After ending the call, Lu Lin looked up and saw Zuo Yiming looking at him curiously.
"So... you're going to be Master Jiang's disciple from now on?"
Lu Lin nodded.
"Then can I come to you for Comprehending Star Skills in the future?"
Lu Lin paused for a moment, looking at Zuo Yiming speechlessly. Even if he studied with his teacher for one or two years, he would only be a Trainee Star Technique Guide. There was still a long way to go before he could become a Federation-certified formal Star Skill Instructor. As a direct member of the Zuo Family, with his Dad being the leader of the Tongyuan City Guard, did Zuo Yiming really need Lu Lin to comprehend Star Skills?
"Alright, don't frown." Zuo Yiming knew what Lu Lin was thinking, patted his shoulder, and said, "Do you think our Zuo Family is so great that we can just summon high-end Star Skill Instructors at will? That's not the case. If my Dad hadn't known Master Jiang back in those years, there's no way Master Jiang would have come to dinner at our invitation."
"Brother, we've shared life-and-death experiences. It's okay if your instructor level doesn't increase quickly, but we're looking at the future here. I believe in you. I'm sure you will become a Senior Astrology Guidance Teacher, or even Master Level. So, work hard."
Lu Lin looked at Zuo Yiming; his earnest expression seemed quite convincing. If he didn't know his background, he might have actually been fooled by him.
"So, is that why you were lying alone on your bed, grinning like an idiot?"
Zuo Yiming froze, then stuck out his tongue and made a silly face. He stopped talking to Lu Lin, turned around, lay down on his bed, and prepared to sleep.
"Oh, by the way," Zuo Yiming remembered something and turned back. "Old Lu, my Dad said he might be busy today. He originally intended to visit you..."
"It's alright, your Dad is being too polite. I didn't really help much."
When they returned from Lakeside Mansion last night, Zuo Zhenyu and Director Zhang had thanked Lu Lin, saying that the City Bureau and the City Defense Army wouldn't forget his contribution and efforts. They told him to rest and recover at the City Defense Army hospital first and not to worry about the remaining matters. Lu Lin just thought they were being polite; he hadn't joined the fight for any honor or reward. He had repeatedly declined Zuo Zhenyu's and Director Zhang's words of gratitude.
"Alright, don't worry about it. My Dad is a man of his word; if he says something, he'll definitely do it. No more talking, let's sleep, sleep."
Zuo Yiming pulled the quilt over himself and yawned. For some unknown reason, even though the weather wasn't cold, this Awakener, who had just awakened his Talent, not only slept with a quilt but also had to cover his head.
Lu Lin was speechless, turned off the light, and went to sleep.
「The next morning.」
Just as Lu Lin had finished washing up, Zuo Zhenyu arrived at the ward.
Zuo Zhenyu's hair was disheveled and messy, his eyes were bloodshot, and a dense circle of stubble had appeared around his mouth.
"Uncle Zuo."
"Hmm, Little Lu, up so early! Not bad, young people should be full of vigor like this!"
Zuo Zhenyu praised Lu Lin, then walked over to Zuo Yiming's bed and yanked off the quilt.
"Get up!"
"Get your ass..."
Zuo Yiming, who was sleeping soundly, was abruptly woken up and started cursing. When he saw Zuo Zhenyu standing before him, he instinctively flinched.
"Father."
Zuo Zhenyu, his face dark, didn't speak to him. He just poked Zuo Yiming's forehead with his finger and sent him off to wash up.
Only Lu Lin and Zuo Zhenyu remained in the room.
"Lu Lin, were you comfortable staying here last night?"
"It was quite good."
"Uncle Zuo..."
Just as Lu Lin was about to speak, Zuo Zhenyu waved his hand and took out a small booklet from his military uniform pocket.
"Lu Lin, the robbery at Lakeside Mansion yesterday was not an isolated case. In more than forty cities, even more major malignant cases have occurred in the Beiou District and Beimei District. This is a malicious event orchestrated by the Black Shark Society to rescue an important figure captured by the Federation last month. It's meant to blackmail the Federation into releasing the Black Shark Society's leader.
"Don't worry about this matter further. We discussed it in Tongyuan yesterday. In this hostage rescue operation, the primary Achievement is yours, whether for rescuing hostages, protecting teammates, or fighting crime. Your Achievement is enough to qualify you for this year's Tongyuan Top Ten Outstanding Youths, but...
"The scale of the Black Shark Society's operation this time is huge. During the operation, they exposed their infiltration of our Federation and their intelligence gathering. To prevent them from focusing their attention on you, we've decided to give you only material rewards this time. As for other honors, you may not be able to get them for the time being. We hope you can understand."
"Uncle Zuo, that's not necessary. I, I wasn't thinking that much when I went out to fight..." Lu Lin hesitated, wanting to decline.
"Don't refuse. This is what you deserve. The higher-ups in Tongyuan already feel quite guilty that we can't give you honors due to ensuring your safety. If you don't even accept the material rewards, then things will become difficult. The City Lord of Tongyuan City doesn't want to owe a favor to a child like you."
Zuo Zhenyu said this, winking at Lu Lin.
Lu Lin understood immediately. This so-called reward was actually hush money. Compared to some big cities, the robbery in Tongyuan this time was relatively small. If it weren't for Lu Lin's help, and if it had resulted in greater casualties and social impact, the entire leadership of Tongyuan City would have been held accountable; even the City Lord and the City Defense Army couldn't have escaped responsibility. Lu Lin helped, received benefits, and thus became one of Tongyuan City's own. Even if the matter were exposed later, it would merely be a case of a citizen heroically stepping up, adding a commendable touch to the whole incident. After all, if an eighteen-year-old young man, who had just awakened his Talent, could courageously fight criminals and rescue hostages, it would make the Tongyuan City Police Department and the City Defense Army look utterly incompetent.
Realizing these intricacies, Lu Lin knew he had to accept this reward.
Seeing that he could figure things out so quickly, Zuo Zhenyu was inwardly impressed. He handed the booklet in his hand to Lu Lin.
"This is a Star Vein Refining Method used by Federation soldiers; you can try learning it. This time, the City Lord is giving you the complete version, which can be upgraded all the way to Seventh Level Star Martial, the Golden Body Realm. You've also just passed the stabilization period after your Star Vein connection, so you can begin Refining Star Veins."
"Thank you, Uncle Zuo," Lu Lin said with sincere gratitude.
The Star Vein Refining Method: it could be considered precious, yet also common. As long as Lu Lin was admitted to a University, the school would issue the corresponding cultivation method after enrollment. Conversely, an ordinary person might never even see a Star Vein Refining Method in their entire life. What Zuo Zhenyu had taken out was a small booklet, which was even rarer than an electronic version. This meant the booklet was some Boss's cultivation manual. If Lu Lin used it for his cultivation, the effects would naturally be better.
"Additionally, there's a reward from Tongyuan City of 100,000 Federal Coins and ownership of a Two-Bedroom Apartment. Furthermore, understanding that your parents are currently working on Saturn, the City Lord also mentioned that if you're willing, you can invite your parents to Blue Star for permanent residency. Tongyuan City will arrange future employment for them."
Lu Lin hadn't expected that just for stepping forward by chance yesterday, Tongyuan City would offer him so many rewards.
One hundred thousand Federal Coins. A Two-Bedroom Apartment. These two were still manageable, but the key was allowing his parents to come to Blue Star for permanent residency and resolving their employment issues. That was equivalent to directly giving out two Blue Star household registrations! These days, the difficulty of obtaining a Blue Star household registration was truly beyond what ordinary people could manage. The scrutiny of various qualifications—background, character, connections, income, skills, and more—was so strict it could make you doubt your existence. Never mind that Lu Lin's current Citizen Number started with 'LXHX.' If he hadn't awakened his Talent, upon graduating from High School, it would have been changed back to Saturn's numbering format—TXHX.