Chapter 154: Chapter 153: Yann Shanjun
In the days that followed, Wen Qingye healed his injuries while cultivating, and time passed quickly.
In just five short days, Wen Qingye had fully healed. While his cultivation hadn’t advanced to the next level, it had grown far more robust.
DONG!
On this day, the toll of a bell suddenly echoed throughout the Inner Courtyard of Qig Mountain Academy.
Every student in the Inner Courtyard was startled by the sound and immediately began rushing toward the Main Peak. freёwebnovel.com
...
Atop the Inner Courtyard’s Main Peak, hundreds of students stood respectfully to one side in a vast plaza.
At the front stood several dozen senior members of Qig Mountain Academy. The three leading them were the most powerful figures in the entire academy.
Wen Qingye stood not far away with Guu Lei, Ren Hua, and Wei Qiutong. His gaze swept over the three leaders. On the left was Nie Qinglan, and on the right was, to his surprise, the old woman he had seen in the North Mountain Forest. He didn’t recognize the old man in the center, but his intuition told him that this man’s cultivation was the highest of the three.
This old man was Wang Tianming, the most powerful person in Qig Mountain Academy and the one with the most profound cultivation.
As Wang Tianming’s eyes swept over them, every Inner Courtyard student present felt their vital energy stir and their blood begin to race.
Guu Lei and his two companions, in particular, broke out in a nervous sweat.
After a moment, Wang Tianming retracted his gaze and nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. Your cultivation has clearly improved during this time, and I am very pleased. You all know that this is a special year, for the eight-year cycle has come around again."
"Eight years?"
The words struck a chord with Wen Qingye. He had last heard about these "eight years" from Lil Ya. ’Does this mean something is about to happen?’
With his hands clasped behind his back, Wang Tianming’s resonant voice rang out. "In this final stretch of time, I hope you will all rapidly improve your cultivation and reach your peak condition. Do not tarnish the reputation of my Qig Mountain Academy!"
"Furthermore, this year’s Flame Spirit Waterfall is about to erupt. You will all compete for its benefits based on your own strength. I hope this allows your power to increase yet again. Alright, I’ve said enough. We now head to Fenghua Mountain!"
With that, Wang Tianming turned and began walking in the direction of Fenghua Mountain.
The Inner Courtyard students followed closely behind. Just then, the old woman spotted Wen Qingye. Her eyes lit up, and she strode quickly to his side.
The old woman glanced at Wen Qingye’s cultivation and couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise, "Kid, you really haven’t disappointed me. Your strength has improved so much in such a short time."
"Vice Director!" Ren Hua and the others hastily greeted her with reverence.
’Vice Director!?’ Wen Qingye’s brow furrowed slightly. ’So that’s her identity.’ Qig Mountain Academy had only two vice directors: one was Nie Qinglan, and the other was Yann Shanjun. freēwebnovel.com
’It seems this old woman must be Yann Shanjun, which would make Yann Xiangyang and Yann Chuxue her granddaughters.’ At this thought, Wen Qingye shot the old woman a strange glance.
"Mm," Wen Qingye grunted, nodding nonchalantly.
Guu Lei, Ren Hua, and Wei Qiutong were stunned by Wen Qingye’s attitude. They hadn’t expected him to be so casual.
Yann Shanjun, however, didn’t seem to mind at all. She gave Wen Qingye a conspiratorial look and said, "Kid, you promised me about that thing we discussed. You can’t go back on your word now."
"What thing?" Wen Qingye raised an eyebrow, having completely forgotten what he had supposedly promised.
Yann Shanjun was instantly incensed and nearly jumped to her feet. "Hey, you brat! Don’t play dumb with me. Let me tell you, when this old woman was making a name for herself across the Celestial Martial Country, you hadn’t even been born!"
The three companions stared, stunned, wondering what could possibly be going on between Wen Qingye and Yann Shanjun.
"Grandmother!" "Grandmother!"
Just then, two stunning figures approached, drawing the eyes of nearly every student in the Inner Courtyard.
Yann Chuxue was like a winter plum blossom in the wind—elegant, otherworldly, and so beautiful she seemed to transcend the mortal realm. Yann Xiangyang was her opposite, fiery like the scorching sun and as radiant as a peach blossom, yet she was also a peerless beauty.
"Chuxue, come, come here," Yann Shanjun said, smiling and beckoning her over.
"The marriage I told you about last time? It’s with this kid right here."
Yann Shanjun’s words struck the crowd like a clap of thunder, stunning everyone.
"Is she for real? Vice Director Yann must be joking."
"What? Yann Shanjun is actually going to betroth Yann Chuxue to this kid?"
"What makes him worthy? He’s not even in the Refining Spirit Stage!"
"Exactly! What right does he have? Yann Chuxue is the number one beauty in our Celestial Martial Country!"
...
The surrounding Inner Courtyard students erupted in an uproar.
"When did I ever agree to a betrothal? I’m already married," Wen Qingye said with a frown.
Was that a rejection? The crowd stared at Wen Qingye in astonishment.
Yann Chuxue’s only reaction was to raise a delicate eyebrow, her expression otherwise unchanging. She seemed completely unconcerned by the whole affair.
Yann Shanjun froze. "Kid, you’re already married? But you promised me..."
"Did I promise you? I don’t remember that at all," Wen Qingye said, now genuinely confused himself.
Yann Xiangyang couldn’t hold back and jumped forward, scolding, "Wen Qingye, stop trying to humiliate us! Let me tell you, my sister is stunningly beautiful! Countless men would kill for the chance to marry her, a chance they’ll never get! Don’t flatter yourself!"
Wen Qingye remained expressionless and said nothing.
Noticing the stares of the crowd, Yann Shanjun waved her hand dismissively. "Alright, that’s enough. We’ll discuss this matter when we get back. For now, let’s go to Fenghua Mountain."
It was, after all, hardly appropriate to discuss such a thing under the watchful eyes of the entire student body.
Meanwhile, Shen Yanxing watched Wen Qingye’s retreating back from a distance, a flicker of doubt in his heart. ’Could that person be Wen Qingye? No, that can’t be right. The rumors say that man is already dead. Besides... with Wen Qingye’s strength, no matter how I look at it, he seems more like that Blood-clothed Swordsman.’
...
Yann Shanjun watched Wen Qingye’s back, feeling vexed. ’That kid is already married. How infuriating.’
Yann Xiangyang walked over and asked in a low voice, "Grandmother, are you really going to marry my sister to Wen Qingye?"
Yann Shanjun sighed. "Yes. You’re still young, but your sister isn’t getting any younger. Although the path of cultivation is endless, it’s still good to have someone to support you along the way, to advance hand in hand."
Yann Xiangyang fell silent for a moment before asking, "Grandmother, why do you think so highly of Wen Qingye?"
Yann Shanjun smiled, her gaze on Wen Qingye’s back as she whispered, "Let me tell you, that kid is anything but simple. All the young prodigies in the entire Celestial Martial Country combined can’t compare to him."
"What!?" Yann Xiangyang couldn’t help but gasp upon hearing such high praise from her grandmother.
Yann Xiangyang had never heard her grandmother praise anyone so highly. Even for Wen Tongyu, Yann Shanjun had merely nodded and called him "a prodigy of the Celestial Martial Country, the likes of which is seen only once a century." But her attitude toward Wen Qingye was on a completely different level!