Forty-Five, A New Journey!

Early in the morning, sunlight streamed through gaps in the clouds, passed through the bright lattice windows, and lit the entire room.

Xiao Dongchen sprang up from the bed, washed up quickly, then dashed across the courtyard to find Xiao Yan.

Knock, knock, knock!

After knocking on the door, Xiao Dongchen smiled and lowered his voice. "Young man, are you ready for an exciting adventure?"

The door soon opened. Xiao Yan rubbed his sleepy eyes and yawned before saying helplessly, "Brother Chen, dawn has only just broken. Aren't you in too much of a hurry?"

"I just wanted to ask what you were planning."

Blinking, Xiao Dongchen spoke casually.

"This..."

Xiao Yan raised his brows and pondered for a moment before admitting, "I discussed it with Teacher. First, we'll buy some necessities for surviving in the wilderness and stock up on pills. Then, we plan to begin our training in the Magic Beast Forest and head south all the way."

"The Magic Beast Forest..."

Hearing this, Xiao Dongchen stroked his chin and muttered. Then his eyes shifted, and he lightly pinched his fingers together as he smiled. "Little Yan, I calculated it with my fingers. This journey will bring you a calamity—dangerous, very dangerous..."

"Huh?"

Xiao Yan frowned in surprise. Touching his nose, he asked in confusion, "Brother Chen, don't scare me. With Teacher around, I should be fine, right?"

Yao Lao had told him that in an emergency, he could offer Xiao Yan some help and save his life.

"You don't believe me?"

Xiao Dongchen's brows drew together slightly, his face full of teasing amusement.

"No. Then what do you think I should do?"

Having witnessed so many of Xiao Dongchen's miraculous abilities, Xiao Yan deeply trusted his words. He lightly licked his lips and asked earnestly.

"Simple. If you can't go south, then head north all the way and enter the Star Dou Great Forest. There, you'll find a stroke of fortune."

Xiao Dongchen curled his lips and pointed north, looking inscrutable.

"Fine. It's all training anyway; it doesn't matter where I go. I'll listen to you, Brother Chen!"

Xiao Yan let out a soft breath and smiled, his face full of anticipation.

He had thought it was something serious. It was only a change of direction—nothing worth mentioning.

"Mm, you're teachable. Then say your goodbyes properly. When we meet again, let me see just how far you've progressed!"

Smiling, Xiao Dongchen stepped forward and patted the youth's shoulder encouragingly.

"Hehe, Brother Chen, with Teacher here, I'm confident. By the time we meet again, maybe my strength will give you quite a shock!"

Grinning and revealing a mouthful of pearly white teeth, Xiao Yan lightly clenched his fist and lifted his confident face toward him.

"It's good to have confidence. I'm looking forward to your future as well!"

Xiao Dongchen chuckled and nodded, deeply appreciating the youth's passion.

"Then I'm leaving. Until next time."

Waving his hand, Xiao Dongchen did not waste any words. He turned and left, leaving only an invincible silhouette for the youth behind him.

Following the road, Xiao Dongchen turned toward the meeting hall and bid farewell to Xiao Zhan and the three elders.

When Xiao Zhan learned that the youth was about to leave, he felt extremely reluctant to part with him. Yet he had long understood that the Xiao Household was not a place where he could remain for long.

How could a dragon be trapped in shallow waters?

Having prepared himself mentally, Xiao Zhan did not try to persuade him to stay. Instead, somewhat wistfully, he said that if the youth ever passed through Stone Desert City on the empire's border, he could visit his two sons and catch up with them.

After smiling, nodding, and saying goodbye, Xiao Dongchen headed straight into the western wing. By chance, he ran into Ruo Lin and the others, who were preparing to head to the square.

"Morning, Instructor Ruo Lin."

As he approached, Xiao Dongchen greeted her with a smile.

"Xiao Dongchen? Are you here to see Yu'er or Xun'er?"

Ruo Lin's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she looked at the youth with a complicated expression and asked softly.

Through Xiao Yu's inner thoughts, she had already known that the youth possessed extraordinary charm and that many beautiful women admired him.

Yet after only a day of contact, she found herself beginning to fall for him too. For a moment, she did not know what to do.

"I missed you, so I came to see you. Is that not allowed?"

A smile played on Xiao Dongchen's lips as he spread his hands, then winked at the graceful beauty.

"You silver-tongued rascal, stop teasing your teacher."

At those words, Ruo Lin felt her heart skip a beat. A trace of joy unconsciously spread across her face, and she sweetly pursed her lips. She shot the youth a coquettish glance and chided him.

That seductive glance made Xiao Dongchen's heart tremble. Looking at the gentle, curvaceous beauty before him, he suddenly felt a little flustered.

A chosen Huai Zhu, and she was tempting him so openly? That wasn't right!

Cough, cough.

Xiao Dongchen coughed twice and tried his best to avoid her gaze. Then he curled his lips and changed the subject. "Um, how is Elder Long? Did that pill work well?"

"Ah, that. Thank you so much. After taking the pill, his injuries are no longer a problem. He should recover after resting for a few days."

Coming back to her senses, Ruo Lin nodded slightly and answered softly.

"You're welcome. It was simply what I should have done."

Xiao Dongchen waved his hand, acting exceedingly magnanimous.

"Uh..."

Ruo Lin was stunned by those words. After all, they carried a certain ambiguity, and Elder Long's injuries had indeed been caused by this very person.

"I'm leaving."

Xiao Dongchen curled his lips, touched his nose, and continued with a faint smile.

"Ah, so soon? Are those matters really that urgent?"

Ruo Lin's delicate brows furrowed as her clear, watery eyes looked at the youth, her expression tinged with faint reluctance.

"Ah, there's no helping it. That's fate!"

Xiao Dongchen sighed softly and shrugged helplessly.

"Aren't you going to say goodbye to Yu'er and Xun'er?"

"They know already. If I go see them now, it'll only add to the sadness."

"Please pass them a message for me. Tell them I'm leaving, and that I'll see them at the academy."

Xiao Dongchen had originally wanted to bid them farewell, but he feared it would only bring more trouble. It was more appropriate to have Ruo Lin pass along the message.

"You little rascal, you're the one being carefree. Aren't you afraid others will be heartbroken over you?"

Ruo Lin shot the youth a reproachful glare, though her expression gradually calmed. After sighing softly, she said with some helplessness, "Fine. Consider it a debt I owe you. I'll pass along the message. Go on, then."

Xiao Dongchen was slightly startled when he heard that. Her tone clearly carried some disappointment. Then he smiled and nodded gently.

"I'm leaving."

Waving his hand, Xiao Dongchen turned and walked away, as though he had made up his mind about something.

Ruo Lin watched the youth's back disappear at the end of her sight, yet she did not know what she was feeling.

After leaving the gates, the youth headed south without once looking back.

The others did not know of Xiao Dongchen's departure. The young men and women of the Xiao Household still had no idea that the mysterious young master had already left. They remained immersed in his legends, revering him like a god!