Song Gongran was still smiling, while Hals walked on in silence. Yu Xiaoya was still being carried on Hals's back, her face buried against him. Only a small part of it was visible, but her cheeks were clearly bright red.
The strange trio returned to the office building in this strange atmosphere. Under the odd looks of the office staff, Hals carried Yu Xiaoya back to her office.
He opened the door and glanced around, then set Yu Xiaoya down on the sofa. After that, he stood silently beside Song Gongran.
Yu Xiaoya felt sore all over, and her cheeks were burning hot. After catching her breath for a moment, she braced herself against the back of the sofa and struggled to her feet. She looked at Hals, her expression somehow much gentler now.
After taking a breath, Yu Xiaoya forced herself to look serious. "Well, I've confirmed your abilities. You're indeed qualified to teach at Star Luo Royal Academy. I'll have someone approve your credentials in a little while. But I can arrange your accommodation right now. By the way, will you be staying on campus or off campus?"
"On campus is fine." Hals sounded as if he'd let out a breath of relief. Even his deep, hoarse voice held a hint of ease.
Yu Xiaoya nodded, feeling a hint of inexplicable excitement. "In that case, let Old Man show you to your place first. He knows where it is. As for your credentials, someone will deliver them later. Is that all right?" She was actually asking Hals what he thought.
"That's fine." Hals maintained his aloof, taciturn persona.
After resting for so long, Yu Xiaoya's expression had finally returned to normal. No longer wearing her initial icy look, she smiled and said, "Then that's settled. The person who brings you your credentials will also explain which class you'll need to meet tomorrow and go over a few other things. For now, I'm a little tired and want to rest. We'll call it here."
Hals nodded without a word. Song Gongran, however, wore a rather odd smile, like an old fox. He winked at Yu Xiaoya and said pointedly, "All right, Xiaoya, you go get some rest. I've got Yu Hun covered. You, though, make sure you get plenty of rest. Don't wear yourself out. There's plenty of time, and you'll have lots of chances later. Not getting enough rest will make you look old, and then no one will want you."
Yu Xiaoya's face flushed again, and her fair neck turned red, too. She stamped her foot in exasperation and shouted at Song Gongran, "All right, all right, I know! Now get out of here, you old letch. You're such a pain!"
Song Gongran chuckled, patted Hals on the shoulder, and headed out. Hals hesitated, then decided to give Yu Xiaoya a slight bow before turning to leave. He strode after Song Gongran.
Yu Xiaoya watched Hals's back until it disappeared at the stairwell, then slowly closed the door. Leaning against it, she let out a soft whimper and covered her face. It seemed like steam might rise from her head.
It took Yu Xiaoya a long while to calm down. She returned to her desk and was about to pull out a file and get back to work when she remembered what Old Man had just said. After hesitating for a moment, she put the file down and got up to go home and rest.
It's not like I can't find someone to marry. Yu Xiaoya thought this as she reached for the key to her off-campus home, where she usually stayed. Then she stopped, looking at the key to her room on campus beside it. Her fingers hovered over the two keys for a long moment before she finally picked up the campus room key and left the office.
I'm just curious what the room looks like, that's all...
Hals found it strange that ever since they'd left the office, Song Gongran had kept smiling so creepily. The wrinkles on his face bunched together, making him look like a withered old chrysanthemum.
As if sensing Hals's confusion, Song Gongran stroked his beard and cleared his throat. He chatted with Hals as they walked, smiling all the while. "Yu Hun, what do you think of Xiaoya?"
Why was he asking that?
Hals was puzzled, but answered honestly. "She's all right. She's clearly young, and with her abilities, she can be called one of the best among her peers. The only thing she lacks is an understanding of how to use her martial soul. She has almost no practical experience. At least, from my perspective, if she faced my past opponents at the same level, she'd be killed pretty badly."
"That's it?" Song Gongran seemed to be waiting for something more. "Anything else?"
"Anything else?" Hals was baffled. "What else? I only fought her once—no, I watched her attack once. I didn't even see her defend herself. How could I have noticed anything else?"
Song Gongran stared at the man before him, astonished. Should he call him innocent or slow on the uptake? Had he really failed to notice that Xiaoya had started to have a bit of a crush on him?
"No, no. By 'anything else,' I mean what do you think of her looks? How do you feel about her? What kind of person do you think she is?"
"Oh, I see." Hals understood. Song Gongran wanted to see whether he was good at reading people. He carefully recalled how Yu Xiaoya had acted since they'd met, then answered.
"Well, how should I put it? She looks all right. She's a little proud, and she doesn't handle pressure well. You can't just keep criticizing someone like that; you have to encourage her, while also letting her experience some setbacks now and then. But she seems perceptive—she catches on quickly. After being defeated, she's willing to listen to other people's advice. Overall, she's pretty good!"
Hals rattled it all off, convinced his ability to read people was decent. Beneath his hood, his face even managed to form a stiff smile. He failed to notice that Song Gongran beside him was still staring at him, dumbstruck.
"You... you..." Song Gongran stopped smiling. His expression grew complicated as he pointed a trembling finger at Hals, looking as if he were having a heart attack.
Hearing him, Hals turned around and saw Song Gongran's expression and posture. He was startled, thinking something was wrong—that the old man had seen through his background.
"It's nothing, it's nothing." Seeing how Hals had jumped, Song Gongran helplessly lowered his hand and shook his head. "I just didn't expect you to describe Xiaoya that way. But what you said is true. Xiaoya has almost no practical experience. If possible, I hope you'll visit her and teach her from time to time."
So that was all it was. Hals breathed a sigh of relief, nodded, and gave him a definite answer. "No problem, if I have time."
Song Gongran nodded at Hals's answer and said nothing more. He didn't dwell on it either. Perhaps the younger generation had their own fate, he thought.
The teachers at Star Luo Royal Academy were treated very well. Each had a separate house, and the houses were spread out to give all the teachers as much privacy and freedom as possible.
Hals's assigned house was in a small valley, beside a stream. The air was very fresh, too. He was quite pleased with the surroundings; they were many times better than his room at Spirit Hall. There was just one thing that caught his curiosity: on the other bank of the stream, beside his house, stood another house.
"Dean, does anyone live in that house?" Hals asked, looking at it.
Song Gongran followed Hals's gaze and saw the house. After thinking it over, he shook his head. "I don't know. This isn't my area, after all. But if you want to find out, you can ask Xiaoya. She's in charge of this."
Hals nodded and didn't give it much thought. He walked up to his house and took out his key, but Song Gongran stopped him just as he was about to unlock the door.
"All right, Yu Hun, I've got things to do, so I won't stay here with you. Besides, I doubt a young fellow like you and an old man like me have much in common. I'll be off. You can get settled on your own."
The old man waved and strolled away, leaving only his voice echoing above the valley.
"Go teach Xiaoya more often, okay..."
Before you continue