A whoosh~
The cold wind swept, the lightning snakes danced wildly, the fierce winds around roared, making everyone gasp for breath and retreat several steps.
"M-Miss, I was wrong!"
Zhao Xuan kneeled down with a thud, his previous arrogance vanishing without a trace in an instant.
Xue Yi was also startled by Xiao Qingruo's aura, but he knew the basics. He quickly adapted.
As the miss' guard, he could only be delighted now.
He haughtily said to Zhao Xuan: "Scram. If you dare block the way again, I won't mind getting rid of you, a noisy thing, for the miss."
"Xue Yi, you, you..."
Zhao Xuan gritted his teeth, his face flushing red.
"Not scramming yet?" Xue Yi clenched his fist.
"You dare... Ah!"
Zhao Xuan wanted to threaten him before leaving, but didn't expect Xue Yi to directly kick out, kicking the unprepared him tumbling five or six rolls.
"If you're gonna scram, do it promptly. Don't say useless crap. Get lost, quick!" Xue Yi pretended he would attack again.
Zhao Xuan trembled all over from anger, his eyes seeming to want to swallow Xue Yi alive.
But with Xiao Qingruo here, even if he was bold as a tiger, he didn't dare attack.
He could only indignantly grunt, then left in a sorry state.
The few people who came with him also swiftly bid farewell to Xiao Qingruo and fled.
"Che, pus bag."
Xue Yi disdainfully said.
Then he respectfully cupped his fists at Xiao Qingruo with delight: "Thank you Miss for backing me up, I'm endlessly grateful. I'll definitely brave fire and water without hesitation for the Miss in the future!"
Xiao Qingruo glanced at him, a disgusted look flashing in her eyes.
But outside, she couldn't say much petty stuff. She put away the powerful aura and calmly walked towards the manor.
Xue Yi was naturally also being fake with his gratitude as well. He had to put on a show and give her the miss' face outside.
At home though... Heh heh.
The two of them left Lan Garden, winding through the paths inside the manor.
Holy Might Manor was huge, not only having the four great gardens of Canglan Bi bo, but also many areas like the Inner Manor Conference Office, Lord's Study, Law Enforcement Department, Elder's Pavilion, Library Pavilion, Martial Arts Field, Rear Garden, Stables, Warehouses etc. Its scale was comparable to a small city.
With a normal person's energy, just going from the front gate to the back gate would take two to three hours.
Xiao Qingruo was a trash, but she was quite enduring. Her pace seemed unhurried, yet after walking for a while, she showed no fatigue.
Xue Yi felt this was a bit strange. He sensed Xiao Qingruo had more secrets than he imagined.
Yesterday she took a full powered palm from a layer 8 Gale Realm cultivator, spitting blood and unable to get up, seeming heavily injured. But after sleeping for a night, now she was lively and well, recovering extremely quickly!
This meant that although her strength was lacking, her resilience was far greater than ordinary people's, even stronger than Tiger-Dragon Realm cultivators!
Otherwise with a normal person's physique, Xue Yi's palm yesterday could have slapped her into pieces!
After half an hour of walking, they met many people along the way. Seeing Xiao Qingruo, they were all respectfully greeting her as Miss.
Seeing Xue Yi, they were also rather curious.
News spread very quickly inside Holy Might Manor. By now almost everyone knew the miss had taken a personal guard called Xue Yi.
Seeing him now, they found this person tall and handsome, definitely passable. But his strength was a bit low, only layer 8 Gale Realm. That was enough to be a guard for other young masters and misses, but for the miss...it fell far short.
But this was the miss' own decision, so they could only gossip privately, not daring to speak it aloud.
Soon, the two arrived at the Lord's Study, where the Lord handled affairs and cultivated.
Though called a study, it was no different than a palace.
The building covered no less than 2000 square meters, with books inside nearing the Library Pavilion's amount, the scent of books permeating outside.
Moreover, those weren't ordinary books, almost all martial arts classics!
"Miss."
At the study entrance, a black armored guard stood watch. Seeing Xiao Qingruo come, he greeted her.
This nameless, code-named Tie Yi, was the Lord's confidant. His strength was unfathomably deep, not below Xiao Qingruo's superficial level, but extremely low-key, almost never making a move.
"I've come to see the Lord." Xiao Qingruo said, her attitude rather amiable to him, not cold-facing.
Arrogance depended on the person. She was an actress, not a fool. There was no reason to act pretentiously before someone of similar or higher status and strength.
"The Lord is inside, please, Miss." Tie Yi replied, opening the door for her.
Xiao Qingruo didn't say anything more and strode in.
Xue Yi stood below the steps, watching her enter. His mood was somewhat nervous.
This girl better not sell him out.
Otherwise, with things as they were, he had no ability to resist. Whether the Lord or Tie Yi could easily dispose of him.
There was no noise from the study. It seemed there was a special force field blocking the conversation inside.
Xue Yi waited by the door.
Just then, Tie Yi spoke. "You are called Xue Yi, and just started following the Miss yesterday?"
Xue Yi replied: "That's right. Yesterday I saw the Miss' cultivation go awry and rashly interrupted her practice, coincidentally helping out. Then the Miss had me follow her."
"Not bad, you have courage." Tie Yi nodded slightly.
Most people inside the manor greatly feared Xiao Qingruo. Even seeing her look unhappy or in a bad state, few dared interrupt her cultivation.
Xue Yi's actions were naturally praiseworthy.
"Have you learned profound martial arts before?" Tie Yi asked again.
Xue Yi quickly shook his head. "Currently I've only learned the basic Morning Dew Breathing Exercise and mixed sword, stick, staff techniques."
These were basics anyone in the Guard Department could learn.
"Since you're the Miss' guard now, you can't remain so poor. This is for you, study it well. It'll be useful for thirty, forty years." Tie Yi somehow took out a booklet from who knew where and tossed it to Xue Yi.
Xue Yi caught it and looked - the cover had four big words: Mad Blade Technique.
Below were smaller words marking it: Top Grade Martial Art.
"Top Grade Martial Art! Thank you Sir Tie Yi!" Xue Yi's face revealed wild joy.
Of course, it was an act. In truth he was unmoved inside.
Martial arts and mystic art grades: Inferior, Low, Mid, Top, Peerless, Saint, Emperor, God.
The Morning Dew Breathing Exercise and those mixed techniques were only Low grade, but already very good. Once outside Holy Might Manor, outsiders would even be unable to learn them.
Even within Holy Might Manor, Top Grade martial arts were extremely precious, usually only available to the young masters and misses, and each group's chosen core disciples.
This Mad Blade Technique wasn't cheap. Though it couldn't become Xue Yi's lifeline, at least it could serve as a presentable skill, so he wouldn't have to reveal his trump cards when facing powerful enemies each time.
Tie Yi bestowed martial arts, then said: "You can ask the Miss for mystic arts. She has many. Study whatever she gives you. As a subordinate, remember your duty - be vigilant against improper people approaching the Miss. At critical moments, even if it means death, you must protect the Miss well. Understand?"
Tie Yi himself was the Lord's personal guard, while Xiao Qingruo had the chance to become the next Lord.
So his current words to Xue Yi were like a senior mentoring a junior.
Unfortunately, he didn't know Xue Yi and Xiao Qingruo's relationship wasn't that innocent at all. This brat had never considered dying for his master!