Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

Ling Xiao hadn’t been seen on campus for many days, so his appearance immediately drew a lot of attention. The incident was already more than a month in the past, and thanks to Xie Xiaoyan’s deliberate efforts to keep a low profile, the scandal had mostly died down. However, the other students still looked at Ling Xiao with unconcealed disdain.

Even though Ling Xiao had defeated Wulan Tuo, in many people’s minds, it was just a fight between two students from the lower-level classes. What was so exciting about that?

Among the students who had witnessed the battle that day, almost no one believed Ling Xiao had defeated Wulan Tuo with his own strength. They thought his dogshit luck was just too strong—he could even trip and fall to dodge Wulan Tuo’s killing blow. It simply defied all reason. As these people spread and embellished the story, it became a tale of Ling Xiao’s incredible luck, completely unrelated to his actual skill. Some even said that if it weren’t for that small hole saving Ling Xiao’s life, the disgrace of the Imperial Academy would have died on the spot.

Many people thought, ’A waste like him would be better off dead.’

Ye Wen Ni didn’t go with Ling Xiao. For now, it wasn’t suitable for her to appear in public. Ling Xiao planned to find Shangguan Yutong first to tell her about the situation and then arrange for Ye Wen Ni to join the advanced class. Based on Ye Wen Ni’s current strength, even in the advanced class, there was likely no one with better skills than her. The few recognized super-geniuses in the advanced class were, at their strongest, probably only Second and Third Rank Great Sword Masters.

Before coming, Ling Xiao had heard from Chunlan that Wulan Tuo hadn’t returned to the academy since their fight. Ling Xiao sneered inwardly, ’You were lucky last time. If I run into you again and you still dare to provoke me, I certainly won’t mind running you through with my sword!’

Shangguan Yutong seemed to have just woken up. She opened the door wearing a nightgown, her hair slightly messy and her eyes hazy. The momentary, languid charm left Ling Xiao stunned for a second.

Only then did Shangguan Yutong see that it was Ling Xiao at the door. A look of pleasant surprise appeared in her eyes, and she pulled him inside, looking him up and down. When she saw Ling Xiao sizing her up as well, she looked down at her own clothes, and her cheeks instantly flushed. She shot a glare at Ling Xiao. "You little rascal!" With that, she ran back to her bedroom, slamming the door with a THUD. A slightly flustered voice came from inside, "Wait for me, I’ll be right out!"

After a good while, Shangguan Yutong emerged wearing a long black dress. Her beautiful hair was pinned up high, revealing a long, fair neck. Her shapely brows were lightly penciled, and a shy blush colored her face. Her beautiful eyes looked at Ling Xiao. "Alright, tell your teacher about your experiences. I feel like your strength has improved a lot. That’s wonderful!"

In front of Shangguan Yutong, Ling Xiao didn’t want to lie, but reason told him, ’Teacher Shangguan is definitely no ordinary person!’ He shrugged, chuckled lightly, and said, "Well, I offended some people. As for the items? It went okay. I suppose you could say I found them!"

"Oh, really?" Shangguan Yutong completely ignored his comment about offending people. There was hardly an Adventurer who hadn’t made enemies. The most important thing was that Ling Xiao had actually found the medicinal ingredients needed to unblock his Celestial Vein. That was what truly made Shangguan Yutong happy. All along, Shangguan Yutong had been worried about Ling Xiao’s Celestial Vein. From the bottom of her heart, she hoped Ling Xiao could become strong, just like the other normal students, and grow up to be an upstanding man who could stand tall. Because she had always seen Ling Xiao as her younger brother. ’Perhaps he and my late brother share a certain similar temperament?’

Thinking of her brother, a flicker of sadness crossed Shangguan Yutong’s eyes, but she quickly brightened up again. Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled at Ling Xiao. "Quick, tell me!" she said, acting just like a little girl wheedling for a story.

Remembering the sickeningly sweet, enchanting voice from the auction house last night, Ling Xiao gave a wry smile inwardly. ’Teacher Shangguan, which one is the real you?’

Ling Xiao casually made up an adventure story. And because he had never lied before, Shangguan Yutong believed him without a hint of suspicion. She never would have guessed that the two Magical Beasts she had fought so desperately for at the auction last night had both come from Ling Xiao. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

When Ling Xiao mentioned he’d had a dispute with the members of Wang Chao’s temporary Adventurer’s Guild and had parted ways with them, a hint of anger appeared on Shangguan Yutong’s face. She said, "Did he not see the sword in your hand?"

Ling Xiao’s heart skipped a beat. ’It seems Teacher Shangguan really does know them!’ He then explained the reason for the conflict.

Shangguan Yutong looked at Ling Xiao with a wide grin, watching him until he started to feel a little uneasy before she said, "Not bad, playing the hero to save the damsel in distress! That girl was very pretty, wasn’t she?"

"Er..." Ling Xiao looked at Shangguan Yutong with a helpless expression. ’To think Teacher Shangguan shares that common hobby of all girls: being far too curious.’

Shangguan Yutong giggled and said, "That’s more like it. If Wang Chao had been the one to kick you out, I’d have taught him a lesson!" Then, as if remembering something, she suddenly asked, "By the way, is Wang Chao’s injury still the same? Sigh, it’s such a pity." A note of loneliness and melancholy entered Shangguan Yutong’s voice. With her departure, the adventuring trio of the past could only be a memory.

"His injury... is already healed." After a moment of hesitation, Ling Xiao decided to tell the truth about this. Since Shangguan Yutong knew Wang Chao, any lie he told would be exposed sooner or later. It was better to just admit it freely.

"What? Really?!" Shangguan Yutong shot to her feet in surprise. Realizing she had lost her composure, she gave Ling Xiao an apologetic smile. "I’m sorry, I’m just so happy. We used to be adventurers together back in the day. We were very close, but unfortunately, I had to quit for certain reasons, and I haven’t seen them in years. Tell me, who is so skilled that they could heal his injury? It was said that even a Tier Five Alchemist was helpless back then!"

Ling Xiao just smiled faintly and didn’t answer.

Shangguan Yutong’s eyes suddenly lit up. She abruptly remembered the book of Ling Xiao’s that had been burned after "falling into the brazier" and asked, "You’re the one who healed him, right? Heavens... Ling Xiao, you’re truly outstanding! Your teacher is so proud of you!"

As Shangguan Yutong spoke, the corners of her eyes grew slightly moist. She knew very well that with this outstanding medical skill, even if Ling Xiao remained a Celestial Vein Master his entire life, no one would ever dare to look down on him again!

An injury that even a Tier Five Alchemist couldn’t heal, he healed it... This was simply... simply Grandmaster-level medical skill!

Shangguan Yutong suddenly grabbed Ling Xiao’s hand and said, "Ling Xiao, come with me. I’m taking you to meet someone important!"