The thunderous cheers from the stands echoed around. Xiao Yan smiled and bowed to Lu Mu, who was looking bitter, “Thank you, Senior Lu Mu, for your courtesy.”
“Courtesy my ass, I lost fair and square. What’s there to be courteous about? My heart isn’t as small as some people’s,” Lu Mu rolled his eyes and then forced a smile, “But damn, kid, I didn’t expect you to be so deep. Maybe you can really make it to the top five. If the chance comes, I’ll have to learn from you again.” After saying that, Lu Mu cupped his hands to Xiao Yan and decisively turned to leave the plaza.
“He’s pretty honest, much better than that Bai Shan. I should get to know him if I have the chance,” watching Lu Mu’s back, Xiao Yan smiled lightly and glanced at where Bai Shan was, catching a glint of coldness in his eyes. His dislike and wariness towards Bai Shan grew even stronger.
Xiao Yan put the Heavy Xuan Ruler back on his back and walked off the competition platform. Under countless fervent gazes, he went to the area of the Yellow Rank Second Class, only to see the group of girls he had met yesterday, gathered here as well. These lively young women immediately surrounded Xiao Yan, their chirping voices making his head spin after the fierce battle.
“Alright, alright, quiet down, you guys,” seeing Xiao Yan surrounded by these cute girls, Elder Rolin couldn’t help but shake her head, calling out to bring the adoring girls back to their senses.
“Hehe, no wonder Xuner has been ignoring other men for two years in the academy. She has such an excellent man in her heart,” a young girl jumped next to Xuner and teased playfully.
At this, Xuner’s delicate and elegant face flushed with a tempting rosy hue, her captivating charm enough to make even Elder Rolin’s heart skip a beat, not to mention the male students around whose eyes bulged out.
Xiao Yan smiled lightly and walked over to sit beside Xuner. The scent of the young woman by his side, along with the envious and jealous gazes from around, made him slightly dazed. Back when he was a waste in Wutan City, walking with Xuner, the looks they got were full of mockery and disdain. In those times, others must have thought, how could a toad walk with a beautiful swan without feeling ashamed?
But now, after two years of hard training, walking with Xuner again, no one looked at him the same way anymore. Because Xiao Yan’s displayed talent and strength were now worthy of standing alongside Xuner, the pride of the heavens! This was the difference in treatment between the powerful and the powerless!
Back then, although he always said he was working hard for the three-year agreement, wasn’t he also secretly trying to boost his strength, so that when he was with Xuner, people wouldn’t look at him with colored glasses?
Three years had passed since his days as a failure. During these three years, Xiao Yan relied on his own efforts to fulfill his wishes, successfully defeating Nalan Yanran, and also gained the strength and qualification to be with Xuner!
He let out a long breath, turning to look at Xuner, who was focused on the competition. In the soft sunlight, Xuner was almost entirely enveloped in a golden light, peaceful and gentle. This beautiful sight made Xiao Yan’s eyes flicker with a heartfelt admiration. Two years of lonely training had made him clearly understand that this girl in front of him held the deepest imprint in his heart!
This imprint was firmly stamped in childhood. Xuner always said that if Xiao Yan hadn’t clumsily entered her room and spent years nurturing her seemingly fragile body with his unskilled Dou Qi, she would never have let Xiao Yan into her heart. But had Xiao Yan not, in his lowest moments, maintained his gentle respect, would Xuner have opened her heart to this kind, lovely boy?
His hand slowly moved under the table, finally grasping Xuner’s soft and delicate hand. Feeling the tender smoothness in his palm, Xiao Yan’s heart quivered slightly.
When Xuner felt Xiao Yan suddenly grasp her hand, her body trembled gently. Casting a nervous glance at Elder Rolin and Xiao Yu nearby, and seeing that they hadn’t noticed, she sighed in relief and turned to Xiao Yan, whispering, “Brother Xiao Yan.”
“You are mine. No matter how powerful the forces behind you, I will never give up!” He tightened his grip on her delicate hand and said softly, but with a hint of stubborn determination.
Hearing this, Xuner was stunned, and then her flawless face blushed like a blood-red cloud. She didn’t expect Xiao Yan to say such suggestive words at this moment.
Even with Xuner’s usual calm, she couldn’t keep her composure at Xiao Yan’s sudden words. Her face turned as red as an apple, and her normally serene heart stirred with ripples that were hard to conceal.
“Xuner, what’s wrong?” Xuner’s unusual expression didn’t escape Elder Rolin’s notice. She first looked surprised, then her gaze shifted downward, catching Xiao Yan quickly retracting his hand. A blush appeared on her cheeks, and she shook her head helplessly, “Young people, be more restrained in public. I know you two are close, but don’t provoke the male students who have intentions towards Xuner. If you incite a riot, can you handle thousands of them?”
Xiao Yan laughed awkwardly and didn’t dare to interject, hurriedly turning his gaze to the intense fight in the arena.
Beside him, Xuner also quickly composed herself, casting a guilty glance at Elder Rolin before turning her gaze to the battlefield.
“Ah, this girl, so calm with others, but in front of Xiao Yan, she’s like a little girl in love. Truly, one thing subdues another! I wonder how Xiao Yan managed to win Xuner’s heart,” seeing the lingering blush on Xuner’s face, Elder Rolin shook her head and sighed in her heart.
In the arena, as the referee called out names, figures continuously leaped onto the stage, engaging in either intense or calm battles. The victors were ecstatic, while the defeated left the stage dispirited. After several rounds, the original 170+ participants had dwindled to just over 60, and after a few more rounds, the spots for entering the inner academy would be determined.
“Round 41: Xuanyu Class One, Yan Cheng… Law Enforcement Squad, Wu Hao!”
As the next round of names was announced, the plaza fell unusually quiet under the pressure of a certain name. The students in the stands involuntarily lowered their voices.
“Law Enforcement Squad, Wu Hao…”
Xiao Yan murmured the name and turned to Elder Rolin, “I suppose this is the person you mentioned, right?”
Elder Rolin’s face became more serious, “Wu Hao has great prestige in the Law Enforcement Squad. In the past two years, the number of people from the Black-Corner Region killed by him is at least in the hundreds. His strength is terrifying.”
Xiao Yan nodded slightly; this person was indeed a formidable opponent.
“By the way, there’s something that might trouble you. Wu Hao once pursued Xuner publicly, but Xuner rejected him. However, he never gave up.”
Elder Rolin smirked, “Before you came to the academy, Bai Shan considered Wu Hao his most competitive rival in love. Unfortunately, both of these men, who many believed were the most likely to win Xuner, failed because of your appearance.”
“Beauty is a disaster,” Xiao Yan shook his head with a bitter smile and turned his gaze to the center of the plaza. There, a young man stood, and with Xiao Yan’s keen eyes, he could clearly see the bitterness on his face.
“Before he even appears, he makes his opponent feel fear. This Wu Hao…”
As Xiao Yan muttered, his eyes suddenly narrowed, and across from the young man, a figure completely clad in a blood-red robe suddenly appeared, ghost-like and unexpectedly, on the previously empty stone platform.
“What terrifying speed! This person is very strong!” Staring intently at the blood-red figure, a rare seriousness flashed across Xiao Yan’s face.
As the blood-robed figure appeared, the bustling plaza suddenly fell silent, and a bloody smell slowly permeated the air.
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