As it turned out, Lin Yu's assessment of his so-called "special members" was entirely based on subjective impressions. At least when Glenn and Hermione followed Lin Yingqing to the North China Academy of Sorcery early the next morning to assemble with the Dragon Kingdom young sorcerers who would participate in this year's beast-hunting expedition within the secret realm, they encountered no one particularly strange or neurotic.
Due to their foreign features, when Glenn and Hermione arrived at the venue, the other participants' gazes were inevitably drawn to them. However, most of the Dragon Kingdom young sorcerers appeared quite shy and reserved—they merely observed Glenn and Hermione politely, nodding in acknowledgment with friendly smiles.
Hermione also breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing everyone so welcoming, with no intention of ostracizing her and Glenn due to their non-Dragon Kingdom appearance, she felt considerably more at ease. The girl showed no stage fright whatsoever, flashing a radiant smile as she waved at the young sorcerers and greeted them in the Dragon Kingdom language she had already mastered fluently.
"Hello, everyone! I'm Hermione Granger from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Britain, and this is my schoolmate and boyfriend, Glenn Hawthorne!"
As Hermione's small hand gestured toward him, Glenn also nodded to these Dragon Kingdom young sorcerers.
"Hello, I'm Glenn Hawthorne."
Faced with these two peers who were obviously foreigners yet could greet them so fluently in the Dragon Kingdom language, the young sorcerers' favorable impression of these students from foreign magical academies immediately soared. They all began returning greetings, though everyone remained rather reserved, limiting themselves to verbal acknowledgments.
However, one person proved an exception.
"Ahahaha! Greetings!"
A bold, thunderous voice erupted like a battle cry. From the crowd's outermost edge, the most imposing and towering figure—a burly man shouldering what appeared to be an extraordinarily heavy black iron halberd—strode toward Glenn and Hermione.
The man possessed healthy bronze-toned skin radiating raw determination, with wild long hair cascading freely down his back. His skin bore a weathered roughness, and his exposed flesh displayed numerous healed battle scars, inevitably evoking images of seasoned warriors. For some inexplicable reason, he also carried a peculiar black coffin strapped to his back.
The man drove his heavy halberd into the ground with tremendous force, the shaft's base shattering the brick pavement and embedding deep into the earth. With brazen familiarity, he extended both massive hands and, without preamble, simultaneously grasped Glenn and Hermione's hands, shaking them with enthusiastic vigor.
"Greetings, greetings! Welcome to the Dragon Kingdom, and welcome to participate in this beast-hunting expedition! We heard rumors early on that outsiders would join this activity, but never imagined it would be foreign students. I'm Feng Lian—please treat me favorably!"
Hermione felt somewhat dizzy from the vigorous handshaking, but refusing to appear weak, the girl gripped back with equal enthusiasm and replied with spirited determination:
"Please treat me favorably as well!"
Glenn displayed no particular reaction. Sensing no malice from this man who stood at least six-foot-two, he simply acquiesced to the greeting.
Though Feng Lian was overly familiar and rather boisterous, he maintained basic courtesy. His handshake was mercifully brief, and he grasped his halberd's handle, extracting the heavy weapon and shouldering it once more.
"Excellent, excellent! I genuinely like you both. So, who shall go first? Honestly, I've never battled foreigners before—I'm tremendously eager to witness your capabilities!"
"?"
Hermione tilted her head in bewilderment, blinking as she glanced toward Glenn. She leaned closer, shielding her face with her hand while inquiring quietly:
"Glenn, did I mishear or misunderstand? Is this giant wanting to... duel with us?"
Glenn observed Feng Lian, who was already beginning to radiate unmistakable battle intent, and nodded grimly:
"I'm afraid so."
"What's this about? Grandmother Lin and Brother Yu never mentioned anything!"
Confusion aside, since their counterpart intended combat, Hermione wouldn't retreat. She immediately drew her wand with practiced precision.
"Feng Lian, cease this foolishness."
An ethereal, crystalline voice descended from above, followed by a strand of jade-green wind spiraling down from the heavens, assuming human form and alighting gracefully between Glenn, Hermione, and Feng Lian.
Lin Yingqing had arrived. Earlier, she had escorted the two youngsters to the assembly point before departing to handle pressing matters. Apparently, her business was now concluded.
"Ah, Dean Lin! Greetings!"
Upon recognizing the newcomer, Feng Lian showed no change in demeanor—instead maintaining his excitement while enthusiastically acknowledging Lin Yingqing.
"Drawing weapons against guests upon first meeting is wholly inappropriate, and you're about to enter the secret realm—now is hardly the time for sparring sessions."
"Moreover, even if you desire to spar with others, you should first obtain their consent before entering a battle-ready state. Otherwise, others might easily assume you harbor malicious intent and respond defensively."
Faced with Lin Yingqing's earnest counsel, the fervent expression on Feng Lian's features intensified dramatically.
"Make them retaliate? Perfect! That would render the battle infinitely more authentic and valuable!"
"Besides, Dean Lin, those two hardly appear likely to refuse my combat proposal. The aura of strength emanating from them, that delicious scent of warfare—I can detect it from eight hundred meters away!"
"Why wait for some future opportunity—how about right now—"
CRACK!
Thunder from clear skies—dark purple lightning instantly engulfed Feng Lian's zealous expression. When the electrical discharge dissipated, Feng Lian's already dusky complexion had become positively charcoal, his long hair transformed into wild curls standing at impossible angles, his entire body convulsing rhythmically.
Lin Yu silently emerged from the assembled group, extended his hand to seize Feng Lian's collar, and unceremoniously dragged him back into formation.
"Ignore this lunatic—he's nothing but a battle maniac."
Lin Yu's voice carried to Glenn and Hermione's ears, followed by his hushed warning directed at Feng Lian.
"Listen, madman, can you possibly restrain yourself? Stop harassing other people, especially my cousin and his girlfriend."
Then came Feng Lian's fragmented yet still remarkably spirited voice, distorted by electrical paralysis:
"Battle... awesome..."
Hermione's mouth twitched involuntarily twice. She turned toward Lin Yingqing with mounting concern.
"Um, Grandmother Lin, are all the students at your academy so... distinctive?"
Lin Yingqing awkwardly averted her gaze, muttering with barely concealed embarrassment:
"Actually, there aren't nearly as many as you might imagine. Students like Feng Lian aren't exactly commonplace..."
"So you're saying there are quite a few people this distinctive?!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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