348: Chapter 348 The Harvest... May Have Exceeded Expectations

After leaving Princess Anya's palace, Qin Yan did not return directly to the camp.

Instead, guided by an elven guard, he arrived at a quiet side hall near the palace complex, arranged for the temporary residence of high-ranking human officials.

The hall door was slightly ajar, and the interior was brightly lit.

Qin Yan stood still outside the door and spoke respectfully, "Is Dean Su in?"

"Come in."

Su Zhiming's clear, yet slightly weary, voice came from inside the door.

Qin Yan pushed the door open and entered.

Seeing Qin Yan return safely, a flicker of relief passed through Su Zhiming's eyes, but it was overshadowed by a heavy weight.

Of the students from Modu University of Martial Arts who participated in the Hidden Dragon Assembly, only Qin Yan and Li Mu had ultimately returned alive to this place.

Even though Su Zhiming, as a Great Grandmaster, had long been accustomed to the cruelty of the martial path and the unpredictability of life and death.

Yet, whenever faced with the loss of these vibrant young lives, especially seedlings carefully nurtured by his own school, the pain and regret in his heart remained difficult to completely erase.

Most of them were only around twenty years old, their life's scrolls just beginning to unfurl, yet they were already forever frozen in the ancient mountains of another world.

"Qin Yan, coming so late, is there something urgent?"

Su Zhiming collected his thoughts and looked at Qin Yan.

He sensed a trace of barely perceptible gravity in Qin Yan's expression.

"Dean," Qin Yan stepped closer and lowered his voice, "this student's gains from the Canglin Ancient Peak this time... might be quite a bit larger than anticipated."

He weighed his words carefully.

"Oh?" Su Zhiming raised an eyebrow slightly, signaling him to continue.

Qin Yan then briefly recounted how he obtained the holy grail of life and gave it to Anya, also mentioning that in the later stages of the ancient mountains, by chance, he "defeated" that notoriously ferocious Black Ancient Tree, thereby obtaining its large legacy of points, which included most of Feng Jin's inheritance.

Of course, he still omitted the core secrets concerning Little Black's true identity, the Demonic Blood physique, the Blood Puppet, and the like.

After all, he didn't know what the human race's attitude towards demons was; he would decide after investigating further!

Su Zhiming listened quietly. When he heard that Qin Yan had obtained Feng Jin's points, his eyebrows raised slightly; he roughly understood why this kid had come to him.

"You're worried that when the points are finally settled and announced, your ranking will reach a conspicuous height, possibly even... placing among the top.

Afraid that a tall tree attracts the wind, that you might be secretly targeted by certain alien forces who suffered heavy losses or harbor ill intentions, and might even encounter mishaps after leaving the elven sphere of influence?"

Qin Yan nodded heavily. "The dean sees clearly. That is precisely this student's concern.

Although Princess Anya has promised protection, our human race is only allied with Princess Anya personally, not closely connected with all factions of the entire elven race.

If other elven royal factions, or other powerful races, secretly cause trouble, or even bribe certain desperadoes... this student fears it would be hard to guard against."

Su Zhiming narrowed his eyes slightly, falling into deep thought.

Qin Yan's concerns were not unfounded.

Although the Hidden Dragon Assembly proceeded under relatively fair rules.

Once out of the ancient mountains, back in the real world, all sorts of underhanded tricks and shady methods were hard to predict.

The fall of a True King's descendant involved too many interests and emotions; it was hard to guarantee that some forces wouldn't transfer their wrath onto the individuals with the "greatest gains."

Qin Yan's current points, combined with his account, were likely truly an astonishing number.

"The possibility you mention certainly exists."

Su Zhiming spoke slowly, his tone serious.

At that moment, Su Zhiming's expression shifted slightly; he sensed someone else approaching the side hall from outside.

A moment later, a voice as clear and cold as an icy spring came from outside the door: "Is Dean Su in?"

It was Liu Ruyan.

Qin Yan was slightly startled. So late, and Liu Ruyan was also looking for the dean?

He subconsciously glanced back and forth between the tightly closed door and Su Zhiming's face.

A strange suspicion couldn't help but arise in his heart—could there be some special connection or secret between these two?

"You brat, what are you glancing around at!"

Su Zhiming, being a man of his stature, immediately caught Qin Yan's subtle look.

Instantly understanding the unreliable things this kid was thinking about.

He couldn't help but laugh and scold, feigning anger: "Put away those messy thoughts of yours!"

"Come in."

Su Zhiming said to the person outside the door.

The door was gently pushed open, and Liu Ruyan stepped in.

She was still wearing an elegant long dress, her cold face appearing exceptionally pale under the lamplight.

Seeing Qin Yan in the room, a flicker of surprise passed through her eyes, but it instantly returned to calm.

She gave a slight bow to Su Zhiming: "Dean."

"Ruyan, speak directly if you have something to say."

Liu Ruyan, upon hearing this, then spoke: "Dean, this student's gains from the Canglin Ancient Peak this time... may somewhat exceed expectations."

Su Zhiming felt these words were somewhat familiar.

He signaled for her to continue.

Immediately, Liu Ruyan began narrating her main experiences in the ancient mountains in concise, clear language.

A short while later, Liu Ruyan finished her account.

The hall fell into a brief silence, the air seeming to grow several degrees heavier.

Su Zhiming leaned back in his chair, pressed his fingers firmly against his temples, and let out a long sigh.

One Qin Yan was already enough of a headache; now there was another Liu Ruyan.

These two kids, one more capable of "stirring up trouble" than the other, and also one luckier than the other.

After a long moment, Su Zhiming let out another long sigh.

That sigh contained helplessness, gravity, and also a trace of resolve.

He looked at Qin Yan and Liu Ruyan, his gaze sharp: "I understand the situation.

You two, from now on, until we safely leave the elven ancestral lands and return to human territory, are not to leave the protective perimeter of Princess Anya's core palace area without permission!

I will shortly communicate with Princess Anya to request she strengthen security for you two, as well as our human team.

I will also contact the school to request additional personnel for support."

"During this time, you need to maintain a low profile as much as possible, be cautious in speech and action. All actions are to follow my arrangements.

Understood?"

Qin Yan and Liu Ruyan exchanged a glance, both seeing gravity in the other's eyes, and responded seriously in unison: "Understood, Dean!"

"Alright, you may leave now. Rest in the side hall next door; don't wander off. I'm going to see Princess Anya immediately."

Su Zhiming waved his hand, his figure flickering, already vanished from the chair, leaving only a faint ripple of energy in the air.

Inside the side hall, only Qin Yan and Liu Ruyan remained.

Qin Yan's gaze fell on Liu Ruyan's calm profile, his heart surging with waves.

He never would have thought that the "Woman in Red Robes" from the rumors—whose sword aura was startling, who could contend head-on with the dragon clan prodigy Long Yin, mysterious and unfathomable—her true identity was actually the cold-as-frost prodigy from Longhua Academy standing before him: Liu Ruyan!

"Could it be that it was Liu Ruyan's 'second personality' that took control of the body at that time?"

He suddenly remembered that his senior sister had previously mentioned that Liu Ruyan possessed a "second personality."

After switching, her temperament and strength would change significantly.

Recalling the red-robed woman's signature red attire, her sharp and decisive style, and that stunning phoenix sword aura...

Everything seemed to line up.