"I'm back."
Xu Yi gently patted Yu Xiaoyu's back and nodded to Hong Jing and the other two.
Seeing Xu Yi, Hong Jing's expression softened considerably.
For some reason, seeing Xu Yi gave him a sense of reassurance, and the issues that had been bothering him seemed less troublesome.
Bei Xinghan shifted his gaze uncomfortably, quietly breathing a sigh of relief.
"Where are you guys planning to go?"
Xu Yi asked softly after Yu Xiaoyu had calmed down a bit.
"It's like this..."
"We're planning to find Xi Ren and have him help us resolve our misunderstanding."
Yu Xiaoyu and Hong Jing spoke at the same time.
After saying a few words, Hong Jing stopped and let Yu Xiaoyu finish.
"Did Xi Ren take advantage of you?" Xu Yi asked.
"He..." Yu Xiaoyu's eyes were red, and she hesitated to speak.
Xi Ren, like her, was a disciple of the academy. Xi Ren naturally wouldn't dare to take any overly aggressive actions, but the condescending tone in his words made her very uncomfortable, so she had refused him directly.
After being rejected, Xi Ren not only didn't back down but also became persistent.
Then Xiong Zhuangzhuang helped her out of the situation, and Xi Ren slandered her, saying she was involved with Xiong Zhuangzhuang, which led to Xiong Zhuangzhuang fighting Xi Ren.
Yu Xiaoyu had been thinking for the past few days that if she had been a little more tactful back then, perhaps the outcome would have been different.
"Xiaoyu, it's not your fault. Anyone who wants to defy your will and do things you don't like is in the wrong. Don't blame yourself."
Although Xu Yi hadn't heard the rest of her words, she could roughly guess Yu Xiaoyu's thoughts and said earnestly.
"Xu Yi..." Yu Xiaoyu's eyes welled up with tears again.
Xu Yi could always see through her thoughts and then gently comfort her.
Being able to know Xu Yi was the luckiest thing in her life.
"I'll go with you to the medicine hall and visit Xiong Zhuangzhuang along the way," Xu Yi said.
Both Xi Ren and Xiong Zhuangzhuang were lying in the medicine hall, so it was convenient to understand the situation for both of them.
The five of them quickly arrived at the medicine hall, heading first to Xiong Zhuangzhuang's room.
"Xiong Zhuangzhuang, how did you end up looking like this?"
When Xu Yi entered the room, she was startled by Xiong Zhuangzhuang's appearance on the bed.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang was completely wrapped in white bandages, with only his bright black eyes exposed.
Hearing Xu Yi's voice, Xiong Zhuangzhuang's eyes blinked rapidly, and a muffled voice came through the bandages, "Xu Yi is back."
Xu Yi took three quick steps to Xiong Zhuangzhuang's side and carefully examined his injuries.
Yu Xiaoyu explained from the side, "Xiong Zhuangzhuang's injuries are all external. These bandages are to help set his bones."
Xi Ren was a body cultivator, and his body's resilience was even stronger than Xiong Zhuangzhuang's bear-like physique.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang, fighting against him, naturally suffered a disadvantage.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang's current condition was a result of Xi Ren holding back; otherwise, Xiong Zhuangzhuang might still be unconscious.
Xu Yi reached the same conclusion and felt relieved. Her eyes darted, and then she winked at Xiong Zhuangzhuang, saying, "Not bad. Even though you're injured, you still played the hero to save the beauty. You get a big credit for that."
Upon hearing this, Xiong Zhuangzhuang became even more agitated.
He struggled to twist his body twice and mumbled, "Of course! We can't just stand by and watch Yu Xiaoyu be bullied by others. If I had arrived earlier, the one lying here would be that kid."
"You don't know yet? Xi Ren is lying right next door to you," Xu Yi turned to look at Bei Xinghan and the others, then said to Xiong Zhuangzhuang.
"Ah, why is that kid lying down too?" Xiong Zhuangzhuang's eyes were filled with confusion.
Xu Yi chuckled again, "Isn't it Bei Xinghan who avenged you? He went and beat up Xi Ren."
"Hahaha... cough cough." Xiong Zhuangzhuang had only laughed a couple of times before his injuries were aggravated, causing him to cough incessantly. After finally stopping, he turned his eyes with difficulty to find Bei Xinghan.
Finally, seeing that Bei Xinghan was standing too far away, he gave up in frustration.
"Bei Xinghan, you're really loyal. Thanks."
Bei Xinghan said faintly, "You get well soon."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang blinked his eyes hard, feeling delighted.
He had initially thought Bei Xinghan was cold and aloof, but now it seemed he had misunderstood him. Bei Xinghan was actually quite nice.
"You rest well. We're going to see Xi Ren next door."
After chatting with Xiong Zhuangzhuang for a while, Xu Yi stood up to leave.
"Go ahead, go ahead. I'm almost fine. In a couple more days, I'll be as vigorous as ever."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang's mood was not affected by Xu Yi's words. Although Xi Ren had beaten him, Bei Xinghan had also avenged him afterward, so the score between him and Xi Ren was settled; neither owed the other anything.
As for other matters, Xiong Zhuangzhuang didn't think much about them.
"Xiaoyu, stay here and chat with Xiong Zhuangzhuang for a bit longer. We'll go see Xi Ren."
As Xu Yi was about to leave the room, she said to Yu Xiaoyu, who was walking behind.
"Xu Yi, I'll go with you."
To Xu Yi's surprise, Yu Xiaoyu refused her suggestion.
Xu Yi met Yu Xiaoyu's gaze. Seeing her determined eyes, she said no more.
In Xi Ren's room, besides him, there were two other disciples who had entered the sect in the same batch. One of them was even an acquaintance of Xu Yi and Yu Xiaoyu.
"Xu Yi? When did you get back?"
Hua Wuchang, who had been leaning against the wall idly picking at his nails,'s eyes lit up when he saw Xu Yi enter.
"Senior Brother Hua."
Xu Yi smiled slightly, paid her respects to him, and then immediately focused her gaze on the man lying on the bed.
The man had an ordinary appearance, his face covered in wounds from sword energy, his lips pale, and his eyes half-closed, as if he were neither fully awake nor asleep.
"What are you guys here for?"
The woman guarding Xi Ren saw Xu Yi and the others, her expression turning unfriendly.
Her voice also startled Xi Ren, who was dozing.
Xi Ren's gaze slowly focused, and he immediately saw Yu Xiaoyu at the back. He said with surprise, "Xiaoyu? Are you here to see me?"
Xu Yi looked at Xi Ren with surprise, not expecting him to persist even in this state.
His companion, the female cultivator Lin Lan, was also angered by Xi Ren.
"You've been beaten up like this by their people, and you're still thinking about Yu Xiaoyu. You deserve it!"
"It wasn't Xiaoyu who hit me," Xi Ren gave a weak smile, and did not forget to seek Yu Xiaoyu's agreement, "Right, Xiaoyu?"
Lin Lan: ...
The people from Courtyard 44, led by Xu Yi: ...
"Fine, just wait and be beaten to death by them. I'm done with you."
Lin Lan left in a huff.
Before leaving, she couldn't resist giving Yu Xiaoyu a glare.
Yu Xiaoyu ignored her, still staring blankly at Xi Ren.
She had insisted on coming along because she thought if Xi Ren wanted to vent his anger later, he would direct it all at her alone, not implicating others.
But she hadn't expected Xi Ren to have this attitude. Previously, when Qiu Ren had mistakenly thought there was something else going on between her and Xiong Zhuangzhuang, his eyes had turned red as if he were about to eat someone. But now, he looked incredibly normal.
The stark contrast made Yu Xiaoyu a little frightened.