The Job Interview

Song Gongran stopped, looking smugly at the nearly thirty-meter-tall building before them.

"How about it? Pretty magnificent, isn't it? With the materials we have, it's actually difficult to build a structure this tall. But one of our teachers came up with a brilliant idea: they used materials made from Soul Beast bones."

Hals didn't react very strongly, though he was quite impressed by the clever person who had come up with the idea.

"It's impressive. If I get the chance, I'd like to meet this clever person."

Song Gongran smiled and stroked his beard. "If you pass your job interview, you'll get the chance."

Catching the meaning behind Song Gongran's words, Hals turned his head. "What, even a teacher personally recruited by the dean has to pass a test?"

"Haha, of course. Even as dean, I have to follow the rules." Song Gongran raised his brows and glanced at Hals, thinking he was worried he might not pass. He gave him a playful wink and patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. I trust my judgment. I've never been wrong about a person. As for strength, if a thirty-seven-year-old Soul Douluo isn't qualified, then who is?"

"As for teaching, you may not have much experience, but that's all right. You'll only need to teach your own cultivation methods. And if you have questions, you've still got me. Come ask me anytime."

"Mm."

Hals nodded. Suddenly, he felt a complicated emotion unlike anything he'd ever experienced before.

Seeing Hals nod, Song Gongran turned and headed into the building, satisfied. As he walked, he kept chattering. "You really don't need to worry so much. The people in the Academic Affairs Office are always going on about teaching safety. As long as your history checks out, I'll vouch for you. You'll have no problem. How does that sound?"

"..."

"Thank you, Dean." Hals's voice was low, and he deliberately let a trace of gratitude show. He could see what Song Gongran was like: a man wholly devoted to teaching, not very sensitive to worldly scheming, but with a genuine love for the academy.

Song Gongran said nothing more. He patted Hals's shoulder again and led him upstairs.

The office building was crowded. Many staff members hurried about carrying stacks of files, but no matter how busy they were, they stood and bowed respectfully whenever they saw Song Gongran. Their faces would also unconsciously take on a hint of respect.

Seeing this, Hals added another label to Song Gongran in his mind: a man of great virtue and prestige.

On the way, Old Man Song Gongran didn't rush. He strolled along leisurely, smiling warmly as he spoke kindly to the staff about their work.

At last, they reached the top floor, where no more staff members came to "interrupt" them.

Song Gongran strode up to an office door and shoved it open. His booming voice carried across the entire floor.

"Xiaoya, come take a look at the genius I brought back!"

Upon entering, they saw a slender, alluring woman standing before a huge floor-to-ceiling window, her back to the door as she gazed outside.

Hearing the loud voice behind her, she turned around helplessly. "Old Man, how many times have I told you to knock before entering my office?"

Her expression was cool, and a hint of helplessness showed in her eyes.

Hearing her reproach, Song Gongran didn't try to explain. He just chuckled and rubbed his head.

Without looking at Song Gongran again, the woman turned to Hals, who had been standing silently to one side. Her eyes held a hint of scrutiny as she looked him up and down. Then, in a clear, flowing voice, she asked, "Are you the new recruit Old Man brought in? He didn't just pick up some random person off the street, did he?"

Song Gongran froze.

The woman blinked, then glared at him. "He really did? Old Man, are you taking this job that lightly?"

The old man laughed awkwardly. "Well, it's true I picked him up off the street, but you have to trust my judgment. He's strong and upright. I've never been wrong about someone!"

The woman nodded. "That's true. Old Man may not be very strong, but he's got a good eye."

"Bah! You little brat. It's true my talent isn't as good as yours, but you don't have to mock me like that! Just wait. This time I've brought back a true genius. I'm going to put a stop to that arrogant attitude of yours!" Song Gongran blustered, then turned and patted Hals on the shoulder, who had remained silent beside him.

"Yu Hun, it's up to you now. Give this brat a good lesson."

"Uh, okay." Hals felt awkward. He'd spent all his time since joining Spirit Hall training and taking on missions. When had he ever been in a situation like this?

Hearing Hals's answer, the woman raised an eyebrow. She wanted to see whether he really had the strength to match his confidence.

Turning around, she swayed her shapely figure as she walked ahead. "Come with me."

Song Gongran was still smiling, as though he had complete faith in Hals. Hals remained silent.

As they walked down the corridor, the woman suddenly seemed to remember something. She stopped and turned to look at Hals, who was following quietly behind them.

"Would you mind telling me about your hometown and what happened to you?" Though she phrased it as a question, her tone made it sound like an expectation.

Hals nodded. His low, hoarse voice came from beneath his hood. "Sure. My home was in Bitong Village. I left at ten to make my way in the world. Whenever I ran short of money, I'd go rob bandits who were wanted for arrest. Not long ago, I returned home and found that a group of bandits had killed everyone in the village. After taking revenge, I wandered around until I came here and met Dean Song."

The woman was taken aback again. How tragic. She quickly came to her senses, nodded, and said, "Old Man, take him to the training grounds first. I have something to take care of, but I'll be back soon."

Song Gongran nodded and waved his hand carelessly. "All right, all right. Go on, hurry up. I'll take Yu Hun there first."

The woman nodded to the two of them, then hurried off.

Ignoring the woman, Song Gongran kept walking and casually chatted with Hals. "By the way, Yu Hun, why do you always keep your hood on? I've never seen you take it off."

Song Gongran hadn't expected Hals to ask him about it. Hals raised a hand and touched his face beneath the hood. His voice was calm and emotionless. "I was injured as a child and disfigured, so I don't want people to see my face."

"I see." Song Gongran gave it some thought. "Have you never considered finding a healing Soul Master to treat it?"

Hals's voice remained calm. "It can't be treated, and I don't want to treat it. It's a way of remembering."

Song Gongran nodded and said no more.

In silence, the two arrived at the training grounds.

Looking at the blue-brick training area, which spanned a hundred square meters, Hals felt a little impressed. As expected of the Royal Academy.

They had only waited a short while when the woman hurried back.

Without keeping the two of them waiting, she got straight to the point. "I had someone check your background. Everything checks out, and I trust Old Man's judgment. So now you just need to prove your strength to me, and I can arrange your employment."

Without hesitation, the woman took out a hair tie and gathered her loose hair. Then she walked to the center of the training grounds and stood there.

"I'm Yu Xiaoya, director of the Academic Affairs Office at Star Luo Royal Academy, level 78 Agility Attack System Battle Spirit Master, with the Rhythm Spirit Leopard as my martial spirit. Please, show me what you can do!"