Living with Xiao Yu and the Well-Endowed Xue Ni

Hearing Xiao Yan's invitation and catching the way he tried so hard to look casual and proper, Xiao Yu somehow found herself nodding.

Ruo Lin said nothing more. A knowing smile touched her lips before she turned and led them onward, her supple waist swaying as she walked.

Before long, Ruo Lin brought them to a quiet residential district deep within the academy.

It was unlike anywhere else on campus. Trees shaded the scattered courtyards, which the academy reserved for teachers, Elders, and its most gifted students.

Ruo Lin led them straight to a private courtyard, unlocked the gate, and showed them inside, introducing each part with a smile.

The residence was worthy of a top genius. It was astonishingly spacious, with flowers and trees in the courtyard, a quiet room for cultivation, an alchemy room, and a reception hall. Every facility they could need was there, and every corner showed signs of careful upkeep.

By the end of the tour, even Xiao Yu was quietly amazed. Xiao Yan nodded in satisfaction too.

There were more rooms than they could count. Forget one extra person—it could have housed their entire class with space to spare.

"Well, Xiao Yan, what do you think of the place?" Ruo Lin asked with a smile.

"I like it, but..." Xiao Yan scratched his head, deliberately looking as though he had something to say.

Ruo Lin tensed, afraid he was unhappy with the accommodations. "But what?"

"But, Instructor Ruo Lin, could you stop calling me 'little student'? I'm not little at all." Xiao Yan flashed an innocent grin, showing a row of white teeth.

"Pfft!"

Xiao Yu couldn't hold back her laughter.

Ruo Lin froze for a moment. Her gaze darted downward before a gentle smile returned to her face. "Then... I'll just call you Xiao Yan from now on."

Once she was sure Xiao Yan had no other objections, Ruo Lin handed him the key, gave him a few reminders about academy matters, and took her leave.

At Xiao Yan's invitation, Xiao Yu moved in as well.

She had only just arrived and was unfamiliar with the academy. Staying close to Xiao Yan naturally put her more at ease.

Though their rooms were far apart, living under the same roof gave her a strange, indescribable sense that they were "living together."

Whenever that thought crossed her mind, her cheeks grew hot.

The residence had a kitchen, so Xiao Yu volunteered to cook in return for Xiao Yan's care throughout their journey.

Her cooking could not compare to Xiao Yi Xian's, but she put her heart into every dish, and Xiao Yan always ate with relish.

Meanwhile, after Ruo Lin reported Xiao Yan's information, it caused quite a stir among the instructors and Elders of the Outer Academy.

"A thirteen-year-old Five-Star Dou Ling? That kid's a monster among monsters!"

"With talent like that, even those so-called top geniuses of the Central Plains probably can't compare!"

"Jia Nan Academy really struck gold this time!"

The instructors gathered in small groups, their conversations full of praise and high hopes for Xiao Yan.

Rumors spread among the students too, growing wilder and more incredible with each retelling.

On a tree-lined path through the academy, Xiao Yu walked beside a young woman.

The young woman was not quite as beautiful as Xiao Yu, but the heavy, pale curves at her chest drew plenty of attention.

They swayed gently with every step, drawing the eyes of passing male students, who seemed unable to look away.

Her name was Xue Ni, a cheerful, outgoing friend Xiao Yu had made over the past few days. Xiao Yu found her easy to get along with.

"Yu'er, your surname is Xiao, and so is Xiao Yan's. Don't tell me you're family?" Xue Ni asked, curious after hearing all the talk around them.

"He's my younger cousin. We both came from the Jia Ma Empire," Xiao Yu answered.

She never brought up her relationship with Xiao Yan to outsiders, but since Xue Ni had asked, she saw no reason to hide it.

"Seriously?" Xue Ni's eyes lit up. She caught Xiao Yu by the arm and pressed on. "Is he really as amazing as everyone says?"

The Outer Academy's basic courses had little to offer Xiao Yan, so he spent most of his time at home refining pills and cultivating. He rarely appeared in public.

As a result, very few people at Jia Nan Academy had actually seen him, though the rumors about him grew more outrageous by the day.

Xue Ni had long been dying to meet this mysterious young genius.

"He really is outstanding. A genius among geniuses," Xiao Yu said with heartfelt admiration.

She respected Xiao Yan's talent from the bottom of her heart.

"Yu'er, let me meet him sometime!" Xue Ni clung to Xiao Yu's arm and swung it playfully.

That was simply her nature: bright, lively, and curious about anything new.

"Xiao Yan's busy. Even I barely see him except at mealtimes." A trace of resentment crept onto Xiao Yu's face as she spoke.

Though she and Xiao Yan lived under the same roof—almost as if they were "living together"—she could count on her fingers how often they actually met.

She occasionally saw him over a meal. The rest of the time, he was shut away cultivating, and lately he had stopped appearing even at the dinner table.

Xue Ni's lively eyes darted about as she caught the key detail in Xiao Yu's words.

She leaned closer with a wicked grin and fired off questions. "You eat together? You live together? Just the two of you?"

The questions came so fast that Xiao Yu flushed to the tips of her ears. "Xue Ni, it's not what you think. Xiao Yan and I are just..."

Xue Ni had no intention of letting her off. She reached for the soft flesh at Xiao Yu's waist and tickled her, grinning as she demanded a full confession.

The two young women laughed and tussled along the path, their bright laughter carrying far into the distance.

Meanwhile, the young man the whole academy spoke of as though he were a legend had already left Jia Nan Academy alone and entered the perilous Black-Corner Region.

A lawless land like the Black-Corner Region was the perfect place to temper his resolve and sharpen his combat skills.

There was still time before the Inner Academy selection. Rather than waste it at the academy, he could fight his way through this place and hone his strength in real battles.

"Teacher, what do you say we go kill that bastard Han Feng right now?"