Leaving, Peace Town

When Qinglin saw the familiar figure in white outside the door, her eyes instantly lit up.

"Brother Xia!"

She cried out and forgot everything else, yanking open the door and throwing herself straight into Lu Xia's arms, carrying a faint fragrance unique to young girls.

"You're finally back!"

Qinglin buried her face in his chest, her voice filled with excitement and joy, along with a trace of lingering fear.

She had waited for so many days. She had thought... thought that Brother Xia truly did not want her anymore.

Lu Xia was slightly taken aback by her impact, then laughed and gently patted her back.

"Mm, I came back once I finished what I needed to do."

He spoke gently.

"What's wrong? Have things not been going well these past few days?"

Only then did Qinglin suddenly realize that she was practically pressed against Brother Xia's entire body.

Her cheeks immediately turned red, like ripe apples.

She hurriedly jumped out of Lu Xia's embrace, lowered her head, and said awkwardly,

"No, no... I've been doing fine."

Then Qinglin seemed to remember something. She abruptly raised her head and said excitedly,

"Brother Xia! My cultivation went up by one star! I'm already a Two-Star Dou Master now!"

As she spoke, she deliberately circulated her Dou Qi so Lu Xia could sense her cultivation.

"Not bad, not bad."

Lu Xia smiled and nodded, lavish with his praise.

"Qinglin's talent really is impressive. You broke through one star in just a few days. Your progress has been very fast."

Praised like that, Qinglin lowered her head shyly, though the corners of her lips could not help curling upward.

"Not really... I was just cultivating normally..."

Brother Xia praised her!

Qinglin suddenly remembered something. She looked around but did not see the familiar figure, so she asked in confusion,

"By the way, Brother Xia, where is Sister Medusa? Did she come back too?"

At the mention of Medusa, Lu Xia gave a soft laugh.

He raised his left hand, revealing the dazzlingly colored "bracelet" around his wrist.

"Isn't she right here?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the "bracelet" came alive. With a flash of seven-colored light, a little snake poked out her head, her purple vertical pupils sweeping over Qinglin.

Then she turned away again, coiled up along Lu Xia's arm, wrapped herself around his forearm, and closed her eyes to rest.

Qinglin stared in shock, pointing at the little snake as she said in astonishment,

"Th-this is... Sister Medusa?"

"How did she... turn into a little snake?"

In her memory, Sister Medusa had been a tall and beautiful queen!

How had she become so tiny after only a few days apart?

Lu Xia smiled as he explained,

"Medusa completed her bloodline evolution. She's currently in a weakened state, so she can only maintain this form for now."

"Once some time passes and she recovers, she'll be able to transform back into human form."

"Bloodline evolution..."

Qinglin nodded as though she understood, though she did not really grasp it. Still, as long as Brother Xia and Sister Medusa had both returned safely, that was enough.

She looked at the seven-colored little snake on Lu Xia's forearm and cautiously extended a finger, wanting to touch her but too afraid to do so.

Medusa noticed and lazily flicked her tongue.

Qinglin still could not summon the courage.

I-I should wait until Sister Medusa recovers...

Seeing how timid she was, Lu Xia could not help laughing.

He looked at Qinglin and said seriously,

"Pack your things. It's time for us to leave."

"Leave?"

Qinglin froze for a moment. "Where are we going?"

Lu Xia raised his head and looked out the window, his gaze passing through layers of buildings toward the outskirts of the city.

There lay Jia Nan Academy.

The corner of his lips lifted slightly as he quietly spoke four words.

"Jia Nan Academy."

Half an hour later.

Lu Xia left Feng City without a sound, taking Qinglin with him.

Medusa was coiled around Lu Xia's wrist. Her weakened period after evolution had not yet passed, and she spent most of her time asleep, using it to stabilize her realm.

After leaving Feng City, Lu Xia determined their direction and led Qinglin north.

At the speed of a Six-Star Dou Zong like Lu Xia, he could have arrived before long if he traveled at full speed.

However, with Qinglin in tow, their pace naturally slowed considerably.

Qinglin was only a Two-Star Dou Master now. She simply could not endure a long-distance dash.

Lu Xia was not in a hurry. He traveled leisurely while also guiding Qinglin's cultivation.

Qinglin learned earnestly, and her progress was extremely rapid.

As the two journeyed together, their relationship grew ever closer.

Two days later.

A sizable town appeared in their field of view.

Peace Town.

This town stood at the border between the Black-Corner Region and Jia Nan Academy's sphere of influence. It was a mixed and disorderly place, but because it was near Jia Nan Academy, its order was much better than elsewhere in the Black-Corner Region.

Many students heading to Jia Nan Academy to study would stop here to rest and recover.

"Brother Xia, is this Peace Town?"

Qinglin looked at the cultivators passing through the town entrance, her eyes full of curiosity.

"Mm."

Lu Xia nodded and looked into the distance.

"Not far ahead is Canaan City."

Canaan City was the city where Jia Nan Academy's Outer Academy was located.

The entire city existed to serve Jia Nan Academy.

"Let's stay in Peace Town first."

Lu Xia pondered for a moment. "I need to go to Canaan City to take care of something. You'll stay in town by yourself and wait for me to return."

"Ah?"

Qinglin blinked, somewhat disappointed. "Can't I go with Brother Xia?"

"No."

Lu Xia shook his head. "Canaan City is complicated. It would be inconvenient to take you with me."

This time, he was heading to Canaan City to infiltrate Jia Nan Academy and investigate the situation. Taking Qinglin along would only hamper him.

Although Qinglin was somewhat disappointed, she was sensible and did not cling to him or throw a tantrum.

"Alright then..."

She lowered her head and said softly, "Brother Xia, be careful. I'll wait obediently in town for you to come back."

Seeing how well-behaved she was, Lu Xia's heart softened. He reached out and rubbed her head.

"Don't worry. I'll be back soon."

The two entered Peace Town and found an inn to stay at.

Only after settling Qinglin in did Lu Xia leave with peace of mind.

After leaving Peace Town, Lu Xia's body blurred into an afterimage as he sped northward.

In less than half an hour, a towering city appeared on the horizon.

Canaan City!

From afar, the entire city looked majestic, with faint fluctuations from a formation blanketing it.

"Air-Sealing Formation..."

Lu Xia raised an eyebrow slightly.

The entirety of Canaan City was covered by an invisible restriction. No cultivator could fly through the air within the city.

This was Jia Nan Academy's handiwork, meant to maintain order within the city.

"Looks like I'll have to enter through the city gate properly."

Lu Xia thought to himself.

He could forcibly break through the restriction, but doing so would make far too much of a disturbance and would inevitably alert Jia Nan Academy's higher-ups.

He had come to investigate, not to fight.

Alerting the enemy would not be worth the cost.

Lu Xia concealed his aura and suppressed his cultivation to the Dou Ling level. Blending into the stream of people entering the city, he headed toward the gates.

At the city gate, a squad of disciples from Jia Nan Academy's law enforcement team stood guard.

The inspection was not especially strict. They merely took a quick look and let people through after confirming that they were not carrying prohibited items.

After all, Canaan City stood under Jia Nan Academy's protection. Who would dare cause trouble here?