Walking slowly along the shaded path between the academies, Xiao Yan gently narrowed his eyes, paying little attention to the intense glares cast upon him from around. Since securing the championship in the selection match two days ago, these glares have followed him ever since. Initially, they had bothered him greatly, but over time, he had grown accustomed to simply ignoring them—something he could no longer do, as his own gaze was fixed on others. Now, two days after the conclusion of the selection match, Xiao Yan had not only fully recovered from the injuries sustained during the competition, but his strength had also solidified at the six-star Grand Combatant level, maintaining a consistently peak state. The constantly flowing ki within him surged like a flood, giving him a profound sense of ease and well-being throughout his body. According to the academy's regulations, after the selection finals, the students ranked among the top fifty must begin preparing for entry into the inner academy. As a reward, the top five students—such as Xiao Yan—may choose any time within the following seven days to enter the academy's library and, by luck, select items that belong to them. As for that enigmatic library which even Xun'er still remembers with deep affection, Xiao Yan has a certain interest as well. However, according to the rule, one must be among the top five to enter simultaneously. Currently, Bai Shan, Hu Jia, and Wu Hao are still resting in the medical pavilion—according to Lu Mu, it will take them at least three to five days before they can even walk again. When saying this, Lu Mu glanced at Xiao Yan with a mixture of strange and relieved expression, clearly recalling that during their battle, he had been fortunate enough for Xiao Yan not to lose his mind and knock him senseless. As a pharmacist, Lu Mu had personally witnessed the hardships endured by Bai Shan and his companions over the past few days. "I don't know what treasures the library might hold, but I hope to find something suitable for myself." Warm sunlight filtered through the tree branches and fell upon Xiao Yan's body. He softly murmured his hopes. "Xiao Yan, cousin. As Xiao Yan walked steadily, a slightly timid voice suddenly rang out ahead. Upon hearing it, Xiao Yan paused, opened his slightly half-lidded eyes, and looked forward—where he saw a group of lively and graceful young girls, with Xiao Mei being especially highlighted, like a star admired by the surrounding constellations. Honestly, with her appearance, even within the entire academy, she could be considered outstanding. Yet at this moment, she was somewhat reserved, gazing at the young man approaching—someone who, in less than ten days, had risen to the pinnacle of acclaim among the countless talents gathered in this academy. "Wow, Xiao Mei! Isn't he your cousin? He's coming, he's really coming!" The girls beside Xiao Mei, gazing at Xiao Yan as he walked slowly, blushed instantly and gently pulled at Xiao Mei, whispering excitedly. Currently, Xiao Yan's reputation outside the Gan Nan Academy surpasses that of Bai Shan from his earlier days. The incident when he once faced three opponents simultaneously is now widely celebrated among students. As this story continues to be shared and passed on, Xiao Yan's status rapidly rises in the hearts of many students. Though not particularly handsome, Xiao Yan possesses a refined appearance, and his consistently warm smile further endears him to numerous girls, who now quietly develop admiration for him over the course of just two days. A man with strength and capability always exudes charm. His growing reputation has also transformed the once-annoying reputation—originally attributed to his two-year leave of absence—into a symbol of individuality. Young people are like this—they admire or revere someone or something, and no matter what flaws they once had, they'll do everything possible to overlook or compensate for them, striving to make that person or thing the most perfect in their hearts. Now, Xiao Yan, without uttering a single explanation, had transformed the reputation of being a poor student who had missed classes for two years into one of someone with a distinct personality. Though Xiao Yan smiled warmly, Xiao Mei still sensed that undercurrent of distance. Hearing the admiration from the surrounding young women, her nose grew slightly tender, and her eyes grew dim. Originally, their relationship could have been close and intimate—she didn’t need these perfunctory greetings. In fact, she preferred it if he showed anger toward her, for even anger meant that he found her worthy of it. But now, with Xiao Yan’s calm, unremarkable demeanor, Xiao Mei felt deeply pained. To dislike someone isn’t merely to be angry—it’s to completely ignore them. And now, Xiao Yan seemed to have reached that very point. All of this stemmed from a single, decisive misstep she made when they were still children! As Xiao Yan passed by, Xiao Mei drew in a breath, striving not to let moisture gather in her eyes. Though her regret weighed heavily upon her, making her wish to hold him and weep, she managed to lift her graceful face and offer a strong, forced smile to the girls around her who still looked full of admiration, before turning to leave. "By the way, would you mind walking with me? I'd like to tell you something." As Xiao Mei was about to fade into the distance with a subdued expression, a gentle voice suddenly broke through, making her body stiffen instantly. She quickly turned to see Xiao Yan's warm face, paused, then nodded eagerly, and without pausing to greet the girls beside her, hurriedly followed him, stepping swiftly through their admiring glances. … Xu Xiao led Xu Mei to a quiet lake, arriving slowly amid a series of astonished glances. Standing before the lake, he paused in silence, then carefully recounted the events that had unfolded within the Xu family. No matter how he explained it, Xu Mei, as a member of the family, was entitled to know about the relocation. Moreover, the family's migration had always weighed heavily on Xu Xin’s conscience—had it not been for the conflict between his family and Yunlan Sect, the family would not have suffered such consequences. Though he had not held particularly favorable memories of the Xu family since childhood, it had always been the cornerstone of his father’s and the Xu family elders’ lifelong dedication. Now that his father had vanished, Xu Xin himself had become the acting head of the family—an undeniable fact, symbolized by the three elders presenting him with a mysterious jade tablet, passed down through generations, capable of storing the soul imprints of the family’s chieftains. “Has the family relocated?” "Heard of this news, Xiao Mei was also startled, her dark brows slightly furrowed as she gazed at Xiao Yan's expression. With her sharp mind, she blinked a few times and speculated, 'It must be due to Yunlan Sect, then?' 'Yes.' Xiao Yan sighed with a faint smile, pausing briefly before his tone suddenly grew cold. 'I killed one of their senior elders, and from then on, relations deteriorated. When I return to the Jima Empire, I will settle this matter thoroughly. Until then, however, you should try to avoid returning to the Jima Empire—otherwise, if your movements are discovered, both you and your family will face devastating consequences.' Xiao Mei nodded obediently, her eyes glancing at Xiao Yan, and softly said, 'Uncle Xiao Yan, don't worry. No one in the family will blame you. Your bold actions—perhaps even the Grand Elders themselves will feel truly honored. In all these years, few have dared to challenge Yunlan Sect with such courage and standing.'" "Heard that, Xiao Yan smiled slightly and nodded, saying, 'I hope so. The Xiao family is the result of my parents' dedication—my commitment to preserving it will be strong.' 'As for Xiao Yan, my elder brother today, he can certainly manage it. Back then, though...' Xiao Mei's words suddenly trailed off, her face turning pale. Her hands nearly reached for her mouth, eager to pull it shut. The calm atmosphere she had just managed to establish was now disrupted by her sudden need to bring up those past matters. 'Ah well, the things from back then—let them rest. Now that I'm no longer a child, dwelling on them won't do any good.' Xiao Yan's gaze lingered on the rippling lake surface, then shifted to look at Xiao Mei's timid expression, saying, 'No matter what, you'll always be my younger sister. Whenever you need anything, just come to me. Though in the Jima Empire, I may not yet have the strength to secure the fate of my family, within the Gan'an Academy, I can certainly ensure that no member of my family will be treated unfairly.' With a deep breath of relief, Xiao Yan's words brought a gentle smile to Xiao Mei's face, "Alright, I should head back too. Just remember—come find me at Master Ruolin's office if you have any questions." Xiao Yan smiled, gave a light pat to Xiao Mei's shoulder, and then turned to walk toward the outer door. Standing in place, Xiao Mei watched the fading figure of his back, a sudden smile breaking across her face—seemed like this might be the chance to break the current deadlock.