I Have A Sword

The moment Chen Qiu saw the Shence Army officer, his face lit up with joy. He hurriedly shouted, "Second Uncle, save me!"

The Shence Army officer strode toward the grand hall, and his face was dark with anger. "Who dares defy the Great Zhou—"

The Shence Army officer couldn't continue his sentence. His words abruptly stopped upon seeing Zhou Fan. His face stiffened, and he began trembling uncontrollably.

Zhou Fan stared at him silently.

Meanwhile, Chen Qiu pointed at Zhou Fan and roared, "Second Uncle, it's her! She insulted the Great Zhou—"

"Shut up!" the Shence Army officer roared, stunning Chen Qiu to silence. What shocked him even more was that his second uncle slowly knelt before Zhou Fan, trembling as he said, "I-I greet Your Majesty."

Your Majesty?!

The hall fell deathly silent.

Chen Qiu stared at Zhou Fan with terror etched across his face. He felt as if he had been struck by lightning, and his mind went completely blank.

Long Dai's wide eyes remained fixed on Zhou Fan, filled with disbelief.

Your Majesty? Isn't Empress Fan the one and only monarch of the Great Zhou? Long Dai's mind reeled, and she instinctively turned to look at Ye Guan. Since Her Majesty was her master's wife, then…

Long Dai felt as if she were dreaming.

Ye Guan smiled gently at her.

Zhou Fan looked at the kneeling officer and said, "You've truly surprised me."

The officer quickly kowtowed, while shaking uncontrollably.

Zhou Fan glanced at Chen Qiu. "I wondered how someone like him could become an Inspector. It seems his 'Second Uncle' played quite a role."

The Shence Army officer's face turned deathly pale, consumed by fear.

Zhou Fan shouted, "Someone!"

A figure clad in black appeared behind her.

"Take them away and conduct a thorough investigation. From this moment, all members of the Shence Army and Imperial Guards are to return to the Great Zhou immediately. Without my explicit command, no one is allowed to leave."

The black-clad figure bowed respectfully and replied, "As you command."

He took away the terrified officer, Chen Qiu, and the others.

Meanwhile, Long Chen and the Long Clan elders collapsed to the ground, paralyzed with despair.

It's over. Everything is over.

Long Chen's face turned ashen with hopelessness.

Zhou Fan gently held Long Dai's hand and smiled. "Since you are his disciple, you are also my disciple. Come with me to the Great Zhou."

To the Great Zhou? Long Yun was overjoyed to hear that. He knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Lass! Hurry up and say yes!" Long Yun urged excitedly.

Long Dai quickly nodded. "Alright."

Zhou Fan nodded before casting a cold glance at Long Chen.

Long Chen trembled. "Y-Your Majesty, I—"

"Take him away," Zhou Fan commanded.

When her words fell, a mysterious figure appeared behind Long Chen and took him away.

Zhou Fan turned to Ye Guan.

"There's one more thing," said Ye Guan.

Zhou Fan nodded gently before she turned to Long Dai and said, "Say goodbye to your family first. When the time comes, your master and I will come pick you up."

Long Dai replied, "Okay."

Ye Guan said, "Once you're in the Great Zhou, be obedient and learn well from your Mistress."

Long Dai nodded eagerly. "Yes, Master."

With that, Ye Guan held Zhou Fan's hand, and they disappeared into thin air.

Long Dai stood frozen for quite a while, but she soon smiled to herself, feeling a deep sense of warmth.

Long Yun said hesitantly, "Dai'er, isn't Her Majesty supposed to be the Academy Master's wife? She…"

Long Dai rolled her eyes at him. "Father, haven't you figured it out by now?"

"Figure out what?" Long Yun frowned.

Long Dai smacked her forehead. "Father, sometimes I doubt whether I'm really your daughter."

Long Yun's expression stiffened, and he suddenly looked uneasy.

Long Dai continued, "Who else besides the Academy Master would dare hold Her Majesty's hand?"

Long Yun's eyes widened in realization. "He's… the Academy Master!"

His face lit up with joy as he repeated, "The Academy Master!"

His daughter was actually the Academy Master's disciple! That was incredible!

Overjoyed, Long Yun waved his arms excitedly while the Long Clan elders were equally ecstatic.

The Long Clan was now destined for greatness.

Long Dai walked to the grand hall's entrance, gazing into the distant sky with mixed emotions. She never expected the seemingly ordinary person she met by chance would turn out to be the Academy Master of the Guanxuan Academy.

***

In a secluded mountainside somewhere within the Guanxuan Academy of the Heavenly World, a young lady wielded her sword gracefully, and each swing of her sword produced a faint, shimmering sword light.

The young lady was none other than Zhu Xingran!

Zhu Xingran quickly became a student of the Heavenly World's Guanxuan Academy due to her talent and aptitude. Ever since joining the Academy, she had been working harder than anyone, allowing her to consistently be one of the top students in the Outer Academy.

She wanted to change her fate! And to break free from her lowly origins!

Just then, a young man in elegant robes appeared. He had a refined appearance and also held a sword in his hand.

Seeing him, Zhu Xingran paused.

The young man smiled. "Junior Sister Xingran, what a coincidence to see you here!"

Zhu Xingran acknowledged him with light nod. Then, she sheathed her sword and prepared to leave. Before she could leave, the young man exclaimed, "Junior Sister Xingran!"

Zhu Xingran stared at the young man.

The young man asked, "Why do you always avoid me?"

"Senior Brother Li Feng, is there something you need from me?" Zhu Xingran asked back.

Li Feng smiled warmly and replied, "Junior Sister Xingran, do you still not understand my feelings toward you?"

Zhu Xingran's eyebrows furrowed slightly but soon relaxed. "Senior Brother Li Feng, all I want is to focus on my studies and cultivation. I have no interest in anything else. Please don't come and trouble me again."

With that, she turned around and walked away.

Love and relationships? She had no interest in those things. Now wasn't the time for that; her focus was on cultivating and earning a place in the Inner Academy.

Having grown up in a refugee camp, she deeply understood human nature. She could easily discern which men were trustworthy and which were not.

The most upright man she had ever encountered was the one she met in the Abandoned Continent. Thinking of that man, her hands slowly clenched into fists. "What I owe you, I will repay it… no matter what."

Li Feng said, "Zhu Xingran, I've already looked into your background."

Zhu Xingran froze and turned to face him.

"From what I found, you're from the Abandoned Continent, and your parents were refugees. You're a refugee yourself, aren't you?" Li Feng asked.

Zhu Xingran's gaze hardened, but she remained silent.

Li Feng smile deepened. "What do you think will happen if the Academy discovers your background?"

Like anywhere else, one's status and background mattered a lot here, even in the prestigious Guanxuan Academy. Being from a notable family meant receiving better treatment, respect, and opportunities.

Zhu Xingran was treated fairly because no one knew about her true background. In fact, her mystery added to her allure. If her origins as a refugee from the Abandoned Continent were exposed, then…

Staring at Zhu Xingran's dark face, Li Feng smiled triumphantly and asked, "I'm sure you wouldn't want anyone to know your true identity, would you?"

Zhu Xingran glared at him. "What exactly do you want from me?"

Li Feng said, "You already know how I feel about you."

Zhu Xingran raored, "Shameless!"

Li Feng's smile gradually faded. "My father is an Elder of the Inner Academy. He may not be able to get you into the Inner Academy, but he can definitely keep you out of it!"

Zhu Xingran clenched her fists tightly, her face turning pale.

She was struck by a wave of despair.

How unfair this world is…

Just then, Li Feng stepped forward, attempting to get closer to her.

With a swift motion, Zhu Xingran drew her sword and slashed fiercely at him.

Li Feng's expression changed drastically.

He hurriedly raised his sword to block the attack.

Clang!

The attack sent him stumbling backward.

Zhu Xingran pointed her sword at him, her eyes blazing with anger. "Get lost!"

She knew all too well that compromising wouldn't improve her situation; it would only make things worse. Someone willing to resort to such despicable tactics was already devoid of morals and integrity.

Entering a relationship with such a person would be foolish.

Li Feng's face twisted in displeasure. "You'll regret this."

With that, he turned around and left.

Zhu Xingran took a deep breath, calming herself down before she sheathed her sword and walked away.

Soon, news of her true identity and background spread throughout the academy, but few people believed it. They thought she was too beautiful and smart to be a refugee from the Abandoned Continent.

She was even the top student in the Outer Academy.

Zhu Xingran heaved a sigh of relief upon realizing that.

One day, a young woman rushed into her room, shouting, "Xingran! There are two people looking for you, and theyare claiming to be your parents!"

My parents? Zhu Xingran froze for a moment and looked at the young woman, muttering, "M-my… parents?"

The young woman nodded. "Yes, the man said his name is Zhu Tao, and the woman said to address her as 'Aunt Jiang.' They're dressed in rags. Are they really your parents? If not, I'll send them away."

My parents are here…? Zhu Xingran thought.