"Instructor Ruo Lin, were you looking for me?" Xun'er looked at Ruo Lin with a gaze as warm as jade, a faint smile gracing her exquisite face. Toward this instructor who was willing to open a back door for Brother Xiao Yan to grant him leave, her naturally cold personality was willing to be more approachable.
"Xun'er, there are only four days left until the Inner Academy Promotion Competition. When I asked you a few days ago, you said to add that brat Xiao Yan's name. It's been so long now and he still hasn't returned. If he doesn't come back this year, you absolutely must participate for me, do you understand?" Ruo Lin looked at Xun'er with a hint of playful reproach, her face full of complaints.
"Oh, Instructor Ruo Lin, don't worry. Brother Xiao Yan has already finished his business and is on his way here right now." Xun'er stepped forward and hugged Ruo Lin's arm, speaking in a coquettish tone. "And as you know, the situation in the Black-Corner Region is complicated; he definitely needs some time to get here!"
Ruo Lin was helpless against Xun'er's acting spoiled and could only pat Xun'er's head with helpless doting. "Fine, since his name is already submitted, it's good if he makes it in time. If he can't, then there's nothing to be done."
Xun'er gave a sweet smile. "Don't worry, Instructor Ruo Lin. Even if Brother Xiao Yan can't make it to the Inner Academy Promotion Competition, he will give you a huge surprise. Besides, we still have me and Little Sister Ling'er this year. The two of us will definitely obtain the qualifications to enter the Inner Academy."
Last year, Xun'er knew for certain that Xiao Yan couldn't come, so she stayed in the Outer Academy to wait for him, and Xiao Ling stayed for the same reason.
This year was different. For one, Xun'er knew that Xiao Yan's current strength was not what it used to be. Half a year ago, he was a Three-Star Dou Ling; half a year later, he would have the strength of a five or six-star Dou Ling. Such strength would make him a top-tier expert even within the Inner Academy's ranking list.
Secondly, even if Xiao Yan couldn't make it this year, with his Dou Ling level strength, he would certainly be specially recruited by the Inner Academy. The teachers of Jia Nan Academy weren't so foolish as to let a Dou Ling study in the Outer Academy.
Therefore, both Xun'er and Xiao Ling decided to participate in the competition this year. With the two of them participating, it would be a total dimensionality strike against the experts of the Jia Nan Academy's Outer Academy.
"Fortunately, I have the two of you as a safety net, otherwise, this instructor would really cry herself to death!" Instructor Ruo Lin sighed in relief upon hearing this.
It didn't really matter if Xiao Yan came or not. She didn't hold much expectation for that young boy who had relied on a special Dou Technique to fight her to a draw and successfully request leave half a year ago. After all, how could the Cultivation resources of the Jia Ma Empire compare to Jia Nan Academy?
The ones she could truly have expectations for were the Xun'er before her and that little girl Xiao Ling.
She couldn't see through Xun'er's strength at all, but she was confident that even Bai Shan, currently ranked first in the Outer Academy, would definitely not be Xun'er's match.
And that little girl Xiao Ling was even more impressive than Xun'er. If Xun'er's personality was as calm as water but her heart was actually incredibly fiery, then Xiao Ling was calm as water on the surface but cold as frost within.
Half a year ago, when Bai Shan mocked Xiao Yan in public, Xun'er only retorted with a few words, but Xiao Ling had kicked Bai Shan dozens of meters away.
Since then, rumors spread through the Outer Academy that the true number one should be Xiao Ling. It was just that the girl rarely took action and the Outer Academy didn't have many external missions. Consequently, aside from Xun'er, no one knew that Xiao Ling already possessed the strength of a Nine-Star Great Dou Shi.
Even Instructor Ruo Lin only vaguely knew that Xiao Ling was at the Great Dou Master level, but she didn't know exactly how many stars she had.
Xun'er smiled at Ruo Lin's words and simply took Ruo Lin's arm as they walked toward the cafeteria. The two of them spoke of personal matters and didn't mention Xiao Yan again!
...In Black Seal City, after Xiao Yan killed all the blind followers tailing him and lamented once more about the chaos of the Black-Corner Region, he returned to the inn.
At this moment in the inn, Chen Yang had Qing Lin cornered against the wall, tilting the young girl's smooth chin up. He looked at her like a wicked uncle and said, "Tell me, Qing Lin, before you and your Sister Xian'er parted ways, what did she say to you?"
Hearing this, Qing Lin, who had been cooperating with her young master's performance by acting shy, suddenly became truly bashful. Her eyes flickered as she avoided Chen Yang's aggressive gaze, and she stammered, "No... nothing. Sister Xian'er just... just told Qing Lin to take good care of the Young Master."
Seeing Qing Lin's appearance, Chen Yang knew that the girl Xiao Yi Xian had corrupted Qing Lin. How could he allow this?
"Qing Lin, how old are you?" Chen Yang asked with a smile as he looked at the Qing Lin before him. Her figure was well-developed and her height was about 1.65 meters, but her face still looked like that of a little girl.
"Qing Lin will be eighteen in two months!" Seeing that Chen Yang was no longer asking about Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin's eyes became serious, and she spoke to Chen Yang with a light smile.
"Hmm???" Chen Yang looked at Qing Lin in disbelief. When he first took her in, she was thin and weak, looking only about thirteen or fourteen. How could she be nearly eighteen after only a year?
"Qing Lin... Qing Lin just looks small. Before meeting the Young Master, Qing Lin never had enough to eat, so she grew up small!" Qing Lin looked at Chen Yang cautiously, her expression turning a bit downcast.
She thought of the things Xiao Yi Xian had told her and looked down at her own figure, subconsciously wondering if the Young Master found her undesirable.
"I'm sorry, Qing Lin, the Young Master didn't mean it like that..." Chen Yang moved his hand to the top of the girl's head and gently rubbed it.
"Then... then why has the Young Master been... like that with Sister Xian'er, Sister Ya Fei, and Sister Yun Yun lately, but doesn't touch Qing Lin?" Qing Lin squinted her eyes, enjoying Chen Yang's head rub as she gathered her courage to ask.
A maidservant was also supposed to attend to her master's bed!
Hearing the little girl's words, Chen Yang smiled and pinched her cheek. "The reason I don't touch Qing Lin is because there is a rule in the Young Master's hometown: if a woman is not yet eighteen, she cannot attend to the bed. Otherwise, a terrifying existence even more powerful than a Dou Di would wipe the Young Master out!"
Qing Lin turned pale with fright upon hearing this and zipped out from under Chen Yang's hand in a flash. That speed was faster than a Dou Huang.
"Young... Young Master, I'm sorry. Qing Lin... Qing Lin didn't know. I didn't know this would kill the Young Master. Qing Lin didn't do it on purpose, not on purpose. I beg the Senior to see clearly, Qing Lin has not done anything with the Young Master, truly nothing..." Qing Lin clasped her hands together, her eyes brimming with tears as she spoke to the sky.
Chen Yang was stunned for a moment, and then a pang of heartache rose in his chest. He reached out and pulled Qing Lin into his arms, but to his surprise, Qing Lin began to struggle.
*Slap!* After a light smack on the little girl's bottom, Qing Lin instantly turned beet red and stopped moving.
"Ahem... Qing Lin, although there's such a rule in the Young Master's hometown, it's only for the final step. Before that, kissing and hugging and such are still allowed. You understand what the Young Master means, right?" After Chen Yang finished speaking, he looked into Qing Lin's eyes, waiting for her to react.
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