Chapter 53: Taking Leave

"Is this the list of new students approved today- huh?!"

Astonishment flashed in Ruo Ling's eyes as she looked at the register.

Although Jia Nan Academy was conducting admissions in Wutan City today, the scope of admissions was not limited to Wutan City alone. Even some surrounding cities were included.

Even so, up until now, only a total of fifty individuals had met the qualifying requirements, and among these fifty, twenty-three of them had the surname Xiao, and without exception, all of them had reached the Dou Zhe (Battle Practitioner, 2nd Level) Realm.

"Yu'er," Ruo Ling called softly, showing the register to Xiao Yu, and pointed at it, asking, "Are all these Xiao surname newcomers from your family?"

"Yes," Xiao Yu nodded in confirmation, causing a twitch in Ruo Ling's temple. The accompanying senior students couldn't help but start discussing among themselves.

To be a Dou Zhe (Battle Practitioner, 2nd Level) under the age of sixteen was already a testament to exceptional talent, but today they had admitted twenty-three of them at once, and all of them were from the Xiao Clan!

What on earth was going on with this family?

"I thought you were already an exceptional one-in-a-million case," Ruo Ling said with a helpless wry smile. "But I never expected that the people from your family would be the same kind of geniuses as you."

"You flatter me, Instructor Ruo Ling," Xiao Yu replied softly, and Ruo Ling gradually recovered from her astonishment.

"Regardless, the academy has found a group of geniuses this time, which can be considered a fortunate event for the academy," Ruo Ling said, smiling as she looked at the new students who had passed the examination. "Welcome to Jia Nan Academy. I hope all of you can make all necessary preparations within seven days. After seven days, the exclusive Jia Nan Academy flight squad will arrive, and we will depart immediately."

Listening to Ruo Ling's words, the expressions of the senior students beside her couldn't help but become strange.

A group of geniuses? So, it turns out you can wholesale geniuses as well?

At that moment, Xiao Yan gently pushed aside the arm of Xiao Mei, who had her arms around his neck, and gently let her down. Xiao Mei raised her eyebrows in confusion, and a trace of unease faintly appeared in her heart.

"Cousin Xiao Yan?"

Xiao Yan smiled and reached out to touch Xiao Mei's head before turning to face Ruo Ling. He clasped his hands and said in a respectful tone, "Instructor Ruo Ling, there is something I would like to request, and I hope you can grant me permission."

"Xiao Yan?" Ruo Ling raised an eyebrow upon hearing this name.

Wasn't this the same cousin that Xiao Yu had been constantly mentioning?

Xiao Yu had previously confessed to Ruo Ling that the reason she chose to enter Jia Nan Academy was purely to find out why Xiao Yan's Dou Qi had inexplicably disappeared. It was because of this that she spent her days in the outer courtyard library.

This kid is a 2 Star Dou Zhe (Battle Practitioner, 2nd Level) ... It seemed that not only had he regained his strength, but he also ranked extremely high among the new students.

It wasn't just Ruo Ling who reacted to this name. The gazes of Xue Ni, and the other girls who were close to Xiao Yu were filled with curiosity as they looked at Xiao Yan.

"Xiao Yan? Isn't that the person Yu'er has been talking about..."

"Her cousin whose Dou Qi disappeared?"

"Yes, yes! I remember Yu'er specifically emphasizing that she and Xiao Yan are not blood-related..."

Just as Xue Ni and the others were getting excited and chattering, Xiao Yu suddenly furrowed her eyebrows and coldly glared at them, instantly silencing them. They dared not discuss it any further.

After all, not everyone was a masochist like Xue Ni, and Xue Ni herself couldn't bear the consecutive torments from Xiao Yu.

Meanwhile, Ruo Ling snapped back to attention and smiled at the young man before her.

"If you have something to say, feel free to bring it up. As long as it's something within my ability, I will try my best to fulfill your request."

"Instructor Ruo Ling, I hope you can grant me a leave of about one year."

As soon as Xiao Yan uttered these words, the entire square fell into silence.

'So, he's really going to leave...'

Xiao Yu and Xiao Xun'er had already prepared themselves for Xiao Yan's request for leave, but hearing it confirmed still made them feel a sense of loss.

However, they didn't try to dissuade him. The future that Xiao Yan pursued should not be hindered by them, and they didn't want to become a burden to him.

But Xiao Mei, unlike Xiao Yu and Xiao Xun'er, wasn't as mature. When she heard Xiao Yan's response, her little head instantly went blank, and after coming back to her senses, a look of almost wanting to cry appeared on her face.

"Xiao Y-Hmph-!"

Xiao Mei was about to speak up to stop him when Xiao Xun'er tightly covered her mouth from behind. Then, Xiao Xun'er's voice, mixed with a hint of desolation, sounded in Xiao Mei's ear.

"Don't obstruct Xiao Yan's decision. Xiao Yan's future should be determined by himself."

These words instantly stopped Xiao Mei from struggling, and her excited mind calmed down. She stared at Xiao Yan's back in front of her and immediately recalled various memories from the past.

Yes... Cousin Xiao Yan has always been considering our future and making great efforts for it.

But I've never known what Cousin Xiao Yan really wants for himself.

Cousin Xiao Yan definitely has things he wants to pursue for himself...

How could I possibly stand in his way?

Feeling Xiao Mei calming down, Xiao Xun'er also released her hand and quietly looked at Xiao Yan. Ruo Ling, who had also snapped back to reality, looked at the earnest young man before her with a hint of helplessness.

"A year-long leave? Are you joking with me?"

The normal curriculum for the outer branch of the Jia Nan Academy was three years, and Xiao Yan's request for a year-long leave would take away one-third of that time. Such a demand had never been made in the history of the academy.

It seemed that Xiao Yu's doted-upon cousin was capable of doing things beyond ordinary comprehension.

"I wouldn't dare to joke about such a matter with my instructor." Xiao Yan softly denied and continued, "However, this year-long leave is necessary for me. If it truly puts you in a difficult position, I request that my name be crossed off, and I will participate in the assessment again next year."

"... "

Ruo Ling fell silent.

From Xiao Yan's appearance, he had made up his mind about taking this one-year leave.

Ruo Ling rubbed her nose bridge with a headache.

Indeed, geniuses may be great, but they also have their unique ways of doing things. It wasn't something an ordinary instructor could handle.

Xiao Yu was like that before, always hiding in the library and skipping classes. Ruo Ling had made countless promises to the dean to prevent Xiao Yu from being expelled.

And now, this young man from the same clan as Xiao Yu was making an extremely unreasonable request. Moreover, it seemed there was no room for negotiation.

Ruo Ling quietly observed Xiao Yan, the young man who had been mentioned numerous times by Xiao Yu.

Not only had he recovered his previously prodigious talent, but from Ruo Ling's deduction, Xiao Yan had only taken one year to advance from 3 Star Dou Zhi (Battle Disciple, 1st Level) stage to his current level as a 2 Star Dou Zhe (Battle Practitioner, 2nd Level). Otherwise, Xiao Yu, who usually returned home every year, wouldn't have entered the inner branch last year.

It might have even taken less than a year.

Ruo Ling didn't want to give up on such a talented student. Mainly because she herself wanted to see what kind of person had been praised incessantly by the outstanding Xiao Yu.

"I can accept your request," Ruo Ling said calmly. Before Xiao Yan could thank her, Ruo Ling added, "The condition is that you have to withstand twenty rounds against me, a 5 Star Da Dou Shi (Battle Grandmaster, 45h Level) !"

"As long as you can accomplish that, I will grant you this one-year leave! No matter how big of a problem it causes with the academy, I will help you resolve it!"

"Do you still want to take this leave?"

A trace of coldness flashed in Ruo Ling's eyes, and her aura continued to rise, as if she wanted to intimidate Xiao Yan into backing down.

Although she didn't believe it would work on Xiao Yan, who was from the same clan as Xiao Yu.

And her assumption proved to be correct.

Xiao Yan took a deep breath, then his gaze became firm and he locked eyes with Ruo Ling.

"Xiao Yan is willing to give it a try!"

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