After hearing Yan Meng’er’s words, the other three girls all rolled their eyes at her.
Mi Xue’er rejected the idea outright.
“No, you two cousins can have this cabin. Xiao Xinyan can share with Mentor Yu Xuan, and I’ll go stay with Little Brother Yan Zhen!”
“Sister Xue’er, do you really think Cousin will agree to that?”
Yan Meng’er glanced sideways at Mi Xue’er, as if mocking her lack of tact.
Mi Xue’er huffed, full of pride.
“I’ll beg him, and he’ll agree!”
That earned her eye-rolls from the other three girls as well.
Knock, knock, knock.
The sound of knocking rang out. Yan Ruyu went to open the door, and Mentor Yu Xuan stepped inside. She glanced around the room and said, “It’s a bit cramped for four people in one cabin. Two of you should go stay in Yan Zhen’s cabin.”
Yan Meng’er’s beautiful eyes lit up at once, and she spoke first.
“Yes! Cousin and I will head to Cousin’s cabin right away.”
“I want to go too!” Mi Xue’er was not about to be outdone. “Mentor, you can’t play favorites!”
Mentor Yu Xuan looked a little helpless.
“Then you two go. It doesn’t make a difference.”
“But Mentor,” Xiao Xinyan said, “Yan Zhen’s cabin isn’t that big either. Three people would still be inconvenient.”
“Right,” Yan Ruyu added. “And it might disturb his cultivation.”
Xiao Xinyan and Yan Ruyu both considered the issue calmly. Mentor Yu Xuan smiled softly.
“No worries. I’ve already moved Yan Zhen into my cabin. You girls can stay here comfortably.”
“Ah??”
The four of them froze in shock.
“Mentor, you… you let Yan Zhen stay in your cabin?”
“That doesn’t seem right. Yan Zhen is a boy, after all. If word gets out, it could affect your reputation…”
Mentor Yu Xuan kept her gentle smile on her face.
“As long as you don’t say anything, no one else will know. Yan Zhen mentioned he’ll be staying in the cabin the whole time, focusing on his cultivation without showing his face. That’s why I brought him to my place and freed up the room for you girls. After all, meditation and cultivation work just as well anywhere.”
Yan Meng’er and Mi Xue’er exchanged a glance. Suddenly, all their bickering felt pointless—they’d been completely cut off.
“Alright, don’t overthink it,” Mentor Yu Xuan continued. “Just stay put these next few days and focus on cultivating like Yan Zhen. If you can all break through to the Mystic Master Realm before we reach Holy Land Academy, that would be ideal.”
With that, she left gracefully, leaving her four dumbfounded students behind.
Mentor Yu Xuan’s cabin was indeed spacious and comfortable, complete with tea, snacks, fruit platters, and seeds.
If the other cabins were standard class, hers was deluxe—the difference was night and day.
According to the plot of his past life, Mentor Yu Xuan’s Yu Family wielded enormous influence. One of their ancestors was among the Jialan Seven Sages, giving them substantial sway across the entire Jialan Holy Land, especially over academy affairs.
Holy Land Academy was divided into the Outer Academy and the Inner Academy. Currently, the Outer Court Dean was Mentor Yu Xuan’s little aunt, a Grand Mentor in the Outer Academy was her aunt, the Inner Court Chief Elder was her eldest aunt, and the fourth place on the Inner Court Star General List was held by her cousin.
In short, the Yu Family had people everywhere in Holy Land Academy.
Of course, the Yu Family had rivals—a faction strong enough to stand toe-to-toe with them.
That was the group behind the late Han Feng.
Mentor Yu Xuan had been “exiled” to Silver Moon Mystic Academy for nearly two years because of the infighting between the two sides.
As for Yan Zhen, he too would face suppression from that rival faction due to his ties with Mentor Yu Xuan, forcing him to grow stronger amid adversity.
Click.
The door opened from the outside. Mentor Yu Xuan had returned.
“Mentor…”
“I’ve already explained everything to them.” Her soft voice felt like a spring breeze. “Just cultivate here in peace. If you need anything at all, tell me. No matter what it is.”
She whispered those last words.
Yan Zhen’s cheeks flushed faintly.
“O-okay.”
He steadied his breathing, closed his eyes, and sat in meditation. He continued channeling his spiritual power to inscribe the Wind Talisman and Water Symbol while tempering the Sword Embryo with the Gold-Silver Fire.
Mentor Yu Xuan picked up a book and donned her oval-framed glasses before sitting down not far from Yan Zhen.
She read for a bit, then glanced at him. Gradually, she set the book aside. Her gaze fixed on her beloved, lingering without moving. The only change was the slow softening of her lips into an entranced smile.
Once they reached the academy and the restraint seal was lifted, she could finally be with him—
The thought made Mentor Yu Xuan’s face heat up. Her cheeks turned a rosy pink, rendering her utterly charming.
…
Time passed quietly.
Yet less than half an hour later, the Shuttle Airship came to a halt once more. The violent shudder roused everyone aboard from their meditation or sleep.
Yan Zhen withdrew his miniature Sword Embryo and frowned.
“Why’d it stop again?”
Mentor Yu Xuan shook her head, sending her beautiful hair—black on the outside, blue within—swaying gently.
“I’m not sure. The Garo Kingdom is just the first stop on this trip to recruit new students. We’ll be heading to the Sunward Kingdom, Shadow Moon Kingdom, and several others after this.”
Yan Zhen was well aware of that. But they shouldn’t have reached the next kingdom so quickly, right?
Previously, he’d flown on Good Big Sister’s private shuttle—a much smaller vessel—and even at its slower speed, it had taken half a day to reach the border.
Oh well. He’d cross paths with the prodigies from Sunward Kingdom and Shadow Moon Kingdom eventually.
“Want to go take a look, Yan Zhen?”
“Nah, too lazy.”
“Hehe, then I won’t go either~”
Bored out of their minds, Yan Meng’er and Mi Xue’er headed to the deck. Gazing through the translucent wind barrier, they saw towering mountains and endless seas of clouds outside. The scenery looked awfully familiar.
“Isn’t… isn’t this Cloud Heaven Palace?”
“It is. Look, it says so right there.”
“Why’s the airship stopping at Cloud Heaven Palace?”
“Who knows…”
As reincarnators, neither girl had any fondness for Cloud Heaven Palace.
In their previous lives, people from Cloud Heaven Palace had killed Yan Lie and even tried to take Yan Zhen’s life.
A staircase extended from one side of the deck, leading straight down to the mountain peak below.
Amid the swirling mists on the mountain, two graceful figures flickered in and out of view.
One was clad in flowing white robes, her face veiled in white gauze, her bearing ethereal as if she were a fallen immortal. It was none other than the Cloud Heaven Palace Great Palace Lord, Yun Xiu. Standing before her was a girl in a green skirt, like a sprite from the forest—Yun Xiu’s personal disciple and Yan Zhen’s fiancée, Huangfu Wenqing.
“Wenqing,” Yun Xiu said faintly, “you’re heading to Holy Land Academy for a year of training. Work hard and don’t slack off. Your fiancé has already reached the Mystic Master Realm—he’s no longer beneath you. Defeating him in your future clash won’t be easy.”
Huangfu Wenqing replied earnestly, “This disciple will not disappoint Master. Please rest assured.”
Yun Xiu nodded slightly. She lifted her head to gaze at the Shuttle Airship overhead, her eyes sweeping the vessel discreetly. She didn’t spot Yan Zhen anywhere, and a hint of disappointment stirred in her heart.
And here I thought I’d get to see him one more time~
“Go on. I’ll come fetch you in a year.”
“Yes, Master. Take care.”
Huangfu Wenqing bid farewell to her master, then leaped into the air. Treading the wind on streams of qi, she bounded several times and landed gracefully on the airship—without so much as touching that clumsy staircase.
