Then she was summoned to the principal's office.
She had not had time to grab her bag, so she could not take any pictures of Theresa in casual clothes. What a shame.
"Ahem." Theresa cleared her throat and stood on her chair, looking down from above. "Bai Yan, your recent exam results have been outstanding. You have already become an example known throughout the school. You must guard against arrogance and impatience, and you cannot relax too easily."
"The principal is right."
Bai Yan was a little puzzled. This style did not suit Theresa at all.
"So," Theresa said, her gaze sharpening, "in order to better help you make up for your weaknesses, after discussing it with Teacher Himeko, we have decided that an exceptionally talented student like you should receive more care and encouragement."
Bai Yan's heart skipped a beat.
"Fu Hua!"
Bang! The door flew open.
A gray-haired female student in glasses strode in with a perfectly straight posture.
"Starting today, you will properly assist this student and strive to raise her practical combat grades to the school average."
"Yes, Principal!"
Fu Hua pushed up her glasses and walked over to Bai Yan. "Bai Yan, please guide me from now on."
Faced with her earnest attitude, Bai Yan felt as though the pressure on her was as immense as Mount Tai.
Theresa, meanwhile, broke into a smile, her cherry-like lips even curving into an "ω" shape.
Now you won't have the chance to hang around Kiana all day.
Besides, there was nothing wrong with what she was doing.
What? Kiana could not study properly without her?
Then let her ask this: had Kiana not affected Bai Yan's practical combat grades and delayed Bai Yan's progress?
She, Principal Theresa, was impartial and selfless. She treated all students equally and would not favor anyone just because they were her niece!
As for Kiana, she had other arrangements for her. Just do not ask!
Bai Yan met Fu Hua's eyes, but she received nothing from them besides goodwill.
Clearly, Fu Hua did not know her identity either. The confidentiality work had been handled pretty well...
Now practical combat class had instead become Bai Yan's biggest headache.
This was not an easy act to put on. Unless ancient, experienced figures like Otto or Fu Hua were not watching in person, it would be difficult for someone at her level to avoid being seen through.
Perhaps Jingliu could offer some suitable advice, or simply teach her a quick, powerful finishing move that she only needed to unleash at a critical moment.
She needed to find Master Jingliu tonight.
Fu Hua: Numb, but Fine
The only exit was closed, leaving only Fu Hua and Bai Yan in the room.
The immortal who had lived a second life stared at the simulated combat test results, black lines covering her entire forehead.
59 points, 59 points, 59 points...
Attitude was the mask of the heart.
Miss Bai Yan took out her makeup case and began touching up her makeup, carefully repairing the parts that had been scratched by the equipment earlier.
She crossed her legs and lightly swung one without the slightest restraint, applying makeup while secretly observing Fu Hua's reaction.
The immortal seemed to be boiling mad.
Faced with such a ridiculous person, Fu Hua's expression was on the verge of collapsing.
Bai Yan looked into her makeup mirror and quietly shifted her gaze to glance at Fu Hua a few times.
Sigh, her Dao heart is unstable. Old people really are too impatient.
"Bai Yan, you..."
"What? The test is over. From now on, I'm a C-rank Valkyrie in charge of logistics. And don't look at me like that. You're not my type. What a turnoff!
"And setting the facts aside, do C-rank Valkyries deserve to be born inferior to others?!
"C-rank Valkyries are fighting Honkai too. It's just that everyone has different duties."
"..."
Fu Hua had never been this speechless before.
"Your abilities clearly go far beyond this. Why do you insist on being like this?"
Bai Yan raised an eyebrow.
She closed her makeup case, picked up her bag, and stuffed it inside.
Miss Bai Yan slung the bag over her shoulder and rose to her feet.
"If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."
"Wait!"
Bai Yan slapped her hand away with a look of disgust and said disdainfully, "Men and women should not touch casually. Keep your hands to yourself."
Fu Hua felt as if someone had punched her in the chest.
"Oh... you're a girl? Sorry, I didn't notice earlier. Don't take it personally." Bai Yan suddenly realized, waving a hand dismissively.
Fu Hua: -_-#
"Hey, hey, hey, the test is over. I can leave now, right?
"Give up on me. I really am not cut out for this. You would be better off putting your effort into other promising students. For example, Kiana is pretty good.
"She's the principal's niece and a warrior of the Kaslana family. All she needs now is a little guidance, and she'll undergo a transformation immediately..."
Fu Hua quickly dispelled a small amount of her negative emotions and said calmly, "No. I believe Bai Yan possesses astonishing potential, no less than Kiana's."
She pushed up her glasses and carefully sized Bai Yan up, as if confirming her own judgment. Then she nodded, thoroughly convinced.
The glare from Fu Hua's lenses flashed into Bai Yan's eyes. She turned her head aside and said, "Doesn't Shenzhou martial arts value one's state of mind?"
"I'll help you temper it."
"I can't keep it up."
"I'll find a way."
"I hate flat chests. Can you fix yours before coming back?"
"???"
Bai Yan was completely numb, so she simply attacked directly.
"Glasses, braids, and you dress so unfashionably. I feel cheap just being around you, so please move aside. I'm going out."
Fu Hua was even more numb.
Yet she endured those words with sheer willpower and still blocked the door.
"This is the principal's order."
She really took Theresa's words that seriously?!
If Bai Yan did not roughly know what Fu Hua was like, she would genuinely have suspected that Fu Hua had some other motive.
Bai Yan sat back down, thought for a moment, and sent Kiana a message.
She pretended to sigh. After holding out for a while, she said to Fu Hua, "Fine, fine, let's train. What do we start with?"
Fu Hua breathed a sigh of relief and finally began methodically planning a tutoring regimen.
However, just as the two of them were getting started—
Bang!
The door was suddenly kicked open, and Kiana swaggered inside.
"Xiao Yan, what did you call me over for—uh, Class Monitor?"
Two pairs of eyes turned toward Bai Yan at once, while she remained perfectly composed.
"Mm, I feel much better now," she said, refreshed. "I can only train properly with Kiana around. Otherwise, it feels awful~"
Fu Hua glanced at Kiana's braids. "Doesn't she have braids too?"
"But Kiana's white hair is pretty."
"..."
Kiana did not understand what they were talking about and asked curiously, "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, the principal made me take supplementary practical combat lessons, but I can only train properly if Kiana is here..."
As she spoke, she gave Kiana a look.
No matter how Kiana interpreted it, she returned a look that said, "I get it."
Satisfied, Bai Yan turned to Fu Hua. "Let's train together."
Fu Hua thought about it. Since they were both problem students, as class monitor, she had no reason to refuse.
She nodded. "All right."
That night.
Kiana supported Bai Yan as they slowly climbed upstairs.
"That class monitor was pretty amazing. She was actually evenly matched with me. But Xiao Yan, you really need to exercise properly. You're already like this after such a short time."
Bai Yan's mouth twitched, and she forced a smile. "Yeah, yeah."
"Evenly matched" meant that Kiana had been the bull the entire time, while Fu Hua had been the bullfighter.
As for Bai Yan herself, although she had expected it, she had not expected her problems to be this severe.
Previously, she had only learned swordsmanship from Jingliu and paid no attention at all to things like stamina and strength. And at Jingliu's level, she would not even notice matters of this degree.
You're learning my swordsmanship, so surely you practice horse stance every day, right?
Bai Yan was helped into her room and immediately flopped onto the bed, intending to rest for a bit before going to meet Master Jingliu.
The next moment, Kiana lay down beside her.
"Whew—today's fight was so satisfying!"
She turned onto her side to face Bai Yan. "Xiao Yan, if this keeps up, do you think I'll become A-rank soon?"
"I think you can do it."
"Hehe... Ever since I came to St. Freya, I've felt happy every day, except when Aunt Himeko keeps scolding me."
Bai Yan sighed inwardly. Kiana really needed to change the way she called Himeko "Aunt."
"Mom" was fine, but "Aunt" was not—just like "Dad" was fine, but "Uncle" was not.
The logic was the same.
She would correct Kiana later. She was not in the mood today.
Kiana casually moved closer to Bai Yan, hooked her arm around Bai Yan's, and even rubbed against it.
"Still, she hasn't said much about me lately. Xiao Yan really is amazing."
"Not at all. Kiana is amazing too." Feeling the soft, springy sensation against one side of her body, Bai Yan steadied herself before continuing, "I always feel that as long as Kiana is around, I wouldn't be afraid even if we were surrounded by Honkai Beasts."
"Hehehe, don't worry. When that time comes, I'll definitely protect Xiao Yan."
As she spoke, Kiana simply wrapped an arm around Bai Yan's waist and moved her head close to Bai Yan's neck, the posture extremely intimate.
Her overheated breath blew against Bai Yan, but soon evened out.
Bai Yan was about to speak when she turned and found that Kiana had already closed her eyes.
"No, how did you fall asleep instantly?"
She checked the time again. It was almost time to meet Jingliu.
She tried moving, only to find herself held tightly, unable to break free.
Before you continue