Su Yan's Intuition!

"Old Man Jiang, Senior Brother Shi Lei... what time do you usually arrive?"

Lin Xiaohe hesitated at the entrance for a moment, feeling that standing around idly was too awkward. She edged closer, attempting to strike up a conversation with the old man who sat by the gate like a stone statue, her voice deliberately softened with a hint of ingratiating probe.

Jiang Ye didn't even bother to fully lift his eyelids, maintaining the appearance of someone hard of hearing and dim-sighted, seemingly dozing off.

Rebuffed, Lin Xiaohe retreated to her original spot, her fingers twisting the string of the oil-paper parcel more tightly as her gaze turned increasingly anxious toward the end of the long street.

Fortunately, she did not have to wait long.

A steady, rhythmic sound of footsteps approached from afar, shattering the silence of the early morning.

Shi Lei's figure appeared at the street corner, still jogging as he always did, fine beads of sweat glistening on his forehead under the morning light.

"Senior Brother Shi Lei, good morning!"

Lin Xiaohe's eyes lit up instantly, a smile blooming on her face that was perhaps too bright, like a skylark that had finally waited for its target to return to the nest, and she stepped forward with a light gait.

"Junior Sister Lin?!"

Shi Lei's footsteps faltered instinctively. He looked at the young girl blocking his path, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly before returning to a calm state.

His gaze swept over the deliberately plastered-on smile on her face and the steaming oil-paper parcel in her hands, showing neither surprise nor ripples of emotion.

"Senior Brother Shi Lei, I got up extra early this morning to make these sesame flatbreads for you myself. They're still warm! You should try one..."

Lin Xiaohe couldn't wait to thrust the oil-paper parcel forward, her eyes filled with anticipation and even a hint of imperceptible pleading.

However, Shi Lei did not take the parcel. Instead, he waved his hand and said in a flat tone, "Thank you for your kindness, Junior Sister Lin, but I have already eaten breakfast. I really cannot eat any more; you should keep them for yourself."

With that, he didn't even look again at the smile that had instantly stiffened on Lin Xiaohe's face or the shock welling up in her eyes. He simply stepped aside to walk past her without pausing his stride.

As he passed the gate, he stopped to offer a respectful and earnest bow to Jiang Ye, who still appeared to be dozing, before turning and stepping into the Martial Academy at a measured pace.

Lin Xiaohe's hand remained frozen in mid-air, the steam from the oil-paper parcel curling upward, blurring her face as the color drained from it.

She stood there blankly, watching the direction in which Shi Lei had disappeared, as if all her strength had been drained away.

The smile she had been forcing on her slightly chubby cheeks had long since vanished, leaving behind only a bitter ache.

The coldness and despair of being publicly cast aside and humiliated by Hu Tian last night had kept her awake all night.

She had finally realized that only the honest and simple-minded Shi Lei was someone she could control.

That was why she had personally made the flatbreads at the crack of dawn, hoping to warm up Shi Lei's cold hearth.

She had anticipated many possibilities.

She had expected that Shi Lei might angrily rebuke her, offer cold sarcasm, or perhaps even be filled with grief and indignation...

She had even secretly hoped that Shi Lei would give her a good scolding, as that would at least mean he still cared and that there were still ripples in his emotions.

But she had never expected this... a refusal as light as a breeze and an indifference that looked right through her.

This absolute calm was more unsettling and painful to her than any intense reaction.

Because it meant that Shi Lei, in all likelihood, would never forgive her again.

Hmm, this lad Shi truly has some strength of character.

Jiang Ye, who had appeared to be dozing the entire time but had actually taken in everything, nodded slightly to himself.

As for Lin Xiaohe, with her bitter expression and pitiful appearance, Jiang Ye couldn't even be bothered to spare her a second glance.

For this little girl to end up in such a state was entirely of her own doing.

As the morning light grew stronger, more and more disciples arrived at the Martial Academy.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, Jiang Ye's seemingly half-closed eyelids flickered slightly, and his gaze traveled over the crowd toward the other end of the long street.

A carriage with elegant decorations, bearing the mark of the Su Family, was approaching at a leisurely pace, eventually coming to a slow stop in front of the Martial Academy gate.

Is Su Yan actually coming to practice martial arts today after all...

A trace of surprise flashed through Jiang Ye's mind.

Although he had been on the receiving end during their "battle" last night, the potency of the Beauty Drunk was truly immense; Su Yan had certainly been put through the wringer after the deed was done.

He hadn't expected that after suffering such "heavy damage," she would still be able to come for training the next day...

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a slender figure hopped lightly off the carriage.

It was indeed Su Yan.

Today, she had changed into a set of lake-blue martial arts attire made of exquisite, well-tailored fabric; the stiff material perfectly outlined the delicate curves of the young girl.

Her features were as refined as ever, though there was a hint of maturity in the movement of her eyes that transcended the innocence of a young girl.

Jiang Ye quickly lowered his head, not daring to look any further.

Ever since last night's experience, just seeing Su Yan in this outfit made him imagine what kind of graceful figure lay beneath the clothes.

After all, he had truly seen it.

"Good morning, Old Man Jiang."

Su Yan greeted Jiang Ye as she usually did.

A familiar scent of perfume drifted over, causing Jiang Ye, who had been pretending to doze off, to flush a rare shade of red. He lifted his head slightly and greeted her, "Miss Su, you've arrived quite early today."

"Mm..."

As Su Yan was about to step through the gates of the Martial Academy, she locked eyes with Jiang Ye's aged pupils, and her heart gave a violent jolt.

A strong sense of dissonance welled up in her mind.

Uncontrollable images of last night's unbearable scene flooded her thoughts, and in particular, the gaunt, stern-faced white-haired elder seemed to slowly merge with the Jiang Ye standing before her.

However, it lasted only an instant.

Su Yan hurriedly shook her head, suppressing the chaotic thoughts swirling in her mind.

"Have I gone mad..."

A faint blush appeared on Su Yan's gentle, bright face.

What was she thinking?

She had actually linked the gatekeeping old man before her with that white-haired elder...

How utterly ridiculous.

The Jiang Ye before her was frail and elderly, his expression kind and approachable.

Yet that white-haired elder had a body as straight as a spear, an aura as sharp as a drawn blade, a cold and grim face carrying the ferocity of an outlaw, and a strength at least at the level of Dark Strength that was unfathomable...

Regardless of age, physique, temperament, or strength, they were as different as clouds and mud, completely unrelated.

How could she have produced such an absurd association?

It must have been the shock of last night; her mind had not yet settled, leading to such a laughable illusion.

She steadied herself, forcing herself to calm down, and after casting one last deep look at Jiang Ye, she walked into the Martial Academy with a complex expression.

Jiang Ye watched Su Yan's slender back as she walked away, his eyes narrowing slightly, a flicker of complex emotion passing through his aged gaze as well.

He naturally had no idea what Su Yan was thinking, or he would surely have exclaimed at how terrifying a woman's intuition truly was.

Once all the disciples had gathered, Liu Qingshi did something rare: he summoned both the Inner Courtyard and Outer Courtyard disciples together.

He was not wearing his usual training gear today, but a solemn, deep-blue robe, his expression grave and naturally imposing.

Liu Qingshi did not speak immediately; the brief silence only served to make the atmosphere feel more heavy and oppressive.

Every disciple could feel the invisible pressure emanating from a master of the Transformation Realm.

Finally, his thick, low voice boomed across the Martial Practice Field like muffled thunder, every word clear and distinct:

"Zhang Xu, your heart is crooked and your character is base; you have violated the iron laws of the Martial Academy!"

"Effective immediately, you are expelled from the Martial Academy!"

"Permanently banished from the sect!"