Xiao Xiao listened to their story from nearby, thinking about something very important.
Since Sister Lexuan's intelligence dropped automatically whenever Xuanyuan Sheng was involved, surely it wouldn't drop this much.
But it really had happened. Perhaps she could do something strange to her Xiao Sheng right under Zhang Lexuan's nose, too.
If Zhang Lexuan weren't standing guard nearby, she definitely wouldn't have stopped at merely holding Xuanyuan Sheng's hand and getting a taste of it.
So she gathered her courage and went over to Zhang Lexuan, who was smiling.
"What is it, Xiao Xiao?"
Zhang Lexuan liked the lively little girl who would soon become her disciple, despite her being an extreme face-con.
The rest didn't matter. She was quite willing to listen to Xiao Xiao.
Xiao Xiao leaned close to Zhang Lexuan's ear.
"Sister Lexuan, outsiders are watching us like hawks, and there's no one inside to keep things steady. That's left Xiao Sheng in a very dangerous position, so we need to do something."
Zhang Lexuan smiled calmly. She hadn't expected there to be two people by her side who cared so much about her little brother.
"Go ahead, Xiao Xiao. I'll give it careful consideration."
Children needed encouragement. Since Xiao Xiao had an idea, Zhang Lexuan wanted to give her a chance to show what she could do.
Xiao Xiao put her hands on her hips and smiled confidently. "Xiao Sheng needs someone useful by his side to keep things steady, and my Martial Soul is the Zhenhun Ding. That's the first thing.
"People outside are eyeing him because things aren't stable within. That's the second thing.
"So I've decided to give myself a proper status, so I can better punish those foxes who want to steal the honey."
Zhang Lexuan listened to Xiao Xiao finish with an impassive expression. She shouldn't have expected too much from this little girl.
Xiaotao was more reliable. She was willing to sacrifice her reputation just to make things safer for Xiao Sheng.
A hand grabbed the collar at the back of Xiao Xiao's neck.
"You two wait here. I'm going to take care of something."
Xuanyuan Sheng couldn't help praying for Xiao Xiao, who had somehow managed to provoke Sister Lexuan.
But being gentle outside wouldn't do her any good. Otherwise, how would she have become the senior sister admired by all the Inner Courtyard disciples?
When Zhang Lexuan dragged Xiao Xiao away, voluntarily giving the two of them some time alone, Ma Xiaotao's eyes gleamed. She sat down beside Xuanyuan Sheng.
He felt a gust of wind rise from the movement beside him.
Xuanyuan Sheng looked over.
Ma Xiaotao, one of the Inner Courtyard's volcanoes.
Whenever she appeared at the academy, she gave off an overwhelmingly intimidating presence. Her fiery temper was dangerous, and not something most people could bear.
But after spending half a day together and getting to know her fairly well, Xuanyuan Sheng knew that in private, she was just an ordinary woman who went around calling herself "your reliable big sister from next door."
She was always talking about how composed she was, without realizing the fearsome nickname she'd earned.
Of course, she wasn't exactly ordinary. Even beneath her bright red dress, her figure was on full display—she was incredibly sexy and alluring.
Her slender waist, long legs, and impressive curves were more than enough to make Xiao Xiao, the little flat-chested princess, look up to her for the rest of her life.
Ma Xiaotao's volcano persona had vanished without a trace the first time she showed up at Xuanyuan Sheng's home.
When she and Xuanyuan Sheng met again, she'd tried to maintain her "volcano image" at the academy and act proper, making herself seem like a senior who preferred to keep strangers at a distance.
But as the two of them spent more time alone, Ma Xiaotao gradually dropped the act right in front of him. She simply... let go of the pretense and went back to being herself.
Like right now.
After moving closer to Xuanyuan Sheng, she casually draped an arm around his shoulders. Then she undid two buttons at her collar, as if she felt stifled.
She just wanted some air, and so her delicate collarbones and the fair skin below her neck were on display.
She lounged against Xuanyuan Sheng, took a big swig from a wineglass that had come from who knew where, let out a satisfied sigh, then carelessly wiped the wine from the corner of her mouth with her hand.
In this state, she didn't look at all like the Flame Maniac who terrified the academy's students.
"What? Got a problem with your big sister?" Ma Xiaotao joked.
Xuanyuan Sheng shook his head. "I just didn't expect the person everyone at Shrek Academy agrees is an airhead to have Sister Lexuan so completely fooled."
"Thanks... Wait, what? What did you just say, you brat?" Ma Xiaotao shot Xuanyuan Sheng an annoyed look.
It was only because she was in a good mood. Otherwise, after he'd insulted her intelligence, he'd have been met with a flaming fist.
When she saw Zhang Lexuan returning with Xiao Xiao, who'd been thoroughly put in her place, Ma Xiaotao let go of Xuanyuan Sheng.
"I'm sorry about what happened before, but you still need to take care of yourself, Xiao Sheng. There's no need to rush your cultivation. You can't focus so much on working hard that you neglect your health."
Ma Xiaotao looked at him seriously and said something she hadn't said in a long time. "Your health is your most important asset. Only with that can you deal with anything that seems dangerous to you."
Even Sister Lexuan had never lectured him like this. This was the first time Ma Xiaotao had said such things to him.
"I'm fine. Thank you."
"Your big sister here is the composed girl next door, and I can answer any question you have." Ma Xiaotao pursed her lips. "I'm the big sister, after all. Naturally, I know a lot more."
"What big sister?"
Zhang Lexuan had also heard what Ma Xiaotao said. She was relieved. Ma Xiaotao really was more mature.
Ma Xiaotao's mouth twitched, but she answered with a smile. "I'm older than him, after all. I know so much more than he does. If there's anything you want to learn, you can come to me."
Zhang Lexuan looked even more pleased.
Meanwhile, Xiao Xiao, holding her head as if she hadn't just been roughed up, curled her lip disdainfully. "So, you know other things too, then? Can you teach Xiao Sheng the way to adulthood as well?"
Xiao Xiao didn't know why. There was nothing wrong with what Ma Xiaotao had said, but she still wanted to argue with her, as if she had an enemy-detection radar switched on.
Maybe it was just the instinct of a lecher.
Ma Xiaotao's face flushed at that, but she still lifted her head calmly. "Sure. If Xiao Sheng wants me to teach him, I can."
Seeing the two of them suddenly start squabbling, Zhang Lexuan reached out and pulled them apart. "Both of you, quiet down. Xiao Sheng and I have something important to discuss."
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