The admission procedures were not complicated, and Lin Xiao Tian quickly completed them. The vice dean was in charge, and he was very surprised to learn of Lin Xiao Tian's identity.
"Are you sure you want to join the academy?" the vice dean asked Lin Xiao Tian seriously.
"I'm sure."
Upon receiving Lin Xiao Tian's affirmative reply, the vice dean breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as Lin Xiao Tian joined the academy, he would have to serve for at least five years. Regardless of whether Lin Xiao Tian worked or not, they had at least secured a physician from other forces.
"Since you've just arrived at the academy, you'll start as an assistant teacher, assisting Zhu Yu. Once you're familiar with things, we'll conduct an assessment, and after completing it, you'll be promoted to an instructor." The vice dean patted Lin Xiao Tian's shoulder. "Xu Hao, I can see that you're someone who wants to achieve great things. Joining the academy is the right choice for you. As for your benefits, I'll do my best to fight for them, and I definitely won't disappoint you..."
The vice dean held Lin Xiao Tian's hand warmly, his tone full of enthusiasm. However, Lin Xiao Tian saw through these grand, empty promises.
An ordinary physician was insignificant to the vast academy. However, it could suppress other forces and at least cause them to lose a talent. For the academy, weakening enemies was equivalent to strengthening itself.
As for Lin Xiao Tian, he was not interested in benefits at all. He just wanted to make a big fuss about the disappearance.
Zhu Kai's words gave Lin Xiao Tian new ideas. Relying on himself as a mere physician, he had no way to deal with those powerful forces. The empire would not choose to oppose those influential families for him.
But the academy was different.
The academy was known for being protective of its own. The personal safety of its instructors was not to be threatened, or it would be considered an act of defiance against the entire academy.
Even fugitives were protected by the academy once they entered it. Unless they committed unforgivable acts, the academy would do its best to protect them.
And all of this was precisely what Lin Xiao Tian wanted.
The procedures were quickly completed, and the academy assigned Lin Xiao Tian a dormitory. Even after entering the dormitory, Zhu Kai's expression was still bewildered.
"Let's go, we'll go check the records of the magic arrays," Lin Xiao Tian said to Zhu Kai.
"You can talk?"
Lin Xiao Tian nodded.
Previously, he didn't know the language of this world, so he pretended to be deaf and mute. But now that he knew it, there was no need to pretend. Moreover, the feeling of speaking was really good.
"Then why were you..."
"We'll talk about this later. We need to find someone first."
"Yes, yes, finding the person is the priority."
"By the way, you need to help me with something," Lin Xiao Tian said to Zhu Kai.
Not long after, the news of Lin Xiao Tian joining the academy spread throughout Black Rock City.
"What? Doctor Xu is so short-sighted? How can joining the academy be more profitable than running his own practice?"
"It's a pity that Doctor Xu has joined the academy. We won't have such a good physician anymore."
"I wonder when Doctor Xu will start teaching at the academy. I'll have my child sign up for his class then."
"I heard that Doctor Xu, upon joining the academy, immediately used his authority to check the magic array records, seemingly to find someone."
"Looking for someone? Who?"
"Who else could it be? His brother Wan Hao's child, I heard he's been missing for several days."
"Doctor Xu can't leave! It's just finding someone. I'll find him for you."
...
Black Rock City was not large, and the news about Lin Xiao Tian quickly reached everyone's ears.
Among them were people from the Zhao family.
Now, this matter had almost become the talk of the town.
In a restaurant, the young man was living his usual life of singing and dancing, but his spirits were not high today.
"Old Tang, is that child still alive?"
"Reporting to Young Master, he is still alive."
The young man thought for a moment, then said casually.
"Let him go!"
Old Tang nodded and quickly withdrew.
The young man's actions were something he had already guessed.
The academy was not like the empire. The empire would not do so much for a physician, but the academy was different.
Although he had acted flawlessly, he was still worried about problems.
It wasn't that he was afraid of being discovered.
It was that he was afraid of losing face.
A child's life was not worth him paying this price.
A few days later, Wan Luo safely returned home.
Wan Hao's tightly strung nerves finally relaxed a little.
"Xu Hao, thank you."
"You're welcome, we're brothers."
Wan Hao grinned. "You guy, you could always talk. You made me learn sign language."
"Sorry."
"Never mind, we're brothers. You even helped me find my son. I should be thanking you!"
Lin Xiao Tian felt guilty. If it weren't for him, Wan Luo wouldn't have been kidnapped.
"By the way, what are your plans now? I can't go back to the medical clinic, and you guys can't work there anymore."
Wan Hao thought for a moment.
"Then I'll go back to my old trade. Hunting in the mountains is dangerous, but at least I can make a living."
Zhu Kai, who was standing nearby, chimed in.
"Brother Hao, you have to take me with you. I don't know how to live without you."
Looking at Zhu Kai's helpless expression, Lin Xiao Tian just wanted to laugh.
"Just hold on for a while. Once I'm officially an instructor, I can arrange for you to enter the academy. Although you won't be teachers, you'll still be protected by the academy."
Hearing Lin Xiao Tian's words, the two men's eyes lit up.
"Xu Hao, thank you so much."
For ordinary people, a job at the academy was undoubtedly tempting. When Wan Hao hunted in the mountains, he earned more when he was lucky and earned nothing when he was unlucky. However, the academy's income was stable.
"By the way, there's something I almost forgot," Zhu Kai said, patting his head.
"What is it?"
"I forgot to break off the engagement."
"Zhu Kai, don't be impulsive. The wedding date hasn't arrived yet. If you break off the engagement voluntarily, you won't get any benefits. Can't you wait?" Wan Hao advised.
But Zhu Kai was determined.
"I never intended to wait until the wedding date. Do I, Zhu Kai, care about those benefits?"
Lin Xiao Tian could attest to this.
The reason Zhu Kai was so insistent was that it was his parents' dying wish.
But the last time he saw Zhu Yu at the entrance, she didn't even look at him. From that moment on, Zhu Kai had completely given up hope.
Lin Xiao Tian and Wan Hao escorted him to the academy gate. This time, Zhu Kai did not ask Zhu Yu to come out. Instead, he asked the guards to hand over the marriage contract to Zhu Yu.
Handing over the marriage contract represented breaking off the engagement.
Lin Xiao Tian realized for the first time that Zhu Kai, who always seemed carefree, could also be so serious.
"Let's go! Let's go for a drink!"
Zhu Kai winked at the two of them.