Chapter 163 - 162: Can’t You Guys Be a Little More Generous?

Jian Yu wanted to look, but she couldn’t bring herself to.

She stared blankly at the hem of her skirt.

Everyone picked on her, and she was the easiest target.

"Actually."

Jian Yu’s tone was flat, her voice laced with a chill.

She hadn’t initiated the intimacy, but she hadn’t rejected it either.

’When it comes down to it...’

Even as she despised herself for it, she couldn’t stop herself from sinking deeper. "Actually... I’m the one who’s responsible."

The tension in Si Xu’s brow eased.

’She admitted it!’

’She acknowledged my place in her life and is willing to accept her responsibility!’

The jealousy, resentment, anger, and dissatisfaction deep in Si Xu’s heart instantly vanished.

He lowered his gaze to the fate line on his palm, the corners of his mouth curving into a smile.

Si Xu’s voice was ethereal and detached, but his words were infuriatingly smug. "Be generous and wish us well. When I’m praying for my own blessings, I can even put in a good word for you all."

Pei Yin was so furious he was practically jumping up and down, his eyes shimmering.

"Imprisonment? Restricting her freedom? You’re a real piece of work, telling us to wish you well? And you even coaxed that clueless Jian Yu into taking responsibility for you? Fooling her is one thing, but trying to fool us? Do you think I’m blind?"

Jian Yu silently looked up, staring at him expressionlessly.

Pei Yin’s anger faltered, and his gaze flickered. "Clever, very clever. I misspoke."

He changed the subject, laughing through his anger as he asked Jian Yu, "Did this guy threaten you with the curse again?"

He didn’t wait for her to respond.

Pei Yin whipped his head around and, out of habit, took a jab at Xi Yu. "The peacock opposite us has been showing off his feathers until they’re ragged, and you’re still just standing there sputtering?"

’Why isn’t he fighting?!’

Xi Yu raised his arm, brimming with resentment. A dark, gloomy aura surged around him.

"Xi Yu." Jian Yu’s voice sounded from behind him.

Xi Yu’s hand trembled, and he clutched his heart.

He felt as if a downy feather had gently brushed against his heart.

He turned around, his red-rimmed eyes looking at Jian Yu.

Xi Yu pressed his lips together, his cold face showing a rare, wounded expression.

His eyes held a glimmer of hope. He glanced to the right, looking like he wanted to lunge over and tear into Si Xu with his teeth.

The atmosphere was at a stalemate.

Several pairs of eyes looked over, as if the pause button had been pressed.

Jian Yu looked back, dazed, her reaction a beat too slow.

She blinked, her apology crisp and direct. "I’m sorry."

Pei Yin blurted out, "It’s not your fault. What are you apologizing for?"

Ling Yanzhi finally took half a step back. He chuckled. "All you know how to do is act spoiled."

After Xi Yu’s tantrum, his resentment had been vented.

He replied out of habit, "It’s okay, baby."

Retracting his claws, he darted to the side of the bed.

Obsession and infatuation once again filled his heart.

Xi Yu knelt on one knee, reaching out to touch the red mark on Jian Yu’s collarbone.

"Does it hurt?"

It seemed like a concerned gesture, but he was actually using it as an excuse to feel her all over.

Jian Yu shook her head vaguely. "It doesn’t hurt."

Xi Yu grabbed her leg, kneading and rubbing it gently.

Jian Yu shifted but didn’t pull away.

She instinctively shrank back, curling into Ling Yanzhi’s arms.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the wounds on Si Xu’s body healing at a rate visible to the naked eye.

Jian Yu stared for a moment. "Are you okay?"

A wisp of azure smoke imperceptibly coiled around Si Xu’s shoulder.

Si Xu shook his head nonchalantly.

He lowered his head, his sharp gaze fixed on his shoulder for two seconds.

In the blink of an eye, he had once again assumed the guise of a high and mighty, passionless deity.

He unhurriedly put on his platinum-white uniform, and the aura he had cultivated over many years filled the entire side hall.

It was pure and translucent, light and ethereal, a barely-there presence that felt almost illusory.

Pei Yin cursed in a cold voice, "All dressed up, but you’re still a beast."

The barb didn’t land. Si Xu paid Pei Yin’s jealous remarks no mind.

He glanced outside the hall. "Why didn’t Sheng Yue come in?"

’What a waste of my grand performance.’

"Sheng Yue?" Pei Yin only just realized someone was missing. "He was the most anxious one these past few days. Why did he run off after we found her?"

Hearing this, Jian Yu’s gaze froze and her breathing hitched.

Ling Yanzhi’s eyelids were half-closed, his fingers toying absently with the ends of Jian Yu’s slightly curly hair.

He raised an eyebrow and tossed out, "I was the most anxious."

Not to be outdone, Xi Yu abruptly piped up, "It was me."

Pei Yin was speechless. ’Why do they have to compete over everything?’

He couldn’t beat them, so he chose to join them. "It was obviously me."

Pei Yin spoke quickly, giving no one a chance to retort. "I’ve never begged anyone for anything in my life. Please, just do me this one kindness and let me have this one, okay?"

Jian Yu watched them, bewildered.

She stared blankly for a moment, her expression tinged with a natural slowness. "Okay."

Pei Yin was left speechless.

He shot Si Xu a warning glare.

But the words he spoke were for Jian Yu. "I got you a seven-day leave of absence. If you hadn’t shown up soon, Teacher Hu was going to have a ’chat’ with the dean."

Si Xu smiled, not objecting.

’I was the first.’

’Nothing else matters anymore.’

Ling Yanzhi slowly added, "After the Beast Taming Competition, there’s the challenge tournament and the hatching competition. Just attend your classes normally for now. If you’re interested in any of it, you can come out and watch anytime."

Pei Yin chimed in, "The off-campus practical activities that start in the second semester of the first year are the most important. Right now, classes are just basic knowledge."

First-year courses were all about understanding the textbook content. The real focus was on expanding your network, attending parties, and participating in small competitions and prize-winning events.

"You don’t need a network, and there’s no need to attend those pointless banquets and events."

Pei Yin was halfway through speaking when he suddenly remembered something. "The academy has re-registered you as an Awakener. You’ll probably have to study with Shen Gu to learn how to control and develop your Soul Beast Skill."

The thought of having to go back to school didn’t exactly fill Jian Yu with joy.

When the key issue was brought up, she couldn’t help but let out a small "Ah."

"But my Soul Beast..."

Jian Yu glanced furtively at Si Xu. "...is a fake."

"..." Si Xu had thought his family’s bracelet was too weak.

’That, combined with Jian Yu being too strong, was why it couldn’t hold her. But it turns out it was a fake Soul Beast?’

Pei Yin said in an unconcerned tone, "Just go along and learn for now. It might be useful. Besides, your genes are similar to a Primordial Beast’s. Soul Beast, Primordial Beast, Fierce Beast—no matter which one, they’re all beasts. Just make do and learn."

"Okay." Jian Yu nodded, her posture becoming inexplicably well-behaved.

Si Xu’s brows furrowed.

’Similar to a Primordial Beast?’

’These past few days, the marks on Jian Yu’s body have always faded quickly. And the wound on my shoulder just now that healed so fast... could it be related to this?’

All beasts possess a Self-healing Ability. The higher their Level, the stronger the ability.

Xi Yu and Ling Yanzhi, aside from having a strong Self-healing Ability, could also heal others.

According to Pei Yin’s secret analysis, only an Awakener with a Level exceeding 3S possessed the ability to heal others.

Si Xu’s gaze slowly fell upon Jian Yu. "What... is her current Level?"

Pei Yin snorted coldly, his chin raised.

Afraid it wouldn’t be enough to scare Si Xu, he intentionally stated the strongest of his assessment’s conclusions.

"Suspected to be far beyond Super 3S. Try imprisoning her again, and she might just take you out."

Pei Yin looked down and met Jian Yu’s soft eyes. Her nose and the rims of her eyes were still red.

He deflated. ’That wasn’t very convincing, was it?’

Si Xu’s Adam’s apple bobbed, the look in his eyes changing noticeably. "Mother Xi’s leg... perhaps she can heal it."

What happened back then was too sudden. Although he was able to save Mother Xi’s life, the poison had already spread to her knees by the time he arrived.

Jian Yu looked at Xi Yu.

He was still carefully massaging her leg, showing no reaction at all.