Chapter 16: Recruitment

In the Beast Mountain Range

"Brother Xiao Li, save me!"

"Flash Lightning Strike!"

A violet bolt of lightning flashed, and the ferocious beast fell before Xiao Yixian; a boy stood with his back to Xiao Yixian, then turned his head to look.

"Are you okay?"

"Brother Xiao Li…"

Xiao Yixian twitched her nose in grievance, and the next moment could no longer hold back, throwing herself into Xiao Li's arms and sobbing loudly, her hands tightly clasping his waist.

The next instant, Xiao Yixian's cries stopped abruptly; she raised her trembling hands, which were covered in fresh blood.

"Brother Xiao Li, you—you're bleeding a lot."

Xiao Li turned calmly, a deep, bottomless scar on his chest flashing before his eyes.

"As long as you're okay, that's fine."

…

The memory halted abruptly; Xiao Yixian jolted awake from the dream, touched her forehead, and realized she was drenched in cold sweat, her clothes clinging to her back.

Three days later

Xiao Yixian lowered her head reluctantly, fearing that another glance at Xiao Li would make her cry; after a year of day‑and‑night together in the Beast Mountain Range, she hadn't expected to part now.

With keen perception, Xiao Li noticed Xiao Yixian's change, broke away from the few clan members he had been chatting with, and came to her side.

"What, can't let me go?"

Xiao Yixian was startled, stared at the tip of his foot hovering before her, and slowly lifted her head.

"Brother Xiao Li…"

"Your snot is about to spill out."

"Ah, *sniff*—not at all!"

Xiao Yixian crossed her arms in embarrassed anger, glaring at Xiao Li, "This guy—never saw me sad."

Seeing the little girl stamp her foot in embarrassed fury, Xiao Li let out a muted laugh, his palm naturally brushing Xiao Yixian's head, "If you suffer injustice in the Xiao family, go find Xiao Yan Zi; he'll help you."

Basking in Xiao Li's touch, Xiao Yixian pursed her lips.

"Oh…" Xiao Yixian held her breath, recalling that being a little invisible was a good thing, but whatever Xiao Li said somehow made her a bit angry.

"If that doesn't work, come to Canaan Academy and find me; I'll stand up for you."

Xiao Li's gentle voice rang out, Xiao Yixian was startled, then nodded firmly, "I—I will go find you."

Now it was Xiao Li who was stunned; apparently Xiao Yixian's feelings toward him were unusual.

He glanced at the increasingly mature little girl, seemingly twelve; in Wutan City, even kids were already in early romances.

Silently shelving his thoughts of treating Xiao Yixian as a younger sister, Xiao Li looked straight at her.

Xiao Yixian shyly lowered her head; the two exchanged a glance, as if there was something they wanted to possess but dared not expose.

Listening nearby, Xiao Zhan's eyes went black, he pinched his philtrum, "No wonder that brat Xiao Yan likes little girls, so that's why, that's why!"

"Someone, help! The clan chief has fainted!"

…

Although Canaan Academy's recruitment team was stationed in Wutan City, their jurisdiction also covered several nearby cities; so when Xiao Li rushed to the designated recruitment square the next day, staring at the seemingly endless sea of people gave him a headache.

No one from the Xiao family accompanied him; Xiao Yu had intended to come, but the elder elder thought she was too young and told her to wait a few years. Others either lacked talent or didn't want to come.

Not everyone wanted to come; some preferred to stay within the clan, others feared the dangers of traveling far.

On the massive square, waves of clamor rose skyward as countless youths scrambled toward its interior; if not for the army dispatched from the City Lord's Residence at the edge maintaining order, these excited crowds would have rushed in recklessly.

But Xiao Li didn't have to push his way in with them; someone led him inside.

A steward from the City Lord's Residence beside Xiao Li guided him through a special passage; given the Xiao family's current dominance, this rather inconspicuous city lord position would likely pass to a Xiao family member in a couple of years.

Xiao Li followed the steward, circling half the massive square, finally stopping at its western side; this area lay at the back of the square, where fully armed troops had formed a thick...

His eyes scanned the stern defenses; the steward stepped forward alone, produced his identification, whispered with a soldier who looked like an officer for a moment, then waved at Xiao Li, indicating he could pass.

The middle‑aged officer cast a slightly sinister gaze over Xiao Li, and after a while finally raised his hand and barked, "Proceed!"

The officer was dispatched from a larger city to oversee the assessment sites of these towns, and naturally wasn't fond of a local strongman like the Xiao family.

At the officer's shout, the rigid iron‑clad wall rang with the orderly clank of armor, and a narrow passage just wide enough for a person to slip through slowly emerged.

Passing by these soldiers, Xiao Li could distinctly smell blood; they were elite troops, likely battle‑hardened. Though their strength was around that of low‑rank Dou fighters, they excelled in coordinated attacks, making even a hundred‑plus soldiers surrounding him a near‑certain death.

Xiao Li licked his dry lips; his extraordinary concentration gradually dispelled the oppressive feeling in his heart. Regardless, with his current Great Dou Master strength, he already surpassed all the soldiers here.

The killing aura from slaying dozens of beasts in the Beast Mountain Range was no less than that of these soldiers, and even individually he far outmatched them.

Seeing Xiao Li unmoved, his aura even stronger, the middle‑aged officer's expression turned to a hint of appreciation, "It seems Instructor Sophie will secure a fine student this time."

The steward stood outside, "Second Young Master Xiao, you go in yourself; I cannot enter, please understand."

Xiao Li smiled gently, "No trouble, thank you, steward."

The steward, flattered, waved, "No trouble at all."

Xiao Li walked to the center of the square, where an open green big tent came into view; here, Xiao Li could see the sea of people outside, and through several passages, occasional youths who had passed the tests...

Approaching the green big tent, Xiao Li saw, in its cool shade, several young men and women forming a small circle, chatting casually; judging by their relaxed demeanor, they were likely all Canaan Academy trainees.

When Xiao Li arrived, a beautiful female trainee blinked her large eyes, the color in them brightening a few shades.

"You're here for the assessment, right? Come, I'll show you inside."

Seeing the female trainee's enthusiasm toward Xiao Li, a male trainee in the crowd frowned.

"Li Feier, isn't this a bit against the rules? He should have been left outside to sun for a while."

The female trainee named Li Feier glared, "Mind your own business, Li Lin. If you meddle with auntie's affairs again, I'll kill you!"

Having said that, she looked at Xiao Li's twitching mouth corner, and Li Feier's voice softened again, "Let's go, handsome."

Watching Li Lin silently and decisively retreat back, Xiao Li felt a bit strange; at this moment, shouldn't there be a little villain who likes this girl? How come, buddy, you just backed off right away.

No, you really came out because you didn't follow the rules, huh?

(End of chapter)