As Han Xiao and Han Xue emerged from the Hall of Liberation, they were immediately halted by a voice calling out to them.

“Han Xiao! Han Xue! Over here!”

They turned to see Tang Chen, looking effortlessly cool in a pair of stylish sunglasses, striding toward them. Beside him, Princess Yi Jing was waving enthusiastically, a bright smile lighting up her face.

“Hey, you two!” Tang Chen greeted, removing his sunglasses and flashing a grin. “How did it go in there?”

Han Xiao shrugged, his expression neutral. “We explained what happened. They’re going to keep us under observation while they investigate further.”

“Sounds intense,” Tang Chen said, nodding. “But you did what you had to do. They’ll see that.”

Princess Ji Ying stepped forward, her smile never faltering. “Han Xiao, what you did last night was amazing. You and Han Xue were so brave. I knew you had it in you!”

Han Xiao felt a small, genuine smile tug at his lips. “Thanks, Ji Ying. We just did what we had to do.”

Han Xue glanced between them, her curiosity piqued. “What about you two? What’s going on?”

Tang Chen chuckled, leaning in conspiratorially. “We’ve been keeping an eye on things while you were inside. The academy is buzzing with rumors. Everyone’s talking about the assassins and how you two took them down.”

Ji Ying nodded vigorously. “Yeah, it’s all anyone can talk about. You two are like heroes now.”

Han Xiao sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’d rather not be a hero. I just want things to go back to normal.”

“Normal?” Tang Chen raised an eyebrow. “After last night, I’m not sure things will ever be normal again.”

Han Xue frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”

Tang Chen’s expression grew serious. “The Perpetual Nirvanic Alliance is involved. That’s not something that’s going to blow over easily. The academy is on high alert, and everyone’s watching their backs.”

Ji Ying reached out, reassuringly touching Han Xiao’s arm. “Don’t worry. You’ve got us, and we’ll get through this together.”

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Han Xiao looked at her, appreciating the support. “Thanks, Ji Ying. That means a lot.”

Tang Chen clapped a hand on Han Xiao’s shoulder. “We’re a team. Whatever comes next, we face it together. Right?”

Han Xiao nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination. “Right.”

“Yeah, until the bet is finished, I’ll look out for you,” Tang Chen then muttered, “Who would lose such a nice investment?”

As they walked away from the hall, the four of them chatted about the events and their plans for the days ahead. Despite the uncertainty, the sense of camaraderie and mutual support lifted Han Xiao’s spirits. Even though he knew Tang Chen had ulterior motives, he couldn’t help but feel optimistic. So far, all he’s done is help me, Han Xiao mused, trying to decipher Tang Chen's intentions.

“How’s your training for the upcoming martial meet?” Tang Chen asked, adjusting his glasses slightly.

“Pretty good, more or less.”

“Don’t forget our bet. You either make it into the top five or become my servant,” Tang Chen reminded him seriously.

“Servant!?” Han Xue exclaimed, frowning. “Are you out of your mind?”

“Princess Xue, this doesn’t concern you,” Han Xiao tried to calm her down.

“No, this is wrong. You’re the esteemed prince of the Han Nation. The idea of you becoming someone’s servant is ridiculous,” she protested, still holding a grudge against Tang Chen.

Han Xiao gently touched her hair, caressing her silver-white locks. “Don’t worry. It’s just a bet between men, and I’m not backing out since I’ve already benefited from it. And it’s just about making it into the top five of the Martial Meet. You know me. That’s not a problem.”

She finally calmed down, though she still felt resentful towards Tang Chen for the bet, which she found deeply antagonizing.

Tang Chen grinned from ear to ear as he watched the siblings. Interesting! I felt a dangerous aura just from her glance. What’s going on? First Han Xiao, and now this girl. Is the Han palace producing martial geniuses left and right? These siblings are definitely unusual. He had this strange idea of testing her limit.

Within the awkward and tense atmosphere, Yi Jing stepped forward and greeted, “Little Brother Xiao, we meet again.”

“It’s nice meeting you too,” Han Xiao responded, clasping his palms politely. Han Xue, however, scrutinized Yi Jing, trying to gauge the background and intentions of this cheerful young woman approaching her brother. She kept her displeasure to herself, not voicing her concerns.

“How has your training been going?” Ji Ying asked, her eyes sparkling with genuine curiosity.

“It’s been challenging but rewarding,” Han Xiao replied with a smile. “I’ve made some good progress.”

“That’s great to hear! I’ve been hearing rumors about your impressive skills. Everyone’s talking about how strong you’ve become.”

Han Xiao chuckled, “Rumors tend to exaggerate, but I appreciate the compliment.”

Ji Ying laughed softly, “Well if you ever need a sparring partner, I’m always up for a friendly match. It would be nice to see your progress firsthand.”

“Thank you, I might take you up on that offer,” Han Xiao said, his smile widening. “It’s always good to test oneself against skilled opponents.”

Han Xue remained silent, observing the exchange with narrowed eyes. She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Ji Ying than met the eye, but for now, she decided to keep her thoughts to herself. Is she romantically involved with Seventh? She wondered.

Just then, another beauty joined the scene. A melodious voice filled the air: “So, you are here. Tang Chen, where the hell have you been? I’ve been looking for you all morning.”

Everyone turned to see the otherworldly beautiful Yan Bingyan, who wore a similar pair of sunglasses to Tang Chen's.

“Little Yan, that’s not how you behave before your big brother. Otherwise, someone here might mistake our relationship. Don’t you think?” Tang Chen teased his tone light and questioning.

Yan Bingyan quickly took in her surroundings, her face flushing when she noticed Han Xiao among them. “Stop talking nonsense. I’m here for today’s practice. And why would I care about something as useless as that?” She sneaked another peek at Han Xiao, startled when their eyes met. “Hey, I’ll be at our usual place. You better turn up quickly, or I’ll twist your ears.” With that, she ran off, her heart pounding loudly against her will.

Han Xue noticed the awkwardness Yan Bingyan exhibited around her brother. She then shifted her gaze from the departing Bingyan to Han Xiao and then to the charming Ji Ying. They are all beauties. Is my stupid brother so attractive that he draws them in like moths to a flame? It's only been a day since I’ve been with him, and I’ve already met two ladies. And that one is the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen. If it were her, I’d accept her as a potential sister-in-law. She then turned her attention back to Ji Ying. But what’s the deal with her? She’s too old for my little Seventh, even though she looks okay.