Xiao Mei Blocked, Xiao Yu Returns

Upon arriving at the small courtyard, Hun Cang gave it a cursory look and nodded in satisfaction. "Mentor Huo De, I'll wait for your news from here."

"Rest assured about the slot." Huo De smiled, though he hesitated somewhat. "The assessment for advancing to the Inner Academy midway through the term is more difficult than the annual one..."

Hun Cang raised a hand to interrupt him. "You don't need to worry about that. I'm certain of victory. Just wait to become a Black-tier Mentor in two months."

"Alright." Huo De swallowed the words that had reached his lips. As he walked to the courtyard gate, he turned back to look at Hun Cang's retreating figure entering the house, a trace of confusion flashing through his eyes.

For some reason, every word and action of Hun Cang's seemed to carry a convincing sort of magic.

Even he himself had believed him unconditionally.

Perhaps it had something to do with what happened outside Heping Town on the day Hun Cang arrived... he thought.

Even if Hun Cang had relied on the Heavenly Flames, the fact that he had dealt with three Da Dou Shi was enough to show how terrifying he was. Passing the assessment should not be a problem.

Over the following days, Hun Cang settled into the small courtyard.

During that time, apart from the students responsible for delivering meals, no one else came by. Hun Cang welcomed the peace and quiet. After setting up a simple restriction in the room to ensure his aura would not leak out, he began cultivating in earnest.

Inside the hall where the Ink Jade Lotus Platform floated, Hun Cang sat cross-legged upon it. Fire-attributed Dou Qi curled around his body, surging up from beneath the Ink Jade Lotus Platform before flowing into him.

Hun Cang wore only a pair of shorts. The exposed skin of his body was not pale and lustrous, but instead glimmered with seven-colored light like glazed crystal.

The fire-attributed Dou Qi passed through the meridians within his body before finally gathering in his dantian.

Time flew by, and more than a month quickly passed.

Meanwhile, many things happened in places unknown to Hun Cang.

For example, within Jia Nan Academy.

Ever since that hurried glimpse on that day, when she seemed to have seen Hun Cang, Xiao Mei had been somewhat absent-minded. Whenever she had free time, she would come to the main road leading to the fork.

Sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon, and sometimes for an entire day.

Yet she never saw that familiar figure again, though some teachers often did.

"Could I really have seen wrong?" After waiting there for so long, Xiao Mei could not help but start doubting herself.

A group of people approached from afar. At their head was a tall young man with a long face and narrow eyes, giving off a sleazy, untrustworthy impression.

When the young man spotted the figure in the pavilion, he halted, then immediately beamed with delight and hurried over. "Junior Xiao Mei, did you know I was returning today and come here specially to wait for me?"

Xiao Mei turned her head, disgust written across her face. "Luo Ling, can you have some shame?"

"Hehe, what use is shame? Can it feed you?" Luo Ling strode into the pavilion.

Seeing this, Xiao Mei rose to leave, as though she did not want to remain around this person for even another moment.

However, the people who had come with Luo Ling directly blocked the exit.

"Move!" Xiao Mei frowned and spoke coldly.

Unfortunately, those people did not budge in the slightest. Xiao Mei's expression immediately turned ugly.

Some passing students nearby cast curious glances over.

"What are you looking at?" Luo Ling merely snapped at them viciously, and they promptly turned their heads away, not daring to look again.

Who in Jia Nan Academy's Outer Academy did not know Luo Ling? Not only was he ugly, but he was always stirring up trouble. Relying on the fact that he had an older brother in the Inner Academy, he often bullied junior girls who had just entered the academy.

Of course, Luo Ling did not dare openly challenge the academy's rules or make trouble recklessly. He merely used certain methods.

For instance, some junior girls came to the academy together with members of their clans. If they lacked a powerful backer, he would have people make moves against their family members.

He would deliberately use duels and the like to fight members of that girl's clan, beating them until they were miserable beyond words.

The academy did not prohibit competition between students, so even if they reported it to the teachers, it did little good.

After several such incidents, the junior girls would not only be driven to distraction by Luo Ling's harassment, but might even face disapproving looks from their own clan members. Left with no other choice, they would yield to Luo Ling's wishes.

In fact, Xiao Xun'er had been his first target. That girl was truly innocent yet alluring.

Unfortunately, he had been viciously taught a lesson the very next day, so frightened that he pissed and shit himself. From that moment on, he knew he had provoked someone he should never have provoked.

But Luo Ling was unwilling to give up his designs on the Xiao Family. He felt that doing so would cost him face, so he shifted his attention to Xiao Mei.

Though this girl could not compare to Xiao Xun'er, her figure was already quite impressive for her age, and she naturally exuded a faintly seductive charm.

More than once, Luo Ling had imagined what it would be like if he could get Xiao Mei into bed and release that seductive charm.

At first, he had only tested the waters cautiously. When he discovered that person was no longer interfering with him, he became utterly unscrupulous.

Later, he used the same tactic and beat up Xiao Ning, a meddlesome member of the Xiao Family, several times.

Sitting carelessly in the pavilion, Luo Ling swept his lecherous gaze over Xiao Mei's body. "I really don't understand. Is it that hard for you to obediently cooperate with me? Or do you think I truly don't dare be ruthless toward your Xiao Family?"

Xiao Mei's expression was icy. "This is Jia Nan Academy. If you have the nerve, then try it."

"Inside the academy, I certainly can't. But what about outside? I can have my brother arrange an outing mission for that Xiao Ning. If a little accident happens then, that would be unavoidable, wouldn't it?" Luo Ling's lips curled into a sinister smile.

"It seems that Xiao Ning treats you girls rather well. He calls himself your brother and says he has to take good care of you, but his strength is complete trash. And if one Xiao Ning isn't enough, I can add another, until you lower your head. Do you believe me?"

Xiao Mei's breathing grew heavier. Her hands clenched as Dou Qi surfaced around her body. "Luo Ling, don't go too far. If you truly dare lay deadly hands on members of our Xiao Family, I guarantee you'll regret it one day!"

"Hehe, we'll talk about the future when it comes. I only care about the present," Luo Ling said with a rogueish grin.

"It's been another week, hasn't it? Who wants to go loosen Xiao Ning's bones?"

"Come to think of it, Xiao Ning's sister isn't bad either. Those long legs must taste pretty good too, right?"

The people blocking the way joined in the conversation. Their piercing, vile words reached Xiao Mei's ears, making her chest heave violently with fury.

"Luo Ling, what are you doing again?!"

At that moment, a sharp female cry rang out. Then, as one person was kicked flying, the human wall blocking the way instantly collapsed.

Xiao Yu wore a fitted outfit, her face and body covered in dust. One look was enough to tell that she had just returned.

In truth, she had indeed just returned from completing a mission outside. When she saw Xiao Mei being surrounded, her fiery temper flared up and she charged over without holding back.

"So it's Senior Xiao Yu. Looks like your mission didn't go very smoothly. Such a terrible temper." Luo Ling boldly swept his gaze over Xiao Yu's legs as he swaggered past her.

"You still have the mood to worry about others? If you didn't obtain the mission item, Xiao Ning should be expelled by the academy, right? If it really comes to that, go beg my brother. He's always been waiting for you."

"You two brothers are truly disgusting. In Jia Nan Academy, you're like a single rat dropping ruining an entire pot of soup." Xiao Yu's face was cold as she took Xiao Mei's hand and left.