Brigitte cleared her throat and began to recite softly in her heavenly voice.
"Master, Sister Xue'er, Sister Bing'er, Qiu'er, Sister A'yin, Yao'er."
"It's as if we're meeting in person. It's been ten months since we parted. I wonder if you are all well? Everything is going well for me here, and my progress in the divine examination is much faster than expected. Please don't worry about me."
The letter begins with the usual greetings and a message of reassurance.
Although it was just a few words, the women present all breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yao'er, how is your cultivation going? Have you been slacking off? You must listen to your master and Sister Xue'er, and not be willful. Your brother isn't around, so you must learn to take care of yourself. When I get back, I'll check your homework, and if you've fallen behind, you'll get a spanking."
Upon reading this, Dongfang Yao's cheeks flushed instantly. She pouted and muttered softly, "Hmph, brother, really! He's such a grown man, and he still talks about spanking me... How indecent..."
Although she was complaining, she couldn't hide the smile in her eyes.
I've experienced being spanked before, and it was really exciting...
Brigitte and the others couldn't help but laugh at her charmingly naive appearance.
"Master, I entrust the affairs of the academy to you. Also, please take good care of Yao'er and the others with you and Sister Xue'er. When I return, I will definitely take good care of you."
"Sister Xue'er and Sister Bing'er, have you worked on your stamina? I hope you won't give up next time we meet!"
"Qiu'er, you... cough cough, just you wait, I've become stronger now, you're no match for me anymore!"
"Sister Yin, you work so hard cooking and cleaning for everyone. I'll let you relax when I get back!"
The letter was almost entirely filled with concern and advice for each of them, and between the lines it was filled with deep longing and love.
He remembered everyone's personality and habits very clearly.
It was as if he had never left and had always been by their side.
The women listened quietly, their eyes slightly red.
This man is always like this; no matter where he is, the women he thinks about most are always the women.
However, throughout the entire letter, he made no mention of his experiences over the past six months or the divine trials he was undergoing.
Finally, the letter ended with:
"I might not be able to make it back for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, which is a great pity. But the Divine Exam is more important, and I can only do my best. I hope you can understand."
"Don't worry, wait for my return."
"Love you all, Jing, handwritten."
I've finished reading the letter.
A brief silence fell over the room.
"Ah Jing… still won't say anything." Wang Qiu'er sighed, her tone tinged with worry. "He only says everything went smoothly, but the Divine Exam isn't that easy."
"Yes," Hyotei frowned as well, "That's a test from the gods, how could it possibly go smoothly?"
"Alright, since my disciple says he's alright, then we should believe him." Brigitte put away the letter and smiled as she reassured everyone. "He's not the kind of person who would cause us worry. What we need to do now is take care of ourselves and wait for him to come back."
Although that's what she said, the worry deep in her eyes didn't lessen in the slightest.
Just then, Dongfang Yao, who had been silent all along, suddenly took the letter from Biji's hand.
She brought her small nose close to the paper, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.
"Yao'er, what are you doing?" Wang Qiu'er asked curiously.
"I'm smelling my brother's scent," Dongfang Yao replied seriously.
However, the next second, her beautiful brows furrowed tightly.
"strangeness..."
"What's wrong?" Xue Di asked.
Dongfang Yao raised her head, her clear eyes filled with confusion and unease.
"Why does this letter... smell so strongly of blood?"
"The smell of blood?"
Upon hearing those two words, the hearts of all the women present sank.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Are you a puppy? Where did the blood smell on the letter come from?" Wang Qiu'er complained, but she couldn't help but take the letter from Dongfang Yao's hand and, imitating her, smell it.
Immediately afterwards, her expression changed.
"It really exists! It really does!"
Xue Di, Bing Di, Bi Ji, and A Yin also joined in.
After they smelled the letters one by one, each of their faces was filled with shock and worry.
The smell of blood, though faint, was almost completely masked by the scent of ink on the letter paper.
But with their extraordinary sense of smell, they can still clearly distinguish it.
Moreover, the smell wasn't from ordinary animal blood, but from human blood!
The warm atmosphere from just moments ago instantly plummeted to freezing point.
"My disciple…" Biji clutched the letter tightly.
She regretted it.
If she had known this would happen, she should have stayed by his side no matter what!
While everyone in the living room was lost in their own thoughts,
Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who had been silent all along, turned his gaze to Dongfang Yao, who was sitting on the sofa.
"Yao'er," he spoke, his voice as cold and hard as ever, yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible gentleness, "come with me."
After saying that, he stood up and walked towards the training ground outside the villa.
"Ah? Oh, okay, Master!"
Dongfang Yao was stunned for a moment, then quickly got up and followed.
"Let's go take a look too," Ah Yin suggested.
Everyone was quite interested in this, and they all got up and followed the two to the private training ground on the back mountain.
On the training field, Chen Xin and Dongfang Yao stood facing each other.
"Draw your sword," Chen Xin said succinctly. "Let your master see if you've improved."
"Yes, Master."
Dongfang Yao took a deep breath, her gaze becoming focused.
"Clang—"
With a crisp sword cry, the Star Sword was summoned, its brilliant starlight flowing across its blade, making her small figure appear even more heroic.
"Master, please be careful!"
Before she finished speaking, Dongfang Yao moved.
She didn't use any soul skills, but only used the most basic sword moves. Her figure was like a streak of light, instantly closing in on Chen Xin. The long sword in her hand transformed into countless star points, enveloping Chen Xin's vital points.
Chen Xin stood still, not even releasing his Seven Kill Sword, but simply pointing his fingers like a sword, casually waving and pointing.
"Jingle bells!"
A series of rapid clanging sounds rang out.
Outside the training ground, Ning Fengzhi clapped his hands and exclaimed, "We must thank His Majesty the Ice Emperor for accepting Uncle Jian's previous sparring session, which has deepened Uncle Jian's swordsmanship. And Yao'er, that girl, her sword moves are agile, her foundation is solid, and she has made great progress over the years."
Xue Qinghe, standing to the side, smiled and nodded in agreement.
But his gaze lingered more on Dongfang Yao's unique swordsmanship.
He could tell that Dongfang Yao was not using Chen Xin's domineering and unparalleled Seven Kill Sword Technique.
Her swordsmanship was fast and sharp.
However, it lacked some of the murderous aura and gained more of agility and protectiveness.
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(End of chapter)