The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

Cen Jiexiao's fingers tapped lightly on the table, her thoughts as chaotic as the autumn leaves falling outside the window. The Xixiang caravan and the white-bearded old man—these two figures were like two clouds of mist, impossible to see through or guess.

"Dean, what are you thinking about?" Yu Lan ran excitedly to Cen Jiexiao, holding an exquisite wooden box. "Dean, this is a gift from Master Xia. He said it's a precious spice brought specially from the Western Regions. Master Xia heard that you have trouble sleeping and often toss and turn. This spice is very effective in calming the nerves and helping you sleep!"

Cen Jiexiao took the wooden box and opened it. Inside were some black spices that gave off a peculiar fragrance that invigorated her spirits.

"This spice..." Cen Jiexiao frowned slightly, "Just take it, and don't tell anyone."

"Dean, why are you so cold to Young Master Xia?" Yu Lan asked in confusion, "Young Master Xia is a handsome man and treats people sincerely, why are you..."

"Yu Lan, you don't know this," Cen Jiexiao interrupted her. "Xia Chenghao's scheming is unfathomable. He can come and go freely in Linkang Prefecture and even resell armor and weapons. How can he be a good person? So he approached me, he must have ulterior motives."

"Ah? How could that be?" Yu Lan's eyes widened, her face full of disbelief. "We... weren't, Master Xia..."

Cen Jiexiao shook her head.

"You can only know a person's face but not his heart. Yu Lan, just remember that those who are not of our kind must have different hearts. Stay away from them from now on, especially that Xia Chenghao. Be especially careful and vigilant."

Although Yu Lan was confused, she nodded.

In the next few days, Cen Jiexiao's attitude towards Xia Chenghao seemed to soften a lot, and she often went boating with him to appreciate flowers, drink tea and discuss philosophy. But in fact, Xia Chenghao's every move was secretly observed by the Qiming Group, and they tried to find flaws in him.

One day, Xia Chenghao invited Cen Jiexiao to go hunting in the hunting ground on the outskirts of the city, and Cen Jiexiao happily agreed.

On the hunting grounds, horses galloped and arrows flew through the air, creating a lively scene. Cen Jiexiao, riding a maroon horse, looked so heroic that everyone looked at her sideways.

"Dean Cen, you have excellent archery skills!" Xia Chenghao rode his horse to Cen Jiexiao's side with a meaningful smile on his face. "Dean Cen, I heard that the dense forest ahead is quite beautiful. Would you be so kind as to join us?"

Cen Jiexiao sneered in her heart. This Xia Chenghao was really impatient and showed his true colors so quickly.

"Okay," Cen Jiexiao agreed readily, a playful smile on her lips. "Young Master Xia has invited me so kindly, how could I refuse?"

The two of them rode side by side, heading deep into the dense forest.

However, what Cen Jiexiao didn't know was that all of this was seen by Yu Lan and Qiming Group who were hiding in the dark.

"The Dean and Young Master Xia...how could they..." Yu Lan's heart was full of confusion and uneasiness. She always felt that something was wrong.

"No, we have to keep up!" Yu Lan was anxious and didn't care about anything else. She took the Qiming team and followed quietly.

Cen Jiexiao and Xia Chenghao came to the depths of the dense forest and stopped in a secluded valley.

"Dean Cen, how is the scenery here?" Xia Chenghao dismounted and asked with a smile.

Cen Jiexiao responded indifferently, her eyes scanning the surroundings, her heart secretly alert, "Not bad, Master Xia brought me here, I wonder what business you have?"

Xia Chenghao walked up to Cen Jiexiao, a hint of greed flashing in his eyes, "It's nothing, I just want to ask the dean to take a look at this."

As he spoke, Xia Chenghao took out a jade pendant from his arms and handed it to Cen Jiexiao.

Cen Jiexiao took the jade pendant and examined it carefully. It was emerald green, translucent, and engraved with a lifelike phoenix. It was obvious at first glance that it was priceless.

"This jade pendant..." Cen Jiexiao's heart moved. Why does the pattern of this jade pendant look so familiar?

Xia Chenghao's voice was low and hoarse. "This jade pendant has a pattern exclusive to my Xixiang tribe. Only future Xixiang women or women who marry into the Xixiang clan are qualified to wear it."

Cen Jiexiao suddenly looked up and met Xia Chenghao's aggressive gaze, and she immediately understood.

"Xia Chenghao, what do you mean?" Cen Jiexiao asked coldly, with a hint of anger in her tone.

"Isn't what I mean clear enough?" Xia Chenghao approached step by step, forcing Cen Jiexiao under a big tree, and a wicked smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. "Cen Jiexiao, I want you to be my woman and live a life of wealth and glory!"

"You're crazy!" Cen Jiexiao pushed Xia Chenghao away and said angrily, "I'm the dean of Zhaoyin Academy in the Great Zhou Dynasty. I have nothing to do with you, Xi Xiang. You're just wishful thinking!"

"Wishful thinking?" Xia Chenghao suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter filled with sarcasm and disdain. "Cen Jiexiao, it's just you and me now. We Xixiang men believe in cutting the Gordian knot. Once the rice is cooked, it's not up to you whether you like it or not."

"You...you are bullying me, it's a crime, you know that? If you dare to touch me now, I will make you regret it for the rest of your life, Xia Chenghao." Cen Jiexiao was so angry that she was shaking all over, but she was speechless.

Xia Chenghao sneered and said, "I have many regrets in my life. I don't care if it's one more or one less. As for the crime you mentioned? It's ridiculous. One day, the Great Zhou will belong to me, Xi Xiang. In short, don't let me down, otherwise..."

Xia Chenghao didn't say anything else, but the threat in his eyes was self-evident.

Cen Jiexiao clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her flesh, her heart filled with humiliation and anger.

"Xia Chenghao, you are going too far! How can the dean be humiliated like this by a playboy like you." Yu Lan, who was hiding in the dark, couldn't bear it anymore, rushed out, pointed at Xia Chenghao's nose and cursed.

Xia Chenghao was stunned. No one had expected that there was someone lying in ambush here.

"Yu Lan, what's wrong with you..." Cen Jiexiao was surprised and happy.

"Dean, don't be afraid, we are here to protect you!" Yu Lan drew the sword from her waist and pointed it at Xia Chenghao, looking ready to die.

"We?" Cen Jiexiao was full of questions.

"Qiming Group, protect the Dean!" Yu Lan let out a crisp shout, and five people in black leather armor slid down quickly from the surrounding trees. They held Xuanji crossbows in their hands and aimed them steadily at Xia Chenghao.

Xia Chenghao was stunned at first, and then he burst into laughter, his laughter full of contempt and ridicule.

Xia Chenghao's arrogant laughter echoed in Cen Jiexiao's ears. She felt a surge of blood rushing to her head, her anger almost burning away her sanity. She bit her lower lip tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms, but she couldn't suppress the trembling in her body.

"Dean, don't be afraid!" Yu Lan's voice was clear and powerful, like a ray of warm sunshine in the winter ice, which slightly calmed Cen Jiexiao's emotions that were about to collapse.

"Hmph, you guys, with just a bunch of misfits, think you can challenge my warriors from Xixiang?" Xia Chenghao glanced at Yu Lan and the Qiming Group with disdain, his tone full of disdain, "You're overestimating yourselves!"

"How dare you!" Yu Lan cried out delicately, unsheathing her swallowtail dagger, a flash of cold light. With the swiftness of a swallow, she dodged the oncoming scimitar, the tip of her sword pointed directly at Xia Chenghao's throat. "Who will win or lose? Only after the fight will we know!"

With that, Yu Lan engaged Xia Chenghao's men in a fierce battle. The five members of the Qiming Group also coordinated tacitly, unleashing their mysterious crossbows like a rain of arrows, precisely striking the enemy's vital points. Suddenly, the gleaming of swords and the cries of slaughter shook the heavens, transforming the once tranquil forest into a raging battlefield.

Cen Jiexiao had no knowledge of martial arts, so she had to hide behind a thick tree, closely watching the battle situation, feeling extremely anxious.

"The other side has more people and more power. It's not a good idea for us to continue like this!" Yu Lan fought and retreated, her brows furrowed, and there was a hint of anxiety in her tone.

Just when the two sides were in a stalemate, there was a sudden burst of rapid horse hoofbeats in the distance, accompanied by deafening shouts of killing. A team rushed into the encirclement like a black torrent, which was unstoppable.

"It's someone from the military class!" Yu Lan, with her sharp eyes, recognized the person at a glance and immediately cheered up, "We're saved!"

Leading the group was none other than the eldest brother, Chen Zigui. He was dressed in a dark riding uniform, his posture erect, and his handsome face radiating a chilling murderous aura, like a sword unsheathed, making anyone afraid to look directly at him.

"You daring lunatic! How dare you commit such atrocities here? Surrender now!" Chen Zigui's voice resounded like thunder, echoing through the forest. He charged into the enemy camp like a tiger descending from the mountains, throwing men and horses to the ground wherever he passed. No one could stop him.

Seeing the situation was not good, Xia Chenghao knew that it was difficult to succeed today, so he ordered a retreat. He looked deeply at Cen Jiexiao, a sinister glint in his eyes, then he jumped on his horse and drove away with his guards.

"Dean, are you okay?" Chen Zigui rode his horse to Cen Jiexiao, dismounted, and asked with concern. His eyes fell on Cen Jiexiao's slightly pale face, and an indescribable pity welled up in his heart.

"I'm fine..." Cen Jiexiao shook her head, suppressing the fear in her heart and showing a forced smile, "Thank you, Senior Brother, for arriving in time."

"Dean, you're welcome. It's my duty to protect you. We can't stay here for long. I'll escort you back to the academy first." Chen Zigui smiled slightly, his tone gentle.

Cen Jiexiao nodded and was about to agree, but suddenly she felt dizzy, her vision went dark, and she fell down limply.