...Jiang’s residence was truly vast. Charlotte and the others, having carefully navigated for nearly two hours, finally arrived at the “Fengshao Estate”!
The moment they did, Robin emerged from a room and called out to Canni, “The Master bids you come!”
Canni offered an apologetic smile before accompanying Robin into the room.
Qiehe looked somewhat stunned; she still couldn't figure out the exact relationship between Canni, Zhong Shenxiu, and Robin.
Charlotte and Angelia, however, suspected something different from Qiehe. The instant Robin appeared, they had noticed the beautiful bracelet on her wrist and easily surmised it must have been a gift from Zhong Shenxiu. The two of them were currently preoccupied with guessing the bracelet’s function!
“Angelia,” Qiehe suddenly inquired, “Professor Ilena mentioned that you and Reese were both specially recruited to our academy, correct?”
“En,” Angelia simply nodded blankly, saying no more.
“Would you two like to take a look around first?” Cherry asked with a smile.
Angelia paused. She hadn't considered that question. She wasn't entirely certain if she genuinely intended to enroll there. She had always felt that following Zhong Shenxiu, gaining experience and learning alongside him, was a perfectly good arrangement, and she had never thought much beyond that! So, she remained silent, unsure how to reply.
However, Reese, standing nearby, interjected, “That decision must be approved by the master of the house!”
Qiehe knew the “master of the house” Reese referred to was Zhong Shenxiu, but she felt genuinely apprehensive about approaching him to discuss it.
What should she do?
Just as she was feeling awkward, Qiehe’s expression brightened suddenly; she had an idea. She decided it would be best to ask Canni for help, as Canni was the only one among them who could speak freely with Zhong Shenxiu and Robin, and she wouldn't feel nervous doing so!
More importantly, Canni was much gentler, and her perpetual smile made everyone feel comfortable!
The matter was settled in her mind, and the group quickly shifted to other topics. Through casual conversation, they learned that Cherry had returned five days ago, and the route she took was different from Charlotte’s, as she had bypassed the “Damp Forest”!
While they were chatting, Canni emerged from the room, alone this time.
When Charlotte and Angelia saw that Canni also wore a bracelet identical to Robin’s, they were momentarily stunned and exchanged glances, both seeing confusion mirrored in the other’s eyes.
They both knew one thing: anything Zhong Shenxiu gave Robin was easily more than twice or three times better than what he gave them. For instance, the wrist guard given to Angelia was clearly inferior to Robin’s “Repulsion-Attraction Bracer,” just as the sword “Fenghui” given to Charlotte was clearly far less impressive than Robin’s “Ink Whisper” sword!
What neither of them could fathom was that Canni, having spent only a day or two with Zhong Shenxiu, possessed something on the same level as Robin. How could this not evoke envy and shock in them?
Both women stared intently at the bracelet, their gaze so fixed it was as if they wished to devour it whole.
“Sister Canni, where did you go?” Qiehe greeted her with a smile.
It was clear that Qiehe had already been completely won over by Canni; they had only just met yesterday, yet she was already so familiar.
Canni merely smiled, offering no answer, maintaining an air of mystery.
“Wow, what a beautiful bracelet,” Cherry’s eyes lit up as she finally noticed the storage bracelet on Canni’s wrist.
Canni deliberately extended her hand so Qiehe could get a closer look, then said with a knowingly gentle smile, “Shenxiu gave this to me. Isn't it lovely?”
Unbeknownst to her, upon hearing that, Qiehe’s small mouth formed a perfect ‘O’ shape, because she never expected Canni to call Zhong Shenxiu by his given name, and with such an intimate tone to boot!
Canni assumed Qiehe was just astonished by the storage bracelet and offered no further explanation.
Speaking of which, Canni deserved admiration here. When Zhong Shenxiu presented her with the bracelet and explained its function, she hadn't shown a shred of surprise. Instead, she accepted it readily, her composure rivaling Robin’s own.
Perhaps the same thought had formed in her mind as in Robin’s: With Zhong Shenxiu, anything was possible!
Just then, Charlotte and Angelia approached as well, curiously examining the storage bracelet.
Qiehe, assuming the bracelet was merely decorative, quickly relayed her decision to Canni after recovering from her surprise.
“Sister Canni, could I ask you a favor?” Qiehe asked, adopting a very cute expression.
“What is it?” Canni remained kind, always sporting a smile that instantly fostered closeness.
“Later, I’d like to show you around our academy. Could you possibly speak to the master for me?”
Qiehe, too, had started referring to Zhong Shenxiu as the “master” now.
“Of course!” Canni readily agreed.
If Canni were to be compared to an object, she was like the thread connecting Zhong Shenxiu with Charlotte and the others.
Zhong Shenxiu was someone who preferred few words, while Charlotte’s group was overly cautious around him, leading to sparse communication between the two parties. Canni’s inclusion smoothed this over. Although she had only known Zhong Shenxiu for a short time, she understood him better than Charlotte’s group. She could convey Zhong Shenxiu’s thoughts to them, and they could relay their ideas to her; she served as the essential link!
Qiehe offered Canni a sweet smile; it was evident she was genuinely delighted.
“Sister Canni,” Qiehe said after smiling, “I think you are quite similar to my Professor Ilena. You are both such incredibly kind people!”
To this, Canni suddenly put on a mischievous expression, then adopted a playfully threatening voice, “But I can be very wicked, are you afraid?” With that, she launched a surprise attack, beginning to tickle Qiehe’s ribs.
Qiehe burst into giggles and ran away, becoming even less afraid of Canni!
After laughing, Canni asked Qiehe, “Qiehe, what is your Professor Ilena like?”
“She’s a wonderful person, just like you, Sister Canni!” Qiehe replied, half-seriously, half-jokingly. “Professor Ilena often teases us too; she has none of the airs of a teacher!”
“Is that so? Then when you have a chance, you must introduce her to me!” Canni said with a smile.
“We don’t have to wait! Professor Ilena returned with us; she’s already at our academy,” Cherry replied. The thought of Canni and Ilena hitting it off immediately gave her a sense of excitement.
“Then please wait a moment, I’ll go call Shenxiu and the other one,” Canni said as she started to turn back toward the house.
But Qiehe quickly stopped her, appearing hesitant and about to say something.
“What is it?” Canni asked softly.
“Um…” Canni sister,” Qiehe hesitated before lowering her voice, “Will the master scold you?”
It turned out she was worried about Canni! What a sweet child!
Canni paused for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle, finally composing herself before speaking seriously to Qiehe, “He won’t!”
The reason Qiehe and the others feared Zhong Shenxiu was mainly because they didn't truly understand him. Canni was different. In her eyes, Zhong Shenxiu was not just a young master but someone who also needed care. How could a person like that inspire fear in her?
This, perhaps, was the true charm of an older, capable woman: possessing broad tolerance and maternal instinct!
Qiehe watched Canni’s retreating back as she entered the room, momentarily lost in thought. She was completely captivated by Canni’s aura, even beginning to wonder if she, too, could become like Canni when she grew up!
Meanwhile, Charlotte and Angelia also began to admire Canni. Although they far surpassed Canni in strength, when it came to temperament and handling affairs, they felt they had a long way to go!
After a while, Zhong Shenxiu and Robin actually emerged with Canni, which surprised the group again, leading them to wonder how exactly she had persuaded him.
“Alright, let’s go!” Canni said with a smile to Qiehe.
Qiehe nodded dazedly and then led the group toward the “Hikkikomori Magic and Martial Arts Academy.”
At the “Hikkikomori Magic and Martial Arts Academy,” students were on holiday. Although a few remained on campus, the number was small, making the grounds feel quite deserted.
Under the shade of a tree, Thomas looked at Solomon with a grave expression. After a long silence, he asked, “Have you truly decided? Are you really going to file for graduation in the next few days?”
Solomon nodded without a word.
He had deliberated on this decision for a long time. After accompanying Ilena to “Gulu City,” he had experienced a profound realization of what it meant to know there are always greater people beyond what one knows!
He wanted to become stronger. While that desire had always existed, it had never been as intense as it was now, especially after the humiliating defeat against Austin, which still stung deeply!
He had made up his mind: after completing the graduation procedures, he would join a mercenary group to gain practical combat experience through adventures!
In truth, his real ambition was to train under Zhong Shenxiu. He had noticed that the speed at which his classmate Angelia improved after staying with Zhong Shenxiu was astonishingly fast. Especially the bizarre technique Angelia used in the final match of the “Academy Ranking Tournament”—the “Butterfly Step”—had thoroughly shocked him.
However, this wish seemed unattainable. Not only had Zhong Shenxiu already refused his request, but he didn’t even know where Zhong Shenxiu currently was. Rumor had it he had moved away, though nobody knew where!
“Brother Solomon, perhaps you should reconsider?” Laurent, standing beside them, urged with evident reluctance.
“You two don’t need to persuade me anymore. I’ve already—” Solomon’s voice abruptly cut off. His entire body froze where he stood. His eyes were fixed straight ahead, as if he had seen a ghost.
Thomas and Laurent looked in the direction of Solomon’s gaze with curiosity. One glance was all it took, and they, too, froze!