Graduation Season Arrives

"Yi Yin."

Tang Ling opened her bedroom door and called softly as she walked out.

"Your subordinate is here. What are your orders, Miss?" A black-clad figure flipped in through the living room window, strode to the sofa, and bowed as he awaited his assignment.

"Investigate the people on these papers. I don't need the results urgently, so make sure to thoroughly investigate each person's life." Tang Ling rubbed her brow tiredly and handed over the several sheets of paper in her hand.

"Your subordinate accepts the order." Tang Yiyin took the papers and replied softly.

Seeing him take them, Tang Ling lazily leaned against the sofa backrest. "Pay special attention to whether they have had contact with Spirit Hall or the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Use the dead soldiers Er Yi trained when investigating. Be careful and leave no traces."

"Understood. Shall I deliver the orders personally?" Tang Yiyin sensed that the matter was more serious than he had imagined and asked in a low voice.

"Alright. It's already late, so return tomorrow. Go rest first." Tang Ling considered for a moment and nodded. Then she added, "Have Wu Shang choose someone with higher Soul Power to take over the business in Notting City."

"Yes, Miss!" Tang Yisui lowered his head in acknowledgment, then flipped out through the window again.

"Did I ever teach him to use windows?" Tang Ling muttered in confusion as she watched Tang Yisui's retreating figure from where she lay against the sofa.

Then she shook her slightly muddled head, slowly made her way back to the bedroom, and fell straight into bed.

In the early morning, sunlight that was not overly harsh slowly crept across Tang Ling's face through the gap in the curtains.

"Senior Sister? Time for breakfast." The gentle voice outside the door sounded right on schedule. Tang Ling helplessly closed her eyes and sighed, then got up, dressed, and walked out.

"Good morning, Teacher!"

In the dining room downstairs, the red-clad youth grinned and waved at Tang Ling, who stood on the stairs.

Tang Ling smiled and waved back, then looked at the blue-clad youth emerging from the kitchen as she walked over. "A-Xuan, we're about to graduate. Couldn't you let Senior Sister sleep a little longer?"

Hearing this, the youth set down the soup in his hands and looked up with a helpless smile. "Senior Sister, we agreed to leave early today."

Six years had passed, and the twelve-year-old youth's features had gradually matured. His facial lines were sharply defined, while his round eyes softened his slightly fierce features. When he smiled like this, he looked all the more innocent.

Tang Ling stared at him blankly for a moment, then lowered her head with a soft laugh. "Alright, Senior Sister forgot. I'm coming to eat now."

As she spoke, she quickly walked over to the dining table.

Breakfast passed quickly amid Xue Qingxi's nonstop chatter.

After the meal, Roger led Tang Jiukong into the living room and stopped beside Tang Ling. "Miss, everything has been packed. Word came from Suotuo City that the residence has been arranged. You may move in whenever you arrive."

"Good, then let's set off now." Tang Ling nodded with a smile, then turned to Tang Jiukong. "You've only just reached level 20, so you can't enroll when we reach Suotuo City this time.

I've arranged for you to study under Qi Lu. What do you think?"

"I will follow Miss's arrangements." Tang Jiukong blinked excitedly, then composed himself and lowered his head as he answered.

"Good. Then leave with Steward Roger." Tang Ling nodded in satisfaction, then called to the two people sprawled on the sofa and headed toward the back door.

"Princess, have a safe journey!" Nolan stood beside the carriage at the back door. Seeing them approach, he hurriedly bowed.

Over the past few years, they had worked together very well. By now, Notting Academy's businesses covered half the city, and the work-study students no longer needed anyone else's support.

"Thank you for your kind words, Sir Nolan. There's no need to see us off any farther." Tang Ling lightly helped him up, her face carrying a gentle smile.

Nolan rose with the motion, then turned and lifted the carriage curtain, standing respectfully beside it. Tang Ling smiled and patted his shoulder before lowering her head to board the carriage. Tang San and Xue Qingxi climbed aboard as well.

A moment later, at Tang Ersui's command, the convoy slowly set off toward the outskirts of Notting City.

"Teacher, are we going to Suotuo City first, or the Star Dou Great Forest?" Xue Qingxi lazily leaned against the cushioned backrest and looked at Tang Ling, who held a folder.

"First, we'll go to Suotuo City to register for enrollment, then head to the Star Dou Great Forest for training.

We'll probably be staying longer this time. A-Xuan is level 29, and after this training, he should be able to absorb his third Spirit Ring.

As for you, level 26 is not quite the right time yet, but combat benefits Soul Power growth. You still need to train properly." Tang Ling flipped through the documents in her hands without looking up.

"Understood! I'll train hard and strive to catch up to Third Brother!" Xue Qingxi nodded solemnly, his face serious.

Tang San, seated across from him, raised his head and glanced at him with a faint smile. "That's probably impossible."

Xue Qingxi's eyes instantly widened at those words, and he reached out to punch Tang San.

This guy was too annoying. Not only did he cultivate quickly, but he was so handsome too.

"Alright, then work hard." Tang Ling put down the documents in her hands and gave each of them a bag of dried fruit. If she did not mediate now, the two would start bickering again.

Xue Qingxi accepted the cloth bag with a smile, huffed at Tang San, then pulled out an art book and began reading it with great interest. Tang San also started reading some miscellaneous books.

Tang Ling did not interfere. The two had both been diligent these past few years, and with intense training ahead of them, resting well now was also a balance between work and rest.

The carriage rolled leisurely onward toward Suotuo City.

"Teacher, Third Brother, let's go take a look outside! The city seems pretty lively." Xue Qingxi put away his luggage and hurriedly called out toward the door.

The courtyard they were staying in this time had been built according to drawings Tang Ling provided. Having lived in small Western-style buildings for so long, Tang Ling had begun to miss the courtyard homes from her previous two lives.

So she had Tang Qilu, who had arrived earlier, find a plot of land near Soto Intermediate Soul Master Academy and build this four-section courtyard house.

"Sure. I vaguely heard someone say that another school is recruiting students here as well." Tang San walked out from the room across from Xue Qingxi's and nodded.

"Then let's go have a look." Tang Ling emerged from the main house with a smile and led the two at her sides toward the door.

The three did not take a carriage or bring anyone with them. They simply wandered out to explore.

"Teacher, I'll go ask." Standing before the noisy crowd ahead, Xue Qingxi greeted them with a grin before squeezing inside.

"Be careful." Tang Ling smiled as she watched the flash of red, then turned to Tang San in confusion. "A-Xuan, I don't usually keep him cooped up, do I? Why does he seem to enjoy plunging into crowds more and more as he grows up?"

"Mm, perhaps. Though he really has been rather stifled lately." Tang San thought for a moment before replying with a smile.

"Then once we start training, he'll have to stay stifled for a while longer. There won't be a soul around in that wilderness." Tang Ling looked up at the red-clad youth weaving through the crowd and teased with a chuckle.

A crisp laugh rang out beside them. Tang Ling turned her head and saw a young girl in a green gauze dress standing a few steps away, covering her mouth as she giggled.

Realizing she had been noticed, the girl hurriedly waved her hands. "Sorry, Sister. I didn't mean to overhear. I was just passing by."

"It's alright." Tang Ling looked at the somewhat familiar little girl and smiled as she shook her head.

Seeing that Tang Ling was not angry, the girl boldly moved closer. "Sister, are you really that amazing? He actually calls you Teacher!"

The red-clad youth, who was at the same level as herself, actually called someone who looked about the same age as him Teacher. This unbelievable sight made passersby stop curiously.

"Yes, I'm very amazing." Tang Ling looked down at the lovely young girl, recalling someone with similar features, then asked softly, "Are you from the Ning family?"

"You know me?" Ning Rongrong covered her small mouth in surprise and blinked at the person before her.

"I know your father. Why are you here alone? Where are the servants following you?" Tang Ling patted her head with a smile and asked gently.

"I, I shook them off!" Ning Rongrong embarrassedly twirled a strand of her loose hair around her finger. "I want to go to Shrek Academy, but my father won't allow it.

He said that if I left, I could only attend Soto Soul Master Academy. I don't want to listen to his arrangements, so I ran away to enroll.

Sister, you're so beautiful. You definitely won't report me, right?"

As she spoke, she blinked her big eyes, tugged at Tang Ling's sleeve, and smiled sweetly as she acted cute.

"I won't report you. Just as your Bone Grandfather said, you really are a little troublemaker!" Tang Ling smiled and tapped her forehead.

Chloe had worked well with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and as the cleanest of the three upper sects, Tang Ling had a very favorable impression of them all.

"But first, you have to tell me why you want to go to Shrek Academy." Tang Ling withdrew her hand and looked at Ning Rongrong with slight seriousness.

The girl's nostrils flared as she froze for a moment, then cried out excitedly, "That school claims it only accepts little monsters. I think that's the only place worthy of me!"