The next day, Na'er was taken away.
Leng Yaozhu was already waiting in the living room. She had obviously heard that Na'er had been taken away, and when she saw Cheng Duoyi looking so dejected, her heart clenched.
"Yi'er." Leng Yaozhu stepped forward and drew him into her arms, speaking softly. "Don't be sad. Na'er has only left for a little while. She'll come back. Besides, she found her family. We should be happy for her."
Cheng Duoyi leaned against her and nodded. After a long silence, he lifted his head and looked at her. "Godmother, I want to go to Eastsea Academy."
Leng Yaozhu was taken aback, then said, "Eastsea Academy? If you want to go to school, Godmother can arrange for you to attend Shrek Academy."
Leng Yaozhu felt that going to some unheard-of Eastsea Academy was no better than going to Shrek Academy. After all, Shrek Academy was the top academy on the Douluo Continent, a sacred place in the hearts of all Soul Masters. Countless people would do anything to get in.
But Cheng Duoyi shook his head. "I won't go to Shrek. Ling'er is at Eastsea Academy, and I want to be with her. Besides, I don't want people saying I got in because of your connections, Godmother. If I get the chance in the future, I'll pass the entrance examinations and get into Shrek Academy on my own."
Leng Yaozhu stared at his earnest gaze for a long while, then smiled with relief.
She reached out and gently stroked Cheng Duoyi's hair, her eyes growing slightly moist. "All right, all right. My Yi'er has grown up. Godmother respects your decision."
She knew that Cheng Duoyi had been frail and sickly since childhood, with hardly any friends around him.
Tang Wuling was one of his few playmates, and he didn't want to be separated from her. Besides, the fact that he could say something like this showed that he had truly grown up and had his own thoughts and dignity. That was a good thing.
"But your health isn't good, and I can't bear to let you go alone," Leng Yaozhu said. "I'll have Xue'er go with you. I'll arrange for her to work at Eastsea Academy and look after you while she's there."
Leng Xue'er, standing off to the side, nodded. "Don't worry, Auntie. I'll take good care of Yi'er."
Cheng Duoyi smiled at Leng Yaozhu. "Thank you, Godmother."
Leng Yaozhu pretended to be angry. "Why are you still being so polite with me? Hmph, keep that up and Godmother will get mad!"
"Hehe, Yi'er won't do it again," Cheng Duoyi said with a smile.
Three days later, Leng Xue'er took Cheng Duoyi to Eastsea City.
Eastsea City was one of the largest cities on the eastern coast and the home of Eastsea Academy. Though Eastsea Academy couldn't compare with Shrek Academy, it was still fairly well known along the eastern coast and had produced many outstanding Soul Masters.
As they entered Eastsea Academy's gates, the first thing they saw was a broad main avenue, with tall, lush trees lining both sides.
The teaching buildings, dormitories, and training grounds were scattered across the campus in orderly fashion. Students in uniform could be seen everywhere, filling the place with youthful energy.
Leng Xue'er took Cheng Duoyi straight to the Academic Affairs Office.
As soon as she pushed open the door, a middle-aged man hurried over, his face wreathed in a deferential smile. He even bowed slightly.
"Teacher Leng!"
"Your arrival brings honor to Eastsea Academy!"
"Just let me know if you need anything. I'll make sure it's done."
This man was Long Hengxu, director of Eastsea Academy's Academic Affairs Office.
He had received word from Leng Yaozhu long ago.
At the time, he'd thought it was a prank.
After all, who was Leng Yaozhu?
The Vice Pagoda Master of the Spirit Pagoda!
Only after Leng Yaozhu explained Cheng Duoyi's situation did he believe it.
He'd also learned about Leng Xue'er's situation from Leng Yaozhu.
Now that he was meeting Leng Xue'er in person, he wouldn't dare slight her in the least.
Leng Xue'er nodded faintly, her tone mild. "You're too kind, Director Long. I'm here mainly to accompany my younger brother, Yi'er, as he enrolls."
As she spoke, she nudged Cheng Duoyi forward.
Only then did Long Hengxu notice the child beside Leng Xue'er.
Cheng Duoyi wore a little white shirt. His skin was fair, and his large eyes were clear and dewy. He looked delicate and adorable; if his white hair were a little longer, anyone who didn't know better might mistake him for a girl.
Some children could be hard to tell apart by gender, and he was a perfect example.
"This must be student Cheng Duoyi, right? What a handsome young man." Long Hengxu immediately put on a kindly smile. "Don't worry, Teacher Leng. I'll place him in the best class. Grade 1 Class 1 is our academy's elite class, with the strongest teachers. Let's put student Cheng Duoyi in Class 1."
Cheng Duoyi asked, "Director Long, may I ask which class you're planning to put the new student Tang Wuling in?"
Long Hengxu was taken aback. "Tang Wuling?"
He hadn't heard that name before.
"Tang Wuling is my friend. Her Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass."
"I've looked into how classes are assigned at Eastsea Academy. Students with a Martial Soul like that are always placed in Grade 1 Class 5, so I'd like to go to Grade 1 Class 5."
The smile froze on Long Hengxu's face.
He scratched his head awkwardly and looked toward Leng Xue'er.
Grade 1 Class 5 was notorious as a problem class, filled mostly with students of mediocre talent who were unruly troublemakers. How could he put Teacher Leng's precious little brother in a place like that?
Leng Xue'er only nodded faintly. "If little Yi'er wants to go to Class 5, then let him. As it happens, I'll apply to be the deputy head teacher of Grade 1 Class 5 and assist the head teacher. That way, I can look after him at any time."
"Well..." Long Hengxu's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly nodded. "No problem! Of course it's no problem! With you as deputy head teacher of Class 5, the class's results are sure to soar! Teacher Wu Changkong will remain the head teacher. Is that all right with you?"
"Wu Changkong?" Leng Xue'er raised an eyebrow, a little surprised.
"Yes. Teacher Wu Changkong is also an outstanding Soul Master, and he's very powerful," Long Hengxu hurriedly added.
"That works." Leng Xue'er didn't ask anything further.
Long Hengxu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly completed the paperwork. "All right, everything's in order. Student Cheng Duoyi's dorm is Room 205 in the boys' dormitory. Teacher Leng, your single staff dormitory is in the teachers' quarters. Here are the keys to your dorm and your younger brother's, along with your uniforms."
"Good."
Leng Xue'er put away her dorm key, while Cheng Duoyi took the other dorm key and the uniform.
Then Leng Xue'er took Cheng Duoyi by the hand and left the Academic Affairs Office. Seeing that the matter had been settled, Long Hengxu breathed a sigh of relief.
More than anything, he was pleased.
"Principal, Leng Xue'er, the cousin of the Spirit Pagoda's Vice Pagoda Master, has completed her registration as a teacher. She's now the deputy head teacher of Grade 1 Class 5."
"This is a little complicated. Here's what happened..."
Leng Xue'er and Cheng Duoyi had just reached the boys' dormitory when they ran into Tang Wuling, who was coming out of the girls' dormitory.
Tang Wuling was already wearing Eastsea Academy's Grade 1 uniform. Her long black hair was tied in a high ponytail. The moment she saw Cheng Duoyi, her eyes lit up.
"Brother Yi'er!" Tang Wuling excitedly hugged Cheng Duoyi. "You really came to Eastsea Academy! This is great. I thought you were tricking me!"
She thought shyly, Brother Yi'er still smells so nice. I wish I could hug him forever~
"Hehe, with Na'er gone, can I have Brother Yi'er all to myself?"
For a moment, Tang Wuling was mostly just happy—happy that Na'er had left, so she could be the person closest to Cheng Duoyi.
As Tang Wuling hugged him, the life force inside Cheng Duoyi stopped leaking away and stabilized, but it didn't recover. That was because the Golden Dragon King Bloodline inside Tang Wuling was extremely faint, almost nonexistent.
If it had been Na'er, Cheng Duoyi's life force would not only have stopped leaking away, it would have slowly recovered as well.
Still, Cheng Duoyi was satisfied with how things were now.
Cheng Duoyi smiled and patted Tang Wuling's hair. "How could I ever trick you?"
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