Reunion with Yaoye

"Were you talking to me?"

Xiao Shuang turned around and looked at the young man, confusion appearing in his eyes.

Huh? What right did a seventeen-year-old Dou Zhe have to act so arrogantly before him?

"Who else would I be talking to? I can see you're a new student too. You'd better follow the rules." The young man was exceedingly arrogant. It seemed the tradition of sunbathing had done nothing to rein him in.

Well, being a B-rank talent at Jia Nan Academy did indeed make one a target of special attention from the instructors.

"You're from the Jia Ma Empire, right? I represent the Royal Family. What right do you have to ride a Griffon Beast meant for instructors?" The young man's tone carried some resentment. Apparently, he was displeased at having to share a Griffon Beast with a commoner in his eyes.

"Oh, someone from the Royal Family?"

Xiao Shuang had originally intended to dismiss the young man casually, but when he heard the words "Royal Family," his expression turned somewhat strange.

"That's right. Why aren't you, a commoner, coming over yet? You're not qualified to board a Griffon Beast meant for instructors." The young man puffed out his chest, looking utterly proud.

"That tone is really unpleasant."

Xiao Shuang shook his head. With a flash of his body, dozens of ice spikes condensed out of thin air, sealing off every route of retreat for the young man.

Seeing that the commoner before him had not only ignored his command but had even launched an attack against him, the young man was furious. Pale yellow Dou Qi swirled around his body as he prepared to teach this ignorant commoner a lesson.

What surprised him was that Xiao Shuang's hand pierced straight through his Dou Qi defense and viciously seized his throat. The ice spikes pierced through his arms as well, blood spilling out at once.

Just as the young man opened his mouth to curse, the final ice spike stabbed directly into his mouth. However, Xiao Shuang withdrew some of its force midway and did not take his life.

"I hate people like you." Xiao Shuang tightened his grip, and the young man's face immediately flushed red. How could those new students have ever seen such a scene? They stared at everything before them in terror.

"Elder Jia, come out and collect your man. I don't like people bullying me."

Xiao Shuang gave a light shout and flung the young man in his hand away. He had spotted Jia Xingtian nearby earlier.

As expected, the young man was caught by a figure. After examining his injuries, that figure could only smile wryly.

"You brat, you were a bit too heavy-handed."

That figure was Elder Jia. He had come to take a look because someone from the Royal Family had been selected by Jia Nan Academy. Unfortunately, he had arrived just in time to see Xiao Shuang beat up one of the Royal Family's members.

That young man had been far too arrogant. It was only a matter of time before he received a lesson, and Jia Xingtian did not have much of an objection to it. Besides, Xiao Shuang had shown restraint. They were merely superficial wounds; his foundation had not been damaged in the slightest.

The young man became excited when he saw Jia Xingtian arrive. Just as he was about to say something, his eyes rolled back and he fainted...

Perhaps he had been overcome by rage. That beating had been quite humiliating. He was something of a little tyrant in the Imperial Capital, and he had never suffered such a loss before.

"Xiao Shuang? Why are you in the Imperial Capital?"

At that moment, a tall woman dressed in a black brocade robe walked over.

It seemed that sentence had come from her.

Her face was cool and beautiful, carrying a trace of imposing dignity.

Obviously, this woman was Yaoye. It seemed that Jia Nan Academy's recruitment was highly appealing to the Royal Family as well.

Once Yaoye approached, everyone present slightly turned their heads away. Staring directly at the future Empress was an extremely discourteous act.

Xiao Shuang shrugged and pointed at the Griffon Beast behind him.

"Jia Nan Academy is recruiting students? Then you're a student of Jia Nan Academy as well. Congratulations." Yaoye's beautiful eyes rested on Xiao Shuang as she walked over openly.

"Thanks." Xiao Shuang had no interest in lingering. Before he reached the strength of a Dou Wang, there was no need to act overly intimate.

Seeing Xiao Shuang's indifferent manner, Yaoye frowned slightly. Then she broke into a smile and said to Jia Xingtian, "Great-Grandfather, someone has been disrespectful to my fiancé. How should this be handled?"

As a woman, she was naturally meticulous in her thoughts. Of course she knew what Xiao Shuang's lukewarm attitude meant.

Since she had already placed her bet on this future genius, she naturally had to show sufficient sincerity. For example, if this matter was not handled properly now, it could create a rift between them.

After all, given Xiao Shuang's talent, a few Xuan-rank cultivation methods and Dou Skills were nothing much.

No matter what, she simply believed that Xiao Shuang could become an absolute powerhouse. It was also time for the Jia Ma Empire to end its seclusion in one corner. She had no desire to become a ruler who merely maintained the status quo.

Yaoye smiled gently and leaned close to Xiao Shuang's ear, whispering, "Save that hot-and-cold attitude of yours for dipping tripe in hotpot."

How could she fail to notice that when she called him her fiancé in front of everyone, Xiao Shuang's expression had softened considerably?

Did she like Xiao Shuang? Yes. Love at first sight? Perhaps. In any case, from the first moment she saw Xiao Shuang, she had felt a strong fondness for him. As the future Empress of the Jia Ma Empire, did she not even have the right to choose her future partner?

After hearing Yaoye's words, everyone else broke out in a cold sweat. What had they just heard? The Grand Princess of the Royal Family had a fiancé? How had they not known anything about it?

No matter what, they were all children of noble families. Yet their families had been completely unaware that the Grand Princess was engaged?

Jia Xingtian was also stunned by Yaoye's words. Then, seeing the serious expression on her face, he smiled bitterly. "Leave it to this old man. He will receive the punishment he deserves. As a member of the Royal Family, he should all the more set an example."

Yaoye nodded in satisfaction, then turned her head. Her voice was exceptionally gentle as she said, "Are you satisfied now, my fiancé~?"

The last words carried a lingering lilt. Anyone with weak self-control would likely have blushed, and Xiao Shuang's heart stirred as he quietly took Yaoye's soft, boneless hand and kneaded it wantonly a few times.

"Not bad. I'm very satisfied." Xiao Shuang paused before continuing, "I like that you stand by my side. My strength is still slightly lacking right now, so I'm not yet qualified to say this. Just wait for me. It won't take long."

Yaoye nodded and looked toward the noble children who were secretly watching them. Her voice turned cold. "This is my fiancé. If any blind fool offends him, hmph."

She ended with a cold snort, making the threatening intent unmistakable.

However, none of those noble children knew Xiao Shuang's identity. Most of them were utterly baffled, much less inclined to offend him...