"...Young Master… Young Master…"
In the haze of half-sleep, Liu Xi faintly heard a soft voice calling out to him. 'Who's… talking?'
"Who is it?!"
His body reacted before his mind did — battle-honed instinct snapping him awake in an instant. Dou Qi surged violently through his veins. In a flash of motion, he sprang up from the bed, hands darting forward to pin the speaker beneath him.
"Ah—!"
A startled cry rang out. Xiao Yixian's world spun — the next moment, she was flat on her back, wrists caught, her soft body pinned to the bed beneath Liu Xi's weight.
Liu Xi's eyes snapped open fully, cold and sharp as blades. When he finally recognized the familiar face beneath him, his expression froze.
"Xian'er?"
At this moment, Liu Xi was straddling her waist. Her slender frame trembled faintly, a soft blush spreading over her pale cheeks. Her wide eyes shimmered with a mix of innocence and startled grievance.
The icy light in Liu Xi's eyes faded. The surging Dou Qi subsided as he took a steadying breath, his tense posture relaxing. Guilt flashed across his face. "Xian'er… I'm sorry. I overreacted."
Xiao Yixian bit her lip. Looking up at the man pressing her down, tears glimmered faintly in her eyes. She was only a Dou Shi — in his hands, she couldn't resist at all.
"Young Master… could you please… get off me now?" she said softly, her voice weak and trembling, full of wounded innocence.
"Ah — right! I'll get up!"
Her gentle tone somehow made the air grow hotter. For a fleeting moment, the delicate beauty beneath him stirred something primal — his breath quickened, eyes flaring with heat.
But when he saw the tears welling in her eyes, his reason snapped back into place. 'Not now… there will be time enough in the future.'
He quickly rose and helped her to her feet, awkwardly scratching his head. He'd rarely allowed himself to rest since returning to the Inner Academy — and the one time he did, this happened.
Xiao Yixian sat by the bed, head slightly lowered, rubbing her reddened wrists. Her eyes were misty with grievance as she muttered in her heart, 'Young Master's so mean… can't he be a little gentler?'
Noticing her silence, Liu Xi tried to change the subject with a sheepish smile. "Xian'er, what brings you here so early?"
Xiao Yixian lifted her head, her tone soft. "Young Master, there are many people gathered outside… It seems they're looking for you. I was worried, so I came to wake you. Did I cause trouble again?"
A cold gleam flashed in Liu Xi's eyes. "Who dares to cause me trouble now?" he muttered. Then, seeing her guilt, he added with a faint smile, "Don't worry, Xian'er. Just a bunch of noisy clowns. I'll deal with it."
He glanced down — his clothes were still disheveled. "You can wait outside. I'll be out in a moment."
Xiao Yixian blushed, realizing how compromising the scene still looked. Turning away shyly, she stood up — but didn't leave.
She quietly picked up his folded robes and stepped back toward him, cheeks pink. "Young Master… allow me to help you dress."
Before Liu Xi could protest, she carefully draped the robe over his shoulders. Her movements were stiff at first, but soon grew steady, graceful — brushing his hair, straightening his collar, her touch light but warm.
When he finished washing and dressing, Liu Xi stood before the mirror. The man reflected back was refined, elegant, and sharply handsome. Smirking in satisfaction, he murmured, "Well, not bad… at least seventy percent of my handsomeness is showing."
Xiao Yixian, who had just finished grooming him, smiled proudly — but when she heard that last line, she puffed her cheeks and turned away with a faint huff.
Liu Xi chuckled. Seeing her pouting face chased away the last of his irritation. He turned toward the door, a faintly cold smile playing at his lips. 'Let's see which fool thought it wise to provoke me. I'll make sure they regret it.'
"Wait for me!"
Behind him, Xiao Yixian hurried to catch up, wrapping both arms around his arm with quiet determination. 'Whatever comes, I'll face it with him.'
Her grip tightened slightly — soft warmth pressing against his arm, easing the last of his lingering annoyance.
'Well… at least she's not mad anymore,' he thought with amusement. 'And she's… getting even closer.'
---
As they stepped outside, Liu Xi spotted the crowd gathered beyond the courtyard wall — dozens of Inner Academy students buzzing with excitement. His eyes narrowed, a faint chill flickering within them. 'A mob? Let's see who started this.'
"Hey, it's happening! The number one on the Strong Ranking is about to fight number two!"
"A real battle between powerhouses — the Brute Force Queen versus the Demon Lord! This'll be good!"
"Bah, that little girl's fierce, but she's no match for the top! Liu Xi's strength is on another level!"
"Who knows until they fight! I'm skipping cultivation today — I'll stay here till the match starts!"
"Respect! That's dedication, brother!"
The chatter spread like wildfire.
---
Click—
Liu Xi pushed open the courtyard gate with one hand — the other still caught in Xiao Yixian's grasp. He didn't pull away.
His cold voice rang out. "All of you have nothing better to do than loiter outside my door?"
The pressure of a Dou Wang burst forth — heavy, suffocating. The crowd of Dou Ling and Da Dou Shi students fell silent, eyes wide with awe. One by one, they stepped back, forming a semicircle of empty space before him.
Only a single figure remained unmoved — a small girl in white.
She had striking violet hair and eyes, her expression cool and imperious. Holding a ginseng-like herb in one hand, she took a bite as she spoke with childish defiance:
"You're the number one on the Strong Ranking, right? I'm here to challenge you!"
Liu Xi blinked. Xiao Yixian gasped softly.
'So that's what this was about… the Ancient Void Dragon herself, Zi Yan, here to challenge me.'
Liu Xi couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Xiao Yixian frowned gently. "Little sister, my Young Master is very strong. You shouldn't make things hard for yourself."
Zi Yan's purple eyes flared. Like a tiny cat with its fur standing on end, she bared her teeth. "Are you looking down on me? I could eat ten of you in one bite!"
And to prove it, she raised the half-eaten herb — and chomped down with all her might.
The herb's skin split open with a crisp crack, its rich medicinal juice spilling down her chin.
(End of Chapter)
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