Xiao Lan

Xiao Lan...

As word of the Royal Academy's defeat spread, the crowd soon realized that their earlier triumph against the Emperor Star Academy held little significance. The Emperor Star Academy remained unrivaled among Chu's martial academies, firmly occupying the top spot.

Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng stood at the registration area designated for the Emperor Star Academy. Seeing the enthusiastic and vibrant faces of the young students lining up, both wore radiant smiles.

"Do you remember what happened last year when you came to enroll?" Mo Qingcheng turned to Qin Wentian, her smile warm.

"Yes," Qin Wentian nodded. He vividly remembered that it was here, at this very spot, last year when he tried to enroll in the Emperor Star Academy. It was then that Mo Qingcheng and Nolan's carriage had passed by. She had lifted the carriage curtain and smiled in his direction. Reflecting on it now, he couldn't help but wonder if Mo Qingcheng had truly been smiling at him back then. Perhaps in all of Chu, only Qin Wentian could receive such special treatment.

"Am I very old now?" Qin Wentian chuckled.

Mo Qingcheng's beautiful eyes gazed at him thoughtfully, as if genuinely contemplating the question. Qin Wentian's eyes were still as clear as ever, but his demeanor had transformed significantly over the past year. He was no longer the unripe fruit of yesteryears. The trials and tribulations of the past year had tempered him, accelerating his maturity. Moreover, in the past, his emotions were readily apparent in his eyes, but now, it was challenging to discern his feelings just by looking at them.

Qin Wentian squirmed a bit under the intense scrutiny of the peerless beauty. A hint of shyness appeared in his sunny smile.

Mo Qingcheng couldn't help but affectionately call Qin Wentian 'Dumbo' in her thoughts. Her closeness to him had nothing to do with his Jun Lin Banquet championship. Instead, it was his simplicity and honesty that set him apart from other talented youths in the Royal Capital.

Coughing to dispel his embarrassment after being scrutinized by Mo Qingcheng, Qin Wentian addressed the aspiring students. "My dear future junior brothers and sisters, come enroll over here."

Mo Qingcheng found Qin Wentian's reaction quite amusing but managed to stifle her laughter, aware of the many eyes on her. She disliked crowded environments, but she had agreed to her grandfather's request to attend. Seeing Qin Wentian, this 'dumbo,' here made it all worthwhile. After all, she was a young girl, and her life was typically mundane. Nolan was her only close friend.

"Senior Brother Qin," a youth approached Qin Wentian, rushing past Mountain's attempt to block him. Although Mountain grumbled quietly, he couldn't hide his amused expression.

"You haven't even passed the examination. Are you sure you'll be able to enroll in the Emperor Star Academy?" Qin Wentian inquired with a warm smile. The youth, around 15 years old, was even younger than Qin Wentian when he had enrolled.

The youth had wild, frizzy hair and wore plain clothing. His large, pure, and spirited eyes were filled with reverence as he gazed at Qin Wentian.

"Of course! I want to follow Senior's path and become the Jun Lin Banquet champion next year. How could I fail the enrollment exam for the Emperor Star Academy?" The youth beamed.

"Quit boasting," Mountain interjected, playfully rapping the youth on the head. The young boy stared earnestly at Mountain after recovering. "It's true, Senior Mountain. If Senior Brother Qin could do it, why can't I?"

"Alright, I believe you," Qin Wentian responded, feeling genuinely delighted. Finally, someone was addressing him as Senior Brother.

"Junior Brother Qin, this young man is named Zi Jun. Like you, he hails from Sky Harmony City. His first Astral Soul was condensed at the 3rd Heavenly Layer, and he's already on our shortlist. But this little rascal can be quite unruly," Mountain explained. Despite his scolding tone, his eyes sparkled with genuine affection. After all, a genius like Zi Jun was a rare find.

It was no wonder that Zi Jun looked up to him so much; they both hailed from Sky Harmony City.

"Work hard, young fellow," Qin Wentian said, tousling Zi Jun's hair. Mo Qingcheng, standing nearby, couldn't contain her laughter as she watched Qin Wentian's antics. Despite being relatively young himself, he was intentionally acting like an adult in front of Zi Jun, which struck her as rather amusing.

"Er..." Qin Wentian shot a glance at Mo Qingcheng. Couldn't she have shown him a little more respect in front of his junior brother?

"Oh, is this beautiful lady Senior Brother Qin's girlfriend? She's so lovely," Zi Jun exclaimed with admiration, staring at Mo Qingcheng in awe. He had never seen such an exquisite lady before.

Qin Wentian's eyes flickered, and he silently stared at Mo Qingcheng without blinking. This time, it was Mo Qingcheng who felt awkward. Shyness graced her face, making her even more captivating.

Seeing Mo Qingcheng's expression, Qin Wentian couldn't help but think that one day she might experience something similar. He couldn't hold back his laughter. With a mischievous grin, he turned to Zi Jun and stated, "Hmm, yes, she should be mine soon."

Standing at Qin Wentian's side, Mo Qingcheng blushed upon hearing his words. She subtly moved closer to Qin Wentian and stomped her foot on his, causing Qin Wentian to silently curse her for being so ruthless.

Zi Jun's bright eyes sparkled as he raised his fist into the air. "Senior Brother, work hard!"

"Absolutely, you too."

"Come with me," Mountain chuckled, leading Zi Jun away. The young boy didn't forget to wink at Qin Wentian several times, causing Qin Wentian's face to break into a grin. He genuinely hoped that Zi Jun would retain his innocent heart.

"Hmm…" Qin Wentian inhaled a sharp breath and lowered his head, realizing that Mo Qingcheng had once again stomped on his foot. He could only offer a bitter smile as he looked at her. Mo Qingcheng refused to meet his gaze, staring straight ahead, but her face was adorned with a mischievous grin. Taking advantage of beautiful girls was undoubtedly a challenging endeavor.

In the direction of the enrollment area designated for the Royal Academy, several figures were gathered, including Chu Tianjiao, Ye Wuque, Xiao Lan, Wu Chong, and those who had defeated the Emperor Star Academy's Yuanfu Realm students. They had all arrived in person.

Xiao Lan's gaze was fixed on Qin Wentian as he silently mused, "This person is undoubtedly a rare talent. Despite his previous misunderstanding with Luo Qianqiu, it wouldn't hurt to try and recruit him into my faction. It would be beneficial for both of us. So, it's worth giving him a chance."

"Send someone over to fetch him. I'd like to have a chat with him," Xiao Lan whispered.

"Brother Xiao, are you referring to Qin Wentian?" Chu Tianjiao's expression tightened slightly.

"Yes," Xiao Lan confirmed. "It would be ideal if he cooperates willingly. It will save us from a lot of trouble."

"I understand Brother Xiao's appreciation for talent, but I'm afraid Qin Wentian may not share the same sentiment," Chu Tianjiao replied, suppressing his inner displeasure. He was well aware of Xiao Lan's status within the Nine Mystical Palace; it was even higher than Luo Qianqiu's. Chu Tianjiao had not expected that when he reached out to the Nine Mystical Palace, they would send Xiao Lan in response.

"Wuque, go and fetch him," Chu Tianjiao instructed.

Ye Wuque's pupils contracted slightly, but eventually, he nodded his head and strode toward the enrollment area designated for the Emperor Star Academy.

Bewilderment washed over Qin Wentian's face as he watched Ye Wuque approach him.

Ye Wuque first cast a glance at Mo Qingcheng, hints of adoration apparent in his eyes. He had always been interested in Mo Qingcheng. To him, she was the only woman who could match his extraordinary presence. Unfortunately, she had always been distant towards him.

"Qin Wentian," Ye Wuque's gaze slowly shifted over. "There's someone who wishes to meet you. Come along with me."

Qin Wentian stared right back, a cold glint flickering in his eyes. "What's the matter?"

"Follow me," Ye Wuque calmly stated, pointing in the direction of the enrollment area designated for the Royal Academy.

Qin Wentian's gaze followed Ye Wuque's finger, landing on the Royal Academy's area. Many pairs of eyes were fixed on him, including those of Chu Tianjiao, Wu Chong, and the mysterious Xiao Lan.

Xiao Lan's gaze, in particular, was the most indifferent as he stood between Chu Tianjiao and the others. Qin Wentian recalled that during the Royal Academy's challenges, the first four challengers had been quite polite, but Xiao Lan had been exceptionally arrogant.

Although he had been overbearing on stage, the current Xiao Lan seemed as calm as a lake. Qin Wentian faintly sensed that it was Xiao Lan who wanted to meet him.

"Who is he?" Qin Wentian turned back, displeasure evident in his eyes.

These people were truly arrogant. They wanted to speak with him, yet they had Ye Wuque approach him as an intermediary. Such an action clearly conveyed their disregard for him.

Unbeknownst to Qin Wentian, in Xiao Lan's eyes, this was an opportunity he was providing. Driven by his appreciation for talent, he was doing Qin Wentian a favor. After all, Qin Wentian had already incurred the wrath of Luo Tianya and Luo Qianqiu. While the father and son couldn't represent the Nine Mystical Palace entirely, they were part of it. Qin Wentian had offended the Nine Mystical Palace, diminishing his chances of being recruited. Xiao Lan was offering him a lifeline, hoping that Qin Wentian would be intelligent enough to grasp it.

"You don't need to know who he is. What you need to do now is go over there," Ye Wuque said indifferently. Qin Wentian had a faint suspicion – the person who had earned such respect from Chu Tianjiao and defeated Xanxus, the leader of the Heavenly Demon Association, was likely from the same place as Luo Qianqiu and, therefore, probably a representative of the Nine Mystical Palace.

Mo Qingcheng frowned. This kind of attitude was truly infuriating.

"If he has something to say, he can come find me himself," Qin Wentian's reply stunned Ye Wuque. A sharp glint flashed in Ye Wuque's eyes, followed by a cold laugh. Qin Wentian seemed determined to court trouble.

Returning to the Royal Academy's area, Ye Wuque reported to Xiao Lan, "He said that if you want to talk to him, you should find him yourself."

Xiao Lan's eyes flickered with a terrifying light upon hearing Qin Wentian's response. In an instant, his previously calm expression vanished, replaced by smoldering anger.

Xiao Lan raised his head slightly, casting his gaze once again in the direction of the Emperor Star Academy. His eyes locked onto Qin Wentian, exuding cold disdain and arrogance.

"In a place like Chu, I never expected to encounter such insolence," Xiao Lan thought. If it weren't for an unexpected piece of news about a secret left behind by the Azure Emperor within the Emperor Star Academy, he wouldn't have traveled thousands of miles from the Nine Mystical Palace to such a small corner like Chu.

"Resolve the matter with the Emperor Star Academy quickly; I don't have much time," Xiao Lan instructed Chu Tianjiao. Then, he turned and left, his departure exuding both pride and humility. Few people outside of his group knew that he and a few other elites were from the Nine Mystical Palace. Perhaps this discreet demeanor was the ultimate display of his pride. He was Xiao Lan of the Nine Mystical Palace, and there was no need for him to flaunt his status in a small country like Chu.