A few breaths after the Green-robed Sword Cultivator arrived, a stream of blue water also descended from the sky. The Woman in Blue Dress Qian Lin had seen that afternoon, holding Ye Qiuhan, emerged from the flowing water.
They arrived fairly quickly, just a bit too late to catch that Man in Black from the Demonic Path.
"Blood Evasion Technique. The opponent is already severely injured. I'll continue the pursuit." The Sword Cultivator crouched where the black garment fragments were scattered, picked up a piece of the fabric, stood up, and spoke to the Woman in Blue Dress holding Ye Qiuhan.
The Woman in Blue Dress nodded and placed the somewhat restless Ye Qiuhan in her arms onto the ground.
The Sword Cultivator transformed into a streak of sword light and shot up into the sky. Meanwhile, Ye Qiuhan hurried over to Qian Lin in a few quick steps, her Face full of worry as she looked Qian Lin up and down. Only after confirming the other girl wasn't injured did she finally let out a sigh of relief.
Frankly speaking, the situation just now was one where Qian Lin had used her own life to buy Ye Qiuhan time to escape. This was an immense favor.
As a Personal Disciple of Yaochi, she absolutely could not leave such a life-saving grace unrepaid.
AI Model: gemini-2.5-flash
"Even if we hadn't come, I'm afraid the Little Girl could have taken down that Demonic Cultivator, right?" The Woman in Blue Dress also walked towards Qian Lin. She had clearly seen the situation on the ground just now; even without the Green-robed Sword Cultivator's attack, Qian Lin had suppressed the Demonic Cultivator, who was a Realm higher.
Even if this suppression couldn't last too long, it was enough to be shocking.
How old was this girl? Thirteen? Or fourteen?
Did she herself possess such ability at that age?
The Woman in Blue Dress asked herself, at that age, she hadn't even mastered a set of Moves, let alone suppressed a Demonic Cultivator one Realm higher than herself.
Exceptionally talented, she is destined for greatness in the future. The Woman in Blue Dress had already judged Qian Lin's potential.
As long as she reaches the Heart Nurturing Realm, several Righteous Path Sacred Lands will likely extend an olive branch to her, and their Jade Lake will certainly be one of them.
Perhaps next year they would be able to call each other Martial Sisters. Thinking of this, the Woman in Blue Dress looked at Qian Lin with even more admiration.
"It's hard to say. The Demonic Cultivator's methods are extremely bizarre, and no one can predict the outcome until the very last moment." This time, Qian Lin didn't boast proudly. Instead, she seriously analyzed the recent situation, "But I can indeed stall for a long time. Unless the teachers of Honghu Academy are incompetent, I can definitely survive against that guy."
Before reaching the Grandmaster Realm, Cultivators need to successively Breakthrough the Peiyuan, Heart Nurturing, and Body Tempering Realms. Before the Body Tempering Realm, Spiritual Qi does not significantly enhance a Cultivator's physical body.
Qian Lin, in the Peiyuan Realm, and the Man in Black, in the Heart Nurturing Realm, only had a gap in their total Spiritual Qi. Besides that... how could a mere Demonic Cultivator compare to the former Demon Path Supreme in Divine Sense?
Neither arrogant nor impatient, able to calmly analyze the situation after defeating a powerful enemy—the Woman in Blue Dress found this Little Girl more and more pleasing to the eye. She had already made up her mind to send a report to the Sect tomorrow, letting the Elders of the Sect know that she had discovered an excellent talent in the academy.
Moreover, this promising talent also has a good relationship with Junior Sister. Isn't she already an internal Disciple of their Jade Lake?
"But what I don't understand is why that person targeted us. Is it because of what happened at noon?" Qian Lin hadn't realized that her performance had already made the Woman in Blue Dress want to recruit her. She was pondering what she had done to provoke that Man in Black.
After much thought, the most likely possibility was the crime scene they accidentally stumbled upon at noon.
Is this Man in Black related to the incident at noon?
A little thought would reveal that it's highly probable. The ones who would do such things in Honghu Academy are none other than these Demonic Path Undercover Agents who somehow infiltrated it.
"Probably... I just feel like he was specifically waiting for us on this road," Ye Qiuhan said, somewhat shrinking back. But the next moment, a hint of courage suddenly rose in her heart, making her voice much steadier, "The Blood Evasion Technique cannot be used multiple times in a short period. Now is the best chance to eliminate him."
Qian Lin looked at Ye Qiuhan with a hint of surprise. This black-haired Stupid Girl actually knew these things; it seemed she wasn't that foolish after all.
"Eh, Senior Sister Qian Lin, why are you two looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong?" After saying the previous sentence, Ye Qiuhan immediately reverted to her original soft and adorable state, so frightened by their gazes that she couldn't even speak clearly.
The Woman in Blue Dress shook her head. She had just thought her Junior Sister was possessed, but now it seemed she was just too sensitive.
After pondering for a moment, the Woman in Blue Dress looked at Qian Lin and said to the Little Girl who had just repelled a powerful enemy, "Junior Sister Qian Lin, you and Haner are now both targeted by that Man in Black. Given the Demonic Path's meticulous and vengeful nature, he will absolutely not let you go."
"To protect your safety, I suggest you Move into Haner's dormitory. Haner's dorm happens to have an empty bed, which will make it more convenient for the academy to protect you both."
There was one reason, of course, for Qian Lin to Move in with Ye Qiuhan: it would be easier to protect them. The other reason was the Woman in Blue Dress's own selfish motives.
She wanted to use a honey trap to tie this promising Genius to their Jade Lake's chariot!
Little Girls always value friendship greatly, and there was already a budding friendship between Qian Lin and Haner. Coupled with the life-and-death crisis they just experienced together, their feelings warming up afterward was completely predictable.
Once they truly become good friends, when the Sect selects people in the future, how could this child go to other Sacred Lands?
Our Jade Lake is a pure female Sect, specializing in Water and Wood Elements, and your good friend is also here. Isn't this competitiveness extraordinarily high?
"Ah?" Ye Qiuhan was also stunned after hearing her Senior Sister's words, then she subconsciously nodded, "I have no objection."
If Qian Lin were her roommate, it didn't seem like an unacceptable thing.
Ye Qiuhan had agreed, but Qian Lin was still finding it difficult to decide. She actually lived in a single room dormitory, and suddenly having an extra roommate, she felt she probably wouldn't be able to adapt.
"During the protection period, the academy will provide subsidies for your food, clothing, housing, and travel. It's roughly this amount..." Blue Skirt Senior Sister held up five fingers, "Fifty Spirit Stones a day, you two divide it yourselves."
"However, the academy's protection for you also requires a bit of Spirit Stones. If you two live together, then the consumption of this part of Spirit Stones will be reduced a little..."
"I agree!" Hearing that living together would get her more Spirit Stones, Qian Lin immediately declared that adaptation or non-adaptation was all just fleeting clouds!
Give her Spirit Stones, and she can overcome all discomfort!