"You little pervert, you bastard! You ran off without a word to play hero—if you had died, what was I supposed to do?!"
The moment she saw the man she had been thinking about for more than half a year, Xiao Yu's pupils shrank sharply.
Not caring that others were present, she leapt forward and threw herself into Xiao Se's arms. Her two long, slender arms wrapped tightly around his waist, hugging him as though she would never let go. Her fair, smooth face pressed against his chest.
Behind her, Xun'er had also taken a step forward.
But seeing Xiao Yu get there first—and recalling the agreement she had once made with Xiao Se—she stopped.
She simply stood quietly where she was, watching with a soft smile.
No matter what… as long as Xiao Se was alive, that was enough.
Xiao Se could clearly feel Xiao Yu's racing heartbeat.
This fiery-tempered girl who had grown up beside him since childhood—she was the first person to truly walk into his heart.
More than eight months had passed since they last saw each other.
Seeing her again now—
How could he not feel moved?
Xun'er remained silent. She glanced once more at Xiao Se and Xiao Yu, her gaze complicated, before turning to look off into the distance.
"You're almost twenty years old. Why are you crying? There are so many people watching," Xiao Se said softly as he gently stroked Xiao Yu's back.
Though the words sounded like scolding, his tone was filled with tenderness.
"I don't care! You little jerk—you made me worry about you for so long!"
It was no wonder Xiao Yu was this emotional.
Eight months wasn't a short time.
In the past, Xiao Se had also left her for long stretches—but she had always known he wasn't in real danger.
This time, however, he had been dragged into the magma-filled depths beneath the tower by a Heavenly Flame.
Even a Dou Huang might not survive something like that.
"There won't be a next time," Xiao Se said quietly.
His clothes were already damp from Xiao Yu's tears. Yet her hands remained tightly wrapped around his waist, as though afraid he might disappear again.
She lifted her head. Her phoenix eyes were red and swollen.
"If you dare do something like this again, I'll never talk to you ever again. Promise me you won't do something so dangerous again."
"I promise."
He wiped the tears from her cheeks and tried to comfort her.
At that moment, as if sensing they had hugged long enough, Great Elder Su Qian, who had already arrived at the square earlier, walked over.
"Xiao Se. So you really are alive. And your cultivation…"
"Hehe." Xiao Se smiled lightly. "During the eight months I was swallowed by the Fallen Heart Flame, it kept trying to refine me along with the Heavenly Flame inside my body. So I fought back. I cultivated while refining it at the same time. We were locked in a tug-of-war. As my strength increased, I finally won three days ago."
"No wonder the Heart Flame suddenly disappeared," Su Qian muttered, glancing toward the now-vanished top of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower.
"I used to worry that this terrifying thing would erupt one day and throw everything into chaos. Now that you've subdued it, I can finally sleep peacefully."
Seeing that Su Qian did not blame him at all, Xiao Se felt a flicker of surprise.
He had underestimated the old man.
Su Qian knew how important the Fallen Heart Flame was to the Inner Academy, yet he chose to say this—to ease Xiao Se's mind.
A warm feeling passed through Xiao Se's heart.
Then he waved his right hand.
From his system storage, he retrieved the Fire Gathering Pot.
Smiling, he said, "I'm afraid you still won't get that peaceful sleep just yet, Great Elder. Although I refined the sentient and violent Fallen Heart Flame, I stayed down there for three days because I discovered something else in the magma world."
Su Qian blinked. "Something else?"
"A new Fallen Heart Flame."
Su Qian froze for a moment before hurriedly taking the Fire Gathering Pot.
The moment he sensed the rising Heart Flame inside, overwhelming joy burst across his aged face.
"Indeed," Xiao Se nodded. "It's still in its juvenile stage. But as long as the Inner Academy elders who cultivate fire-attribute techniques continuously supply it with Dou Qi, it will generate Heart Flame again. The Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower can function once more."
"And with enough time, it might even develop intelligence again. If it's nurtured by the Inner Academy from the start, it shouldn't become hostile. If handled properly, the tower may never experience another Fallen Heart Flame riot—and it could remain open permanently."
The joy on Su Qian's face deepened visibly.
Clearly, the thought of reopening the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower thrilled him.
"It seems the Inner Academy truly owes you this time!" Su Qian chuckled as he stroked the Fire Gathering Pot.
Xiao Se simply smiled and changed the subject.
"By the way, Great Elder, how are Xiao Yixian and Zhuqing doing?"
Su Qian laughed.
"Oh, Xiao Yixian is quite formidable now. After killing the Gold and Silver Elders, Fan Lao, Yuan Yi, and Yan—several powerful figures from the Black-Corner Region—she joined forces with that little girl Zi Yan and forcefully subdued Feng City, the Eight Gates, the Blood Sect, the Earth Flame Sect, and several other major factions."
"She established the Sea King Palace. She's now truly one of the dominant powers in the Black-Corner Region."
"As for Zhuqing, she followed Xiao Yixian. Over the past half year, she's made quite a name for herself too."
"Many Inner Academy graduates this year joined the Sea King Palace because of the three of them."
"And I'm sure you helped quite a bit," Xiao Se said with a knowing smile.
With Xiao Yixian's Dou Zong strength, she certainly had immense influence.
But even graduates weren't allowed to casually involve themselves with the Black-Corner Region's forces without the Academy's permission. That place was far too chaotic.
Su Qian waved his hand.
"Let's call it mutual benefit. With the Sea King Palace acting as a buffer, the Black-Corner Region factions won't dare invade Jia Nan Academy like they did before."
Xiao Se nodded respectfully and cupped his hands.
"Great Elder, since matters here are settled, I'll take my leave."
"Go on. If you're heading to find Xiao Yixian, she's in Feng City. At your speed, you'll arrive in half an hour."
Xiao Se nodded again.
Then he left the square with Xiao Yu and Xun'er.
As the three walked through the Inner Academy streets, they quickly drew attention from the surrounding students.
When word spread that this young man was Xiao Se—the one who had defeated Han Feng, the Medicine Emperor of the Black-Corner Region—admiration and envy filled countless gazes.
"Are we going to Feng City to find Xian'er and the others?" Xiao Yu asked sweetly, holding his arm intimately.
"No," Xiao Se shook his head. "Let's go back to my residence first. I want to introduce you to two people."
He had no intention of taking Xiao Yu out of Jia Nan Academy.
The moment they arrived at his residence, they ran into Han Yue, who was about to leave.
"Xiao Se?" Her eyes lit up with pleasant surprise.
He nodded politely, greeted her briefly, then led Xiao Yu and Xun'er inside.
The room was clean and orderly.
"Well? Ever since entering the Inner Academy, Xun'er and I have been helping you clean this place," Xiao Yu said proudly as she pulled him down to sit.
"Not bad," Xiao Se nodded, gently patting her head.
"Hehe…"
His affectionate gesture made Xiao Yu's eyes curve into two crescent moons.
"You said you wanted to introduce two people to us. Who are they?"
Xiao Se smiled faintly.
"They're inside."
With a wave of his hand, two figures appeared in the room.
One was dressed in red, her beauty cold and breathtaking.
The other looked younger, her expression curious and lively.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees instantly.
Xiao Yu's smile froze.
Her gaze shifted slowly from Xiao Se… to the stunning red-clad woman.
Then to the other girl beside her.
Silence fell.
Even Xun'er's eyes flickered slightly.
Medusa Queen stood calmly, her beautiful eyes narrowing faintly as she examined Xiao Yu from head to toe.
So this was the fiery-tempered cousin who had grown up with him?
Die, meanwhile, blinked curiously at Xiao Yu.
"So you're the one who was crying just now?"
Xiao Yu's face instantly flushed red.
She turned stiffly toward Xiao Se.
"…Explain."
(End of Chapter)
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