Chapter 314 - Settling Down

Chapter 314: Chapter 69 Settling DownThe Holy Academy was vast, and the accommodation was of exceptional quality. Ci Nian Nian had her own villa.

After the recent turmoil, Ci Nian Nian dared not linger outside for long and brought the two back to her villa. She also sent Xiaohui to explain things to Xiaoan, hoping to ease the tension between her and Qing Ling, as the situation truly was baffling.

"Yes, yes, my lady," Xiaohui rolled her eyes at Ci Nian Nian, appearing reluctant. "As soon as there’s trouble, I’m the one you send to sort it out. Why don’t you go yourself?" Searᴄh the Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Ci Nian Nian grabbed Xiaohui’s arm, pleading, "Please do me this favor, can’t you see I’m busy? I need to get Lu Hong settled first, and then I have to go get the permit from my mentor. Without it, Lu Hong won’t be able to stay long at the Holy Academy."

"Or how about this, you go explain to Xiaoan, and I’ll take care of arranging accommodation and the permit for Brother Lu Hong."

There, Ci Nian Nian thought she had the wrong friend, releasing the other’s arm in frustration, "Asking for a bit of help brings all this back talk? If I went, I’d surely be entangled by Kontler, and you know it."

"Then why don’t you get together with Kontler and just give me back Brother Lu Hong?" Seeing Ci Nian Nian’s face growing grim, Xiaohui knew she had gone too far and hastily added, "Yes, yes, I’ll go, alright?"

"That’s more like it," Ci Nian Nian nodded. "I’ll treat you to the Sea Sky Feast tomorrow."

"Really?!" Xiaohui exclaimed, thrilled. "You better not be lying to me."

The Sea Sky Feast was the highest standard banquet offered at the VIP Building of the Holy Academy, featuring only the finest ingredients provided by the Eagle Alliance. A single meal would cost no less than thirty thousand Gold Coins. Xiaohui only had fifty thousand for the year.

"Would I lie to you?" Ci Nian Nian smiled. "It’ll be perfect to welcome and introduce Lu Hong, and we can officially announce our relationship while we’re at it."

"Let’s forget it then," Xiaohui pouted, turning away huffily.

Ci Nian Nian sighed inwardly, it wasn’t about competing with her, but aside from him, no one else dared to challenge the edge of the Xinlei family.

While the two women chatted, Lu Hong was having a conversation with Qing Ling. He was not unfamiliar with the identity of the Judgement Knight but was curious why a formally ranked Guard Knight was waiting on her.

"Why did Kontler cower at the sight of the Judgement Knight’s badge? Isn’t he from a Marquis family? Logically, his status shouldn’t be lower than that of a Judgement Knight, right?"

Qing Ling laughed, "I’m not sure about others, but the Hongqi family has long been openly clinging to the Judgement Knight’s coattails. Originally, they only had the title of Earl, but by aligning themselves with a Judgement Knight back then, they managed to grow stronger over a century, eventually being elevated to Marquis status. But at the core, they’re only a dog under the Judgement Knight’s command. My status is equal to the Judgement Knight who shelters him. Do you think he would dare to be presumptuous with me?"

"I see," Lu Hong nodded, then glanced at Ci Nian Nian and Xiaohui to make sure no one was eavesdropping before whispering to Qing Ling, "Since you have readily available subordinates to pick up, could you do me a favor?"

"What favor?" Qing Ling would certainly not refuse the task bestowed by her idol. She had to complete it.

Lu Hong lowered his voice further, "Help me investigate a bishop."

"A bishop?" Qing Ling blinked. "Which bishop?"

"I don’t know," Lu Hong shrugged.

"There are seven bishops. You want me to bring them all before you?" Qing Ling rolled her eyes in annoyance. "At least give me something to go on, otherwise, how am I supposed to investigate? And more importantly, what am I investigating?"

"Investigate which bishop once sneaked into the Rao Xue plane," continued Lu Hong. "You know why I ended up in the Rao Xue plane. If I can’t deal with this bishop in advance, I’ll definitely be recognized during the campaign of the Eagle Alliance, and then I’d be dead for sure."

"And even if you find out who it is, how will you convince them?" Qing Ling was perplexed. "Why are you even taking part in the campaign of the Eagle Alliance? I don’t understand. If your identity is discovered, no one can protect you."

"But if I don’t participate, the Star Sea will be in turmoil, and the wars of the Eagle Alliance would bring about a bloodbath. Countless innocent civilians would die, so I have to stop this war."

"So you want to win the championship and then wish to end the war?" Qing Ling was astonished, then looked at Lu Hong with reverence. "As expected of my idol, I fully support you!"

"Then help me investigate as soon as possible. I need to shut that bishop’s mouth before he ruins my plans."

"OK, no problem. I’ll gather my subordinates now and find out which bishop it is. I’ll let you know as soon as I have an update." After speaking, Qing Ling hurried off.

Having dealt with Xiaohui, Ci Nian Nian felt a gust of wind rush past as Qing Ling quickly disappeared.

"Where did she go?" Ci Nian Nian asked, puzzled.

"She’s going to take command of her subordinates."

"Huh?" Ci Nian Nian was taken aback. "This is her first time at the Holy Academy, does she even know where to find them?"

"Don’t worry, she’s a Third Transition expert. She’ll find a way."

"Third... Third Transition?" Ci Nian Nian stuttered. "You’re not lying to me?"

"Why would I lie?" Lu Hong smiled. "Is this the first time you’re seeing such a young Third Transition power?"

"Yes, the number one on our academy’s Wind and Cloud Ranking is still at the Second-Transition Peak. The mentor said she has a long way to go before reaching the Third Transition."

"You don’t know enough. I’ve seen other Third Transition experts around Qing Ling’s age. There’s one named Lina, a Knight."

"You’ve seen one? A Third-Transformation Knight who’s not even twenty?" Ci Nian Nian’s eyes widened: "My God, what kind of monsters are your friends?"

"She’s not my friend, just someone I know. As for her age, she seems a bit over twenty, but I’ve never specifically asked." Lu Hong recalled the valiant Lina, with whom he had a mere one-time encounter and thus knew very little.

"That’s still pretty amazing. The youngest Third-Transformation powerhouse in the history of the Holy Academy was thirty years old. A twenty-something Third-Transformation powerhouse has long outpaced the Academy." Ci Nian Nian said, "I wonder when you will reach the Third Transformation."

"Me?" Lu Hong smiled, "It’s still early days; I’m just at the Fifth Level of the Second Transition."

A Great War Master thinking straight of Third Transition, the road was long. And for an Angry Blood Warrior to reach Third Transition, who knows how much more experience was needed. You could say that the path for the two was still quite far apart, but Lu Hong firmly believed that once his dual professions broke through to the Third Transition, the power he would unleash would be incredibly robust. He had full confidence that he wouldn’t be miserably defeated even in a fight against the Tower Master.

After a quick settling in, Ci Nian Nian entrusted the purchase of all necessary living supplies to the maids of the villa and then dragged Lu Hong to their mentor’s residence to secure a permit for him.

Qing Ling didn’t need one; the educational department of the Holy Court would undoubtedly give her the best arrangement.

The Holy Academy did not refuse any outsiders, but come nightfall, anyone not wearing the Academy’s insignia would be enveloped by a sheath of moonlight within the night, making them very conspicuous. This was a unique scene of the Fourth Realm. The Academy used it to identify outsiders, and without a permit, those not belonging to the Academy were not allowed to stay overnight in the Fourth Realm, to prevent any accidents.

"Mentor Anna, are you there?" Ci Nian Nian knocked on the villa’s door, contacting the mentor inside through the magical device installed at the door.

Before long, the magic door of the villa opened automatically, and Anna’s voice resonated from the magic sound transmission: "Come in, why did you bring a man? Remember to have him take a bath first so he doesn’t dirty my home."

"Oh, got it." Ci Nian Nian stuck out her tongue and pulled Lu Hong into the villa.

A bath? Lu Hong was speechless; this was the first time he had heard that one needed to bathe before entering someone else’s house.

"Don’t mind it. Mentor Anna’s field of research is pure Water Elements; the interior needs to maintain absolute purity. I’m also a Water Mage, and thanks to elemental affinity, I won’t cause any damage. But you’ll need to put on a specialized protective suit."

"Alright, lead the way." Lu Hong nodded, indicating understanding.

After soaking in the external cleansing pool and changing into the specialized clothing brought by Ci Nian Nian, covering himself from head to toe, he was finally allowed by Anna to enter the house.

Before entering, there was no sensation, but once inside, Lu Hong was startled. The high-purity Water Elements had already filled the entire house; you could say the entire house was submerged in water.

Anna was sitting cross-legged in mid-air, exhaling small strings of bubbles with each breath.

"Mentor, I’ve returned," Ci Nian Nian greeted Anna.

"Mm, good to have you back. I told you to stay with me, but you wouldn’t comply. Why did you have to bring a man back after just one trip?" Anna’s eyes remained closed, but she was acutely aware of her surroundings.

"He’s my boyfriend."

"Pfft!" Anna immediately laughed out a large bubble: "Say that again?"

"He truly is my boyfriend." Ci Nian Nian confirmed once more: "I brought him here to ask you, mentor, to bestow a permit so he can stay overnight at the Academy."

"What!" Anna was shocked: "You want to keep a man overnight? Your father would break your legs if he knew. You’re not yet married; you mustn’t do anything foolish!"

"Mentor!" Ci Nian Nian’s head was beginning to ache; how could her stable mentor say such words today: "I’m not—how could you think that way!"

"Not?" Anna sighed with relief: "That’s good then. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to face your father’s entrustment."

"So, will you give the permit or not?" Ci Nian Nian pressed.

That’s when Anna finally opened her eyes and glanced at Lu Hong, her brows slightly furrowing: "Is this your boyfriend?"

"Junior Lu Hong, greeting Mentor." Lu Hong stepped forward and bowed with a fist in palm.

"Crude." Anna stepped onto the ground and walked towards a side room: "You, come with me."

"Huh?" Lu Hong was taken aback; what was this all about?

Ci Nian Nian gave Lu Hong a push: "If the mentor asks you to go, you go."

"Oh, alright." Lu Hong then followed Anna into the side room. As soon as he entered, the Water Elements around him surged violently, sealing the entire space.

Ci Nian Nian was also shocked and immediately began pounding on the sealed space: "Mentor? Mentor, what are you doing? Open the door, quickly!"

Lu Hong surveyed his surroundings warily and addressed Anna: "Mentor, is this really appropriate?"

Anna sneered: "I don’t know where you crawled out from, but you are not worthy of being Niannian’s man. She possesses a unique Elemental Water physique in the entire Alliance. She absolutely must protect her chastity until her cultivation is fully achieved."

What the hell? How is this my business?

Lu Hong was internally speechless, it was just a pretend relationship; did it need to be taken so seriously?