After they arrived at the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters, Gu Yuena took out her phone and made a call.
Before long, a Spirit Pagoda staff member came to greet them.
The staff member bowed and led the way, speaking politely. "Please come with me. The Vice Pagoda Master has been waiting for you for quite some time."
Lin Chen raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Gu Yuena, who was smiling faintly beside him. "Na'er, I think I know who your teacher is now."
Gu Yuena's eyes curved as she took his hand. "Let's go up first. We shouldn't keep Teacher waiting." They followed the staff member into the elevator, which climbed steadily upward.
The heavy metal doors slowly slid open. A woman in a phoenix-patterned cheongsam sat at her desk, the garment tracing the graceful lines of her figure. Her fiery red hair fell loose down her back. It was Leng Yaozhu.
Gu Yuena let go of Lin Chen's hand, and the two of them bowed together. "Greetings, Teacher."
"Greetings, Heavenly Phoenix Crown."
Leng Yaozhu lifted her eyes. Her gaze first settled on Gu Yuena, and her expression softened. Then she turned to Lin Chen, standing beside the girl. "There's no need to be so formal. We meet again, Lin Chen."
She gestured for them to sit. A faint, delicate fragrance drifted through the room.
After they sat down, Lin Chen scratched his head and muttered inwardly, Why does this feel so strange? Somehow, it's like I'm visiting my future mother-in-law.
Leng Yaozhu picked up the tea on her desk and took a small sip. Her gaze was calm and kind. "You've had a long journey. Thank you for bringing Na-na here. Stay a while and have a chat."
Gu Yuena sat beside them, her ears faintly red as she stole a glance at Lin Chen.
Lin Chen smiled and replied, "You're too kind, Your Excellency. It was on my way, anyway. No trouble at all."
A faint smile spread across Leng Yaozhu's lips. She waved her hand gently. "There's no need to be so polite and formal. When we're in private, just call me Aunt Leng."
Lin Chen promptly answered, "All right, Aunt Leng."
For a moment, the spacious office grew rather awkward. The two of them made small talk until, just as Lin Chen was wondering how he could make his escape, his phone rang and broke the awkward silence.
Yali had called to remind him to return to Shrek Academy.
Relieved, Lin Chen got to his feet. After saying goodbye to Leng Yaozhu and Gu Yuena, he hurried off.
The office door closed, leaving only the two teacher and student inside. Resting her chin on one hand, Leng Yaozhu looked at Gu Yuena, seated nearby with her cheeks still faintly flushed. Her phoenix eyes sparkled with amusement.
She asked bluntly, "Na-na, do you like Lin Chen?" The older generation never minced words. Caught off guard, Gu Yuena's cheeks turned even redder. She lowered her eyes, her fingertips unconsciously tightening around the hem of her clothes. "I... I do like him a little."
Leng Yaozhu chuckled at the sight. Leaning forward slightly, she teased, "Just a little? I noticed you two holding hands as soon as you came in."
Gu Yuena's ears burned hot. She hurriedly lowered her head, her lashes trembling as she struggled to find something to say.
Leng Yaozhu's smile deepened. She continued teasing her at an unhurried pace. "Besides, the way you look at him is different. Anyone could tell at a glance."
Gu Yuena pinched the hem of her clothes and mumbled, "Teacher..."
Leng Yaozhu rose and moved to sit beside Gu Yuena, leaning closer with an eager, curious look. In a soft voice, she pressed, "How far have you two gotten?"
Gu Yuena kept her head bowed, her ears red as she whispered so quietly it was almost inaudible, "We've only held hands."
Leng Yaozhu raised a hand to cover her smile. "Only held hands? Looks like you haven't even made a start yet."
Gu Yuena clutched her clothes, her cheeks burning as she pleaded softly, "That's as far as we've gotten for now. Teacher, please don't ask me any more."
Seeing how embarrassed she was, Leng Yaozhu's eyes curved into crescents. She laughed and gave in. "All right, all right. I won't ask."
Then her expression grew more serious. "But Na-na, there's one thing I want to remind you of. When you meet someone you like, don't be embarrassed. If you ought to make the first move, then make it."
It wasn't entirely Gu Yuena's fault that things were moving so slowly. Lin Chen seemed a little dense when it came to romance.
She paused, then said earnestly, "Lin Chen is an outstanding boy. Few of his peers can match him. Even Yun Ming, when he was young, would have fallen short at Lin Chen's age. A boy as exceptional as him is bound to have no shortage of admirers. If another girl gets to him first, it'll be too late to regret it."
Gu Yuena raised her eyes, her gaze firm. "Teacher, I won't let anyone else take him away. Lin Chen can only be mine."
Leng Yaozhu chuckled and waved her hand. "All right, you must be exhausted from the journey. Go get some rest."
Gu Yuena bowed and left the office. After the door closed, Leng Yaozhu leaned back in her chair, a faint smile lingering on her lips. "It wouldn't be bad if my own student and that boy ended up together. I suppose that would make me in-laws with Yun Ming, too?"
On the way back, Lin Chen suddenly sneezed. He rubbed the tip of his nose and muttered to himself, Who's talking behind my back?
Without stopping, he used the token Yun Ming had given him to enter Shrek Academy. He was about to call Yali when he looked up and spotted Yun Ming and Yali standing side by side in the distance, apparently waiting for him.
Yali smiled and raised a hand in greeting when she saw him return. Yun Ming's expression remained calm as he waited for the boy to come over.
Lin Chen hurried up to them. Yun Ming said calmly, "Let's go to the inner courtyard."
Lin Chen looked puzzled and promptly asked, "Dad, what are we going to the inner courtyard for?"
Beside them, Yali smiled and answered gently, "We're taking you to spar with someone."
Lin Chen's face fell, and he looked troubled. "Don't tell me I have to spar with you?"
Yun Ming gave a soft snort and shook his head. "Of course not. The academy recently admitted a few new students. You'll spar with them."
The three of them made their way to the inner courtyard's Battle Platform. Along the way, many inner-courtyard students looked toward Lin Chen, wondering who he was to have the Sea God Pavilion's master and deputy master personally accompanying him.
When they reached the platform, Shen Yi stood beside it. At her side stood Ye Xinglan, her golden hair tied in a ponytail, and Xu Lizhi.
Lin Chen looked up at Yun Ming beside him. "Dad, you want me to spar with them?"
Yun Ming gave a slight nod. "Your mother's right here. Go all out. I'll be the referee."
Lin Chen leaped onto the Battle Platform. First, he bowed to Shen Yi below, then the Soul Power around him began to flow. In an instant, he was ready for battle. Looking at the two across from him, he raised a hand slightly. "Would you like to fight me one at a time, or both together?"
Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi caught on from their conversation and immediately took up battle stances. Ye Xinglan gripped the Stargod Sword, and Xu Lizhi had his buns ready.
Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi both froze, their eyes fixed on Lin Chen.
Three Millennium Soul Rings wreathed in faint black light slowly rose from beneath the boy's feet. An Azure Dragon phantom hovered behind him. His clear, glassy eyes had turned into the cold eyes of a dragon, and azure lightning coiled around him.
Xu Lizhi swiftly tossed a bun to Ye Xinglan. After eating it, she took up an attacking stance.
But all three of Lin Chen's Soul Skills could be cast instantly, and he had even come up with several different ways to use his first Soul Skill.
His first Soul Skill, Thunderous Might, activated. Several bolts of azure lightning shot from Lin Chen's palm. Thick streaks of lightning tore through the air with explosive cracks, rushing toward the two of them.
When the dust settled, Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi were left numb all over, their Soul Power scattered as they slumped to the ground. They hadn't even had a chance to fight back before they were defeated.
The watching students broke into an uproar. Shen Yi looked astonished, while Yun Ming stood beside the platform and gave a slight nod.
Yali stepped onto the platform. Gentle Soul Power flowed from her, softly seeping into Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi's bodies. In an instant, their injuries were healed.
Lin Chen put away his Martial Soul and turned toward Yun Ming beside the platform to indicate that the match was over.
Yun Ming gave a slight nod, his voice calm. "The winner has been decided. Everyone, disperse."
Before you continue