46: Xiao Mei is blocked, Xiao Yu returns

Arriving at the small courtyard, Soul Cang glanced around briefly before nodding in satisfaction. "Instructor Hord, I'll be waiting for your news."

"Don't worry a bit about the spot," Hord said with a smile, though a hint of hesitation lingered. "However, the mid-term promotion assessment for the Inner Courtyard is more difficult than the annual one..."

Soul Cang raised a hand to cut him off. "No need for concern on that front. I have absolute confidence in passing. You just wait for your promotion to Earth-rank instructor in two months."

"Alright." Hord swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue. As he reached the courtyard gate, he glanced back at Soul Cang's retreating figure heading into the house, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes.

For some reason, Soul Cang's every word and action carried a strangely convincing power.

Even he found himself believing in him unconditionally.

Perhaps it was related to the scene on the day Soul Cang arrived outside Peace Town... he thought to himself.

Even if Soul Cang might have relied on a strange fire method, being able to deal with three Great Dou Shi was terrifying enough. Passing the assessment shouldn't be a problem.

In the days that followed, Soul Cang settled into the small courtyard.

During this period, aside from the students responsible for delivering meals, no one else came by. Soul Cang enjoyed the peace and quiet. After setting up a simple barrier inside the room to ensure his aura wouldn't leak, he immersed himself in serious cultivation.

Within the hall where the Mo Yu Lotus Platform floated, Soul Cang sat cross-legged upon it. Fire-attribute Dou Qi swirled around his body, surging up from below the platform before flowing into his body.

Soul Cang wore only shorts. His exposed skin didn't have a fair, lustrous sheen, but rather shimmered with a rainbow-like, crystalline glow.

The fire-attribute Dou Qi traveled through his meridians, eventually converging within his dantian.

Time flew by, and over a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Meanwhile, in places unknown to Soul Cang, many events were unfolding.

For instance, within Canaan Academy.

Ever since that fleeting glimpse where she thought she saw Soul Cang, Xiao Mei had been distracted. Whenever she had time, she would go to the main road connecting the fork.

Sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon, sometimes even the entire day.

However, she never saw that familiar figure again, though she often saw some instructors.

"Could I have really been mistaken?" After persistently watching for so long, Xiao Mei couldn't help but begin to doubt herself.

In the distance, a group of people approached, led by a tall young man with a long face and small eyes, giving off a sleazy, untrustworthy vibe.

The young man spotted a figure in the pavilion, paused his steps, then his face lit up with joy as he hurried over. "Junior Xiao Mei, did you know I was returning today and came here specifically to wait for me?"

Xiao Mei turned her head, a look of disgust on her face. "Luo Ling, can you have some shame?"

"Heh, what's the use of shame? Can you eat it?" Luo Ling strode into the pavilion.

Seeing this, Xiao Mei stood up to leave, as if she couldn't bear to stay with this person for another moment.

However, those who had come with Luo Ling immediately blocked the exit upon seeing her move.

"Move aside!" Xiao Mei's willow-leaf brows furrowed as she spoke coldly.

Unfortunately, these people remained unmoved. Xiao Mei's expression instantly turned grim.

Passing students nearby cast glances their way.

"What are you looking at?" Luo Ling snarled at them with a nasty tone, and they immediately averted their gazes, not daring to look further.

In the Outer Courtyard of Canaan Academy, who didn't know Luo Ling? Not only was he ugly, but he also caused a lot of trouble. Relying on having an older brother in the Inner Courtyard, he often bullied new female juniors.

Of course, Luo Ling didn't dare to openly defy the academy's rules or cause blatant trouble; he operated through certain methods.

For example, if a junior came with family members and lacked strong backing, he would have his people target that junior's family.

He would specifically use things like various duels to fight the junior's family members, beating them to a pitiful state.

The academy didn't forbid competition between students, so even if they reported it to an instructor, it wasn't very effective.

After a few such incidents, the junior wouldn't just be annoyed by Luo Ling's harassment; she might even face disdainful looks from her own family. Helpless, she would eventually give in to Luo Ling's wishes.

In fact, his initial target had been Xiao Xun'er. That girl was truly both pure and alluring.

Unfortunately, the very next day, he was severely taught a lesson, scared out of his wits. From that moment, he knew he had provoked someone he shouldn't have.

However, Luo Ling couldn't bring himself to give up his designs on the Xiao Family, feeling it would hurt his pride. So, he shifted his focus to Xiao Mei.

Although this girl couldn't compare to Xiao Xun'er, at her young age, her figure was by no means lacking, and she herself exuded a faintly seductive charm.

Luo Ling had fantasized more than once about what it would be like to get Xiao Mei into bed and unleash that seductive charm.

At first, he only tested the waters cautiously. Discovering that the person who had warned him before no longer interfered, he became increasingly brazen.

Later, he used the same tactics, beating up a meddlesome Xiao Family member named Xiao Ning several times.

Sitting sprawled in the pavilion, Luo Ling let his lecherous gaze sweep over Xiao Mei. "I just don't get it. Is it so hard for you to just cooperate? Or do you think I really wouldn't dare to get serious with your Xiao Family members?"

Xiao Mei's expression remained cold. "This is Canaan Academy. If you have the guts, try it."

"Can't do much inside, true. But outside? I can have my brother assign Xiao Ning an external mission. If some 'accident' were to happen then, it'd be unavoidable, don't you think?" Luo Ling's lips curved into a cold smirk.

"Seems that Xiao Ning is quite protective of you girls, calling himself your big brother who needs to look after you. Too bad his strength is garbage. And if one Xiao Ning isn't enough, I can add another, until you yield. Believe me?"

Xiao Mei's breathing grew heavy. Her hands clenched, and Dou Qi flickered on the surface of her body. "Luo Ling, don't go too far. If you truly dare to go for the kill against our Xiao Family members, I swear you'll regret it later!"

"Heh, we'll worry about 'later' later. I only care about the present," Luo Ling retorted with a shameless laugh.

"It's been about a week, right? Who wants to go loosen Xiao Ning's bones a bit?"

"Speaking of which, Xiao Ning's older sister isn't bad either. Bet those long legs would feel great."

The encircling group started chatting, their harsh and vulgar words reaching Xiao Mei's ears, making her chest heave with fury.

"Luo Ling, what are you up to again?!"

At that moment, a sharp shout rang out. Immediately after, the human wall blocking the way collapsed as one person was sent flying by a kick.

Xiao Yu stood there in martial attire, covered in dust from head to toe, clearly having just returned.

Indeed, she had just come back from completing a mission outside. Seeing Xiao Mei cornered, her fiery temper flared and she charged forward without restraint.

"Oh, it's Senior Xiao Yu. Looks like the mission didn't go smoothly, with such a temper," Luo Ling said, his gaze boldly sweeping over Xiao Yu's legs as he swaggered past her.

"You still have the energy to worry about others? If you didn't retrieve the mission item, Xiao Ning should be facing expulsion, right? If you're really desperate, you could beg my brother. He's been waiting for you."

"You two brothers are truly disgusting. In Canaan Academy, you're like a piece of rat shit ruining the whole pot of soup," Xiao Yu said coldly, taking Xiao Mei's hand and leading her away.