Bai Lan smiled.
"As long as it worked."
Ma Xiaotao nodded, her gaze falling on the figures behind him.
She had already met Yinye and the Ice Empress yesterday.
But seeing them again today was still a shock.
Especially the Ice Empress—
Seven hundred thousand years old, with Ultimate Ice.
The Evil Fire within her felt as if it had met its natural enemy in the Ice Empress's presence.
"Senior Ice Empress." She bowed slightly. "Thank you for yesterday."
The Ice Empress looked at her.
Her icy blue eyes still held little emotion.
But they were a little gentler than yesterday.
"It was my master's doing," she said. "You don't need to thank me."
Ma Xiaotao nodded and turned back to Bai Lan.
"Junior Bai Lan, you haven't had breakfast yet, have you? Want to eat together?"
Bai Lan nodded.
The two walked side by side into the dining hall.
Behind them—
Tang Ya stood rooted to the spot, her mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.
"Th-that was Senior Ma Xiaotao?"
Bei Bei's expression changed too.
Ma Xiaotao.
The Outer Courtyard's top genius at Shrek Academy.
A forty-third-rank Soul Ancestor.
Wielder of the Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul.
Usually, she looked down on everyone and wouldn't give anyone the time of day.
And now—
She'd come over of her own accord, chatting and laughing with Bai Lan?
And they were eating together?
"Just who is that kid, Bai Lan..." Xu Sanshi murmured.
No one answered him.
Because no one knew.
In the dining hall.
Bai Lan and Ma Xiaotao found a table and sat down.
Yinye and the Ice Empress sat on either side of Bai Lan.
Watching them, Ma Xiaotao's eyes flickered with curiosity.
"Junior Bai Lan," she said, "are Yinye and the Ice Empress