Chapter 153: Xun'er's Headache, Hu Jia
As today marked the beginning of the selection competition, the two who had fallen asleep in each other's arms woke early, as though by unspoken agreement.
On the hillside, Xun'er was tidying her disheveled clothes, her face flushed a deep crimson.
This was because, while they had been embracing in sleep, someone's unconscious, instinctive motions had quietly ventured inward.
"Hehe... I shall help you teach him a lesson."
Xiao Tian lightly patted his own hands a few times. "That will teach you to misbehave, to act so recklessly."
"Hmph. Stop fooling around. You got off far too easily. Let us head back now, before Instructor Ruo Lin comes searching for us."
Xun'er cast him a sidelong glance, then took his hand and led him down the mountain.
When they returned to the pavilion, Instructor Ruo Lin and Xiao Yan had already gathered inside.
"I was just about to call for you two. How is it that you are returning from outside? Surely you did not stay out all night?"
Xiao Yu spotted them entering hand in hand from outside. She fixed them with a strange, gossip-laden stare.
Xun'er's lovely face turned scarlet beneath the scrutiny. She immediately ducked behind Xiao Tian.
"Xiao Yu, a single dog such as yourself would never understand."
Xiao Tian saw that Xiao Yu was perfectly aware Xun'er was thin-skinned and was deliberately teasing her, so he struck back directly.
Xiao Yu seized Instructor Ruo Lin's hand and pressed it against her own waist.
"Instructor, do not let go."
"Ah, ah, ah! Xiao Tian, you are absolutely insufferable! What sort of decent person stabs another in the heart this early in the morning? Watch me kick you to death!"
Xiao Yu flailed her arms and stomped in place, her entire posture screaming, *Do not stop me—I am going to beat him to death.*
"Mmm... that feels rather pleasant."
Xiao Tian was utterly bewildered by Xiao Yu's brazen maneuver. He could scarcely believe self-comfort could be achieved in such a fashion. Everyone else bore black lines across their faces. Instructor Ruo Lin wished she could simply melt into the floor.
"Ahem. Since everyone is present, let us depart."
Instructor Ruo Lin cleared her throat several times, regaining her composure, and spoke.
Led by Instructor Ruo Lin, the four arrived at an immense square. It was several times larger than the Gama Empire's Royal Square, yet more ancient and understated, steeped in the traces of history. Every weathered flagstone seemed to whisper tales of bygone eras and bear witness to the rise of successive legendary figures.
The square was already packed with a vast throng, and a roar of noise filled the air.
"As expected of Jia Nan Academy. Its foundation is truly profound. It appears this selection competition will be exceedingly interesting."
Xiao Yan absorbed the vibrant atmosphere and vaguely detected the presence of numerous Great Dou Masters. His eyes sparkled with eagerness and excitement.
"You shall have your chance. You can have a proper fight with them when the time comes."
Xiao Tian patted Xiao Yan's shoulder and spoke with a smile.
"So long as I do not encounter Brother Tian, I fear no one. Of course, excepting also sister-in-law Xun'er."
Xiao Yan declared with full confidence. Then, glimpsing Xun'er beside Xiao Tian, he quietly appended the final clause.
He had always sensed immense pressure emanating from Xun'er. His instincts told him he was no match for her.
"It is good to possess confidence. The early stages of the selection competition are typically mundane. The true entertainment arrives later."
Xiao Tian offered a mysterious smile. He knew perfectly well that once the fifty finalists were chosen, the schedule for determining the top five rankings became utterly outrageous.
"Brother Tian, do you know something?"
Xiao Yan sensed a concealed meaning lurking within Xiao Tian's words. He scratched his head and asked.
"The secrets of heaven cannot be divulged. You will understand when the moment arrives."
Xun'er merely cast Xiao Tian an odd look but pressed no further. She was content simply remaining at Xiao Tian's side. Should anything arise, her Xiao Tian Ge Ge would decide matters on her behalf.
As they spoke, the four, guided by Instructor Ruo Lin, arrived at the area reserved for Yellow Class Two.
Many students from the same class were already seated in this section.
"Oh, look! Junior Sister Xun'er is holding hands with a man! Could he be the Xiao Tian Ge Ge that Junior Sister Xun'er is forever speaking of?"
"Is that the most enigmatic troublemaker in the academy—the one so many harbor hostility toward? Yet he is truly handsome. The most handsome I have ever laid eyes on within the academy. I am practically falling for him myself."
"..."
Listening to the relentless chatter around them, Xiao Tian could not suppress a sigh. He had not anticipated that his name would already resound throughout the academy when he had only just arrived.
Xun'er, tinged with embarrassment, slowly leaned closer against Xiao Tian.
Xiao Tian smiled and gently ruffled Xun'er's beautiful hair. Observing their intimate interaction, countless hearts in the vicinity shattered on the spot.
In the distance, a tall young man clad in white, bearing a somewhat refined and handsome countenance, was practically crushing the railing before him.
Xiao Tian naturally took note of him but dismissed him after a single glance. No one in this academy was a match for him, though he held considerable interest in a certain king of brute force.
"Dong."
With a resonant toll of the great bell, the clamor filling the square fell instantly silent.
Every gaze swiveled at once toward the highest viewing platform. Several elders had materialized there. Beside a white-haired elder stood a crimson-robed young woman with a devilishly alluring figure.
At a single glance, Xiao Tian surmised that the red-clad young woman was none other than Jia Nan Academy's Little Enchantress, Hu Jia. The elder before her was Vice Dean Hu Gan of Jia Nan Academy—also a peak Dou Huang expert.
The red-clad young woman fixed the elder with a deeply displeased expression. She had originally intended to go speak with Xun'er, but this old man had forbidden it.
As Hu Gan settled into his seat, Hu Jia remained standing behind him, her gaze sweeping toward the Yellow Class Two section with eager anticipation.
As her eyes traveled, her already unhappy mien instantly twisted into fury.
She beheld Xun'er holding hands with a man, both of them gazing down and murmuring about something. Xun'er's face was alight with a serene and subtly joyful smile.
That smile was like a spring pear blossom, exuding a captivating fragrance.
"Damn it! Who is that foul man? How dare he hold Xun'er's hand?"
Hu Jia's stare bored intently into Xiao Tian. Her fists clenched unconsciously, her knuckles blanching white.
"He is Xiao Tian—the one who took over a year's leave and only arrived at the academy yesterday."
Hu Gan studied Xiao Tian. The moment Xiao Tian had appeared at the academy the previous day, his intelligence had been delivered directly to Hu Gan.
"So he is Xiao Tian. He does possess pleasing features."
Hu Jia tucked a stray strand of crimson hair behind her ear, measuring Xiao Tian with her eyes.
"I merely wonder what his strength amounts to. It seems I shall have to test him in combat. If he loses, I will make him hand Xun'er over to me."
Hu Gan's eyes brightened at the first half of Hu Jia's words, believing his granddaughter was finally on the path to salvation.
Upon hearing the second half, veins bulged across his forehead, and his entire frame deflated. He was exhausted. Let it all crumble to ruin.
"Sigh." Hu Gan reflected on his granddaughter's peculiar inclinations and sighed in utter helplessness. "Will you only be satisfied once you have utterly disgraced me?"
"What is so appealing about those stinking men? Xun'er smells so wonderful..."
Hu Jia's eyes sparkled with cunning as she stared fixedly at Xun'er.
Hu Gan was so incensed by her declaration that smoke practically billowed from his seven orifices. With a helpless flick of his sleeve, he turned his head to face the arena, choosing to ignore what he could no longer bear to witness.
Xiao Tian also sensed her direct stare and looked toward Hu Jia. Xun'er followed his gaze and murmured, "She is the Dean's granddaughter, the Little Enchantress, Hu Jia."
"So she is that admirer of yours. No wonder she harbors such hostility toward me."
Xiao Tian withdrew his gaze and regarded Xun'er with a trace of teasing.
"That is her own affair. I could not care less. And you are still laughing."
Xun'er huffed softly, pouted, and reached out to pinch Xiao Tian's arm.
"And who is that one over there who resembles a defeated dog?"