晏娇娇 did not have the luxury of concern, only trying her best to make herself inconspicuous.
On her way to the Wood Sect, all she heard were people discussing last night's events.
The black cloud monster possessed profound demonic arts. Even without seeing the scene, Xuan Chen could discern its power from the traces. Coupled with the previous intrusion from the Demon Realm, sealing off the high platform was not surprising.
However, no one could have imagined that the one fighting the black cloud monster was her.
The Wood Sect was already in sight. Yan Jiaojiao had previously sent a message via paper crane to Xu Changzong. She headed straight for the Wood Sect's alchemy room. Just as she reached the entrance, she saw Xu Changzong walking out with several bottles of medicine in his hand.
"Are you injured?" Xu Changzong's eyes held concern. After carefully examining Yan Jiaojiao and confirming she was unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief and handed her the medicine bottles. "Do you need so many healing potions as spares? I was worried you might have been hurt."
"They are just spares," Yan Jiaojiao found it inconvenient to reveal the injuries of the little black dog. "I'll be starting to learn techniques in a few days, so I'm getting some from you now just in case."
Xu Changzong knew she was going to cultivate the five sects' heart methods. He nodded and said, "If you have any difficulties with the Wood Sect's heart method, you can ask me. When you learn how to refine them yourself later, you can make these healing potions yourself."
Yan Jiaojiao was naturally grateful to Xu Changzong. After a few more words, her mind preoccupied with the injured little black dog, she hastily bid farewell to Xu Changzong and left.
But the more one hurried, the more obstacles arose, as if it were an unchanging law.
Just like now, Yan Jiaojiao, holding the medicine, wanted to return quickly, but halfway there, she encountered Yan Ruxue and her group.
Ever since Yan Zhengfeng visited Go Nan Academy last time and generously donated a set of protective clothing and other supplies to all the students of the Fire Sect, Yan Ruxue's status had soared. Coupled with her usual subtle methods of winning people over, she was now doing exceptionally well, at least within the Fire Sect.
This was evident from Yan Ruxue's renewed efforts to curry favor with Xiao Su and others.
Yan Jiaojiao saw them from afar and immediately wanted to avoid them. But Yan Ruxue, rare as it was for her to feel triumphant, wouldn't let such a good opportunity to show off slip by. She immediately called out to Yan Jiaojiao and, as she walked over, said mockingly, "You're still so impolite. Don't you greet Senior Sister Tang when you see her?"
Only then did Yan Jiaojiao look carefully. It turned out that among their group were not only Xiao Su and Wen Jinshu, but also the rumored Tang Xiye.
That made sense. Xiao Su and Wen Jinshu, with their high self-regard, would surely want to associate with extraordinary people. Someone like Tang Xiye, the leading figure in the academy, would definitely be someone they would seek to "befriend."
Moreover, as Yan Ruxue had said, almost every student passing by them paid their respects to Tang Xiye, treating her with the same deference as the academy's headmaster.
"You are Yan Jiaojiao?" Tang Xiye spoke first, her eyes critically appraising Yan Jiaojiao from head to toe.
Tang Xiye had not attended the freshman assessment. Although she had heard about Yan Jiaojiao changing the academy rules and other deeds, she hadn't paid much attention to her. It was only when she saw Yan Jiaojiao today that her sixth sense developed a inexplicable dislike for her.
"Senior Sister Tang," Yan Jiaojiao, not wanting to get entangled with them, feigned compliance and called out, as if returning the greeting.
However, Yan Ruxue did not intend to let her off. After all, ever since she entered Go Nan Academy, she had never gained an advantage over Yan Jiaojiao. Now that she had the favor of the academy's most popular figure, why not seize the opportunity to put Yan Jiaojiao in her place and reclaim some dignity?
"I recall it was your birthday yesterday. Could it be that your gift is this pile of medicine bottles? If no one celebrated your birthday, you could still tell your sister, and I would have celebrated it properly for you."
"I think you're just looking for trouble," Yan Jiaojiao said, impatient, and pushed past Yan Ruxue, intending to leave.
Yan Ruxue's expression immediately changed, and resentment and indignation flooded her face. She angrily said, "A senior sister is like a sheltering tree. Yan Jiaojiao, no matter how you look at it, I haven't treated you badly in the past. You repeatedly bully me now; do you feel any remorse?"
"You know best whether it's good or bad yourself; why pretend to deceive others," Yan Jiaojiao said as she walked, her mind solely on the little black dog inside.
Wen Jinshu and Xiao Su, aware of the discord between the "two sisters," had been standing aside without a word, merely observing.
Unexpectedly, after hearing Yan Jiaojiao's words, Tang Xiye, as if personally offended, said sternly, "How can you speak to your senior sister like that? You truly have no upbringing. I didn't believe it when others said you were rebellious, ran away from home, and disrespected your elders. Now I've seen it for myself."
Yan Jiaojiao couldn't help but turn back to look at Tang Xiye. Her clear eyes conveyed the unspoken message: "None of your business."
This glance further enraged Tang Xiye. As if her tail had been stepped on, she pointed at Yan Jiaojiao and exclaimed, "A student like you, who is so disrespectful of your elders, is not fit for my Go Nan Academy!"
Yan Jiaojiao felt she must have been subjected to some trauma, causing her to be so sensitive and frenzied now. It was simply incomprehensible.
However, as soon as Tang Xiye finished speaking, the students moving around them fell silent, all looking at Yan Jiaojiao. There were looks of mockery, curiosity, and schadenfreude, all kinds of gazes. And in most people's eyes, there was a hint of sympathy.
Yan Ruxue revealed a triumphant smile and maliciously approached Yan Jiaojiao, whispering, "Do you know? Once Senior Sister Tang declares someone unfit, that person is bound to have bad luck. Any student can come and discipline you. The last person like that was Wei Congling, who shared a room with you."
Yan Jiaojiao's brow furrowed. She truly didn't know about such an unwritten rule.
Recalling Wei Congling's dispirited and reclusive appearance the first time she met him, Yan Jiaojiao couldn't help but stare back coldly. Using what she had learned in the 22nd century in her previous life, she thought of Tang Xiye as a "school bully."
"Sister hopes you can endure," Yan Ruxue patted Yan Jiaojiao's shoulder, but she skillfully dodged. Yan Ruxue's hand missed, and her face contorted again, but she forced herself to control it. "I won't be provoked by you anymore, because I'm waiting to see you being bullied by the entire school."
"A dog relying on its master's power," Yan Jiaojiao said softly, her lips forming the four clear characters.
Yan Ruxue almost lost her composure, gritting her back teeth before lowering her raised hand. She said fiercely, "You just wait and see."
"At any time, I'm ready..."
However, before Yan Jiaojiao could finish speaking, she heard Tang Xiye, with an expression of utter intolerance, shout at Yan Jiaojiao, "Kneel down and apologize to your sister!"
With the support of her backing, Yan Ruxue became even more smug. "Senior Sister Tang despises those who disrespect their elders the most. Yan Jiaojiao, I advise you to kneel down before she becomes completely enraged."