Chapter 27: Shield

Xiao Yu let out a breath and said, "Sorry, I didn't know about this arrangement."

Xiao Mei shuddered in relief, "I was terrified—thank goodness for Brother Xiao Yan."

Xiao Ning nodded vigorously; his cultivation realm was higher than Xiao Mei's—he was already a First-Star Dou Zhe—but just now he'd nearly collapsed from fear. If not for Xiao Yan, he'd have been humiliated.

Xiao Yan said calmly, "I remember someone just patted her chest and said she'd take care of us—who was that again?"

Xiao Yu glared at Xiao Yan as if she wanted to devour him, speechless in rebuttal, and let out a cold snort before striding swiftly toward an open green Black Cloak.

"Yu'er! Let this miss feel if you've gained weight!"

As Xiao Yu neared the Black Cloak, a red shadow darted toward her, and a woman's laughter reached Xiao Yan and the others.

The red-clad woman laughed as she wrapped her arms around Xiao Yu, her hands like serpents, squeezing Xiao Yu's slender waist—and even tried to slide up her thigh into her skirt.

"You wicked woman! Get off!" Xiao Yu quickly clutched her skirt, pinning down that restless Jade Hand, and shoved the woman away.

After playfully wrestling with the red-clad woman, Xiao Yu turned to Xiao Yan and the others and introduced, "This is my good sister at Jia Nan Academy—her name is Xue Ni. Her cultivation realm is even higher than mine—she's already a Fourth-Star Dou Zhe."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan finally turned his gaze to the woman in red. Xue Ni's face beamed with a bright smile, her brown hair loosely tied into a ponytail. Though her beauty was slightly less than Xiao Yu's, her chest was absolutely nuclear.

The pressure from her earlier hug made one fear those jade rabbits might leap free—their prison of fabric nearly couldn't hold them.

This fiery, devilish figure drew endless longing from men; many of the young men who passed the test cast furtive glances at the woman's bosom.

"Let me introduce you: this is Xun Er, our clan's great beauty. This is Xiao Mei, our youngest cutie. Xiao Ning, my younger brother—he's already a Dou Zhe. And this is Xiao Yan."

Upon hearing Xiao Yan's name, Xue Ni's eyes lit with curiosity: "You're Xiao Yan? You're quite handsome—nothing like what Xiao Yu described."

"Oh?" Xiao Yan uttered a single sound, glancing at the flustered Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu quickly covered Xue Ni's mouth: "I didn't go around slandering you. I just muttered it in a dream, and she overheard."

Xiao Yan smirked, "You dream about me? What did you dream? Could it be..."

Xiao Yu's face flushed crimson, her long Jade Leg instinctively kicking toward Xiao Yan's crotch—but as always, he caught her ankle with one hand.

"What, want to try again?"

Xiao Yu panicked, her voice pleading, "No, please—this isn't our clan!"

Xiao Yan pinched her calf lightly, smiled, then released her.

Xue Ni teased, "Oh my, a man actually touched Yu'er's beautiful leg? If the academy boys found out, they'd all cry themselves to death."

"Enough playing—we still need to take them to the test," Xiao Yu pushed her best friend away, laughing and scolding.

Speaking of serious matters, Xue Ni's smile vanished. She led Xiao Yan and the others toward the Black Cloak, then whispered to Xiao Yu, "By the way, Luo Bu is also in this recruitment team—he's in charge. I heard he's advanced to Fourth-Star Dou Zhe."

Hearing this, Xiao Yu's cheerful expression darkened. She sighed irritably, "Why did that annoying guy show up?"

"Isn't it obvious? He came to see our Xiao Yu beauty—beauty brings disaster," Xue Ni teased.

Soon, more of Xiao Yu's girl friends arrived—it was clear she had excellent standing at Jia Nan Academy.

Just as Xiao Yu was about to shoo away her friends so Xiao Yan could meet her Mentor, her eyes caught a man's figure hurrying toward them.

Xiao Yu's face changed slightly. She thought of something, then a faint blush of shyness rose on her cheeks. She stepped before Xiao Yan: "Look at you—left home in such a rush, didn't even fix your clothes. We're about to meet the Mentor—he's like my mother. Don't be disrespectful."

Xiao Yu extended her Jade Hands and, under the confused stares of Xiao Yan and the others, straightened Xiao Yan's clothes—just like a wife tidying her husband before work.

"Uh…" Xiao Yu's girl friends froze, staring at her unprecedented shyness, exchanging glances—this tone and motion felt like a childhood couple!

Xun Er and the others were also stunned by Xiao Yu's intimacy. They exchanged glances, utterly baffled—when had Xiao Yu and Xiao Yan become so close?

"Xiao Yu! You!... Long time no see!" Just as Xiao Yan was utterly confused, a man appeared behind Xiao Yu.

Hearing the man's voice, Xiao Yu clasped Xiao Yan's arm and smiled warmly, "Long time no see, Luo Bu."

Xiao Yan sighed inwardly—Xiao Yu was using him as a shield! To take the bullet for her!

Xiao Yan looked at the man named Luo Bu. Though the man smiled, his eyes flickered with hidden coldness and fury toward him.

Xiao Yan leaned close to Xiao Yu and whispered, "You're using me as a shield?"

Xiao Yu whispered back, "You said you'd protect me."

Xiao Yan didn't even bother correcting her twisted logic—he slapped her firm buttock.

"That'll cost you."

Xiao Yu jumped back like a startled rabbit, fists clenched, glaring at Xiao Yan—both embarrassed and furious. This man was getting too bold!

"Let's go. Don't waste time. We'll go straight to find the Mentor," Xiao Yan said directly.

Seeing Xiao Yan's action, Luo Bu's eyes turned cold. He raised a hand to block Xiao Yan and pointed to the New Students sitting under the blazing sun: "Sorry, the Mentor is busy right now. Please wait outside for half an hour."

"Luo Bu, what do you mean?" Xiao Yu's face turned icy as she snapped.

"Heh, today's New Students are getting too impulsive. A little tempering will help them adapt to academy life later. It's the Senior Student's thoughtful intention," Luo Bu said with a fake smile.

"Bullshit! I don't care about others—but you dare treat my clan members this way?" Xiao Yu's face turned glacial; she wouldn't tolerate this.

The Xiao Clan were fiercely protective of their own.

"Since the Mentor entrusted me with recruitment, my rules are the rules!" Luo Bu's lip twitched. Xiao Yu's public scolding had stirred anger and bitterness in him.

"You—" Xiao Yu stepped in front of Xiao Yan, "Ignore him. We're going in to find the Mentor now."

"Oh? Brother Luo Bu, seems you've got a problem here?" As the group argued, a group of men chuckled out from the shadow of the Tent.

All of them wore golden stars pinned to their chests.

"Nothing much—this New Student just doesn't want to sit out in the sun," Luo Bu said casually. Everyone understood his meaning.

The young men exchanged smirks, their gazes turning hostile toward Xiao Yan: "Won't leave? Anyone who doesn't respect Seniors has no right to enter the academy. Just scram."

Xiao Yu was nearly exploding. She stepped forward, voice icy: "I'm walking in right now. Try stopping me."

Just as Xiao Yu prepared to force her way through, Xiao Yan grabbed her arm, pulled her gently but firmly to Xun Er's side, and commanded in an unyielding tone: "Obey."

Xiao Yu instantly nodded meekly like a timid wife, fell silent, and stood aside.

Xiao Yan stood alone against Luo Bu and the dozen others, his expression unreadable. He curled a finger: "Let me see how you Seniors teach New Students."

Seeing Xiao Yan face off against a dozen, Xiao Yu's girl friends gasped. Xue Ni cried, "Xiao Yu, stop him! Luo Bu's strength is probably stronger than mine now, and the others are all First- to Third-Star Dou Zhe! How can he possibly win?"

Xiao Yu stared at Xiao Yan's back, a sense of calm washing over her. She smirked, watching the scene: "Whether Luo Bu and the others get crushed today depends on how well that guy slept last night."

If you have morning grumpiness, even your Mentor can't help.