Lin Zhiyan struggled a little, thinking she wasn't really suspicious, and nodded: "Alright, since you said so, just find me whenever you want."

"Thank you, Zhiyan sis..." Mu Shihan started to say, then quickly corrected herself: "Oh, no, I mean thank you, Master."

Lin Zhiyan's expression twitched for a moment, and she somewhat understood why her younger sister was so close to Mu Shihan. This girl was quirky and cheerful, like a joy-bringer, and she was very pretty. It's no exaggeration to say she was beloved by everyone!

The little girl quickly got into the role of an apprentice, brought over a stool for Lin Zhiyan to sit, and then began to massage her shoulders from behind, saying: "Master, are there any rules in our sect? Should I serve tea or perform a ceremony to become your disciple?"

Lin Zhiyan felt amused and exasperated: "There are no such formalities. You don't need to call me Master. Besides, since Jiaxuan calls you 'sister,' it's better for us to address each other as sisters."

It's not that Lin Zhiyan felt undeserving of being Mu Shihan's master, but considering Mu Shihan's relationship with Xiao Feng, she didn't want to complicate things.

Everyone knew Xiao Feng prized his reputation. If he really got upset because Mu Shihan became her disciple, it wouldn't be impossible.

The little girl paused for a moment, nodded, and said: "I'll listen to you, Zhiyan sis, but can you not tell Brother Xiao Feng about this matter of me learning from you?"

"Why not?" Lin Zhiyan asked, puzzled: "Are you afraid Xiao Feng wouldn't approve?"

"Of course not!" The little girl covered up: "I, I'm trying to give him a surprise. In any case, let's keep this between us as a secret, okay?"

Lin Zhiyan hadn't yet responded when she saw Xiao Feng walking over from not far away, smiling, "What are you two chatting about?"

"Just having a casual conversation, I'm off to find Xuanxuan." Mu Shihan immediately tried to slip away, and after taking two steps, turned back to wink at Lin Zhiyan, as if afraid she might spill the beans.

After Mu Shihan left, Xiao Feng's smile faded, and he asked coolly, "Alright, what's that little girl plotting with you?"

Lin Zhiyan gave a bitter smile. She had intended to keep the little girl's secret but realized now that, given Xiao Feng's understanding of Mu Shihan, there was no way to conceal it.

"She wanted to give you a surprise, so she asked me to teach her how to become more formidable." Lin Zhiyan confessed: "I saw her sincerity and had to agree to her request."

"That little girl..." Xiao Feng shook his head, sighing: "She's becoming more and more hopeless, her judgment's getting worse too."

Lin Zhiyan furrowed her brow: "What do you mean by that?"

"What else could it mean? With your skills as a master, how bright could the pupil's future be?" Xiao Feng chuckled lightly: "With the little girl in your hands, her future is bleak!"

"I know you're very capable, but looking down on everyone else will cause you to suffer eventually." Lin Zhiyan snorted coldly.

Xiao Feng raised an eyebrow: "Judging by your tone, you're not convinced?"

"Of course not!"

"Then how about a spar?"

"Gladly!"

With just a few words exchanged, the two of them walked side by side to the training field. At this time, Wei Shuai and Miao Yueqian, along with others, were busy with their handoffs. Xiao Feng signaled for the team to take a break, and within five minutes, only he and Lin Zhiyan remained in the expansive training arena.

Both mounted the stage separately, with Xiao Feng's lips curling into a slightly disdainful smirk: "Should I let you use one hand?"

This kind of contempt immediately annoyed Lin Zhiyan, but having been through thick and thin, she understood that losing control of one's emotions in combat could affect the outcome.

After calming herself, Lin Zhiyan shook her head: "Go all out. I really want to see how significant the gap between us is."

Saying this, although from her tone, it wasn't hard to hear the underlying implication: "Go ahead and use all your power, I want to see what makes you so arrogant!"

"That's what you said!" Xiao Feng drew a dagger from his boot, assuming a combat-ready stance.

Meanwhile, Lin Zhiyan lifted her top slightly, reaching for her waist.

Xiao Feng immediately became uneasy: "Hold on! I'm serious here; when I said 'spar,' I didn't mean that kind of spar. If someone sees us in broad daylight, it could be an unspeakable scenario."

"Shut up!" Lin Zhiyan's face reddened with anger, and she raised her hand, producing a crisp "snap" sound.

The sound echoed through the vast training hall, amplified countless times, the reverberation lasting a full three seconds before it faded completely.

Only then did Xiao Feng realize the source of the crisp sound was Lin Zhiyan's whip, meaning she reached for her waist not to take off her pants but to grab a weapon.

Wait!

Using a whip as a weapon...

Xiao Feng admitted he couldn't help but let his thoughts wander.

"Are you trying to play some kind of fetish game or what?" Xiao Feng couldn't suppress his curiosity and said: "I was telling the truth earlier, I'm a serious person, not playing hard to get, you'd better..."

"Who isn't a serious person?!" Lin Zhiyan couldn't bear to listen any longer, and with a flick of her wrist, her whip lashed out like a red serpent, rapidly striking toward Xiao Feng.

In fact, Lin Zhiyan excelled not with a dagger but with the whip at her waist. The reason she seldom used it was that her opponents were usually weak, and she feared encountering someone like Xiao Feng who would make inappropriate remarks.

Xiao Feng put away his teasing demeanor, blocked with his dagger, and the whip instantly coiled around it. He sneered, pulling with force, yet all it produced was a series of sparks, leaving Lin Zhiyan's whip unharmed.

This clearly indicated that Xiao Feng's judgment had faltered—the whip wasn't made of leather, nor was it iron, because iron wouldn't have such flexibility.

But this wasn't the time to worry about such details. With a swift step, Xiao Feng, like an ape, leaped toward Lin Zhiyan.

Because of the weapon difference, the best tactic was close combat; otherwise, with a dagger against a whip, he'd likely be whipped to death.

However, Lin Zhiyan seemed aware of her own weakness and immediately moved in the opposite direction of Xiao Feng, her whip swirling to prevent his approach.

"Interesting!" Xiao Feng stopped his advance, flashing a bright smile.

Only now did he truly take Lin Zhiyan seriously. She wasn't as weak as he had imagined, with combat sense above average for her age—a promising feat considering her age.

But for Xiao Feng, that wasn't nearly enough!

Xiao Feng charged once more, with Lin Zhiyan moving in the opposite direction as before. They moved in circles around the platform, like children playing a game of eagle catching chickens.

With each charge, Xiao Feng's momentum increased incrementally, seeming endless, as if his assault would grow ever fiercer until breaking through Lin Zhiyan's defense!

Gradually, Lin Zhiyan's expression became more solemn. It seemed Xiao Feng was playing a game with her, called cat and mouse.

He wouldn't catch her abruptly but toyed with her slowly until she was exhausted before showing his true claws.

With this realization, Lin Zhiyan decided not to just defend. After a brief stalemate, she unleashed a lightning-fast whip at Xiao Feng. The sound of the wind roared like an explosion, highlighting the whip's astonishing speed!

Xiao Feng preemptively braced his dagger, and in the next instant, the whip coiled around it, reminiscent of the first round. This time, however, instead of trying to cut the whip, he looped it around his hand, then yanked hard...

"Ah!" Lin Zhiyan exclaimed, stumbling uncontrollably toward Xiao Feng.

Xiao Feng spread his arms, catching her in an embrace.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment, with Lin Zhiyan in a near-fall pose, leaning against Xiao Feng's arms, her heart pounding uncontrollably at his handsome profile and the smile playing at his lips.

This sensation was identically reminiscent of the man who gifted her the ring band!

"You lost!" Xiao Feng's other hand, fingers together, laid horizontally on Lin Zhiyan's snow-white neck.

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