"Master, let me introduce you. This is Ning Rongrong. She's very talented."
Ning Rongrong felt great after Zhu Zhuqing praised her. Really, what girl didn't like being complimented?
But Chen An was thinking to himself:
Is it really a good idea to take this Little Witch in as my disciple?
No, wait. It was already a question whether anyone would want to join his school. How could he afford to be picky? If she really was willing, he wouldn't object.
Remembering his own principles, he suddenly felt that he still hadn't followed them through thoroughly enough.
"Ning Rongrong?"
Chen An called out. How could he not know that name? She was one of the main characters, the biggest Little Witch of them all, and the apple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's eye.
A spoiled, domineering girl, pampered by Ning Fengzhi.
But, unexpectedly, his first impression of her was quite good.
"Yes, Senior. I'm Ning Rongrong."
Ning Rongrong gave him a proper bow, not at all acting like the haughty girl she was supposed to be.
Actually, Chen An had overlooked one thing: he had just pinned a Soul Sage to the ground and beaten him senseless.
This was a world where strength reigned supreme. And with that Soul Ring Configuration, she even wondered whether Grandpa Bone and Grandpa Sword could beat him. So no matter how arrogant she'd been before, there was no way she'd put on airs now.
She wasn't stupid. She wouldn't go around offending people for no good reason, especially when she was thinking of asking him to take her as a disciple.
"Are you from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
Chen An's eyes flickered, but he still pretended not to recognize her.
He didn't want his disciples thinking he was strange and ruining his image.
"Yes, I am."
Ning Rongrong didn't know why Chen An had brought up the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and she felt oddly nervous. She hadn't even revealed her Martial Soul, yet she had the feeling he could see right through her.
"Don't be nervous. I was just asking."
Only after seeing Ning Rongrong relax a little did Chen An continue.
"Zhuqing asked you earlier, so now I'll ask you officially: are you willing to join our Phantom Star Academy?"
He'd tried to make his smile as gentle as possible, so he wouldn't scare her.
But apparently, he'd worried for nothing again.
"Really? I can? I'm willing! I'm willing!"
Ning Rongrong blinked, and after confirming she hadn't misheard, hurriedly answered.
But that wasn't all she wanted.
So she took advantage of the opportunity and pressed on.
"Um, teacher, could I become your disciple?"
Chen An was slightly surprised. This girl was sharper than he'd expected.
Still, he had been thinking of taking her as a disciple.
"Sure, but there are rules in my school. First, you mustn't act recklessly or bully your fellow disciples. Can you do that?"
Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue. She hadn't expected her new master to understand her so well, but she still answered firmly:
"I can."
Seeing how readily Ning Rongrong agreed, he didn't see any need to be coy and accepted her.
"Good. From now on, you're officially my disciple."
Once Ning Rongrong's matter was settled, Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward.
"Master, about Luo Xiaoshi..."
"Take him back and let him recover. Don't worry about him. That kid's tough as an ox."
Chen An glanced at Luo Xiaoshi, who was lying on the ground, and spoke calmly.
The kid really wasn't badly hurt. He'd just passed out after taking a hit head-on.
Chen An could get some medicine from the Herb Garden later. A few days soaking in it, and he'd be fine.
"Okay, then let's head back."
"By the way, Master, could I get a different talisman? I'm not used to this one."
"No problem."
Ning Rongrong spoke up.
"Master, is this your wife?"
Lin Ran interjected.
"I was only hired as a teacher. I'm hardly in a position to be your master's wife."
Amid the lively chatter, the group led all the students who wanted to enroll toward Phantom Star Academy.
The entrance to Shrek was much quieter now, with only a sparse scattering of people. It was nowhere near as lively as it had been at first.
When Dai Mubai helped Flender up, he'd heard him mumble something about having Li Yusong continue overseeing admissions.
So Shrek was still accepting students.
"Hello, teacher. We'd like to enroll."
Tang San and Xiao Wu were still determined to enter Shrek.
"Have you made up your mind?"
Seeing such a promising student choose Shrek without hesitation moved Li Yusong deeply.
"Xiao San, you're not leaving?"
After getting Flender settled, Dai Mubai came back out and spotted Tang San. The question slipped out before he could stop himself.
Tang San shook his head.
"I promised someone I'd enter Shrek. Besides, Xiao Wu doesn't really like that Soul Douluo."
He briefly explained. All in all, he had no reason to go to Phantom Star now, and there was no chance he'd join it in the future.
For one thing, Yu Xiaogang was included in the title Chen An had given the Golden Iron Trio of Trash. Once Yu Xiaogang found out, he might hold a grudge against Chen An all over again.
And Chen An himself wouldn't take Tang San as a student anyway.
As for such trivial matters—what Tang San thought, or what the person hiding in the shadows thought—none of it had anything to do with Chen An.
By now, Chen An had already led everyone back to Phantom Star.
"Everyone, go over there for the entrance assessment. If you pass, you can pay the fees."
Phantom Star was much better now than it had been a year ago.
Both the surroundings and the number of people had improved.
The trio were busy recording names and seemed to be struggling to keep up. After giving the students their instructions, Chen An turned to Lin Ran.
"Teacher Lin, please handle registration. Let them take care of the assessments."
"Of course, Principal."
Once Lin Ran had decided to follow Chen An, she'd accepted her role as a teacher and put an end to any thoughts she shouldn't have. All she felt now was gratitude that he'd given her a hand.
Besides, people in the workplace had to be addressed by their titles. Having come from the official world, she understood how things worked.
She quickly discussed things with the trio, then took over registration.
"Including the people I brought back, we've got about 240 people here. We should end up with around 200 students."
Chen An roughly estimated the number of people present, then left the rest to others. The academy had people to handle the assessments. As long as a candidate had Soul Power of at least level 13 and could answer a few simple questions, they'd pass. There was no need for him to get involved.
Besides, he still had to help Luo Xiaoshi.
Before leaving, though, he reminded Zhu Zhuqing:
"Zhuqing, show Ning Rongrong around and explain the school rules and sect rules to her."
"Got it."
Zhu Zhuqing replied and began showing Ning Rongrong around. As it happened, something came up. A girl who had come to enroll accidentally bumped into them and hurriedly apologized. Ning Rongrong had just started to put on her haughty young-lady act when Zhu Zhuqing stopped her.
After seeing the girl off, Ning Rongrong fell silent for a moment, then asked:
"Why did you stop me, Senior Sister?"
"That girl probably passed the assessment. She'll be a student at Phantom Star from now on."
As Zhu Zhuqing spoke, it was clear she truly considered Phantom Star her home.
"You remind me a lot of some princesses I used to know. I don't think you'll get along well here if you don't change."
Ning Rongrong bristled at once, but then remembered that the person before her was the eldest senior sister, and had to swallow her feelings.
"You don't have to believe me. If you're willing, I remember Master knows a bit of illusion magic. You can experience it for yourself."
Zhu Zhuqing was trying to lead Ning Rongrong into it.
Under normal circumstances, words like these wouldn't have much effect.
But Ning Rongrong stared at Zhu Zhuqing for a long while and realized that her senior sister came from a distinguished background too. So she actually believed her.
"Fine, then. Senior Sister, will you come with me to see Master?"
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