You're Fired

"You're fired."

Inside the Red Mountain Dean's office, the gray-haired dean looked at Lin Ximeng standing before him. His tone was stern, carrying the disappointment of someone who hated to see her fail to live up to expectations.

Just moments ago, the person in charge of the Aolai City Spirit Pagoda Branch had personally contacted him through Soul Guidance Communication. Polite yet unquestionable, they had conveyed the wishes of an important figure from the headquarters and thoroughly explained what had happened.

Under normal circumstances, this truly would have been a trivial matter.

Blue Silver Grass was a useless Martial Soul. That was practically common knowledge in the Soul Master world. A few children mocking it, a teacher being somewhat lax in managing the class, or even harboring a bit of contempt in their heart—none of that counted as some unforgivable offense.

Even if a student or parent lodged a complaint, the academy had plenty of ways and excuses to brush it aside and smooth things over.

But this time, Lin Ximeng had happened to kick an iron plate and offended someone she absolutely could not afford to offend!

Beyond his anger, the Red Mountain Dean even felt a faint lingering fear—and relief.

When Wang Chuan had enrolled, they had conducted a routine background check. All they knew was that his father, Wang Zhe, was a Three-Ring Soul Venerable and a Level 3 Soul Master.

In Aolai City, Wang Zhe was considered someone of standing.

But his influence was, at most, on equal footing with the dean's, perhaps even slightly inferior.

Who could have imagined that standing behind this child was the deputy tower master of the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters—a level ninety-eight Super Douluo, an unparalleled powerhouse with the title Heavenly Phoenix! And that he was her direct disciple!

That changed the nature of the matter completely.

A minor classroom conflict had instantly escalated into a "major matter" that the academy's highest authorities had to treat seriously and provide a clear explanation for!

To appease that important figure's potential displeasure, and to show goodwill toward the Spirit Pagoda...

Lin Ximeng, as the person directly responsible, naturally became the "price" that had to be sacrificed.

Lin Ximeng's face had gone pale, and her body trembled slightly.

She had never imagined that merely revealing her true opinion of a student with a "useless Martial Soul," as she usually did, would bring such terrifying consequences!

The disciple of the Spirit Pagoda's deputy tower master...

To her, such status was like a star in the clouds—far beyond her reach.

Her heart was full of regret. If she had been even a little fairer at the time, if she had merely spoken up to stop the mockery...

Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret.

"Dean, I..."

"I know I was wrong. Can you give me another chance?"

"I'll be more careful from now on..."

Lin Ximeng spoke tearfully, making one final attempt to struggle.

The dean impatiently waved a hand and cut her off.

"Now you know you were wrong?"

"Too late!"

"Pack your things and leave the academy immediately!"

Lin Ximeng's legs gave out, and she nearly collapsed to the floor.

She knew that she would likely find it difficult to gain a foothold in this city's education circle ever again.

After the afternoon classes ended.

Wang Chuan also left the academy directly.

Not long after he walked out of the academy, he heard a hurried set of footsteps behind him.

When he looked back, he saw Tang Wulin.

Tang Wulin jogged over and stopped in front of him, breathing slightly heavily. His face still carried a trace of the excitement and grateful blush from that morning.

He raised his head to look at Wang Chuan. His eyes were bright and sincere, though his voice was soft.

"Thank you for today."

Wang Chuan was slightly surprised.

To him, it had truly just been a small thing done on impulse. He simply disliked Lin Ximeng's behavior.

It was also because he had felt a bit of goodwill in advance toward Tang Wulin, this future "unfortunate soul."

He had not expected Tang Wulin to specifically chase after him to offer thanks.

"It was nothing. Don't take it to heart."

Wang Chuan's tone was calm.

"Cultivate well. Prove it to yourself, and prove it to those who look down on you."

"Mm!"

Tang Wulin nodded forcefully, his expression utterly serious.

"I'll definitely work hard!"

At that moment, Wang Chuan's gaze casually swept over the mouth of an alley not far outside the academy's side gate, and his eyes suddenly narrowed.

There, a small figure crouched motionlessly at the edge of the shadows by the wall.

Her smooth silver hair reflected a faint halo beneath the slanting afternoon sunlight, making her particularly eye-catching.

Na'er.

The name immediately surfaced in Wang Chuan's mind.

Looks like we've reached this plot point.

Wang Chuan silently mused.

He then gave Tang Wulin beside him a somewhat helpless glance.

According to the original course of events, Tang Wulin's attention should have been drawn to Na'er at this moment, beginning the bond between them.

But because of his intervention, Tang Wulin was now filled with gratitude and fondness toward him. His eyes had been following Wang Chuan the entire time, and he seemed not to have noticed the unusual girl at the alley entrance at all.

"What is it?"

Seeing Wang Chuan suddenly look at him and then elsewhere, Tang Wulin asked curiously.

For six-year-old Tang Wulin, Wang Chuan had stood up to protect and encourage him at his most embarrassed and self-conscious moment.

By now, Wang Chuan had undoubtedly become an extremely important friend in his heart, even someone he depended on with a fledgling's attachment.

Wang Chuan shook his head and withdrew his gaze.

"Nothing."

Before he had even finished speaking, several ill-intentioned chuckles and whistles came from the alley.

A few young men, around fifteen or sixteen years old and dressed like street thugs, swaggered toward Na'er, who was crouching there. Their faces wore teasing and greedy expressions.

Wang Chuan's eyes turned slightly cold, and his thoughts shifted once more.

This time, the wind element he stirred was far more obvious.

A fierce whirlwind suddenly rose out of nowhere at the alley entrance, howling as it rushed toward those young men.

The wind was powerful yet precise. Like an invisible giant hand, it violently swept them off their feet. Screaming and flailing their arms, they were hurled deeper into the alley.

At last, with several thuds and crashes, they fell miserably into several large trash bins piled in the corner. Their cries and curses were muffled by the bin lids, becoming indistinct.

Everything happened too quickly. Tang Wulin only saw a gust of wind blow past, and then those delinquent youths had vanished. He stared wide-eyed in shock.

Wang Chuan ignored that side and walked toward Na'er, who was still crouching by the wall as though she had not reacted at all to what had happened outside.

He stopped before the girl. The afternoon sunlight happened to spill down from behind him, gilding his outline with a soft golden edge.

He bent down slightly and extended his hand toward that small silver-haired figure.

His voice was not loud, but it reached Na'er's ears clearly, carrying a steadiness and gentleness that did not match his age.

"Would you like... to be my little sister?"

Na'er seemed startled by his voice. Slowly and somewhat stiffly, she raised her head.

The glaring sunlight made her squint instinctively.

Against the light, she could not make out Wang Chuan's features clearly. All she could see was a warm, hazy silhouette wrapped in sunlight.

At the same time, an indescribable aura that made her feel incomparably close and at peace...

It radiated from this older brother, producing a marvelous resonance with something primal deep within her bloodline.