Chapter 56: The Young Man Who Is in the Prime of His Youth

"You're really something, aren't you?!!" In Xiao Yan's bedroom, Yao Chen, suspended in mid-air, glared at Xiao Yan with a gloomy face and angrily shouted, "You dare to block that whip?! If it weren't for Ruo Ling's who held herself back at the last second, you would be dead!!!"

After returning from the enrollment hall, Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Mei helped apply medicine and put a cast on Xiao Yan's arm, and sent him back to his room to rest.

However, just a few seconds after the two bid farewell to Xiao Yan and left the room, Yao Chen emerged from the ring and reprimanded her disciple in an uncontrollable rage.

He had already suffered a fatal wound when fighting against Jia Lie Bi last time, and now he dared to do it again?! Was he not afraid of death?!

He was too reckless! Her disciple was truly boundlessly reckless!

If she didn't scold him thoroughly this time, he would dare to do it again next time!!!

"Calm down, Senior Yao. At that time, in order to win against Instructor Ruo Ling, I had to resort to that method. Please understand," Xiao Yan said earnestly, while Yao Chen's anger not only did not diminish, but grew even stronger.

"That's your reason as a Dou Zhe (Battle Practitioner, 2nd Level) for facing a Da Dou Shi (Battle Grandmaster, 4th Level)'s whip?!"

Yao Chen was truly mad right now! She never expected that Xiao Yan would dare to take such a life-threatening action!

Last time, when he fought against Jia Lie Bi, Yao Chen could react and protect Xiao Yan, but this time she was caught off guard. Who knew that Xiao Yan had the audacity to go to such lengths!

Facing Yao Chen's furious expression, Xiao Yan remained silent, bowing his head quietly, humbly accepting Yao Chen's reprimand.

Seeing Xiao Yan like this, Yao Chen's inexplicable anger subsided slightly. Annoyed, she pursed her lips and spoke with a serious tone.

"That Ruo Ling only said to withstand twenty strikes from her. With my help, it would have been easy for you to get through it. Why did you have to go all out like that?"

Hearing Yao Chen's words, Xiao Yan did not answer, still keeping his head lowered and remaining silent.

After a while, Xiao Yan slowly raised his head and looked at Yao Chen seriously.

"Senior Yao, the path ahead of me is extremely difficult."

"Huh?"

Yao Chen was stunned, unable to immediately grasp the meaning behind Xiao Yan's words.

Weren't we just discussing the matter of your reckless action? Why did you suddenly bring this up?

While Yao Chen was still puzzled, Xiao Yan continued.

"Whether it's cultivating the Flame Mantra to forge my body for you or pursuing my righteous path and spreading it, these challenges are undoubtedly several times more difficult than I had anticipated."

Xiao Yan looked down at his arm in a cast, furrowing his brows tightly.

"In the future journey, the dangers I encounter will undoubtedly be more dangerous than this sparring match, that is without a doubt."

"You cannot protect me all the time, and most of the dangers will have to be overcome by me alone."

"If I can't even rely on my own strength to get through this small sparring match, then I won't be able to solve the difficulties I'll face in the future."

Xiao Yan raised his head, looking extremely serious as he gazed at Yao Chen's beautiful red eyes, speaking earnestly.

"I don't want to be a disciple who constantly relies on his teacher and is cowardly! If one day I meet someone you once knew, I hope I can proudly tell them that I am a disciple who makes you genuinely proud!"

"I don't want you to feel ashamed because of me!"

Yao Chen stared blankly at Xiao Yan, and each word he spoke felt like a heavy blow to her soul.

In her perspective, a teacher should always sacrifice for their disciple, it was only natural!

But Xiao Yan didn't think that way.

Disciples should respect their teachers, and teachers should also take pride in their disciples!

He, Xiao Yan, intended to shut down all those rumors and gossip with facts. He wouldn't let anyone doubt Yao Chen's judgment in selecting disciples, and he certainly wouldn't allow himself to become the subject of ridicule for Yao Chen!

As Yao Chen looked into Xiao Yan's eyes, which were as clear as a mirror, she couldn't bring herself to utter a reprimanding word.

The high regard she already had for Xiao Yan surged even further in her heart.

Her newly acquired disciple was truly exceptional, so exceptional that it made Yao Chen think she was dreaming.

Compared to that child, Xiao Yan's excellence shone even more brilliantly!

"...Do as you wish."

Yao Chen had a lot of things in mind, but in the end, they all transformed into a sigh of resignation, although a faint smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

In that instant, she surprisingly had a realization that even if she couldn't regain her physical body in the future, it didn't matter. Even the previous sense of regret had been filled by Xiao Yan.

Without exaggeration, Xiao Yan should be the epitome of a perfect disciple in the minds of all teachers in this world.

"Thank you, Senior Yao, for understanding."

Seeing that Yao Chen had finally let go of her anger, Xiao Yan's sunny smile reappeared on his face.

However, Yao Chen's expression suddenly changed, and her beautiful face came close to Xiao Yan's, making his profile instantly turn red. He glared fiercely at her.

"If you want to fight to the death in the future, I won't stop you, but you must give me a warning before doing so! Do you understand?!"

"Yes! Disciple will remember!"

Xiao Yan quickly lowered his head in response, as if trying to avoid something.

Yao Chen noticed the redness on Xiao Yan's ears as he bowed his head, and she couldn't help but recall the redness on his face when she approached him just now. A mischievous smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

"Xiao Yan, let me ask you something~"

"Please go ahead, Senior Yao!"

Xiao Yan replied in a firm voice, but he still kept his head lowered, unwilling to lift it, which brought a hint of dissatisfaction to Yao Chen's beautiful face.

"Raise your head. When I'm talking to you, you should look at me. Is this how you treat your elders?"

"..."

Xiao Yan remained silent for a long time, his body tense. Eventually, he slowly lifted his head.

However, his gaze completely avoided meeting Yao Chen's eyes, constantly shifting to the side.

Seeing Xiao Yan's awkward appearance, Yao Chen couldn't help but inwardly chuckle. She cleared her throat and deliberately softened her voice, using a tone that was completely different from her usual hearty voice.

"Xiao Yan, do you think your master is beautiful?"

"..."

Xiao Yan continued to remain silent, but his already reddened face became even more vibrant, bordering on scarlet.

Seeing that Xiao Yan didn't answer, Yao Chen pretended to be displeased and scolded him softly.

"Speak!"

Hearing Yao Chen's urging, the embarrassment on Xiao Yan's face deepened. It was extremely difficult for him to speak.

"Mas-Master, I think Senior Yao is very... very..."

Xiao Yan stammered, his voice becoming extremely soft. Yao Chen leaned closer and pressed on with her questioning.

"Very what?"

"Very... very beautiful..."

Xiao Yan covered half of his face with his right hand and finally managed to give this response. When Yao Chen heard it, she couldn't help but feel amused.

It was truly strange. She had never found it so enjoyable when others praised her beauty before.

When others praised Yao Chen's beauty, she would simply think it was a matter of course, accustomed to it, without any other feelings.

But now, hearing her shy disciple praise her, an indescribable sense of pride welled up in her heart.

"Remember this then~ When you find a wife in the future, make sure to look for someone according to my standards. After being accustomed to seeing me, I doubt you'll be interested in anyone else~" Yao Chen teased with a light laugh. Then, she lightly pinched her beautiful chin and murmured, "Well... but it's indeed quite difficult to find beauty of my caliber."

Immediately, Yao Chen leaned close to Xiao Yan's face and giggled.

"If you can't find a wife in the future because your standards are too high, don't blame me~~~"

"..."

"I want to rest now."

Xiao Yan felt his face burning to the extreme and finally couldn't bear it any longer. He turned to the side and lay down on the bed, burying his head firmly under the pillow.

"Don't go~ I still have so much to talk to you about~~~"

Yao Chen persisted, her melodious voice constantly whispering in Xiao Yan's ear. It made Xiao Yan forcibly suppress the turmoil in his heart while feeling both frustrated and helpless. He could only pray in his heart for Yao Chen to stop teasing him.

After all, Xiao Yan was still just a young boy in the midst of his youth~

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