Huo Yuhao came back to himself from the sea of consciousness and looked at Wang Dong'er, still unconscious on the lawn. Turning to the senior sisters beside him, he said:
"Senior sisters, this guy's still out cold. Maybe we should leave her to the academy's teachers to deal with."
"Oh, right! We got so caught up in celebrating that we forgot there's someone lying unconscious here!"
The senior sister at the front slapped her forehead and hurriedly looked around.
Just then, she spotted a middle-aged man in a teacher's uniform and black-framed glasses hurrying toward them along a shaded path nearby.
She immediately called out:
"Teacher Wang Yan! Come over here! A student got knocked unconscious in a fight!"
Wang Yan quickly came over. He first glanced at Wang Dong'er, unconscious on the lawn, then at the students gathered in several rings around her, and sighed in exasperation.
"I came here because of this."
He had been taking a walk around the academy when he heard a commotion coming from the freshmen's area. They said some new students were sparring in public.
Worried that something might go wrong, Wang Yan had hurried over. But by the time he arrived, the fight was over and someone had already passed out.
He shook his head helplessly and waved at the onlookers.
"Alright, alright, what are you all crowding around here for?
It's the first day of freshman registration, and you're all gathering to watch. What kind of behavior is that?
Move along. I'll take care of the rest."
At his words, the students began to disperse in twos and threes, but Huo Yuhao suddenly stepped forward and called out:
"Wait, Teacher Wang, there's something I need to say."
Wang Yan paused and turned to look at Huo Yuhao, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
"Oh? You're the new student who won the fight, right? What is it? Is there something else?"
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath and fixed his gaze on Wang Dong'er, unconscious on the ground. Then he raised his voice.
"Teacher Wang, this person isn't a boy. She's a girl. She's disguised herself as a boy!"
The moment he said this, the entire scene fell deathly silent.
The next second, the students erupted, cries of shock rising one after another.
"What?! A girl in disguise? Did I hear that right?"
"No way! I thought that kid was even prettier than a girl. So she really is one?"
"Now that I look closely, it's true! Her features are so soft, and her skin is so smooth. How does she look like a boy?"
"She's a girl, so why would she disguise herself as a boy to come to Shrek Academy? Could it be... some kind of cross-dressing fetish?"
"My god! Is she a pervert?! Did she disguise herself as a boy on purpose so she could sneak into the boys' dormitory? That's terrifying!"
"Exactly! What if she really had been allowed to move into the boys' dormitory? Who knows what could have happened?"
The students all talked at once, their cries of astonishment, doubt, and reproach mingling together. Their initial curiosity had turned into open wariness and rejection.
No one had expected that, in a place as strict as Shrek Academy, someone would dare to disguise herself as a boy and sneak into the freshman class. It was practically a blatant violation of the school rules!
Wang Yan's eyes widened in shock. He had come to deal with a fight, never expecting to run into something like this!
He looked at Huo Yuhao and asked sternly:
"Student, do you have any evidence for what you're saying?
Disguising herself as a boy to sneak into the academy is no small matter. You can't make such an accusation without evidence."
Just then, Zhao Ze's lazy voice drifted over from the sea of consciousness.
"Yuhao, just tell Wang Yan that this girl's Martial Soul is the Light Goddess Butterfly. He's studied Martial Souls for so many years; he'll naturally know what that means."
Huo Yuhao immediately understood and repeated Zhao Ze's words to Wang Yan.
Wang Yan froze on the spot.
He had taught at Shrek Academy for many years and spent his whole life studying different Martial Soul systems. He knew the rare Martial Souls found across the continent like the back of his hand.
Of course he knew about the Light Goddess Butterfly!
It was hailed as the most beautiful Martial Soul on the continent, and throughout history, not a single male Soul Master had ever successfully awakened the Light Goddess Butterfly Martial Soul!
In other words, the new student lying on the ground before them really was a girl!
Wang Yan's expression turned grave. He said in a low voice:
"I understand. This matter is a serious violation of Shrek Academy's rules.
I'll contact the academy's student affairs and dormitory management departments at once and have their teachers verify and handle the matter.
Altering her gender information to sneak into the academy—if this is confirmed, the academy will deal with it strictly according to the rules. There will be no leniency."
The senior sisters gathered around immediately voiced their agreement.
"She should be dealt with strictly! How can we let something like this slide?"
"Exactly! Good thing Junior Brother Yuhao exposed her in time. Who knows what might have happened if she'd been allowed to move into the boys' dormitory?"
"What if she goes on to harass our Junior Brother Yuhao? This has to be handled properly!"
Wang Yan nodded. He had just turned to contact the relevant teachers when an elderly voice, full of vigor despite its age, suddenly came from behind the crowd.
"Ah, I'll handle this matter myself."
As the words fell, a gentle yet unfathomably deep pressure slowly spread through the air, like the warm sunshine of spring.
Everyone present fell silent at once, instinctively holding their breath.
They all turned around. An old man with white hair and a stooped frame was slowly making his way through the crowd, leaning on a cane.
He wore a gray cloth robe faded from many washings. His face was covered in wrinkles, but his eyes were like a deep, starry sky. Though he looked frail and ancient, no one dared show him the slightest disrespect.
"Elder Mu!"
Wang Yan's expression immediately grew solemn. He hurriedly bowed deeply and respectfully to the old man, his manner utterly deferential.
"Elder Mu?! Is that Elder Mu, the Master of Sea God Pavilion?!"
"My god! I actually get to see Elder Mu!"
The students erupted in excitement. The senior sisters also sobered up and hurriedly bowed to the old man, not daring to make a sound.
On the way here, Huo Yuhao had heard Tang Ya and Bei Bei explain Shrek Academy's situation in detail.
Knowing how powerful the Master was, he quickly followed the others and bowed respectfully to Mu En.
Mu En nodded slowly, sweeping his gaze over everyone before it settled on Huo Yuhao. A flicker of approval passed through his deep-set eyes.
He waved a hand. His voice was gentle, yet carried an unquestionable authority.
"Alright, everyone, disperse. It's the first day of freshman registration. Don't crowd around here.
I'll handle the rest myself."
"Yes, Elder Mu."
Everyone answered respectfully in unison. No one dared to object.
Wang Yan bowed to Mu En once more, then turned and left.
The onlookers also dispersed in twos and threes, though they couldn't help glancing back at Huo Yuhao repeatedly as they left, their admiration and curiosity growing stronger.
Before you continue