He had seen this token on only two people: Outer Court Dean Yu Qing and Discipline Director Shui Bailan!
This was a Yu Family identity token!
The Yu Family held near-absolute power in the Holy Land Academy. The Inner Academy had the Wen Family to check them, but in the Outer Academy, it was the Yu Family’s domain. The Han Family paled in comparison.
What was this kid’s connection to the Yu Family to possess such a token?
The guarding elder’s expression flickered uncertainly. After a long moment, he tossed the token back to Yan Zhen and said, “We’ll let it slide this time. Next time, no mercy. Everyone, disperse!”
He turned and returned to his post, clearly intending to smooth things over.
Yan Zhen saw no need to press further.
The incident with Xiao Xinyan getting injured on the airship had left him with a bit of trauma, so his reaction had been a tad overzealous.
“Let’s go, Senior Sister Xinyan.”
“Mm, alright.”
Hand in hand, the two left the Scripture Pavilion amid the astonished gazes of the students.
As they passed the Swollen-Faced Youth, Yan Zhen “kindly” followed up with a kick to his other cheek, swelling that side too.
Xiao Xinyan’s heart felt sweet, as if Yan Zhen were protecting her. Yet she also felt a twinge of guilt. Cautiously, she asked, “Junior Brother Yan Zhen, did I get you in trouble?”
Yan Zhen shook his head. “More like you helped me out big time.”
It was a perfect chance to show off a bit, steady his protagonist persona—or at least placate System-chan. After all, his image had taken quite a hit lately.
He could only blame System-chan for slacking off on the lately, failing in its duties as supervisor and assistant.
Even if he was ninety-nine percent at fault, didn’t System-chan bear that one percent? Hmph~
【???】
【(A certain plant)】
Yan Zhen guiltily dismissed the suddenly popped-up System Interface and comforted Xiao Xinyan. “Don’t overthink it, Senior Sister Xinyan. This is no trouble at all. Besides, the Yu Family just gave me that identity token—perfect chance to experience being a connected guy. Gotta say, it feels damn good.”
Xiao Xinyan giggled at his words. “Who openly calls themselves a connected guy?”
“Everyone hates connected guys, but everyone secretly wishes they were one.”
“That’s true. Everything Junior Brother Yan Zhen says makes so much sense.”
“Don’t worry. Soon, Senior Sister Xinyan will be a connected one too.”
“Me? What connections do I have?”
“Of course you do—me. I’m your solid backup, no matter what happens.”
“Junior Brother Yan Zhen… I—I only need to be with you. Nothing else matters.”
Under the tree outside the Scripture Pavilion, Yan Meng’er and Yan Ruyu spotted them emerging and hurried over.
“Why’d you take so long, Cousin?”
“Just a minor incident,” Yan Zhen brushed it off and changed the subject. “Only Senior Sister Xue’er left. Where is she?”
“Probably out walking her bird.”
“Walking her bird?”
“Yeah. She somehow caught a tame snow eagle and has been flying around with it the past few days, having a blast.”
“…”
Yan Zhen racked his brain, recalling the script’s mention of Mi Xue’er being accompanied by a Tianshan Snow Eagle that resembled a pure white owl.
The Tianshan Snow Eagle was a Tier 5 King Beast with a fierce temperament—especially the males, who were vicious and often fought their own kind. Only females could be tamed as battle pets, making them quite rare. No idea where she’d picked one up.
But that was supposed to happen right before Yan Zhen entered the Jialan Holy Land, when he’d come to bid them farewell.
A certain spoiled young miss had taken a liking to her snow eagle and tried to buy it outright. When Mi Xue’er refused, the girl switched from buying to outright robbery. Yan Zhen promptly slapped that young miss across the face, and from then on, he gained a masochistic fangirl.
How had she found her fated bird companion after only a month at the academy?
“Since that’s the case, we won’t look for her. Just send her a message to come back soon. Let’s head back to the dorm first.”
By the time the four of them returned to the Independent Dormitory, they spotted Mi Xue’er clutching the snow eagle’s talons as it glided past overhead. Moments later, she let go and launched herself straight at Yan Zhen from the air.
“Little Brother Yan Zhen!”
—Again?!
Yan Zhen’s face darkened, but he had no choice except to extend both arms and steadily catch the exuberantly pouncing beauty of a senior student. He spun her around once before setting her down.
But Mi Xue’er refused to let go of Yan Zhen. Instead, she took the initiative and offered up her ruby lips. Right there at the dorm entrance, unable to contain her urgency, she kissed her lover, greedily claiming his saliva.
The three other girls froze for a moment before snapping back to reality. They flushed with a mix of embarrassment and irritation!
—Mi Xue’er had jumped the gun right off the bat. Did she have no sense of sisterly solidarity!?
The Tianshan Snow Eagle circled several times above their heads before landing at its master’s feet. It folded its broad wings and cocked its head, eyeing the smooching pair with an expression that screamed anything but bright.
It was a long while before the two finally parted. Mi Xue’er licked her lips and flashed a thoroughly satisfied smile, paying no mind whatsoever to the resentful glares from the three girls nearby.
“Little Brother Yan Zhen, let me introduce you. This is my new good partner, A-Zhen!”
The Tianshan Snow Eagle let out a cry toward Yan Zhen, as if greeting him.
Yan Zhen looked down at the pure-white owl-like bird before him. It looked just like a grounded chicken. How could something this fat even fly? This fantasy world truly defied all logic.
“Hello, A-Zhen. I’m Yan Zhen. You can call me A-Zhen too. Where’s your A-Qiang?”
The Tianshan Snow Eagle tilted its head in confusion, seemingly wondering what nonsense this human was spouting.
Yan Zhen patted its head and shooed it off to munch on some snacks by itself. Then he led the four girls inside.
After more than a month away, returning to this place filled Yan Zhen with a wave of relaxation as he gazed at the familiar grand hall—and the equally familiar four beautiful young women (or were they ladies now?).
No sooner had he sat down than Yan Meng’er climbed straight onto his lap. She cupped his face in both hands, pursed her lips slightly, and kissed him passionately, clearly determined not to lose out to Xue’er Sister.
Yan Zhen didn’t resist. He calmly reciprocated Yan Meng’er’s advances until she had vented all the emotions pent up inside her.
When their lips finally parted, Yan Meng’er gazed at him with eyes full of seductive charm. Yan Zhen smiled faintly.
“Meng’er, don’t rush. Let’s eat first—I’m starving.”
His cousin replied obediently, “Meng’er will go prepare some food for Cousin right away.”
“No need to go to that trouble. Just call someone from the dining hall to deliver. We can have your cooking another time, all right?”
“Mm, Meng’er will do as Cousin says.”
With that, she winked at her older cousin before sliding off Yan Zhen’s lap.
Yan Ruyu wasn’t nearly as bold as her cousin or her close friend. As she hesitated, she saw Xiao Xinyan flush prettily and lean down to kiss Yan Zhen.
It was quite a while before Xiao Xinyan reluctantly pulled away from Yan Zhen. In a soft voice, she murmured, “Welcome back, Junior Brother Yan Zhen. This is… your welcoming kiss.”
Yan Zhen nodded. “I’m back.”
That left only Yan Ruyu. The three girls and Yan Zhen all turned their gazes to her.
Yan Ruyu had nowhere to escape.
/(/ /o/ω/o/ /)/
