"Get down, you're blocking the light."
Bai Ran lay back on the rocking chair, closed her eyes, and wore a relaxed expression.
Jing Yun's mouth twitched. How did His Majesty tolerate this personality?
Capricious, with a leap in thought, one moment glaring at you, the next as if nothing had happened.
It was precisely this kind of person that made it impossible to guess what she was thinking.
After Jing Yun walked away, Bai Ran, who was lying on the rocking chair, opened her eyes.
In the evening, Jing Yun came to deliver food to her again.
"Splat!" The bowl fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.
The rocking chair was empty, and the entire courtyard couldn't sense Bai Ran's presence.
She was gone!
Jing Yun, in a panic, took out the communication jade pendant to contact His Majesty.
"Your, Your Majesty! Something's wrong!"
"Ran away?" Long Jinhan asked from the other end, a smile playing on his lips.
The moment the little girl disappeared, Long Jinhan's earring had sensed it, but he hadn't stopped her.
She was never a parasitic plant or a caged bird.
She was a phoenix soaring through the sky, a sharp sword cleaving the heavens and earth.
Since she couldn't stay put, he could only create an opportunity for her to escape.
If she wanted to fight on the front lines, he would guard the rear for her.
This was Long Jinhan's way of loving someone.
Giving her what she desired, protecting all she held dear.
On the other side, Bai Ran, riding the little Zhu that had returned not long ago, flew towards Star Picking Academy.
At a corner outside the academy, Bai Ran put away Little Zhu.
She took a deep breath, calmed her rapidly beating heart, changed into a pure white mourning dress, and walked in.
The academy was desolate, with white paper money fluttering in the air. Disciples, dressed in white mourning clothes, knelt in unison on the square, weeping silently.
Rows of neat coffins were arranged in the front.
Bai Ran did not walk forward. She knelt at the very back, looking at Xuan Yuan, whose hair was now all white, at the front.
Xuan Yuan pursed his bloodless lips, his back hunched, his aged hands caressing each coffin.
When he reached Elder Mo's coffin, he couldn't hold back any longer, and hot tears streamed down.
"Little Mo, you've worked hard all these years..."
Fang Tianhui knelt before his coffin, her eyes so swollen that she could no longer shed tears.
They had just resolved their misunderstanding, only to be separated by death, never to see each other again.
A father, to protect his daughter, had been torn apart by demonized humans.
How could she bear it?
Bai Qingyu knelt beside Fang Tianhui, stroking her back.
Fang Tianhui, however, pushed his hand away.
"Where is Sister Bai?" she asked, her head bowed.
Bai Qingyu looked at her and slowly shook his head.
Since returning from the Four Kingdoms Competition, he hadn't seen his sister. Did she know about the incident at the academy?
Fang Tianhui suddenly stood up and walked towards the exit.
"Where are you going?" Bai Qingyu quickly stood up, afraid she might do something rash.
"I'm going to find Sister Bai!" she gritted her teeth and walked out with her head down.
"Calm down first, we don't know where Ran Yatou is," Elder Liu said to her.
But Fang Tianhui was deaf to his words. Her mind was consumed by revenge.
"Let her go," Xuan Yuan sighed, his gaze lost.
This child would have to accept it eventually.
Bai Ran stood up and slowly walked forward.
Xuan Yuan was startled. "Ran Yatou?"
"It's me," Bai Ran said, lowering her head.
The entire square erupted in commotion with Bai Ran's appearance.
Some questioned why she hadn't been seen, some worried about her safety, and others accused her of hiding and refusing to help.
Xuan Yuan, however, smiled and patted her shoulder.
"It's good that you're safe, it's good that you're safe."
"There's an inside traitor in the academy," Bai Ran said, looking up at Xuan Yuan.
An inside traitor!
Xuan Yuan and the elders were shocked. An inside traitor in the academy?
Bai Ran sat at the back, with all the disciples within her sight. However, a peculiar figure entered her vision.
He emanated black energy. Despite the oppressive atmosphere of the academy, he was chuckling softly.
Bai Ran looked at Xuan Yuan, who was deep in thought.
This surprise attack by the demonized humans, directly targeting the Vermilion Bird Kingdom's First Academy and the royal family, was well-prepared and orderly.
Xuan Yuan was unclear about the royal family, but the academy had a protective barrier. He had initially thought the demonized humans had broken through the barrier. But if, as Bai Ran said, an inside traitor had opened the barrier from within…
Xuan Yuan's face became incredibly grim. Bai Yunzheng, standing beside him, clearly understood the implication.
Bai Ran didn't wait for Xuan Yuan's answer. She walked directly to the person radiating black energy and pulled down his hood.
Gao Yu?
He looked panicked and tried to escape, but Bai Ran stomped on his leg, breaking it.
"Ahhh!"
The people on the square instantly fell silent. Was she so sure there was an inside traitor? And it was this person?
What if she had simply found someone to cover up her inaction?
Those who thought they had figured out the cause and effect became agitated again, cursing at Bai Ran.
"He's the traitor? I think you're the traitor!"
"Where were you when the academy was attacked!"
"Were you just watching and not helping? Ungrateful wretch!"
Bai Qingyu stood there, looking at Bai Ran with concern. He believed his sister, but he didn't know where she had been.
Moreover, it was only thanks to the pills she had given him a long time ago that he had survived this ordeal.
Bai Ran dragged Gao Yu, ignoring the uproar.
Human hearts, no one understood them better than she did.
If you were to ask if she regretted doing thankless work, her answer would always be, never.
She wasn't a do-gooder. Her actions were always for those few who had given her their all their sincerity.
At this moment, a figure suddenly darted out. "Nonsense! Sister Bai would never betray the academy!"
Fang Tianhui stood at the entrance, her eyes red, her expression resolute.
Xuan Yuan looked at Bai Ran, his eyes filled with heartache, not a trace of blame.
She threw Gao Yu in front of Xuan Yuan. "Speak, why did you betray the academy?"
"What nonsense are you talking? It's you who betrayed the academy!" Gao Yu shouted angrily at Bai Ran, clutching his broken leg.
Bai Ran didn't want to waste time with him. She pinched his mouth and stuffed a Truth Pill inside.
"Why did you betray the academy?" Bai Ran asked, her gaze icy, word by word.
Gao Yu clutched his mouth tightly but couldn't help but blurt out, "Because I want you dead! And I won't let them off either!"
The square fell into an instant silence, disbelieving their ears.
Bai Ran continued, "Why do you want me dead?"
"Hahahaha! Why do I want you dead? What a funny question! Because I'm jealous! I'm jealous of your talent!"
"You were so high and mighty, with outstanding talent. I wanted to drag you down from your pedestal! To see you suffer!"
Gao Yu's mind was completely unravelled, and he poured out everything.
Xuan Yuan's face turned pale, and his body swayed. He couldn't believe that this was actually a disciple of his Star Picking Academy.
He truly was a traitor!