"What aura? What happened to Xu Hao?" Wan Hao asked urgently.
He thought something had truly happened to Lin Xiao Tian.
Zhu Yu did not answer him, instead scanning Lin Xiao Tian cautiously.
"Who exactly are you? Why do you have dan qi on you?"
"Dan qi? Is it because of that mistaken medicinal powder?" Wan Hao picked up Zhu Yu's question.
"What medicinal powder?" Zhu Yu frowned.
Wan Hao dared not hide anything and recounted Liu Yue's abnormal behavior to Zhu Yu.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yu wore an expression of disbelief.
"Impossible! Liu Yue is just a physician, and a mediocre one at that. How could she possibly concoct dan qi medicinal powder that only an alchemist possesses? Moreover, dan qi cannot be created with just medicinal powder. Ordinary alchemists never attain dan qi in their lifetime; it is something only advanced alchemists can possess!" Zhu Yu became increasingly astonished as she spoke.
Wan Hao, standing beside her, looked bewildered.
Zhu Yu ignored him and turned to question Lin Xiao Tian.
"May I ask which sect you hail from, honored sir?" Zhu Yu asked respectfully.
Lin Xiao Tian did not reply, as he still needed to maintain his pretense of being mute. Wan Hao answered for him.
"Instructor Zhu Yu, Xu Hao is deaf and mute."
"Deaf and mute?" Zhu Yu blinked, deep in thought.
However, having received an answer, she did not press further. Instead, she meticulously examined Lin Xiao Tian.
"I have finished the examination, there are no issues," Zhu Yu said with a slight smile.
"Hahaha... That's good. I was so worried."
Wan Hao breathed a sigh of relief.
After a few more pleasantries, Wan Hao took Lin Xiao Tian and left the academy.
After the two had walked a distance, Wan Hao suddenly stopped.
"Xu Hao, who exactly are you?" Wan Hao communicated using sign language.
To enable normal communication with Lin Xiao Tian, he had asked Zhu Kai to teach Lin Xiao Tian sign language.
Lin Xiao Tian replied that he was just an ordinary person.
Wan Hao patted Lin Xiao Tian's shoulder, not pursuing the matter further.
With his keen senses, he had already detected something unusual.
Everything that had just happened at the academy, as well as Zhu Yu's attitude towards Lin Xiao Tian, was enough to prove that Lin Xiao Tian was by no means an "ordinary person"!
What kind of status did the instructors of the academy hold?
Why would ordinary people warrant such attention from them?
Yet, Zhu Yu had been so cautious towards Lin Xiao Tian just now, and she had even smiled at him. This was not the treatment an ordinary person would receive. Ordinary people should be as subservient as Wan Hao when facing the academy!
Meanwhile, on the other side, Zhu Yu within the academy was currently frowning deeply.
As an appraiser, her senses were no weaker than a physician's. Even a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage could not hide from her thorough examination, let alone Lin Xiao Tian, who was at the Qi Refining stage. Yet, she could not detect any abnormalities on Lin Xiao Tian.
This was precisely what was abnormal!
One had to realize that a cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining had a far superior healing speed than ordinary people. How could he have been deaf and mute for several years?
The only explanation for such a situation was that Lin Xiao Tian had a hidden ailment. But she had found nothing!
Of course, it was also possible that more complex methods were involved, such as high-level curses or sealing techniques. With Zhu Yu's abilities, she could not investigate them.
However, Zhu Yu thought of another possibility.
That Lin Xiao Tian might be faking it!
After all, Lin Xiao Tian showed no abnormalities. As long as Lin Xiao Tian's skill in concealing his aura was sufficiently high, achieving this would not be difficult.
Of course, these were all speculations. Zhu Yu currently had no evidence.
...
After bidding farewell to Wan Hao, Lin Xiao Tian returned to Zhu Kai's home.
As soon as Zhu Kai returned, he sequestered himself in his room to write letters. Lin Xiao Tian didn't need to look to know they were undoubtedly some cheesy love letters.
After finishing his letter, Zhu Kai scurried off towards the academy. Watching Zhu Kai's receding back, Lin Xiao Tian couldn't help but shake his head.
A week later, everyone gathered again.
The vacant spot in the hunting team was quickly filled.
Before entering the forest, everyone registered at the medical clinic as usual, and then entered the forest.
Approximately a few kilometers into the forest, Wan Hao found a good ambush spot and signaled for everyone to apply the medicinal powder to conceal their aura.
Just as Lin Xiao Tian took out the medicine bottle and prepared to apply the powder, he suddenly noticed something was wrong.
Had he picked up the wrong one?
Why was this batch of medicinal powder the same as the one Liu Yue had mistakenly brought last time?
Moreover, the concentration was a full fifty percent higher than the previous time!
If this medicinal powder were applied to the body, wouldn't it attract even Foundation Establishment stage demonic beasts?
But Lin Xiao Tian had no time to stop it. As soon as Wan Hao gave the order, everyone applied the medicinal powder. This was the speed of a professional team.
Lin Xiao Tian sighed inwardly.
He needed to remain low-key now, so he naturally couldn't directly point out that the medicinal powder was problematic.
Fortunately, these minor tricks were no challenge for Lin Xiao Tian.
As an alchemist, how could he be troubled by a mere physician?
Lin Xiao Tian gathered ingredients nearby and easily concocted a formula to neutralize the medicinal powder. He then secretly covered the team members with the powder using his magic. With his current strength, making this undetectable was exceedingly easy.
Without the interference of Liu Yue's medicinal powder, this hunt was very successful.
Wan Hao was overjoyed.
In the past few years, their mountain hunts had been almost consistently successful. Even during more dangerous periods, they had only captured fewer demonic beasts. Compared to the casualty-ridden teams, they were infinitely better off!
Wan Hao had also harbored doubts about this. The team members only attributed it to good luck, and he hadn't inquired further. As the team members said, besides luck, what else could it be?
Their team had two cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refining, but this was not top-tier among hunting teams. Some hunting teams even had cultivators at the half-step Foundation Establishment stage.
Of course, this so-called good luck only began to appear after Lin Xiao Tian arrived!
Everyone left the forest in high spirits, unaware that they had just narrowly escaped death.
Upon their return to the medical clinic, Liu Yue remained silent for a long while, observing the unharmed hunting team.
"Pretty Liu, what's wrong? You're staring at me like that, and I'm getting embarrassed," Wan Hao said cheekily.
His mood was good today, so his flattery had improved considerably.
"Heh heh, Captain Wan has had a good harvest today! Congratulations, congratulations." Liu Yue forced a smile.
Wan Hao didn't think much of it. After paying the reward, he led the team away from the medical clinic.
After they left, Liu Yue returned to the consultation room alone.
A small vial appeared in her hand, and Liu Yue examined it carefully.
"It's correct! Why did they come away completely unharmed?"