Don't Ever Take Off Teacher's Mask, or There Will Be Terrifying Consequences

Watching Meng Yiran take Su Ran as her master, Snake Grandma Chao Tianxiang wore a gratified smile, though tears streamed down her face.

Both she and Dragon Duke were old. Not only were their physical abilities declining, but Meng Yiran's parents had died young. Hunting soul beasts and engaging in Soul Master Duels were both dangerous matters. She feared that once Meng Yiran's Soul Power Level rose further, when it came time for her fifth and sixth soul rings, they would no longer have the strength to help her hunt Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts.

If anything were to happen, leaving her alone in this world, she would truly have no one to rely on...

But now, things were better. The girl had a genius teacher, and her two fellow disciples were both favored daughters of heaven. At last, she had a place to belong.

"Grandma, I'm taking a teacher to study under. Why are you crying? Isn't this a good thing?"

Meng Yiran put away the Peach Blossom Token. Seeing Snake Grandma shed tears, she too grew emotional.

Wiping away her tears, Snake Grandma said:

"Grandma is crying tears of joy. I'm happy."

"If that old man knew you had found such a good teacher, he would be happy too."

"Alright, absorb the soul ring first. This Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent probably can't hold on much longer."

If the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent could speak, it would surely have cursed at the top of its lungs:

Damn it, are you people even human? One group coming after me was bad enough.

You beat me half to death, then stood beside me yapping away and arguing over who gets to claim me. And now you're taking on a master right in front of me? Can't you just give me a quick death?

Does a snake's life not count as a life?

"Wait, Yiran. Don't absorb this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent."

Just as Meng Yiran put away the Peach Blossom Token and was about to deliver the finishing blow to the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, Su Ran spoke calmly and stopped her.

Meng Yiran looked puzzled.

"Teacher, what is it?"

Snake Grandma was also confused, and followed Meng Yiran in changing how she addressed him. "Teacher Su, is there something wrong with this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent? Did Zhao Wuji and the others tamper with it?"

"Probably because this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent is too young, so it isn't suitable for Junior Sister to absorb."

Zhu Zhuqing was already familiar with this. She knew that Teacher Su had extremely high requirements for the age of their soul rings—they had to surpass the limit.

"You sure know a lot."

Ning Rongrong's face drooped. These days, seeing Zhu Zhuqing put her in a bad mood.

Sister, I thought you were my best friend, but you're making me a cuckold?

You secretly kissed my teacher! Hmph!

"Alright, Senior Disciple Sister Rongrong, don't be mad at me anymore. I didn't do it on purpose."

"I don't believe you."

"Yiran, my name is Zhu Zhuqing. You can just call me Zhuqing from now on. This is Senior Disciple Sister Rongrong. Although she's about the same age as me, she was Teacher's first Direct Disciple, so she's our 'Senior Disciple Sister,' you know."

"Senior Disciple Sister Rongrong."

Meng Yiran called out to Ning Rongrong, though it still felt strange. She was clearly older, yet she had become the Junior Sister.

"Zhuqing is right. This Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent is less than fifteen hundred years old. While that is the standard Soul Ring Age for a third soul ring, now that you are my disciple, absorbing this soul ring would be far too low-grade."

Su Ran took out a small Dark Green medicine bottle, walked over to the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, and dripped the liquid inside onto its wound.

In just a moment, the wound covered by the medicine rapidly healed, restoring its vitality.

"What miraculous healing medicine."

"But Teacher Su, are we just letting this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent go?"

After regaining some ability to move, the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent tensed all over and looked at Su Ran in confusion, as though it did not understand why these humans had first tried to kill it, only to save it afterward.

It circled Su Ran once, then wriggled toward the depths of the forest.

Snake Grandma Chao Tianxiang was somewhat surprised by Su Ran's actions.

Su Ran merely said calmly, "All things possess a spirit. Since it is of no use to us, there is no need to kill it mercilessly."

It was not that Su Ran was softhearted. He simply knew that soul beasts had an extremely difficult time growing. Wanton slaughter would only bring bitter consequences; in the future, it would become increasingly difficult for soul masters to find suitable soul rings.

Soul masters should acquire soul rings by the proper means.

"Snake Elder, rest assured. Since Yiran is now my student, I will naturally choose a suitable soul ring for her based on her physique."

"However, Yiran's physical condition is still too weak, so she is not suited to immediately absorb her third soul ring. I plan to look around the Star Dou Great Forest, find a soul beast that meets my expectations, and bring it back to the academy."

"Once I have given her special training and improved her physical condition, she can then absorb the soul ring."

Su Ran spoke calmly.

"Mm. Since Yiran is now your student, this old woman will follow your arrangements, Teacher Su."

When Zhu Zhuqing had dueled Dai Mubai earlier, Snake Grandma had already noticed that the third soul ring Zhu Zhuqing absorbed was extraordinary, far surpassing the third soul rings of ordinary soul masters.

Now, it seemed that this Su Ran truly had exceptionally high standards. She had thought the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent she chose for Yiran was already top-quality, yet it had not even caught his eye.

"Zhuqing, Rongrong, you have just absorbed your third soul rings, and your realms are not yet stable. Go back to the hotel with Snake Elder and Yiran to consolidate your realms. I'll continue searching the Star Dou Great Forest for soul beasts."

Su Ran said to Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.

Ning Rongrong was somewhat worried about Su Ran:

"Teacher, you must be careful in the Star Dou Great Forest. Don't let any soul beasts hurt you, or your disciple will be heartbroken."

"Don't worry."

Su Ran smiled faintly. With a flicker, he had already vanished into the forest.

His Crossing the Yellow Springs Body Technique was a level above even Zhu Zhuqing's—he came without a trace and left without a shadow.

"This Teacher Su really is quite an interesting man."

"But... Senior Sister Rongrong, Zhuqing, why does Teacher wear a mask? Does he not want us to see what he looks like?"

On the way out of the Star Dou Great Forest, Meng Yiran finally asked the question she most wanted answered.

Snake Grandma was also very curious about the answer to that question.

If he were going somewhere special and did not want to show his face, wearing a mask would be understandable. But they had only come out to hunt Soul Rings—why did he need to wear one for that too?

"Don't ask! Don't look!"

"Teacher's face beneath that mask is terrifying. If you see it, your heart will stop. He can shoot laser beams from his eyes—pew~—and once they hit you, you're done for."

"So from now on, you must never ask Teacher why he wears a mask, and you absolutely must not take it off. Otherwise, the consequences will be severe!!!"

Ning Rongrong said solemnly.

"Is it really that serious?" Meng Yiran was genuinely frightened.

"Mm!"

Ning Rongrong nodded fiercely.

They absolutely could not be allowed to see Teacher's face.

Otherwise, all my junior sisters will become my love rivals.

(﹏)

"..."

"But, Senior Sister Rongrong, doesn't Teacher's mask leave his eyes uncovered? If he had laser eyes, shouldn't they shoot out directly?"

"Eh? That, that... I haven't figured that out yet. You're not allowed to ask anymore! No more questions!"

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