Two days later.
In Heaven Dou City, massive blue-gray walls stretched endlessly to either side, while traffic thronged the streets and the clamor shook the heavens.
The carriage passed through the bustling main thoroughfare and finally stopped outside the Ye family's residence in the inner city.
Xiao Xuan was just about to get out and bid them farewell when Ye Lingling spoke.
"Little brother Xiao Xuan, why don't I take you to register at the academy? Classes officially start tomorrow anyway."
Ye Lingling spoke warmly, a striking contrast to her aloof appearance.
Beside her, Ye Nishang watched her daughter act so lively and take the initiative for once. She smiled gently. "That would be good. With Lingling accompanying you, you can avoid quite a bit of trouble."
Hearing that, Xiao Xuan no longer put it off. He cupped his hands with a smile and said, "Then sorry for the trouble, Sister Lingling."
The two bid Ye Nishang farewell, and the carriage sped straight toward the outskirts south of the city.
The Heaven Dou Royal Academy stood among the green mountains and verdant valleys outside Heaven Dou City, nestled between mountains and water.
Lush, verdant trees covered the mountains and fields. Clear artificial lakes surrounded several buildings, giving the place a tranquil, otherworldly air, and mimicry training grounds dotted the mountains and wilderness.
When they reached the towering academy gates, several guards stood straight on either side, their hands resting on their sword hilts.
Ordinary commoners who approached without permission would inevitably be questioned and driven away, but when the captain of the guards recognized the black-clad girl approaching, his expression immediately turned solemn.
"Greetings, Miss Ye!"
With Ye Lingling personally accompanying and guiding him, the gate guards naturally would not make trouble for themselves by stopping Xiao Xuan at her side.
They passed along white stone steps shaded by trees and made their way to the academic affairs building.
The teacher on duty in the academic affairs office had been bent over his desk reviewing files. When he saw Ye Lingling push the door open and enter, he hurriedly put on a warm smile.
"Student Ye, what brings you to the academic affairs office today? Does the team's supply allocation need adjusting?"
"Hello, Teacher Qian. I've brought a junior schoolmate to complete the paperwork for his special admission."
Ye Lingling stepped forward and stated her purpose.
Xiao Xuan then took out the letter and handed it to the teacher on duty.
The teacher accepted the letter and hurriedly checked it.
A moment later.
"The letter is in order, and the seal is genuine."
Xiao Xuan's enrollment paperwork was soon complete. It had gone much more smoothly than he had expected.
Ye Lingling naturally deserved some of the credit.
If Xiao Xuan had come alone, he would inevitably have faced detailed questioning, even with a letter of recommendation.
But Ye Lingling, the inheritor of Nine Heart Begonia, had personally brought him here. That carried far more weight than a letter of recommendation.
With all the paperwork settled, the two left the academic affairs building.
"Little brother Xiao Xuan, I'll first show you around so you can find your way, and we'll take a look at the little courtyard where you'll be staying..."
Before Ye Lingling could finish, however, a charming voice with a hint of slyness suddenly drifted over from around the corner of the corridor.
"Oh, Lingling, it really is you!"
To the crisp clack of heeled leather boots, a tall, sultry figure stepped out from the shaded corner.
The girl had shoulder-length dark purple hair and wore a tight-fitting dark green battle outfit that outlined her full, shapely curves.
Her long, straight, rounded legs were wrapped in black leather pants, and her waist was supple and slender as a snake.
Most striking of all were her clear, coldly beautiful deep emerald eyes. Her brows tilted slightly upward, lending her a natural wildness and pride.
Dugu Yan!
"I just heard some other students say that our eldest Miss Ye, who's always been above the concerns of the mortal world, actually brought an unfamiliar face into the academy for the first time ever. I thought some blind fool was spreading rumors and stirring up trouble."
Dugu Yan folded her arms, her green eyes roving up and down Xiao Xuan as a teasing smile played on her lips.
"Why don't you introduce him to me? Which reclusive sect did this young nobleman come from, to have Miss Lingling herself go to the trouble of accompanying him? Could there be something special between you?"
Teased to her face by her close friend, Ye Lingling felt two patches of crimson bloom across her fair, delicate cheeks. "Yanyan, stop talking nonsense!" she protested.
"Little brother Xiao Xuan came to register at the academy. I merely took him to the academic affairs office on the way. It's nothing like what you're imagining!"
"I'm imagining things?"
Dugu Yan raised an eyebrow, a teasing look in her eyes.
Others might not know Ye Lingling's temperament, but how could she, her closest friend who spent every day with her, not know?
Those of the Nine Heart Begonia lineage had grown accustomed to partings in life and death from childhood. Ye Lingling might seem gentle and mild, but deep down she was aloof and proud.
Even if an ordinary scion of a prominent family shamelessly fawned over her for half a year, he would not earn so much as a proper glance. Yet today she was accompanying a stranger?
Dugu Yan pursed her lips in a smile and deliberately extended a fair finger, pointing flirtatiously through the air toward Xiao Xuan. She teased:
"Such a handsome junior, with delicate features and a composed bearing. Since someone says there's nothing between you, I'll take him for myself~!"
As she spoke, Dugu Yan walked up to Xiao Xuan and looked the boy before her up and down. He was a few years younger than she was, and the corners of her lips curved slightly.
"Little brother Xiao Xuan, right? I'm Dugu Yan! From now on, if anyone at the academy dares bully you, just give them my name!"
With that, Dugu Yan placed a seemingly casual hand on Xiao Xuan's shoulder, but secretly used Soul Power.
Yet Dugu Yan's hand could not budge Xiao Xuan's body in the slightest.
Sensing Dugu Yan's test, Xiao Xuan remained calm and smiled faintly.
"Greetings, Senior Dugu Yan. I've only just arrived, so please look after me from now on, Senior."
Seeing that Xiao Xuan had actually held steady against her test, Dugu Yan's eyes flashed with surprise. Then she smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
"Not bad. You've got some hard bones, much better than those spineless weaklings who can't even speak properly when they see me. So, want to try dating me?"
At those words, Xiao Xuan froze.
"Yanyan!"
Hearing the hint of reproach in Ye Lingling's voice, Dugu Yan could not help bursting into laughter. She then linked arms with Ye Lingling.
"All right, all right, I was only joking! Since he's Lingling's friend, he's my friend too from now on!"
Dugu Yan waved a slender hand. "It's just about mealtime. My treat today! I'll take our new little brother to the best restaurant in the academy for a feast to wash the dust from his journey!"
Seeing how generous Dugu Yan was, Xiao Xuan could not help feeling pleased.
This was a good start.
As the Heaven Dou Empire's most luxurious institution of higher learning, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy naturally had top-class amenities.
Inside a three-story carved wooden building by the artificial lake, painted beams and ornate rafters complemented the elegant, luxurious furnishings.
With practiced ease, Dugu Yan reserved a private room with a view by the window. She raised a hand to summon an attendant and swiftly ordered a whole tableful of delicacies from the mountains and seas, along with mild, nourishing herbal dishes.
After a few cups of warm tea, the somewhat unfamiliar atmosphere quickly grew friendly.
During the meal, Ye Lingling recounted everything that had happened when she met Xiao Xuan. After hearing it, Dugu Yan looked at Xiao Xuan with a touch more fighting spirit.
"Little brother Xiao Xuan, is your bamboo spear really as powerful as Lingling says? Then I'd like to taste it for myself!"
"Sure. I'll make sure you're satisfied, Sister Yan!"