ALL NOVEL Chapter 53: Asking for Leave
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Chapter 53: Asking for Leave
"Is this the list of new students who passed the requirements today?!"
Ruo Lin looked at the registration book in her hands, her eyes showing an expression of astonishment.
Although Jia Nan Academy was enrolling new students in Wutan City today, the scope of enrollment wasn't limited to Wutan City, and even some surrounding cities were included.
Even so, up until now, only fifty students had passed the requirements, and of those fifty, twenty-three were surnamed Xiao, and without exception, all of them had reached the Practitioner rank.
"Yu'er." Ruo Lin called softly, her eye twitching slightly as she showed the registration book to Xiao Yu, pointing at the list and asking, "Are all these students surnamed Xiao from your family?"
"Yes."
Xiao Yu nodded slightly in confirmation, causing Ruo Lin's pupils to shrink, and the older students who had come along couldn't help but begin discussing in whispers.
A Practitioner under sixteen—such talent was rare enough, but today, twenty-three were enrolled all at once, and all of them were from the Xiao family! What kind of family is this?
"I thought you were already a rare exception." Ruo Lin said with a wry smile, "But I never expected that everyone in your family is a genius of the same caliber as you."
"Thank you for the praise, Instructor Ruo Lin."
Xiao Yu smiled softly, and Ruo Lin gradually suppressed her surprise.
"Anyway, the academy has indeed found a batch of geniuses this time; it's a fortunate event for the academy." Ruo Lin looked at the new students who had passed the test and smiled, "Welcome to Jia Nan Academy. I hope everyone will be ready in seven days. After seven days, a special airship fleet from Jia Nan Academy will arrive, and we will depart immediately."
Hearing Ruo Lin's words, the older students around them couldn't help but look at each other with strange expressions.
A batch of geniuses? So geniuses can be produced in bulk?
At that moment, Xiao Yan slightly pushed away Xiao Mei, who had her arm around his neck, gently setting her down. Xiao Mei raised an eyebrow in confusion, a hint of unease flickering in her heart.
"Cousin Xiao Yan?"
Xiao Yan smiled and reached out to ruffle Xiao Mei's hair before turning to Ruo Lin, cupping his hands in salute.
"Instructor Ruo Lin, I, Xiao Yan, have a request. I hope you can grant it."
"Xiao Yan?"
Hearing this name, Ruo Lin raised an eyebrow.
Wasn't this the cousin Xiao Yu had been mentioning?
Xiao Yu had once told Ruo Lin openly that she chose to enter Jia Nan Academy purely to investigate the reason for Xiao Yan's Dou Qi disappearance. That was why she spent so much time in the academy's library.
A three-star Dou Practitioner. It seems he not only recovered his strength but is also ranked highly among the new students.
And it wasn't just Ruo Lin who reacted to this name; the girls who were close to Xiao Yu, including Xue Ni, also looked at Xiao Yan with deep curiosity.
"Xiao Yan? Isn't he the one Yu'er kept mentioning?"
"The cousin whose Dou Qi disappeared?"
"Yes, yes! I even heard Yu'er specifically emphasize that she and Xiao Yan aren't blood relatives."
Just as Xue Ni and the others' eyes sparkled with excitement, Xiao Yu suddenly furrowed her brows and shot them a cold glare, causing them to immediately fall silent, not daring to continue the discussion.
After all, not everyone was like Xue Ni, a masochist who could withstand Xiao Yu's repeated scoldings.
Meanwhile, Ruo Lin snapped back to her senses and looked at the young man in front of her, smiling faintly.
"Whatever your request is, feel free to speak. As long as it's something I can do, I'll try to accommodate."
"Instructor Ruo Lin, I hope you can grant me a leave of about one year."
As soon as Xiao Yan said this, the entire large plaza instantly fell silent.
(So he really is leaving…)
Xiao Yu and Xiao Xun'er had already prepared themselves for Xiao Yan's request for leave, but hearing it said aloud still made them feel a sense of loss.
However, neither of them spoke to persuade him, as they didn't want to obstruct Xiao Yan's future. They didn't want to become his burden.
But Xiao Mei was not as mature as Xiao Yu and Xiao Xun'er. Upon hearing Xiao Yan's request, her small head immediately went blank. When she came to her senses, her face quickly turned to one of sorrow, as if she were about to cry.
"Cousin, woo woo!!"
Xiao Mei was about to speak to try to stop him, but a jade-like hand pressed firmly against her mouth from behind. Xiao Xun'er's soft voice, tinged with a hint of melancholy, whispered in her ear.
"Don't stop Xiao Yan ge ge's decision. His future should be decided by him."
These words made Xiao Mei stop struggling. Her once frantic mind now calmed, and she gazed at Xiao Yan's back. Her mind immediately recalled all the things from the past.
Yes, cousin Xiao Yan had always been considering their future, always giving his all for their future.
But she never knew what cousin Xiao Yan himself really wanted.
He must also have things he wants to pursue.
How could she stop him?
Feeling Xiao Mei's sudden calmness, Xiao Xun'er relaxed her hand and silently watched Xiao Yan. At this time, Ruo Lin also returned to her senses, looking at the young man in front of her with a helpless expression.
"A one-year leave? You must be joking with me?"
The normal courses for Jia Nan Academy's external department lasted for three years, and Xiao Yan was asking for a third of that time off. This was something unprecedented in the academy's history.
It must be said, Xiao Yu's cousin really was someone who could do things beyond ordinary people's understanding.
"How dare I make light of this matter, Instructor." Xiao Yan softly denied, then continued, "But I must request this year off. If it really causes you trouble, please remove my name from the list, and I will retake the assessment next year."
Ruo Lin was speechless.
Looking at Xiao Yan's serious expression, it was clear he had made up his mind about this one-year leave.
Ruo Lin massaged her nose, feeling a headache coming on.
Indeed, geniuses are great, but they all have their own unique way of doing things. It's not something an ordinary instructor can deal with.
Xiao Yu was like this before, staying in the library all day and skipping classes. To prevent Xiao Yu from being expelled, Ruo Lin had made countless guarantees to the dean.
And now, this boy from the same family as Xiao Yu was making an even more outrageous request, and judging by his expression, there was no room for negotiation.
Ruo Lin quietly observed Xiao Yan, the boy whom Xiao Yu had mentioned so many times.
Not only had he regained his once brilliant talent, but from Ruo Lin's deduction, Xiao Yan had likely used only one year to advance from the third stage of Dou Disciple to a three-star Dou Practitioner level. Otherwise, Xiao Yu, who usually went home every year, wouldn't have entered the inner academy last year.
In fact, it might not have even taken him a year.
A talent like this, Ruo Lin really didn't want to give up. After all, she was also curious to see what kind of person the boy was who had been mentioned so often by the exceptional Xiao Yu.
"I can accept your request." Ruo Lin said faintly. Before Xiao Yan could thank her, she added, "But the condition is that you must last twenty rounds against me, a five-star Da Dou Shi!"
"As long as you can do that, I'll give you the one-year leave! No matter what trouble the academy faces, I'll help you resolve it!"
"Now, do you still want to ask for the leave?"
Ruo Lin's eyes showed a hint of coldness, and her aura kept rising, hoping to force Xiao Yan to withdraw.
Though she didn't think it would work on Xiao Yan, who was from the same family as Xiao Yu.
And as it turned out, she was right.
Xiao Yan let out a deep breath and then locked eyes with Ruo Lin, his gaze stern and resolute.
"Xiao Yan is willing to give it a try!"
(End of Chapter)
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