178: Chapter 178 Mu Changqiu

The day of the appointment arrived.

Xing Yaoyan arrived at the place she had previously agreed upon with Qian Mo right on time.

"Hiss... Although it's not time to take missions yet, aren't there a bit too many people today...?"

Looking at the crowd that almost filled the huge mission board room, she wondered to herself if the entire school had gathered here.

Since only Longxiang Academy students who had reached the Fourth Rank could take missions here, she had only glanced inside once or twice whenever she passed by before; this was her first time actually entering.

"Those who haven't reached the Fourth Rank, stand outside! Don't block others from taking missions later!"

Someone in front was shouting through a spiritual power megaphone.

Everyone snatched missions; the missions released that day would basically be swept clean in no time.

The crowd shifted quickly, and taking advantage of this gap, Xing Yaoyan saw the speaker clearly—it seemed to be someone she had met once before, Xiao Meng's brother, Xiao Long.

The Black Wind Wolf, Xiao Hei, was standing by his feet. This fellow looked quite handsome now; its originally pure black body now had a few purple stripes, and its size had increased significantly, reaching half a person's height.

It seemed to sense her gaze and looked at her with a somewhat provocative air. However, that one look was enough; a certain inexplicable fear buried deep in its heart suddenly surfaced. It immediately turned its head away stiffly, not daring to look at her again.

"Hmph... Silly dog..."

Xing Yaoyan lifted her head with a bit of pride.

However, judging by the powerful spiritual power fluctuations radiating from the two of them, they should both be at the Fourth Rank as well.

"Sorry... I was delayed on the road by something just now..."

A familiar voice sounded in her ear.

After Xing Yaoyan turned her head and saw the familiar figure, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly. Ever since that incident a few days ago, she felt she was becoming increasingly unable to hide that strange feeling for Qian Mo in her heart.

"Why are there so many people today?"

Xing Yaoyan only glanced at Qian Mo before immediately turning her head back.

"Indeed... it shouldn't be..."

To her surprise, the boy was also muttering to himself in confusion.

"What shouldn't be..."

Xing Yaoyan was halfway through her sentence when she heard the heated discussion of several people nearby.

"Did you know? Kyoto is going to make a big move this time!"

"Of course I know. Otherwise, why would I, a Third Rank, come here?"

"Wait... don't tell me you all found out from an anonymous text message..."

"Eh? To be honest, I really did."

"Holy crap! Me too!"

"Is it possible that this is just a prank...?"

"Prank my foot! Did you see that group over there? They are all from the 'Hidden Dragon Pavilion,' the top Geniuses of our Longxiang Academy. Usually, they wouldn't even stay at school. Why do you think they've all returned today?"

Xing Yaoyan followed their gaze and saw several men and women sitting or standing in a distant corner, quietly staying there, completely out of place with the noisy atmosphere around them.

It wasn't until she focused her attention on them that Xing Yaoyan sensed the immense pressure faintly radiating from them. There was a vacuum zone of a dozen meters around them where no one stood; it seemed everyone held them in great awe.

Among them, Xing Yaoyan also saw a familiar figure—Ning Yunyan.

That stinking thief had his back to her and seemed to be chatting with someone.

"Qian Mo... do you know about the Hidden Dragon Pavilion?"

She gently nudged Qian Mo's waist with her elbow.

"Oh... I know. Just a group of hot-blooded youths with hearts higher than the sky..."

"Then, have they invited you to join?"

"Yes, but I refused."

"What... look down on them?"

"No... I just feel like they aren't the same kind of people as me. Besides... I still have many things to do..."

Looking at Qian Mo's suddenly serious face, an inexplicable emotion welled up in Xing Yaoyan's heart.

"Can I know what they are?"

"Of course. First is to investigate the truth behind my parents' deaths; second is to kill someone who is a bit difficult to kill; as for the third..."

Qian Mo suddenly lowered his head and stared straight at the girl, who seemed to have suddenly stiffened, and then he smiled.

"I want to find my long-lost family..."

Xing Yaoyan's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Oh no... he didn't figure it out, did he?!

"But she seems to be a girl too, and she's not related to me by blood, so you shouldn't be jealous, right...?"

Phew... scared me to death...

"Jealous my foot! I'm warning you, Qian Mo, there are a lot of people here. If you dare to flirt with this Young Miss in public, watch out or someone might cover your head and beat you up when you go out!"

Xing Yaoyan shook her fist at the boy's pleading expression and said crossly.

"Good morning, you two."

Suddenly, a polite male voice came from behind the two of them.

Looking back, they saw a man wearing a beige cashmere cardigan and black khaki pants standing behind them with a smile, wearing a gold-rimmed monocle on his right eye.

"My name is Mu Changqiu. Junior Qian Mo should have heard of me, and as for Miss Xing Yan... allow me to introduce myself solemnly once again: I am the current Master of the Hidden Dragon Pavilion, a Sixth Rank Esper, and one of the successors to the human leader—Mu Changqiu."

After speaking, he bowed slightly to Xing Yaoyan and continued to look into the girl's beautiful golden pupils with a smile, seemingly completely indifferent to the gradually darkening expression on Qian Mo's face beside her.

"Mu Changqiu... didn't you take some important mission? And with your strength, why are you here joining the commotion?"

Xing Yaoyan could hear the slight hint of jealousy in Qian Mo's voice.

So this is what it feels like to have someone be jealous for you...

"Well, I heard a big figure came to our Longxiang Academy, who challenged all the experts in the Longxiang Academy on her first day. I admire her very much. Since I've been a bit free lately and there's an interesting activity at the Longxiang Academy, I rushed back immediately."

He deliberately raised his voice, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

"Look! Isn't that Mu Changqiu? I heard he broke through to the Sixth Rank at twenty-four and has a mythical grade Superpower! He's truly a Genius among Geniuses!"

"Eh! The ones in front of him seem to be Qian Mo and Xing Yan! When did they get here? I didn't even notice them!"

"But... look at where they're standing; it looks like they're about to take a mission. They couldn't be at the Fourth Rank already, could they?!"

"Hiss~ You don't say..."

No one questioned the talent of the Saintess of the Demon Race; they were mainly surprised by Qian Mo's speed of improvement.

You know, it was previously rumored that this guy had no Innate spiritual power, yet he suddenly awakened a legendary grade Superpower during the Awakening ceremony. Furthermore, he actually broke through to the Third Rank in just one short semester, and now he's already at the Fourth Rank. Isn't this speed a bit too Heaven-Defying...

"Boss?"

Over there, Ning Yunyan glanced slightly at Mu Changqiu, and the moment he saw Xing Yaoyan, he turned his head back crossly.

"Forget it, ignore him. Just let him show off for a bit..."

The tall beauty beside him pushed up the red frames on the bridge of her nose and sighed helplessly.

But if even he has returned... then this operation is going to be quite lively...