Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

After Ling Xiao’s acupuncture treatment, Qiu Chen felt a pleasant warmth spread through his body, making him much more comfortable. His legs, which had been numb, seemed to have regained some sensation. This left both Qiu Chen and Dean Qiu Jianhua overjoyed. Even the way Shangguan Yutong looked at Ling Xiao was now filled with deep satisfaction.

’So what if he’s a Celestial Vein Master? With medical skills this miraculous, his future achievements will be limitless! Maybe he’ll even become another great figure like Constant!’ Shangguan Yutong thought, a happy smile gracing her lips. ’I can just imagine how happy Ling Xiao’s sister, Ling Su, will be when she returns and discovers how much her little brother has progressed!’

After they left the small building, Shangguan Yutong suddenly remembered Ling Xiao’s request. Her beautiful eyes blinked, and she said, "That girl you brought back... it isn’t very appropriate for her to live with you. Have her move in with me. Also, I can arrange for her to join the beginner’s class tomorrow—the same class as you. How about it?" As she spoke, she gave Ling Xiao a playful wink.

Ling Xiao gave a wry smile. "Whatever you think is best, Teacher. Besides, she’s already a Tier Six Great Sword Master. It doesn’t really matter where she’s placed; she just wants to learn about other subjects."

"What?" Shangguan Yutong exclaimed. "A Tier Six Great Sword Master? You’re not joking, are you?" Seeing Ling Xiao nod, she pressed, "How old is she?"

Ling Xiao shook his head. "I don’t know. Sixteen, maybe seventeen?"

"Sixteen or seventeen?" The expression on Shangguan Yutong’s face was a picture. She covered her mouth, finally letting out a long breath. "Heavens... why do I suddenly feel like you’ve become a complete stranger, Ling Xiao? It seems like everything connected to you becomes extraordinary. Can you tell your teacher why that is?"

Ling Xiao shrugged and spread his hands. "Well, actually... I’m not from this world."

"Oh, get out of here! You’re never serious!" Shangguan Yutong poked Ling Xiao’s forehead with a delicate finger. "Alright, how about this: we’ll put her in an advanced class. You’re saying she doesn’t really need to attend Martial Arts Class anyway, right?"

The corner of Ling Xiao’s mouth twitched. ’I guess no one believes you when you tell the truth,’ he thought. He nodded and said, "Yes. And Teacher, it would be best to conceal her true strength. I’ll tell her that her main goal is just to learn about other subjects."

Shangguan Yutong stared at Ling Xiao, her beautiful eyes fixed on him, before nodding. "Didn’t you say you’d found all the medicinal herbs? Why are you suddenly missing one that requires a trip to the great plains?"

"Ah... uh..." Ling Xiao was caught completely off guard, and an awkward expression crept onto his face. ’Teacher Shangguan is just too smart,’ he thought. ’A clever woman is a terrifying thing!’

Shangguan Yutong giggled like a little girl, finally regaining a bit of her confidence. She had been surprised to find herself feeling insecure in front of this student she had always cared for, and it had annoyed her. ’He’s just a boy, so why do I feel this way?’

Exuding a mature charm, Shangguan Yutong looked utterly radiant. As she and Ling Xiao emerged from the tree-lined path, the walkways grew crowded with more and more students.

Many students were stunned to see the gentle and elegant beauty, Teacher Shangguan, walking with a young man. When some of them recognized that young man as the "Disgrace of the Imperial Academy," they felt as disgusted as if they had just swallowed a fly. They couldn’t fathom why Teacher Shangguan would be walking alongside Ling Xiao.

Of course, none of them dared to be too obvious in front of Teacher Shangguan. The male students, however, all shot Ling Xiao hostile glares, as if furious that they weren’t the ones walking beside her.

Just then, Ling Xiao spotted someone he absolutely did not want to see—Xie Xiaoyan!

She was walking with a few other girls, chatting and laughing, when she suddenly saw Ling Xiao walking with Teacher Shangguan. The smile on her face instantly froze. She gave Shangguan Yutong a stiff nod. "Hello, Teacher Shangguan."

Shangguan Yutong, of course, wouldn’t stoop to the girl’s level and simply gave a faint nod. Xie Xiaoyan’s gaze toward Ling Xiao was complicated, a mixture of disgust and... a trace of fear!

She had done a lot of thinking over the past month. Although she never regretted her actions, a certain worry always lingered deep in her heart. Ling Xiao’s reaction had been far too calm! It was completely unlike him!

"Never underestimate anyone’s desire for revenge, especially when their heart is filled with hatred!"

This was an aphorism Xie Xiaoyan had read in an ancient book, and she believed the Ling Xiao of today was a person whose heart was filled with hatred. If someone with a powerful background like Ling Xiao truly bore a grudge, anyone would be too worried to eat or sleep in peace.

Xie Xiaoyan insisted to herself that she had done nothing wrong. ’If I hadn’t done it that way, he would never have given up on me!’

Hatred swelled in Xie Xiaoyan’s heart. ’Why did Father have to betroth me to the Ling Family? And even if it had to be the Ling Family, why couldn’t it have been the eldest son, Lingzhi? At least he’s not a waste!’

For years, ever since she was old enough to understand, Xie Xiaoyan had been plagued by the same nightmare. She would dream that she had married Ling Xiao, the Celestial Vein Master, the waste. In the dream, everyone would laugh at her, mock her, and call her "the waste’s wife." She would always wake from these nightmares with her face soaked in tears.

Since childhood, she had been hailed as a prodigy. Everywhere she went, people doted on her. How could she possibly be content to marry Ling Xiao? Many years ago, when she was still just a little girl, Xie Xiaoyan had sworn an oath: she would break this engagement no matter the cost. She, Xie Xiaoyan, belonged only to herself—and to no one else!

The girls beside Xie Xiaoyan made no effort to hide their disdain for Ling Xiao. If Teacher Shangguan hadn’t been there, they would have loved to ask him to his face: ’How does someone like you still have the nerve to be alive, let alone show your face on campus? Why don’t you just go die?’

Quite a few onlookers noticed the scene and stopped to watch the drama unfold, their interest piqued. A conflict between a man and a woman—especially one with a whiff of scandal—was far more entertaining to them than a duel between two beginner-class students like Ling Xiao and Wulan Tuo.

Shangguan Yutong frowned in displeasure. She felt Xie Xiaoyan was going too far. ’Since they’re no longer involved, she should just walk past him. Why put on such an ugly expression? Who is she trying to show?’

The atmosphere grew strange and awkward. Just as Shangguan Yutong was about to tell Ling Xiao they should go, a delighted cry suddenly rang out. "Ling... Big Brother Ling Xiao! It really is you! You’re back!"

Everyone present turned toward the voice. They saw a pretty girl standing there, her eyes filled with pleasant surprise and her cheeks blushing like cherry blossoms. Her beautiful gaze was fixed on Ling Xiao.

Next to her stood an exceptionally handsome young man. But right now, his face was ashen with fury, and his eyes, fixed on Ling Xiao, blazed with rage.