Zi Yan (2)

Fallen Heart Flame had been stolen, and Su Qian was filled with worry. He had long since thrown Zi Yan's theft of Medicinal Herbs to the back of his mind.

He truly had no mood to explain anything further to this little girl. In his view, even if he explained, she would not be able to help and would only add to his troubles.

Just as he was about to tell Zi Yan to go back and stop causing trouble here, two figures came racing over from the distance, rapidly drawing near.

The newcomers were Shi Kang and Shi Fei.

As for Shi Long, he was holding the larger Fallen Heart Flame and, under Shi Kang's instructions, had not shown himself.

The two walked through the air, their bearing carefree yet carrying an aura that could not be underestimated.

Su Qian and the academy's instructors immediately became vigilant. They all assumed stances ready for battle, their eyes fixed tightly on the two as if facing formidable enemies.

Suppressing the tension in his heart, Su Qian asked Shi Kang and Shi Fei, "May I ask what business brings you to Jia Nan Academy, gentlemen?"

Su Qian could tell that Shi Kang was a One-star Dou Ancestor. Although there was a strange, dangerous feeling about him, he was indeed at the One-star Dou Ancestor realm.

However, when his gaze fell upon Shi Fei, a profound sense of powerlessness rose in his heart.

He could not see through Shi Fei's strength at all. It was more than merely being unable to discern it—it was like facing a bottomless ocean, utterly unfathomable.

He had once felt this sensation from his own academy headmaster. No, this man seemed even stronger than the headmaster.

A Half-Saint Expert!

With such a Big Shot descending upon Jia Nan Academy, Su Qian's heart instantly leaped into his throat.

It was no exaggeration to say that if the other party wished it, a mere flick of a finger could erase Jia Nan Academy from this land entirely.

For that very reason, although Su Qian strongly suspected that these two had taken Fallen Heart Flame, he did not dare question them rashly.

Fallen Heart Flame was indeed crucial to Jia Nan Academy, but compared with the lives of the academy's teachers and students, Su Qian knew perfectly well which mattered more.

Their Jia Nan Academy's headmaster, Mang Qianchi, possessed extraordinary strength, but Su Qian had no way to contact him.

Perhaps in Mang Qianchi's eyes, founding Jia Nan Academy had merely been something he did on a whim. He had never taken it to heart, had not appeared for who knew how long, and had certainly not managed the academy.

After arriving, Shi Kang swept his gaze across the crowd and was first drawn to the purple-haired Loli among them.

This adorable Loli looked to be around thirteen years old and possessed the strength of a Dou Wang. Coupled with that distinctive head of purple hair, Shi Kang secretly guessed that she had to be Zi Yan.

Then he glanced at the old man standing at the very front. Sensing the aura of a Dou Zong from him, he guessed that this was Jia Nan Academy's First Elder, Su Qian.

The corners of Shi Kang's lips lifted into a gentle smile. "You must be First Elder Su Qian of Jia Nan Academy?"

Su Qian felt as though a mountain was pressing down on him, and beads of sweat had formed on his forehead. He stammered, "Y-yes, sir. May I ask what brings you here?"

"Are you looking for this?" Shi Kang said as he slowly took out a colorless flame.

This flame was Fallen Heart Flame. More precisely, it was the infant Fallen Heart Flame obtained from Venerable Skyfire.

Since it had only been born recently, it not only failed to display great power but even appeared somewhat weak.

Su Qian recognized the flame in Shi Kang's hand at once. Though it looked rather weak, it was undoubtedly Fallen Heart Flame.

So he really did take the Fallen Heart Flame beneath the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower!

Elder Yun Yang beside Su Qian immediately flew into a rage at the sight of Fallen Heart Flame. He was just about to demand the return of the Heavenly Flame when Su Qian hurriedly stopped him.

"Who are you? Why did you steal our Jia Nan Academy's Fallen Heart Flame? Hand it over now!" At that moment, a clear voice suddenly rang out.

Although Su Qian had stopped the instructors, he had failed to stop Zi Yan.

At that moment, the petite Zi Yan stepped forward. With her beautiful eyes wide, she questioned Shi Kang with an adorably fierce expression.

Zi Yan had always run rampant in Jia Nan Academy. The students feared her, while the instructors found her a headache and could not control her.

Since Shi Kang was tall and Zi Yan was petite, she could only tilt up her little head to look at him.

Though she had lost in height, her bearing was not weak at all. With her head held high and chest puffed out, she looked like a spirited little rooster.

Zi Yan questioned him with that deliberately fierce look, but Shi Kang was not angered. Instead, he found her adorably fierce demeanor rather cute.

As the Young Clan Leader of the Stone Clan, everyone around Shi Kang treated him with utmost respect. The sudden appearance of such a little girl amused him.

Shi Fei, however, frowned. In his view, for her to dare speak to their Young Clan Leader like that was simply a grave offense!

Fortunately, Shi Kang had just instructed him not to make a move.

Noticing the change in Shi Fei's expression, Su Qian was startled.

Although Zi Yan often caused him trouble, he was rather fond of this lively, adorable little girl who brought him so much joy. He had long regarded her as his own granddaughter.

For Zi Yan's sake, Su Qian braced himself and stepped forward to apologize. "Please do not take offense, sir. Zi Yan is still young and ignorant. She did not mean to offend you..."

As he spoke, he hurriedly covered Zi Yan's mouth, afraid that she might say something else she should not.

Zi Yan could only make muffled sounds. She did not understand why this handsome big brother had stolen Jia Nan Academy's Heavenly Flame.

Little ancestor, please stop causing trouble... Su Qian sighed inwardly.

"She was brought back by our headmaster, Mang Qianchi. She has been mischievous since childhood..." Su Qian quickly invoked Mang Qianchi's name, hoping the other party had heard of him and would show some consideration.

Whether they had heard of him or not, he had no choice but to try.

In truth, Zi Yan had been brought back by him, but he said this only to protect her.

"Lei Clan Elder Mang Qianchi?"

Su Qian's face lit up with wild joy, and he hurriedly nodded. "You know our headmaster, sir?"

Shi Fei spoke coldly from the side. "We have some acquaintance. We once sparred, and I defeated him..."

Hearing this, Su Qian let out a breath of relief. It's good that they know each other. Perhaps there's still room to turn this around.

"First Elder Su Qian, I passed through this place and saw Fallen Heart Flame in a violent state. Since you had difficulty suppressing it, I casually erased its spiritual intelligence..." Shi Kang lied smoothly and straightforwardly as he handed the small Fallen Heart Flame to Su Qian.

Su Qian accepted Fallen Heart Flame. Though he did not understand why it had become so weak, he did not voice the question. He certainly did not dare interrogate such a powerful expert.

In his view, weaker was better. It would make Jia Nan Academy's control and cultivation of it easier.

As long as they cultivated it properly, Fallen Heart Flame would not only cease to riot but might even become Jia Nan Academy's guardian.

"Thank you for your assistance, sir!" Su Qian thanked him sincerely. In his eyes, Shi Kang had rendered Jia Nan Academy an enormous favor.

This made Zi Yan, who had just misunderstood Shi Kang, feel a little embarrassed, and her small face flushed faintly.

Shi Kang then looked at Zi Yan and asked gently, "Your name is Zi Yan?"