The next morning, Ling Xiao rose early, took out his longsword, and went into the courtyard to diligently practice Shushan's introductory swordsmanship. However, this body of a Tier Five Sword Attendant simply couldn't bring out the full power of the technique, and the effort left him drenched in sweat.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead with a towel, Ling Xiao couldn't help but smile wryly. He knew that swordsmanship techniques were extremely rare on the Canglan Continent. Someone like his father, Ling Tianxiao, who possessed a Heavenly Middle-level Technique, was already considered to be at the pinnacle of society. As for God-level and Saint-level techniques, they were the stuff of legend; it was rare to see anyone who possessed one.
Ling Xiao had never seen what God-level or Saint-level swordsmanship looked like, so he couldn't say. However, from what he remembered of his father's Celestial-level swordsmanship, it was, in his eyes, merely equivalent to a low-level technique from Shushan's outer sect.
As an Inner Sect Disciple in his past life, Ling Xiao couldn't even be bothered to cultivate high-level outer sect swordsmanship, having learned Shushan's Inner Sect Swordsmanship directly. 'If I just took out any one of the Shushan swordsmanship manuals from my mind, even this introductory one I'm practicing now, it would probably stun a whole crowd of experts on the Canglan Continent, right?' Ling Xiao thought with a touch of wicked amusement, his confidence growing. 'Although my current strength is lacking, I've mastered all sorts of sword techniques that no one else has. That counts as a special skill, I suppose.'
'It seems that no matter what, I need to get this body to the level of a Tier Six Sword Master as soon as possible. For me, anything below a Sword Master isn't too difficult. As long as I cultivate diligently, it won't take long to reach that level.' If anyone else heard this, they would probably be shocked enough to faint on the spot! Going from a high-tier Sword Attendant to a high-tier Sword Master... in no time at all? If that were true, then what kind of geniuses were Xie Xiaoyan or Lingzhi?
When Ling Xiao stepped through the gates of the Imperial Academy, almost everyone who saw him was inexplicably surprised. They immediately scattered, keeping their distance as if he were contagious. Looking at this handsome young man with his calm and indifferent expression, they couldn't understand it. How thick-skinned must a person be to show up for class as if nothing had happened after molesting a female classmate?
Ling Xiao completely ignored all their gazes—the surprise, contempt, anger, and ridicule. He had rushed to the Academy because he wanted to go to the library. He remembered that the Academy's library had a massive collection, including books that recorded all kinds of precious medicinal herbs on the continent. Ling Xiao urgently needed to find the materials required for Foundation Establishment.
Ling Xiao knew very well that no matter where one was, it was all the same: strength reigned supreme. It was just like back at Shushan when he saw the Sect Leader Uncle's personal disciples; the disdain for others in their eyes was a manifestation of their power. 'If I, Ling Xiao, weren't a Celestial Vein Master, but was already a Sword Master... putting aside the question of whether Xie Xiaoyan would even like me, she certainly wouldn't have dared to frame me with such a trick. Even if she had, no one would have cared. That's just how nobles are. At most, someone might have remarked that Ling Xiao was a bit too impatient.'
When all was said and done, it all came down to Ling Xiao's own lack of strength.
One of the boys who saw Ling Xiao said to his friend, "I can't believe it. Ling Xiao actually has the nerve to come back to class? Heavens, I have to admire his courage!"
The other sneered, "What do you know? I heard Miss Xie herself went to the Ling Mansion to visit Ling Xiao yesterday!"
The first student said in surprise, "No way! Didn't they...?"
The other gave a cold laugh. "Miss Xie is just being the bigger person and not stooping to his level. I heard he was beaten and injured, and she still went to visit him. What a magnanimous heart! Miss Xie is so kind! And to think, this Ling Xiao... Sigh, he's truly a disgrace to General Ling's family reputation!"
Just then, someone passing by overheard and retorted, "Ling Xiao is Ling Xiao. What does this have to do with General Ling? Are you saying General Ling has to take responsibility for every mistake Ling Xiao makes? Don't forget, the reason you can eat well, dress warmly, and study here at the Imperial Academy is because of generals like him guarding the borders!"
The two, their faces red with embarrassment from the rebuke, walked away. But deep down, they were still unconvinced. 'It's true, isn't it? When a son commits such a shameful act, he's disgracing his father. Are we not even allowed to talk about it?'
Conversations like this were happening all over campus, all revolving around the controversial figure that was Ling Xiao.
But Ling Xiao acted as if nothing was wrong, letting others point and whisper at him. It was as if he regarded them as thin air as he walked straight toward his dormitory. At a time like this, anything he could say would be pointless. Was he supposed to get into a shouting match with them?
He remembered that he needed an identification card to enter the library, and his card was in his dormitory.
Relying on his memory, Ling Xiao calmly walked back to his dormitory—a beautiful and exquisite little villa. Although Ling Xiao could not inherit his father's title of Marquis, as a nobleman, his residence was still quite luxurious. This wasn't to say the Ling Family was wealthy; in fact, while the Ling Family appeared grand, they were not well-off financially. In terms of wealth, they were far inferior to Xie Xiaoyan's family, the Xie Family.
This villa dormitory, however, did not cost any money. It was provided for free by the Empire to the children of decorated noble families like Ling Xiao's. It was a symbol of identity and status, as well as a form of the Empire's support and recognition of its nobility. It wasn't a place one could live in just by having money.
Just as Ling Xiao reached the door, he saw two tall girls with bright eyes and pearly teeth standing there to welcome him. Ling Xiao paused for a moment, then remembered that these two were his personal maids. He hadn't seen them in the days immediately after his "incident" and was surprised to find they had been sent here.
Chunlan was the taller of the two, with a slightly fuller figure and a pair of large, expressive eyes that darted about as if they could speak. Qiuyue, on the other hand, appeared more delicate, her eyes possessing a touchingly beautiful quality.
In short, they were two young, beautiful maids.
"Welcome, Young Master!" The two women gave a slight curtsy and greeted him deferentially.
"Why are you two here?" Ling Xiao remembered that his personal maids didn't serve him at the Academy. 'Otherwise, Xie Xiaoyan's clumsy scheme would have been even less likely to succeed, wouldn't it?'
"It was the Madam, Young Master," the clearly more vivacious Chunlan said quickly. "She sent us to take care of you, saying you haven't fully recovered..."
"Oh," Ling Xiao responded faintly. Seeing that neither of the girls had any expression of contempt or ridicule, he felt a bit relieved. In truth, his worry was unnecessary. On the Canglan Continent, in any country, the servants of a noble house were considered the private property of the nobles, who held the power of life and death over them. There was a saying, "When the master is shamed, the servant dies." In noble families, this was an extremely common occurrence.
Moreover, Chunlan and Qiuyue had entered the General's Mansion as children and had long been conditioned to believe that they belonged to Young Master Ling Xiao. In their hearts, they now despised that woman, Xie Xiaoyan, hating her for bringing shame upon their young master.
After Ling Xiao returned to his room, Chunlan and Qiuyue poured him tea. The two maids glanced at each other, a hint of shyness in both their eyes. Then, blushing, Qiuyue said, "Young Master... the Madam said... she said..."