As per the academy guidelines, accommodation for official lecturers would be arranged, and these were located within campus grounds.
Being enormous in size, Heavenly Spiral Academy seemed more like an independent city with dozens of individual mansions within its vicinity. Lecturers like Lin Jin were qualified for one so it not only allowed him to conduct classes for his private students, but he could also live here.
With this, Lin Jin wouldn’t have to trouble Appraiser Jiang Tianhe to find him lodging outside of the academy. For Lin Jin, living on campus was much more convenient and secure.
Wang Xin had helped him out tremendously by arranging the accommodation and tidying it up before Lin Jin moved into the place. Lin Jin felt somewhat ashamed so he planned to provide Wang Xin some guidance whenever he had time to repay the man’s efforts.
As a Rank 4 beast appraiser, Lin Jin was certainly qualified to teach a Rank 3 assistant lecturer.
By noon, Wang Xin was almost done with the arrangements.
He informed Lin Jin that a spacious mansion had been allocated to him. The courtyard had a huge garden, pond, and the main hall that could fit fifty students at once for his classes. Also, ten peach blossom trees had been planted in front of the main hall, so in the season when they bloomed, this yard would have one of the best views in the academy.
However, peach blossoms weren’t in season yet so they had to wait about one or two months. Even still, Lin Jin was quite pleased with the house.
As peach blossom trees were planted in its yard, this place was named ‘Peach Blossom House’.
Lin Jin took an immediate liking to the place the moment he arrived here. As Wang Xin had instructed people to clean up the place, the entire mansion, be it the rooms or garden, was in an immaculate condition. The main hall, in particular, was practically spotless with not even a speck of dust to be found.
“Lecturer Lin, the peach blossoms here will be in full bloom in another two months. The scenery then is sure to be divine. No matter where you are in the academy, you’ll be able to smell the fragrance of peach blossoms,” Wang Xin explained with a smile. It was evident that he was investing a lot of effort to please Lin Jin.
Lin Jin expressed his gratitude cheerfully. “Appraiser Wang, thank you so much. Should you need any assistance in the future, don’t hesitate to seek my help.”
This was an act of returning a favor with another favor. Lin Jin was serious about helping Wang Xin. Should he ever run into trouble, Lin Jin would not hesitate to help him.
With his lodging settled, Lin Jin was much more relaxed. At least for the next three months, he had someplace to stay.
“Lecturer Lin, you can gather your students here for classes in the future.” Wang Xin had just finished talking when a gleeful voice called from outside, “Appraiser Lin, I just heard that the academy has allocated the Peach Blossom House to you. This makes me jealous. Back when I first entered the academy, I wasn’t assigned a mansion as beautiful as this one.”
Lin Jin looked outside to see Appraiser Yan and Appraiser Ouyang.
Startled by their presence, Wang Xin quickly bowed in salutations.
Both of them were official lecturers of the institution with Rank 4 qualifications so they were way above Wang Xin in the pecking order. Lin Jin quickly welcomed them into his new home.
“Greetings, my fellow appraisers,” Lin Jin greeted respectfully.
Both Appraiser Yan and Appraiser Ouyang had helped Lin Jin a lot during the Rank 4 assessment. In fact, he remembered quite clearly how they had given giving him a huge seal of approval.
“Oh, there’s no need for you to be so courteous around us. We’re appraisers of the same rank and colleagues of the same institution so we should be helping each other out whenever we can.” Appraiser Ouyang chuckled. Being a slightly chubby man, his merry laughter added a sense of kindness to his character.
Wang Xin bid Lin Jin farewell but before he left, the latter reminded him, “Appraiser Wang, if you have spare time, do come by so we can discuss the study of beast appraising together.”
His words were designed to flatter Wang Xin, who noticed it too. Lin Jin had also deliberately said this before Appraiser Yan and Appraiser Ouyang so, in a sense, he was helping Wang Xin gain some public recognition among his seniors.
Wang Xin was overjoyed. He mused how his day’s work had indeed, not gone to waste.
He left in satisfaction.
Lin Jin had just arrived too but he was able to prepare tea by using minor spells so he wouldn’t leave his guests unattended.
“Appraiser Lin, you’re spell-casting is amazing.” With his keen eyes, Appraiser Yan observed how intricate Lin Jin’s spells were despite them being mere party tricks. The average person would find it difficult to perform them so effortlessly.
“Yes, especially this fire spell. It’s simply splendid,” Appraiser Ouyang complimented. Lin Jin smiled back at him. “It’s just a few cheap tricks, please don’t laugh at me.”
Once tea was ready, the three appraisers enjoyed a delightful chat under the peach blossom trees as they drank.
“Appraiser Lin, Appraiser Ouyang and I had just visited Appraiser Yang Ming,” Appraiser Yan mentioned after taking a sip of tea.
Stunned, Lin Jin immediately realized what they were here for.
Appraiser Yan and Appraiser Ouyang were truly a warm-hearted bunch. It was likely that they had come here to mediate the dispute that happened this morning.
Speaking of which, Lin Jin didn’t actually care about this issue. Still, he was rather curious as to why Appraiser Yang Ming was so hellbent on making his life difficult, even though they had never met before.
Lin Jin even suspected Appraiser Yang Ming to be somehow related to the Demonic Appraisal Association.
Of course, this was only a wild guess. Maybe the truth was far from what Lin Jin assumed.
“Appraiser Lin, you’re still new here so you might not be aware of Appraiser Yang’s temper. That man has an aloof personality and he may come across as stand-offish, but you’ll get used to it soon enough,” Appraiser Ouyang explained with a chuckle.
From his tone, Lin Jin guessed that their talk with Appraiser Yang ended in failure. In fact, he likely had reacted rudely to them.
Still, both appraisers meant well and desired peace, so Lin Jin would show them a basic level of respect.
Lin Jin saluted. “My fellow appraisers, there truly isn’t any grudge between Appraiser Yang and me. We weren’t even acquainted prior to this so I assume it was just a misunderstanding.”
“Right, a misunderstanding. As lecturers of the academy, we’ll be meeting each other quite often so there’s no need to make things so awkward between colleagues. We’ve mentioned this to Appraiser Yang during our visit and he agrees as well,” said Appraiser Yan. Then, he studied Peach Blossom House and added, “Appraiser Lin, looks like you haven’t moved in yet. Why don’t I get my students to help you out and prepare your daily necessities? That’ll save you the time to arrange them.”
Lin Jin couldn’t possibly trouble Appraiser Yan so his response came swiftly, saying how he could do it on his own. Also, he had private students of his own now so he could leave such matters to them.
Upon hearing this, Appraiser Yan stopped insisting.
The trio continued chatting for a bit before Appraiser Yan and Appraiser Ouyang took their leaves.
“This is a nice place. Appraiser Ouyang and I shall return soon to disturb you again. How are you at chess games, Appraiser Lin? Shall we have a go when we have spare time?”
“So long as Appraiser Yan and Appraiser Ouyang are willing, I will be delighted to accompany you.” Lin Jin chuckled. After seeing them off, Lin Jin finally had time to stroll around Peach Blossom House.
It was no wonder Appraiser Yan and Appraiser Ouyang were envious of him. The mansion was absolutely exquisite, and the more Lin Jin explored the place, the fonder he grew of it. After closing the courtyard gates, he entered a world of his own where nothing but peace and quiet existed.
