155 A Welcoming Kiss, Part 1
The Outer Academy Library had only two floors. The first floor was open all day, closing only at the end of each month for cleaning. The books there could be borrowed freely. The second floor, however, had restricted access.
For example, achieving a top-ten ranking in the monthly assessments granted access.
Or, after reaching the Mystic Master realm, students had one opportunity to enter the second floor and choose a secret manual.
Xiao Xinyan wasn’t eligible to enter the second floor yet. She sat quietly in a corner on the first floor, reading a small booklet.
Ingenious Applications of Protective Mystic Power
It described how to effectively use protective Mystic Power in battle, minimizing damage and achieving victory.
Xiao Xinyan was completely absorbed in her reading, occasionally practicing the techniques, electric arcs flickering around her.
The boys nearby were secretly watching her.
Since Xiao Xinyan had toned down her arrogance, her proud yet not haughty demeanor enhanced her beauty. Quietly reading like this, occasionally tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, she exuded a scholarly air. A pair of simple glasses would complete the look.
This type of girl was a playboy’s dream.
Soon, a tall, thin young man with a scholarly air, ignoring the hostile glares of the other boys, sat down opposite Xiao Xinyan and greeted her politely, “Junior Sister, may I sit here?”
Xiao Xinyan didn’t respond, continuing to read.
The young man didn’t mind, casually opening a book and staring at her intently.
Based on his experience, this pure and beautiful junior sister would soon look up, unable to ignore him.
However, Xiao Xinyan remained motionless, completely focused on her reading. The young man, unable to resist, tried again. “Junior Sister, what’s your name? Let’s get acquainted. I’m Han XX, the third young master of the Han family’s main branch. I’m currently a one-star Mystic Master. If you have any questions about cultivation, feel free to ask me.”
Xiao Xinyan sighed softly, closed the booklet, and said helplessly, “Talking loudly is prohibited in the library. Could you please be quiet, Senior?”
The refined young man smiled faintly. “If Junior Sister acknowledges me, I naturally won’t need to speak so much. Let’s get acquainted.”
He extended his hand, wanting to shake hers.
“There’s no need.”
Xiao Xinyan stood up, gathered her things, and prepared to leave.
“Are you leaving?” The young man also stood up. “I was just about to leave as well. Let’s go together.”
Xiao Xinyan sat back down. “After you.”
The young man’s face stiffened, then he sat down again with a playful smile, acting shamelessly. “Actually, I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to leave anymore.”
“—Yes, you do.”
A hand suddenly reached out from the side, gripping his shoulder tightly. Then, with a surge of force, he was lifted from his chair and tossed aside like trash, landing heavily on the floor.
“Ouch!”
The commotion echoed through the quiet library, attracting everyone’s attention. Curious and annoyed glances turned towards them.
The young man quickly recovered, looked up, and saw that his seat had been taken by a handsome young man. Just as he was about to get angry, he heard the beautiful junior sister exclaim in delight, “Junior Brother Yan Zhen! You’re back!”
Yan Zhen smiled faintly. “I lied about coming back in two days. I wanted to surprise you.”
“You’re so mean.”
“Am I really that mean?”
“Yes, very mean, but… the kind of mean I like.”
“Since Senior Sister Xinyan says so, then I’ll continue being mean.”
Seeing the junior sister chatting and laughing with the handsome young man, the refined young man felt a surge of jealousy and resentment. He pointed at Yan Zhen and shouted, “You dare to use violence in the library?! You’re dead!”
Yan Zhen instantly appeared before him and, without a word, slapped him across the face, sending him flying into a pillar. The young man’s face swelled up like he had been stung by a bee.
The refined young man, now sporting a swollen face, clutched his cheek, fear and shock in his eyes. “You crazy—”
Yan Zhen sneered. “You want another one?”
“Stop!” Hearing the commotion, the elder on duty on the first floor walked over and shouted, “Fighting is strictly forbidden in the library! Who gave you the audacity to cause trouble here?!”
The now-swollen-faced young man immediately complained, “Elder, I was sitting here minding my own business when this lunatic suddenly grabbed me and threw me across the room!”
The elder looked at Yan Zhen, then paused, surprised. “Are you an Inner Academy student?”
Yan Zhen, who had assumed no one in the Outer Academy recognized the Inner Academy uniform, was finally acknowledged. “That’s right.”
The atmosphere in the library instantly shifted, the students’ gazes turning to respect and admiration.
The swollen-faced young man’s heart sank. He hadn’t expected this young, fresh-faced boy to be an Inner Academy student!
The elder on duty, however, showed no respect, wanting to defend the Han family young master. “As an Inner Academy student, why are you here in the Outer Academy, throwing your weight around?”
Yan Zhen said calmly, “The library is a place for reading and learning, not for harassing girls… Elder, you must have seen how he was behaving just now. Why didn’t you stop him or even warn him?”
The elder stroked his beard. “I’m only responsible for the library’s rules, not personal conduct. That’s the Disciplinary Instructor’s job.”
“Rules are meant to be guidelines, not absolute. As an Outer Academy elder, you should have some sense of responsibility, some professional ethics. A simple reprimand could have prevented this and maintained order. Why didn’t you do anything? ‘Don’t dismiss a good deed because it’s small, and don’t commit a bad deed because it’s small.’ You should understand this principle, Elder, yet you chose to turn a blind eye, then claim it’s ‘not your responsibility’ when questioned. And now you’re questioning me? I wasn’t throwing my weight around. I was enforcing the very discipline you neglected.”
“Insolent!” The elder, enraged, shouted, “Don’t think you can act recklessly in the Outer Academy just because you’re an Inner Academy student! The library has its rules, and even Inner Academy students must abide by them! You started a fight and disrespected an elder on duty! Your crimes are compounded! I’ll take you down now as an example to others!”
The elder lunged, his Mystic Power forming a giant hand to grab Yan Zhen—but grasped only air.
“?”
The elder’s eyes widened in surprise. His attack had passed right through Yan Zhen, causing no harm.
“Y-you… what sorcery is this?!”
“A Mystic King, and you can’t even recognize spatial power?” Yan Zhen scoffed, tossing something towards him. “Take a good look and see who I am!”
The elder caught the small object, opened his hand, and saw a wooden token with the character “Yu” inscribed on it. His expression changed drastically, his hand trembling as he held the token.
He had only seen this token on two people: Outer Academy Dean Yu Qing and Disciplinary Head Instructor Shui Bailan!
This was a Yu family identity token!
The Yu family held immense power within the Sacred Ground Academy. Although the Wen family could rival them in the Inner Academy, the Outer Academy was under the Yu family’s complete control. The Han family was insignificant in comparison.
What was this boy’s connection to the Yu family? How could he possess their identity token?
The elder’s expression flickered. After a long moment, he tossed the token back to Yan Zhen and said, “I’ll let it go this time. But there won’t be a next time. Now, disperse!”
He turned and returned to his post, clearly wanting to sweep the matter under the rug.
Yan Zhen didn’t pursue it.
Xiao Xinyan’s injury on the airship had left him slightly traumatized, making him react more strongly than usual.
“Let’s go, Senior Sister Xinyan.”
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