Chapter 681: Chapter 404 Additional Guest_2
"I really don’t understand why they emphasize us so much," another voice chimed in. The voice was as gentle as a summer breeze, a sound that, like others, Yan Xiaobao could recognize anywhere. The sound of footsteps grew closer on the stairs, and Yan Xiaobao could guess that they were moving on the other side of the wall. Soon, they would reach the gate, and he could only imagine their stunned expressions when they did.
Standing still, his arms at his sides, Yan Xiaobao witnessed Rong Ming and Rong Xing for the first time in years as the group turned around. They had grown into remarkable adults, their faces devoid of any trace of youth. Rong Xing had transformed into a stunning beauty, the kind that men would fight for, while the formerly dull and awkward Rong Ming now carried a certain aura—an aura only found in high-level nobles who understood their importance. The Rong twins could no longer be mistaken for anything other than adults, yet when their eyes landed on the white-haired young man standing outside the gate, they froze in their tracks. Their wide eyes and gaping mouths betrayed their shock; neither of them could take another step. They simply stared at the pale-haired youth.
Seeing the reaction of the twins left the two guards visibly uncomfortable. Both were students of the academy, but graduates like the twins were admired greatly. Perhaps these strange-looking young men were people the Rong twins didn’t wish to encounter, and so their reaction was one of sheer astonishment. Yet here they were, forced by the guards to face them. Thinking along these lines, the two young guards felt sweat bead upon their foreheads, their hearts racing in fear of the worst possibilities. Neither dared to meet anyone’s gaze now; instead, they stared at the ground.
"Brother!" Rong Xing was the first to break free from her shock, rushing forward to throw herself into Yan Xiaobao’s arms. Tears welled in her eyes, and a radiant smile lit up her face. Her tears flowed so freely that her entire face became stained with them. Shortly afterward, Rong Ming followed suit, charging toward Yan Xiaobao before embracing both the white-haired youth and his clingy sister who refused to let go.
The astonishing reactions displayed by usually stoic graduates utterly bewildered the guards. Feeling a sense of surreal incongruity, neither guard spoke. Glancing around, they noticed another person who looked just as out of place. The twins had leapt toward the pale-haired man, but standing quietly behind them was a blond man, his face barely concealing a sly smirk. Though he didn’t step forward to participate in the reunion, it was clear that he was accompanying the white-haired youth.
"Come with us," Rong Ming finally said, wiping his red, swollen eyes with the back of his hand. Yan Xiaobao squeezed Rong Xing’s hand and nodded, signaling Cai Jie to follow. The three of them followed Rong Ming closely. Rong Ming walked ahead, his posture straightening once again, his aloofness restored. He walked with confidence imbued by a resolute energy. He had clearly undergone significant changes since Yan Xiaobao last saw him.
To Yan Xiaobao’s surprise, the twins did not lead them deeper into the Royal Academy; instead, they headed toward another set of gates. Beyond it lay the upscale neighborhood they had walked through when arriving at the academy. After what seemed like a brief ten-minute stroll through streets, they reached a massive mansion. Guards stood at its gates, and the estate appeared capable of housing at least a hundred people. Expecting the twins to head for the student dormitories, Yan Xiaobao was stunned by the sheer size of their home. Noticing Yan Xiaobao’s surprised expression, Rong Ming smiled with satisfaction. "You’ve sent so many people to us; we needed a place of our own," he explained, a bitter smile creeping across Yan Xiaobao’s lips. Indeed, he had sent Xu Biao, Deng Wu, Sha Yun...
As they entered, Rong Ming cast a glance at Cai Jie. Seeing the golden-haired man pay him no mind but instead follow Yan Xiaobao with a sly grin plastered on his face, Rong Ming opted to remain silent. He knew Yan Xiaobao would introduce him eventually.
Yan Xiaobao reached the entrance, watching as the guards politely bowed to the Rong twins and opened the doors for the group of four. Upon stepping into the grand front hall, a voice rang out from one side. "Why are you back so early? I thought you were busy conducting experiments in the Martial Arts department." The voice emanated from one of the rooms nearby. Glancing inside, Yan Xiaobao spotted a large table strewn with papers. Behind the piles of documents, absorbed in a heap of Memory Stones, was the source of the voice. Yan Xiaobao examined the man closely, stepping forward with a faint smile. He could recognize this towering man anywhere, but the latter didn’t look up until Yan Xiaobao’s shadow fell across the papers he was reading. Frowning, the older man raised his gaze, prepared to scold one of the twins—until he saw a white-haired youth standing there. His jaw dropped as he grabbed a pair of glasses and perched them on his nose, staring at Yan Xiaobao in disbelief. Moments later, he removed the glasses once again. "Good heavens, you took your time coming back," he exclaimed in a stunned voice, suddenly lunging forward with such force that the chair toppled noisily to the floor.
Xu Biao rushed up and enveloped Yan Xiaobao in a mighty hug. Although he had seemed preoccupied with work, Yan Xiaobao could easily guess that Xu Biao had deliberately buried himself in it to avoid dwelling on what had been lost during their attempted escape in the dungeons.
Reuniting with Xu Biao stirred mixed emotions. They had been through so much together. Xu Biao had sold information about him to the Dragon Army but ultimately chose to follow him out of the underground city and into a new world. Alas, this decision had cost Xu Biao his closest friend and partner. Despite all that had transpired between them, Yan Xiaobao was astonished to find himself genuinely happy to see Xu Biao again. There was no trace of resentment between them. Busy as he had been with the beast army, Yan Xiaobao hadn’t had time to ponder his feelings toward Xu Biao. Now, reunited after more than two years apart, warmth blossomed in his heart—a warmth equal to that he felt when seeing the Rong twins. He realized he had long since forgiven the hardworking man.
"In terms of rankings, it seems you’ve already caught up with me. How did you become the King in such a short time?" Xu Biao asked with a smile. Though he smiled, the pain in his eyes was unmistakable. Yan Xiaobao realized that while Xu Biao was happy to see him again, the meeting had also triggered memories of his last moments with his dearly beloved. Worse still, Xu Biao hadn’t understood his own feelings until it was too late, and those mixed emotions now churned turbulently within him. Yan Xiaobao placed a hand on his shoulder. "Believe me, I understand your feelings," he said with a sorrowful smile, recalling his own love for Li Fen. Though he could now only regard her as a friend, a pang of pain struck his heart as he acknowledged that the problems between them remained unresolved. He needed to tell her how he’d felt back then but also help her understand that those feelings belonged in the past. Sighing softly, Yan Xiaobao turned back to Xu Biao. "I have something you might want to know," he said, choosing each word with care.
"You understand that when someone dies, their soul typically enters Hell, ruled by the Void World, where they remain until all memories of their past life fade and they are prepared for reincarnation." He explained what Lan Feng had told him years ago when they shared the body of an infant. "When a soul enters the Void World, if someone can enter the Void World and locate the soul, there’s a chance of recovering it." Every word Yan Xiaobao uttered made Xu Biao stare at him as though he had descended from the heavens.
Clearing his throat nervously, Xu Biao asked in a trembling voice, "You mean I could enter the Void World and find her? Could I bring her back?"
Yan Xiaobao nodded, and though Xu Biao’s eyes shone with hope, his pulse racing, the young man was acutely aware of the arduous journey he had just placed upon him. "There’s one problem," Yan Xiaobao stated candidly, his words instantly silencing Xu Biao. His expression turned bitter as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water over him.
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