, it had also been inactive in recent years.

It was because it had been dozens of years since Xu Sanqi left the battlefield.

“Old partner, the day will come when I will bring you to the battlefield again.” With a determined expression, Xu Sanqi gently put Wolf Fang Moon away.

A fiery-red figure pushed the door open and entered. She sat on the table and lazily said, “Still not sleeping, Head Xu? Were you waiting for me?”

It was Xiaoman.

Xu Sanqi raised his head, his gaze like a sharp blade as he glanced at her. She immediately stood up and withdrew her lazy expression.

Only then did Xu Sanqi ask,“What is it?”

Xiaoman sighed softly. All of the sexiness and seductiveness disappeared, replaced by a calmness mixed with a hint of loneliness.

After a long time, she pushed down her emotions and said, “I’ve come to ask for a person. It’s related to Old Mo’s project and you should know what it means if he succeeds.”

Xu Sanqi narrowed his eyes, “The one called Lin Xun?”

Xiaoman was not surprised. If Xu Sanqi had not appeared when she kidnapped Lin Xun, she would not have been able to get past Xiaoke.

Xiaoman asked, “Yes, it’s him. Do you know his origins?”

Xu Sanqi was silent for a long time before he said, “He was sent by Black Glory Sacred Hall.”

Xiaoman’s expression changed slightly.

Xu Sanqi resolutely said, “You may go. I will make an exception this one time. Regardless of who it is, everyone must follow orders in Blood Kill Camp!”

……

It was three in the morning.

Old Mo was seated before a stack of papers. He frantically studied the rune arrays as if he was in a world of his own.

Lin Xun was seated on a chair, lost in his own thoughts.

The method he suggested to Old Mo did not belong to him but came from Mister Lu. In Lin Xun’s memory, Mister Lu would always use examples whenever he taught rune arrays.

Among these examples was the Violet Hero Battleship problem.

While Mister Lu was explaining a complicated high-grade rune array, he suddenly began talking about the Violet Hero Battleship. Not caring if Lin Xun understood, Mister Lu disdainfully said, “Those rune masters from the empire are a bunch of stupid pigs. It took them several hundred years to ‘perfect’ the Violet Hero Battleship to such a low standard. They honestly bring shame to all rune masters.”

He even brought out the Violet Hero Battleship’s rune arrays as an example. The empire’s most famous small-scale battleship was described as completely useless by Mister Lu. He even claimed that the ship would not be so weak if he was in charge.

Lin Xun had been too young to properly understand everything back then. After today, however, Lin Xun suddenly realized that all the rune knowledge he had learned from Mister Lu was not as simple as it seemed!

But why had Mister Lu never mentioned all of this before?

Lin Xun could not understand.

While Lin Xun was still lost in thought, Xiaoman hurriedly entered and announced, “Lin Xun, starting today, you no longer need to return to the 39th training camp!”

――

Author's note: Several friends remarked that the main character's personality change was too sudden in the past two chapters. Allow Gold Fish to explain: Lin Xun is a youngster with a complicated personality and is not a pure, naive and ignorant child due to growing up in the mine prison. Such a person would use everything possible to protect himself or grow stronger and is definitely no upright gentleman. His character will slowly solidify in the future.