With their business concluded, Xiao Yan chatted with Xue Qinghe for a while before cupping his hands toward him. "Brother Xue, sorry for troubling you with the academy. If there's nothing else today, I'll take my leave."
Glancing toward the great tent behind him, Xue Qinghe reminded him, "Brother Xiao Yan, since you saved Xue Ke, Father intends to summon you and reward you."
"Sorry, Brother Xue, but I have little interest in worldly possessions. If His Majesty insists on rewarding me, please ask him to approve our founding of the academy."
"If His Majesty asks, just tell him I had already left by the time you came out. I'll head back to the academy first. Until we meet again."
Smiling, Xiao Yan apologized once more, then waved to Xue Qinghe and turned to leave the Royal Hunting Ground.
Watching Xiao Yan's figure gradually recede, Xue Qinghe added, "Brother Xiao Yan, if you encounter anything you can't resolve in Heaven Dou City, remember to bring the gold token I gave you to the Crown Prince's Residence and find me."
"Got it," Xiao Yan replied calmly without turning around.
The last rays of the setting sun shone on Xiao Yan's retreating figure, stretching his shadow long. Xue Qinghe stood alone outside the great tent, watching him leave as a faint smile curved his lips.
After leaving the Royal Hunting Ground and hurrying along for a while, Xiao Yan finally stopped. His back trembled slightly, and his Purple Cloud Wings slowly unfurled. Soul power circulated through his body several times before pouring entirely into the wings behind him.
At once, Xiao Yan's body slowly rose into the air. With another beat of his wings, he broke free of the earth's shackles and soared into the azure sky.
After briefly getting his