Since they were all about to go their separate ways, everyone drank with abandon. Even Lu Bingning had a lot to drink. If Lan Xi hadn’t been there to hold her back, she probably would have been drunk long ago.

The group didn’t disperse until nightfall. After seeing everyone out of the Bamboo Courtyard, they were all gone, leaving only Lu Bingning and Lin Yun behind. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Are you really leaving tomorrow?" Lu Bingning asked softly. After drinking, two rosy blushes appeared on her beautiful face, making her look incredibly alluring.

He nodded. Parting was always painful, and at that moment, Lin Yun didn’t know how to comfort Lu Bingning.

"Can you stop hiding now? I want to see the real Lin Yun," Lu Bingning said.

Knowing how down Lu Bingning was feeling, Lin Yun didn’t refuse. His ordinary, unremarkable face transformed, reverting to that of the handsome and valiant Lin Yun.

If anyone else had been there, they would have seen at a glance that this was Lin Yun—the man wanted by the entire Academy. He had actually managed to sneak into the Academy, become a Disciple in the Genius Class, and even the student of the head of the Punishment Hall.

However, no one could have expected it. Lan Xi, who hadn’t left yet and was lingering in a corner, froze the moment she saw Lin Yun’s true face. She had only meant to come back and check on Lu Bingning. Who knew she would witness such a scene?

"It really is you..." Lan Xi murmured, standing rooted to the spot in a daze.

Lin Yun and Lu Bingning shared a deep embrace. He was leaving tomorrow, and he felt he should give her some form of commitment.

Emboldened by the wine, Lin Yun grabbed Lu Bingning’s hand and led her back toward his room.

As the pair left, tears streamed from the corners of Lan Xi’s eyes as she stood frozen in place. She was happy to see Lin Shan again, but the sight of him embracing Lu Bingning sent a sudden, sharp pain through her heart.

It was as if something that belonged to her had been stolen.

Lan Xi didn’t even know how she made it back to her own quarters. The moment she stepped into her room, she couldn’t help but break down and sob.

Meanwhile, Lin Yun and Lu Bingning were in his room. He gazed at her with deep affection and said slowly, "Bingning, will you be my woman?"

"I will," Lu Bingning replied in a whisper. As the word left her lips, her face flushed crimson, and she shyly lowered her head.

Hearing her answer, Lin Yun kissed her directly on the lips. It was the first time for them both, and an air of passion spontaneously filled the room.

’Sigh... They really pay this old man no mind.’ Zhong Lin, who was cultivating in his own room, naturally knew what was happening in Lin Yun’s. He let out a soft sigh, then withdrew his Divine Thought and stopped paying attention to the outside world.

When dawn began to break, Lin Yun finished packing his things and led Lu Bingning out of the room. He wanted to leave the Academy early; after all, it would not be good for anyone to find out that Lu Bingning had spent the night in his quarters.

"Leaving so soon?" The moment they stepped out of the room, they found Zhong Lin already sitting in the bamboo pavilion.

"Master..." Lin Yun replied awkwardly, not expecting Zhong Lin to have found them out.

"The path of training is fraught with danger. I don’t have much to give you. Here are five Forbidden Artifacts. Each one holds the power of one of my attacks and can help you escape a life-or-death situation." With a grand wave of his hand, Zhong Lin placed five Forbidden Artifacts in Lin Yun’s hands.

Looking at the Forbidden Artifacts in his hand, Lin Yun was deeply moved. He had learned a bit about them back in the Mysterious City, having seen the ones held by the Monk and the Daoist. He knew it was incredibly draining for a Primordial Ocean Realm expert to refine a Forbidden Artifact.

The fact that Zhong Lin had refined five Forbidden Artifacts for him was proof of his genuine care for Lin Yun.

"Thank you, Master. I will take my leave now." After performing a deep, formal bow of a disciple, Lin Yun took Lu Bingning by the hand and walked out of the Academy.

’The son of Lin Xiaotian, hm? ... What a troublesome student.’ Zhong Lin mused to himself, watching Lin Yun’s back.

When Lin Yun had reverted to his true form yesterday, Zhong Lin had happened to see it. He had been momentarily stunned, never expecting that his student was actually the fugitive wanted by the entire Academy.

However, his gift of the five Forbidden Artifacts showed that Zhong Lin didn’t care about Lin Yun’s identity. He only cared that Lin Yun was his student and he was Lin Yun’s master.

The sky had not yet fully brightened, and the Academy was nearly empty. Everyone was still lost in their dreams.

They made their way to the Academy’s main gate, where Lin Yun planned to bid Lu Bingning farewell. To his surprise, as soon as they arrived, he saw Lan Xi standing near the entrance.

Her face, as beautiful as Lu Bingning’s, now wore an expression of profound sorrow, making her look exceptionally vulnerable.

"Lan Xi," Lu Bingning called out.

"Bingning."

The moment they met, Lu Bingning could tell something was different about Lan Xi today.

"Bingning, I’m leaving," Lin Yun said, bidding her goodbye.

"Okay. Be careful on your journey. Remember, I’ll be waiting for you here at the Academy," Lu Bingning replied.

Nodding, Lin Yun turned to Lan Xi. "Lan Xi, I’m off."

He said this with a deliberately casual air. ’Lan Xi doesn’t know my real identity yet, and I don’t want to reveal it to her so soon. As long as she’s safe, I’m content.’

Lan Xi remained silent for a long moment. With a wry smile, Lin Yun turned and began to walk out of the Academy.

"Lin Shan! The villagers are all dead!" After walking several dozen meters, Lin Yun was startled to hear Lan Xi’s shout from behind, her voice thick with tears.

His body trembled. ’She must have figured it out,’ he thought. He turned and shouted back to her, "Wait for my return!"

After shouting this, Lin Yun didn’t look back again. Long after his figure had completely vanished from sight, Lu Bingning and Lan Xi still stood before the Academy gate, gazing in the direction he had left.

"Bingning, do you regret giving yourself to Lin Shan?" Lan Xi asked abruptly.

Lu Bingning was taken aback by the question. ’What does she mean by that?’ But both women were exceptionally clever, and Lu Bingning quickly realized Lan Xi must have known what happened last night.

"I’ll never regret it," Lu Bingning replied with a sweet smile, looking as if she were already Lin Yun’s wife.

Seeing the smile on Lu Bingning’s face, Lan Xi froze for a moment. ’Never regret it, huh?’ she thought. ’Lin Shan, I will never regret my feelings for you either. I will wait for you.’

Each lost in her own thoughts, the two women thought of the same man, their gazes fixed on the same point in the distance.

"Come on, let’s go back," Lu Bingning said after a long time, breaking the silence.

"Okay, let’s go back." At her words, Lan Xi offered a faint smile.

Lin Yun had left to train, and they couldn’t afford to fall behind. If they wanted to stay by his side, neither of them wanted the gap in strength between them and Lin Yun to grow too large.

Smiles gracing their faces, the two women walked briskly toward the Genius Class area, their expressions full of bliss.