Chapter 237: News of Han Feng
As the radiant young man smiled brightly, an inexplicable chill crept into the hearts of everyone present.
The group from the Blood Sect, which included dozens of men, would have posed a challenge even for a Dou Wang expert to defeat outright. Yet this youth had reduced them all to ashes with his peculiar multicolored flame, without giving them time to even scream.
Particularly horrifying was the fate of Fan Ling. A Dou Ling powerhouse had been incinerated by nothing more than a casual spit of fire.
Such a display of power left the Jia Nan Academy party and the bystanders deeply uneasy. If this boy was intentionally masking his age with some medicinal method, it would be easier to rationalize. But if his youthful face was genuine, the implications of his power were far more terrifying.
The lingering question was whether this young man would let anyone else leave alive. Even the spectators stood rooted in place, petrified that any sudden movement might draw his attention and seal their fates.
"You're still standing there staring?" Xiao Yan's gaze swept over the onlookers, his tone laced with disdain. "What, want me to put on a live show for you?"
Startled, the onlookers snapped out of their daze. Without another word, they bolted, vanishing from the hillside in mere moments. Their desperate speed made it clear they had used their best movement techniques to escape.
With the bystanders gone, Xiao Yan turned his attention back to the Jia Nan Academy group. His eyes lingered on the graceful figure of the blue clad woman leading the group. He let out a low, sinister chuckle.
"Keh keh keh, they're all gone now. That means you all belong to me."
Despair swept over the Jia Nan Academy party like a dark cloud. They had escaped the wolf's jaws only to fall into the tiger's den.
"Senior," the blue clad woman said cautiously, her voice trembling. "We are from Jia Nan Academy. If you could spare us this time, the academy would forever be indebted to your kindness."
Though her words carried a glimmer of hope, deep down she felt their chances were slim.
Against Fan Ling's group, they could have at least attempted resistance or even taken their own lives to avoid capture. But against this young man, she doubted they would even have the chance to die on their own terms.
"Alright," Xiao Yan replied casually, his voice laced with amusement.
His response left everyone momentarily stunned. Slowly, their gazes turned back to him, unsure if they had misheard.
"Why are you all staring at me like that?" Xiao Yan asked, his expression feigning irritation. "Do I look like a bad person to you?"
Though no one answered, the realization began to sink in: the young man intended to spare them.
The blue clad woman was the first to react, bowing deeply to Xiao Yan. "Thank you, Senior!"
The other students quickly followed suit, bowing in unison. "Thank you, Senior!"
Xiao Yan accepted their gratitude with a slight nod, pleased with their respect.
"Don't mention it. I've always admired Jia Nan Academy's reputation as a beacon of purity in the chaotic Black Corner Region. For a righteous man like me, it's only natural to lend a hand to such a noble institution."
His righteous declaration was punctuated by a sudden ray of sunlight breaking through the typically gloomy skies of the Black Corner Region, illuminating Xiao Yan's figure.
For a moment, the Jia Nan Academy students felt their eyes sting, overwhelmed by the brilliance of the scene.
"This light it's blinding!"
"No… it's not just light. It's the light of justice!"
"So," Xiao Yan said, his voice breaking the awestruck silence, "how about you all take me back to Jia Nan Academy?"
The request caught the group off guard.
"You… you want to come with us to the academy?" the blue clad woman stammered, surprised.
"What, you just promised to repay me, and now you're reluctant to let me visit? Can't even offer a cup of tea?" Xiao Yan shot her an unimpressed look.
"No, of course not! We'd be honored to have you join us," she replied hastily, forcing a smile.
Having a powerhouse like him accompany them on their journey meant they were guaranteed safety. The thought of inviting trouble to their academy didn't even cross her mind she wouldn't dare entertain such a notion.
If Xiao Yan was a wolf, then Jia Nan Academy was unknowingly inviting a dragon into their den.
After a brief rest, the group resumed their journey back to Jia Nan Academy.
"Senior, may I ask your name?" the blue clad woman ventured cautiously, walking alongside him.
"You can call me Yan Xiao," Xiao Yan replied evenly.
"Yan Xiao… Senior Yan Xiao," she repeated, noting the unusual name but deciding not to question it further. After all, eccentric names were hardly rare among powerful cultivators.
"And you? What should I call you?" Xiao Yan asked, glancing at her.
"You can call me Ruo Lin," she said with a polite smile.
The name made Xiao Yan freeze momentarily, his expression turning curious. "You're Ruo Lin?"
Ruo Lin blinked, confused by his reaction. "Is… is there a problem?"
"No, no, not at all! Nice to meet you!" Xiao Yan grinned and shook her hand, as if greeting an old friend.
He hadn't expected to encounter a familiar name from the original story so quickly. Determined to leave a good impression, he retrieved a small jade bottle from his storage ring and handed it to her.
"A gift for our first meeting," he said cheerfully.
Ruo Lin hesitated, caught off guard by the unexpected gesture. "Senior, you've already saved us. How can I possibly accept more from you?"
"Don't worry about it. Just consider it a token of fate," Xiao Yan said, his tone leaving no room for refusal.
Before she could protest further, he pulled out another bottle, crushed it in his hand, and released a sparkling blue liquid into the air. The droplets dissolved into streams of light, entering the bodies of every student present.
"Everyone gets a share," he declared with a chuckle.
The students gasped as they felt their fatigue melt away, their injuries healing and even their cultivation advancing slightly. Their gazes toward Xiao Yan grew even more reverent.
"Thank you, Senior Yan Xiao!"
"Don't mention it," Xiao Yan said, waving off their gratitude with a casual smile.
Ruo Lin carefully opened her own jade bottle, her eyes widening as a wave of pure water attributed energy surged out.
"This… a Tier 5 Water Spirit Pill!" she exclaimed, shocked by the high grade medicinal pill.
As she hesitated over how to thank him, Xiao Yan suddenly asked, "By the way, Ruo Lin, have you heard of someone named Han Feng?"
"Han Feng?" Ruo Lin's expression turned thoughtful before her eyes widened in recognition. "Do you mean the Han Feng who conspired with the Gold and Silver Elders to severely wound our elder?"
(To be continued...)
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