Departure

Looking at the two standing beneath the curtain of water, yet without the slightest damp stain on their clothes, the shock on Instructor Ruo Lin's cheeks slowly faded, and only then did a helpless smile appear.

Though that move of hers could not really be called a killing move, its power was not something a Dou Zhe could withstand. Even a Dou Shi could not.

The only possibility was that the mysterious person both of them had taken as their master had secretly stepped in to help.

As for the so-called trump card Lin Qingyun mentioned, did she believe it?

Absolutely not!

Though she was somewhat annoyed that the mysterious person had not kept his word, she had no choice. A powerful expert above Dou Wang, and very likely even a Sixth-grade Alchemist Master—someone of that status was not someone she could afford to offend.

Looking at the two youths with smiles rippling across their faces, Ruo Lin said with some unconvinced displeasure, "Not bad at all. You actually managed to block that move of mine."

"Hehe, it was just luck. If Instructor had been willing to use your full strength, I definitely wouldn't have lasted three rounds," Xiao Yan said with his face slightly flushed, scratching his head as he smiled.

"If I used my full strength just to deal with you two little fellows, would you still expect me to be able to hold my head up in the academy?" Hearing this, Instructor Ruo Lin rolled her eyes at Xiao Yan in annoyance.

"Instructor, you can't put it like that. If, faced with you using all your strength, we could still hold out twenty rounds in your hands, wouldn't that prove our potential even more? Picking up two students with such terrifying talent for free—doesn't that sound sweet?" Lin Qingyun said with a faint smile.

"Sweet? In your dreams." Instructor Ruo Lin proudly raised her head, then said, "Since the two of you have met the conditions I required, then this one-year leave is yours. Sigh..." With a soft sigh, Instructor Ruo Lin shook her head, somewhat helpless. In her heart, she was rather resentful toward that mysterious person. If not for him, this year of leave absolutely would not have been granted.

"Hehe, many thanks to Instructor Ruo Lin for granting it." Hearing this, the two of them also let out a relieved breath as if a heavy burden had been lifted. Xiao Yan, in particular, had delight written across his face as he smiled and spoke.

"Sigh!" Another sigh sounded, as she let out the helplessness in her heart.

Lin Qingyun, meanwhile, walked off the field, greeted the members of the Xiao Family, and then left alone.

The bustle afterward would amount to nothing more than Xiao Yan and the others pulling Instructor Ruo Lin to the Xiao Family as a guest. He had no interest in that, so he simply skipped it.

As evening approached, the setting sun left its last ray of afterglow on the horizon.

Perhaps because the Jia Nan Academy recruitment team had arrived, the streets were even livelier than usual.

A trace of joy mingled within that bustle.

Lin Qingyun placed both hands behind his head, cradling it as he wandered through the long street.

He kept walking until he reached a relatively remote street. There were few people here, and there were also very few shops on either side.

But beneath the broad eaves, beggars in ragged clothes were curled up one after another.

Looking at this scene, Lin Qingyun sighed softly. Once upon a time, he had also been one of them. He had transmigrated here, but he had not been born into a good family. Instead, he had landed in the body of a little beggar.

At that time, his small body had only been six years old. Fortunately, his luck had been very good. The Fourth Elder of the Xiao Family had taken a liking to him and adopted him. Relying on the knowledge from his previous life, he had actually managed to make quite a name for himself within the Xiao Family.

Time had passed and things had changed. Looking back at this place again, he could not help feeling a little emotional.

"I came from this place, so I'll leave from this place." Lin Qingyun murmured to himself. He did not know why he was spouting such nonsense. It was simply an emotion that had risen for no reason.

He casually dropped some copper coins, counting it as a bit of care for these beggars who could not eat their fill.

Following this road and taking a few shortcuts, he soon arrived before the Xiao Family's main gate.

At this moment, the Xiao Family's main gate was wide open, unlike usual.

Lin Qingyun understood somewhat in his heart. Most likely, Instructor Ruo Lin had already arrived.

Before he even reached the Xiao Family's reception hall, a servant hurried over. When he saw Lin Qingyun, his eyes lit up, and he quickly stepped forward and said, "Young Master Qingyun, the clan leader is looking everywhere for you. The banquet has already begun. Hurry over."

"Got it!" Lin Qingyun nodded, patted the servant on the shoulder, and walked east the whole way.

Before he even neared the reception hall, cheerful voices were already coming from inside. Among them was an alluring, gentle voice. "Clan Leader Xiao, with geniuses like Xiao Yan and Lin Qingyun, the Xiao Family is bound to rise!"

Just from that voice, he knew who it was. Lin Qingyun could only walk in helplessly.

"Stinking brat, now that you're done fooling around outside, you finally know to come back?" Before anyone else noticed him, the sharp-eyed Fourth Elder had already locked onto Lin Qingyun at a glance, glaring as he spoke with his beard bristling.

"Hehe, Old Man, aren't I back now?"

Lin Qingyun understood the Fourth Elder's temperament extremely well. Smiling, he plopped down in the empty seat beside the Fourth Elder.

"You brat, not bad. You've made me proud." The Fourth Elder patted Lin Qingyun on the shoulder, his face glowing red, and he was even holding a large sea bowl in his hand.

He clearly could not drink, but judging from his appearance, he must have drunk quite a lot. Lin Qingyun was helpless as well.

The banquet was rather lively, though Lin Qingyun and the other juniors merely lowered their heads quietly and ate their own food.

After about an hour, the banquet dispersed following an apologetic word from Instructor Ruo Lin. Lin Qingyun also carried the drunken Fourth Elder back.

Feeling somewhat exhausted in body and mind, with aching soreness all over, Lin Qingyun did not even take off his clothes before collapsing headfirst onto the soft bed.

The battle with Instructor Ruo Lin today could be said to have been the most satisfying fight he had ever had. It had been an unprecedented pleasure, but afterward, what remained was even more of a physical and mental exhaustion.

Looking at the ceiling, Lin Qingyun murmured to himself, "If I had already reached Dou Shi, perhaps I could defeat Instructor Ruo Lin."

"I wonder what this trip to the Monster Beast Mountain Range will bring me from the system?"

"This world, in the end, still respects strength above all!"

Morning sunlight spilled in through the window, lighting the room quite brightly. On the bed, the youth sat up drowsily, but a moment later, he froze. His left hand had touched something soft.

He lowered his head slightly. Beside him was a woman with a charming appearance, her cheeks faintly flushed, carrying a somewhat enticing allure.

Lin Qingyun opened his mouth and froze on the spot.

Only after a moment did he stammer in a daze, "Ya... Fei, why are you in my room?"

"Qingyun, you're awake?"

Woken by Lin Qingyun's voice, Ya Fei seemed drowsy as she stretched her enticing, delicate body slightly and mumbled.

Seeing that Ya Fei was fully dressed, Lin Qingyun immediately understood. He at once teased, "How pitiful. I thought the dream I had last night was real, only to find out now that it was all fake!"

"Hmph, in your dreams." How could Ya Fei not understand what Lin Qingyun meant? She immediately gave a soft snort.

"All right, it was my mouth being greedy, okay?" Lin Qingyun said with a faint smile, his gaze landing perfectly on Ya Fei's red lips.

Perhaps it was a trace of restlessness in his heart driving his rational actions.

Lin Qingyun leaned down slightly, his face gradually drawing closer.

Ya Fei froze. A captivating blush surged onto her cheeks, and she slowly closed her eyes.

As for this kiss, Lin Qingyun did not know how long they had held each other. He only knew that they finally parted when their mouths had gone dry and their tongues parched.

"It's all your fault. Now you've made me unable to face anyone." Ya Fei's face was bright red, the color refusing to fade for a long time. A trace of allure at the corner of her eyes seemed capable of hooking away a person's very soul.

Lin Qingyun laughed aloud, but he turned over and got out of bed.

After dressing neatly, Lin Qingyun turned his head to look at Ya Fei and said, "Let's go. Come take a walk with me."

"Mm." Ya Fei nodded. Though that intoxicating blush remained on her face, her expression was somewhat downcast.

After they walked out the door, the two of them held hands and happened to run into the Fourth Elder.

The Fourth Elder was admiring flowers, but he seemed to have noticed them long ago. He did not turn back, only saying faintly, "Qingyun, though you are my adopted son, I have treated you as my own. No matter how you make your way outside, this will always be your home. Come back often."

The old man was not good with words, but every sentence was sincere. Lin Qingyun nodded.

As they walked along the small path, a faint voice still drifted from behind them. It was concern.

"If you leave just like this, your father will be sad," Ya Fei said.

"I also really want to stay! But... do you think I'd be content?" Lin Qingyun smiled.

Ya Fei said nothing more and followed Lin Qingyun along the quiet little path.

The Xiao Family was very quiet, without the noise and clamor of last night. Presumably, Instructor Ruo Lin and the others had already hurried to yesterday's square again to conduct today's recruitment.

After casually turning down a few small paths, Lin Qingyun swaggered out of the family's main gate while holding Ya Fei's hand. Looking at the scene outside the gate, he suddenly froze.

On the broad road outside the main gate, vehicles were already packed together at this very moment. On those ornate carriages were many emblems. From these emblems, Lin Qingyun could recognize that most of them belonged to some fairly powerful factions in Wu Tan City.

"Tsk, tsk. These fellows sure get news fast..." Lin Qingyun shook his head in amazement. For the first time, he also gained a sense of just what kind of powerful influence Jia Nan Academy's recruitment instructors possessed in Wutan City.

He swept his gaze around casually, then withdrew it. Paying no attention to those sharp-eyed people who wanted to come closer for a chat, he went straight off in a cloud of dust.

Walking along the street that had become extremely lively because of Jia Nan Academy's recruitment was not very interesting either, so Lin Qingyun directly brought Ya Fei to the Xiao Family's Marketplace.

Though Lin Qingyun himself was not particularly good at understanding a woman's thoughts, he still understood what he ought to do when he was about to leave.

Though they were not precious items, a few ornaments and accessories made that radiance shine even brighter.

They strolled around, and before they knew it, noon had passed. Following the main road, soon, an open city gate ahead was clearly visible.

Stepping out of the city gate, Lin Qingyun let go of Ya Fei's hand.

"This is far enough," Lin Qingyun said.

"Mm." Ya Fei nodded.

"You have to remember your promise. One year from now, you must come to the Imperial Capital to see me."

"If you don't come, even if I have to search the entire Jia Ma Empire, I'll find you," Ya Fei said.

"Don't worry, I will." Lin Qingyun nodded.

"You must remember." Ya Fei said.

But he had already gone far away.

Yellow sand stretched endlessly, and a long wind rose.

Only a white figure gradually traveled farther and farther away.

Yet there was a long, vast voice drifting back with the wind.

"I will!"