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A flash of light appeared in Lin Jin's eyes but quickly faded. He quietly approached a seat and sat down.
The carriage began to move gradually, accompanied by the whip cracking.
The bumpy ride was apparent, a far cry from modern society's comfortable, stable coaches. Experiencing a carriage ride for the first time, Lin Jin didn't find it pleasant.
Next to Lin Jin sat a young man, around fourteen or fifteen years old. However, given the maturity of people in Douluo, he might be younger.
The boy had short golden hair, a slim yet strong build, and stood about 1.7 meters tall. Though young, his handsome features were evident.
Despite his striking appearance, the boy seemed silent and gloomy, which caught Lin Jin's attention.
Lin Jin remained calm on the surface, but inwardly, he was ecstatic.
'Dai Mubai?' he thought, his heart beating as he recognized the boy beside him.
This gave Lin Jin some understanding of his current timeline.
It was around three years before the start of Shrek's plot. At this time, Dai Mubai had just arrived in the Heaven Dou Empire from the Star Dou Empire and had yet to join Shrek.
Lin Jin could alter the course of things.
His eyes lit up. Dai Mubai was likely at his most disheartened, having just discovered that he was merely a tool for the family to motivate his brother.
The cold-bloodedness of his family and Davis's strength had driven Dai Mubai to flee the Star Dou Empire in a desperate attempt to escape.
Lin Jin figured that Dai Mubai must be feeling helpless, which presented an opportunity.
Beside him, Dai Mubai shifted slightly, frowning.
From his perspective, Lin Jin seemed lost in thought, an odd smile playing on his lips—an unsettling sight that made Dai Mubai uneasy.
The other passengers in the carriage eyed Lin Jin warily, particularly the women, who subtly moved away from him.
Dai Mubai, sitting right next to him, had a growing suspicion. He couldn't shake the feeling that Lin Jin's thoughts had something to do with him.
He recalled stories of people with strange preferences and wondered if Lin Jin had developed some untoward interest in him.
Dai Mubai's irritation grew, and his Spirit power began to stir. He decided he would end him if Lin Jin made any inappropriate moves.
Meanwhile, Lin Jin snapped out of his reverie, turning to look at Dai Mubai like he was a rare treasure.
Dai Mubai's eyes narrowed. What was this guy planning?
"Young friend, are you from Star Dou Empire?" Lin Jin asked in a seemingly casual tone, trying to strike up a conversation.
Dai Mubai was silent for a moment before nodding slowly. He decided to see where this conversation was headed.
"Star Dou is a good place. Why come to Heaven Dou?" Lin Jin continued.
"I know a lot about Heaven Dou Empire. If you need anything, feel free to ask me."
He patted his chest confidently, though he was nervous. He'd be in trouble if Dai Mubai asked something he didn't know.
To the other passengers, Lin Jin's behavior resembled that of a local thug trying to make himself known, and they all exchanged knowing looks.
Dai Mubai's expression, however, remained calm. He was here not for a specific purpose but to avoid certain things.
He simply replied, "No need."
A young man sitting across from Lin Jin couldn't contain himself any longer.
"Hey, I want to ask..." he began.
Lin Jin turned to him, annoyed. What do you want from me? Do you know if I look like a guide?
"Do you have money?" Lin Jin said coldly.
"Information comes at a price."
The young man was taken aback, unable to afford such costs.
He then pointed at Dai Mubai.
"What about him?"
Lin Jin glanced at him disdainfully. "Do you think he's poor like you?"
Dai Mubai pondered this. Was Lin Jin eyeing him as a potential mark?
With the young man silenced, Lin Jin refocused on Dai Mubai, strategizing how to get him on board.
Currently, he had little to offer, making persuasion difficult.
"Are you here to study?" Lin Jin asked.
"If you're interested in Spirit Master academies, Heaven Dou Empire has many better ones than Star Dou. I can recommend some to you."
Lin Jin paused to gauge Dai Mubai's reaction. This time, he picked a topic Dai Mubai was more likely to care about.
Sure enough, Dai Mubai's eyes flickered with interest, though he didn't reply immediately. His frustration came from the fact that he was escaping.
Deep down, he wasn't reconciled with giving up so easily. No one would give up without a fight, but he saw no hope.
His older brother had a five-year head start, and the difference was overwhelming.
Dai Mubai's Spirit power was level 23, whereas Davis had recently reached level 31, creating an eight-level gap.
The longer they trained, the harder it would be to catch up. He despaired because Davis had more resources, and time wasn't on his side.
Lin Jin watched as the spark in Dai Mubai's eyes faded again, his demeanor turning sullen.
In a moment of desperation, a thought flashed through Lin Jin's mind.
He spoke quickly: "Heaven rewards diligence. A gentleman is always striving for self-improvement."
Dai Mubai froze. He raised his head to look at Lin Jin, his eyes suddenly ablaze.
"What did you say?" he asked.
"Oh, it's the motto of a Spirit Master academy," Lin Jin said, feigning nonchalance.
"There are other academies as well, I could introduce—"
"No need! Please tell me about that academy," Dai Mubai interrupted, his eyes filled with determination.