The afternoon sun shone through the canopy of trees beside the training field, casting a thin layer of light on the long, silvery-white hair.
Lu Hanxiao stood on the sidelines adjusting his wristbands, his movements casual and indifferent, the lines of his profile clearly outlined by the light.
Bai Chenxiang stared at the figure, momentarily forgetting to look away. She admitted that this person was indeed handsome, as refined as a painting, yet he also exuded a sense of aloofness that kept strangers at bay.
But that's precisely why she felt even more annoyed. In the Speed Clan, no one had ever looked at her like that. That calm, unwavering gaze, like looking at a roadside Shitou, lingered in her mind.
The sunlight brightened a bit more, filtering through the leaves and falling on Lu Hanxiao's shoulders, making the few Snowy Owl feather patterns adorning his shoulders shimmer slightly.
Bai Chenxiang's gaze unconsciously followed the light, watching him raise his hand to adjust the strap of his wristband. His fingers were long and slender with distinct knuckles, and there wasn't a single unnecessary curve in his movement.
Then she heard Bai Lingyu's voice behind her.
Have you seen enough?
Bai Chenxiang suddenly snapped out of her daze and turned to see Bai Lingyu looking at her with a meaningful gaze. Her ears burned, and she immediately straightened her face.
"Who was watching?" she replied curtly, but her gaze unconsciously drifted back towards the training field. She pursed her lips, as if trying to save face, "I just wanted to see what's so great about him."
Bai Lingyu didn't expose her, but merely glanced towards the corridor. There stood a young man in a plain robe, holding a book, seemingly oblivious to the commotion. Bai Lingyu looked away and calmly reminded him, "He'll be gone soon."
Bai Chenxiang glared at him fiercely, then turned and walked towards the training ground.
She stopped three steps behind Lu Hanxiao, raised her chin, and asked, "Your Martial Soul is the Snowy Owl? Agility Attack System?"
Lu Hanxiao turned around. His pale blue eyes looked even colder up close, like two Ice Seal lakes. He glanced at Bai Chenxiang, said nothing, and simply nodded slightly.
Bai Chenxiang felt a tightness in her heart when he looked at her, but she was never one to show weakness.
She suppressed her inexplicable unease, her tone regaining its scrutinizing quality. "I am Bai Chenxiang of the Speed Clan, with the Sharp-Tailed Swift Martial Soul. Since you are also Agility Attack System, perfect, let's see who's faster."
Lu Hanxiao was silent for two seconds. Then he said the first thing Bai Chenxiang heard after arriving at the Godwind Academy.
"I'm not fast."
Bai Chenxiang was stunned for a moment, and a slight smile had just appeared on her lips. Before her smile could fully unfold, Lu Hanxiao added the second half of the sentence.
But you can't see me.
Bai Chenxiang's smile froze on her face. Just as she was about to retort, Lu Hanxiao had already turned and walked towards the other end of the training field, showing no intention of continuing the conversation. His long, silvery-white hair drew an arc in the sunlight, dazzling like a handful of snowflakes.
Bai Chenxiang stood there, staring at his back, her fingers unconsciously clenching her sleeves.
She had never been ignored like this before. In the Speed Clan, she was the most talented. Her elders praised her for her extraordinary talent, and her peers always looked at her with envy or admiration. But this person looked at her as if she were air from beginning to end.
Bai Lingyu walked up from behind and stood beside her, watching together the silver-white figure walking further and further away.
"How is it?" Bai Lingyu asked.
Bai Chenxiang didn't speak, but just kept clenching and unclenching her sleeves.
Bai Lingyu didn't ask any further questions and turned to walk down the corridor.
The boy in the plain-colored robe was still standing in the same spot, holding a book in his hands, his pale golden eyes intently scanning the words on the pages.
Sunlight shone on the paper, reflecting off his delicate features and making his eyes appear as if they were made of amber. He seemed completely absorbed in the book, unaware that someone was approaching.
Bai Lingyu stopped a few steps away from him. Only then did the boy sense something and look up. His pale golden eyes met Bai Lingyu's gaze, and he blinked quietly.
"Who are you?" The boy's voice was soft, his tone as calm as if he were asking about the weather.
"My name is Bai Lingyu, from the Speed Clan," Bai Lingyu replied.
" Jiang Lin." The boy closed the book, revealing the three words " The Spirit Eyes Record " on the cover.
Bai Lingyu's gaze fell on the book, then she looked at the boy's pale golden eyes. The handwriting on the cover was neat and elegant, as if it were handwritten, and the edges of the pages were slightly curled.
"Did you write this book?" Bai Lingyu asked.
"Hmm." Jiang Lin gently tucked the book into his arms, as if afraid of damaging the pages. "But I haven't finished writing yet."
He spoke calmly, but there was a serious, almost obstinate light in his pale golden eyes. Bai Lingyu suddenly felt that this person was different from all the Soul Master he had ever met before.
"May I take a look?" Bai Lingyu asked.
Jiang Lin hesitated for a moment before handing the book over. Bai Lingyu took it and flipped through a few pages; the entire book was filled with dense annotations and diagrams.
He couldn't understand the terminology about pupil focusing and Soul Power transmission, but he could tell how much effort the book's owner had put into it.
"It's very well written." Bai Lingyu closed the book and handed it back to him, "Although I don't understand it very well."
Jiang Lin took the book, a very faint smile appearing on his lips.
"It's alright," Jiang Lin said, "You can be the first to read it after I finish writing it."
Bai Lingyu paused for a moment, then laughed. "It's settled then."
The sunlight under the eaves brightened a bit. On the training field, Bai Chenxiang still stood there, staring at the silver-white figure that had already walked away, her fingers clenching her sleeves tightly. She had never been ignored like this before, and she would remember this grudge.
The door to the reception room remained tightly closed. Behind the door, Bai He remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.
Your brother is still alive.
Bai Qingyin gripped the hem of her skirt tightly above her knees.