Chapter 631: Li Luo's Thoughts

When Li Luo looked at Shen Shen Jinxiao, who was sitting on a bench beneath a large tree at the end of the path ahead, his eyes couldn't help narrowing slightly. This bastard — what was he popping up here for at this moment?

Instructor Xi Chan's gaze, radiating a cold chill, was likewise fixed on Shen Shen Jinxiao, and then she spoke flatly: "Shen Shen Jinxiao, what are you doing here?"

Hearing this, Shen Shen Jinxiao gave a faint smile and said, "Instructor Xi Chan, aren't you managing a bit too much? The academy is so large — am I not even allowed to enjoy the shade here?"

Yet in response to those words, Instructor Xi Chan's gaze only grew colder.

Seeing this, Shen Shen Jinxiao laughed and said, "Fine, actually I just want to have a word with Li Luo and Jiang Qing."

His gaze also turned toward Li Luo and Jiang Qing.

Facing his stare, Jiang Qing's expression was unusually calm; her eyes only looked straight ahead, and she didn't so much as glance at him. Seeing this, Li Luo could only say with a smile, "Instructor Shen Shen Jinxiao, it seems we don't really have anything to say to each other, do we?"

Shen Shen Jinxiao smiled and said directly, "If Qing can agree to one condition of mine, I'm willing to offer you help during the Mansion Feast. How about it?"

The smile on Li Luo's handsome face faded slightly, and his gaze turned somewhat icy and sharp.

"Shen Shen Jinxiao, who are you trying to swindle here? Would the academy allow you to step in and interfere?" Instructor Xi Chan said coldly.

"That's my business. You don't need to worry about it."

A playful smile curled at the corner of Shen Shen Jinxiao's mouth as he said, "Every word I've spoken is absolutely true — I can even swear an oath. As long as you, Qing, agree, I'll be your House Luolan Mansion's reinforcement. How about it?"

"Shen Shen Jinxiao, you truly give a masterclass in taking advantage of others' misfortune," Instructor Xi Chan mocked.

Shen Shen Jinxiao paid no heed to Instructor Xi Chan's ridicule; his gaze remained fixed on Jiang Qing.

Yet Jiang Qing still paid him no attention. She simply took Li Luo's hand and walked straight ahead. Just as the two of them were about to brush past each other, Li Luo stared at Shen Shen Jinxiao with deep, dark eyes and said, "Shen Shen Jinxiao, don't set your sights on Sister Qing, or later on, I will definitely chop you up and feed you to the dogs."

Shen Shen Jinxiao gave a faint smile.

Jiang Qing, holding Li Luo's hand, had already gradually walked away. Instructor Xi Chan cast a cold glance at Shen Shen Jinxiao and followed as well.

Shen Shen Jinxiao watched their figures disappear into the night; the smile on his face faded, and his eyes grew much gloomier.

"Not seizing the last chance... how pitiful."

"Shen Shen Jinxiao must have designs on Student Qing. You two need to be careful." On the carriage heading back to House Luolan Mansion, Instructor Xi Chan reminded the two before her.

"An instructor with such ulterior motives — does the academy intend to keep him?" Li Luo asked, frowning.

"Even if he harbors malicious intent, he hasn't truly revealed it in the end. What reason does the academy have to expel him?" Xi Chan retorted.

Li Luo fell silent.

"Earlier, during the deliberations at the academy's Jin Dian, Vice Principal Suxin also warned him and questioned him about what exactly his intentions were toward Student Qing. He was quite blunt about it — he said he did indeed harbor feelings of admiration for Student Qing..." Instructor Xi Chan hesitated for a moment, then said.

A cold glint flashed in Li Luo's eyes.

A frosty chill also rose on Jiang Qing's breathtakingly beautiful face; Shen Shen Jinxiao's words stirred a measure of disgust and revulsion in her.

"Although 'admiration for a student' doesn't sound particularly proper, it ultimately doesn't violate any academy rules, so even Vice Principal Suxin could do nothing about it and could only give him some warnings... But from my understanding of Shen Shen Jinxiao, the man is somewhat strange, so this may not necessarily be his true intent." Instructor Xi Chan said slowly.

"His targeting of Student Qing may well be for some other purpose."

Li Luo's brow furrowed tightly. That Shen Gou really was a plague — if the chance arose in the future, he would definitely have to finish him off.

"But regardless of what he's thinking, he is ultimately an instructor of the academy and will be bound by the academy's rules, so he shouldn't dare to do anything in the open." Instructor Xi Chan said.

Li Luo and Jiang Qing exchanged a glance, then nodded.

House Luolan Mansion was about to face its most troublesome moment; this Shen Shen Jinxiao truly had to be set aside for later.

"Instructor Xi Chan, you're escorting us back to House Luolan Mansion because you're worried about 'Lanling Mansion,' aren't you?" Li Luo asked with a smile.

"I also sensed Student Xin Fu's presence." Instructor Xi Chan did not deny it. Although the Mansion Feast had not yet arrived, and the probability of Lanling Mansion making an assassination attempt now was low, being cautious was still wise — after all, Lanling Mansion specialized in these underhanded methods.

"Thank you, Instructor, for your protection," Li Luo said gratefully.

Instructor Xi Chan waved her hand and said no more, closing her eyes to feign sleep.

Silence returned inside the carriage. Li Luo and Jiang Qing gazed at the countless household lights flashing past outside the window, looking at each other in wordless understanding.

After quite some time, the carriage finally came to a stop outside the headquarters of House Luolan Mansion.

"Instructor Xi Chan, would you like to come inside House Luolan Mansion for a sit and a cup of tea?" Li Luo invited warmly.

Hearing this, Instructor Xi Chan surveyed the House Luolan Mansion headquarters before her and said with a half-smile, "Your House Luolan Mansion doesn't welcome any other Marquis-ranked strong practitioners, and besides, I don't like that feeling of being suppressed — it makes me feel insecure."