Earth Dragon Gate's Backyard, Huo Yuhao's New Part-Time Job

"Class dismissed!"

Zhou Yi left this cold remark, turned, and strode away from the training ground.

Her movements were swift and decisive, without a hint of hesitation, as if staying even one second longer was an annoyance.

On the training ground, students left in twos and threes through various exits, while others remained where they stood.

This was the final class of the morning.

Most of them kept their eyes on Zhou Yi's retreating figure, and only when she had completely vanished from sight

did the crowd finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Finally, she's gone..."

The few students who had been standing still began to move, slowly following the path.

These individuals were heading in the same direction.

"Sigh... attending class every day feels like going to a funeral."

Within the crowd, a male student pressed down on his shoulder and rotated his arm, sighing as he spoke:

"If it were normal training intensity, I could accept it, but this is clearly just torturing us..."

"Running until the end of class with fifty pounds of iron armor, and forcing Control-type and Assault-type students into head-on combat—I know we need to train against our weaknesses, but forbidding us from dodging is a bit too much, isn't it?"

"Yeah..."

A male student beside him chimed in:

"I'm so exhausted; I don't even have the energy to meditate tonight..."

The group groaned and complained incessantly.

Ever since that day, Zhou Yi's attitude toward the students could only be described as hostile, and her methods were nothing short of brutal.

If anyone dared to raise an objection, that was fine too; Zhou Yi's attitude would be perfectly pleasant: "Then go to the Academic Affairs Office and tell them you're a piece of trash who can't keep up and wants to drop out. I'd be more than happy to oblige; after all, I don't have the authority to expel you myself..."

She had been reported for expelling students arbitrarily, so she had changed her ways; she no longer expelled people at will, and indeed, no one went to report her anymore.

But this wasn't because of her change in behavior.

The training intensity of other teachers at Shrek Academy was reasonable, and ordinary people wouldn't report a teacher without a good reason.

If one were to report her using the excuse of "excessive training intensity,"

it would be tantamount to publicly admitting that one was useless.

Zhou Yi was indeed a notoriously sadistic teacher, but students who truly wanted to mock others didn't care about such things.

They only cared about the results.

These scions of noble families dared not suffer public humiliation, and even in the past, they had only reported her for the arbitrary expulsions.

Now that she was even more sadistic, the students truly had grievances they couldn't voice.

"Here."

A fair, delicate hand offered a cup of orange-red fruit tea. Cool water droplets condensed on the transparent cup, and a red-and-white striped straw was stuck inside.

Lu Ran's train of thought was interrupted.

He turned his head to look, and saw Ning Tian standing gracefully beside him, her soft, flowing Platinum Blonde Hair cascading down her back.

Under the sunlight, she was all smiles.

"A drink for you..."

Lu Ran glanced at the fruit tea.

Fresh oranges, watermelon, coconut, and various other fruits were mixed together, the ice cubes bringing out a pure, layered sweetness. One could imagine the painstaking effort the person behind this had put into replicating this flavor.

It was likely something like: Hmm, maybe a bit too much orange, should I slice the watermelon thinner, should I add coconut meat or just coconut water...

After tasting it for the first time: Hmm, this flavor is not bad. This is the one!

It was just simple fruit cutting, anyway...

Lu Ran shifted his gaze to Ning Tian's watery, wide eyes, ignoring Wu Feng, who was practically baring her teeth behind her.

"...You should know that I'm the one who owns that Milk Tea Shop, right?"

"Of course I know that,"

Ning Tian tilted her head naturally, her long eyelashes fluttering as her smile deepened:

"But I think the taste is just great, and I wanted to share it with you."

Her long lashes cast shadows, blurring her clear, crescent-like eyes.

"Wuwu..."

A suppressed, low sound that seemed impossible to hold back came from behind her.

Wu Feng was already grinding her teeth as she listened.

She kept clenching her fists, the metacarpal bones on her fair, smooth hands constantly bulging.

Clearly... clearly I was the one who came first!

She was the one who discovered that Milk Tea Shop first, and after thinking the taste was good, she had excitedly treated Ning Tian to it.

She had even wanted to go pet some Cloud Cluster Ground Rats together.

The fluffy texture was beyond amazing!

But...

Wait, that's not right?

Shouldn't you be drinking it with me?

Why?!

What do you mean it's a Milk Tea Shop you opened?

You opened it?!

Why didn't you say so earlier?!

No... Young Mistress, I was wrong. I shouldn't have taken you to the Milk Tea Shop... Can we just forget about it, please...

Wuwu, Young Mistress...

Lu Ran accepted it gladly.

He took a sip, and the crisp sweetness and fruit fragrance spread across his tongue.

The taste was truly excellent.

This was the shop's most luxurious Century Fruit Tea, with added Sweet Honey; it was limited to ten cups a day, expensive, and served on a first-come, first-served basis.

"Wuwu, Young Mistress..."

Wu Feng extended a finger, stomping her feet on the spot but only daring to poke Ning Tian lightly.

She was so anxious she was practically twisting in place.

"Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm..."

Ning Tian sighed helplessly, took two new fruit teas from her Soul Tool, and handed one over:

"Here, I didn't forget."

The impatience on Wu Feng's pretty face vanished instantly, replaced by a brilliant smile.

She reached out to take it, feeling as if she were bathed in a spring breeze.

"Wuwu, I knew the Young Mistress was the best to me..."

She hurriedly took a big gulp:

"Wow, mine is even the sweetest one!"

"Hehehehehehe..."

The sweet taste made her squint her eyes, immersing her in happiness.

Lu Ran shook the cup in his hand.

The ice cubes collided gently, making a crisp sound.

"I'm going to the cafeteria to eat. Want to come along?"

"Okay."

Ning Tian smiled sweetly, walking side-by-side with Lu Ran naturally.

Wu Feng stuck closely to Ning Tian, terrified that her Young Mistress might be snatched away.

Lu Ran took another sip of the fruit tea, Currently, the Milk Tea Shop earns several thousand Gold Soul Coins a day, which is more than enough to keep his finances comfortable.

However, he cannot stay at the Milk Tea Shop every single day.

He decided to entrust the operation to Shrek Academy in exchange for a share of the profits.

The Cloud Cluster Ground Rats continue to work there, serving as both mascots and shop assistants.

They work three days a week, with one and a half of those days spent sitting at the counter.

They only need to sit there; some customers even come specifically to feed them, stuffing their mouths full because they love watching them eat.

They work four to five hours a day.

Their compensation is one Blue Silver Green Wood Vine per day and 200 catties of Delicious Nut per month, with an extra five catties of Sweet Honey for outstanding performance.

Rat Boss helps oversee the shop; after all, it is the leader.

It is needed to direct the Cloud Cluster Ground Rats.

Now, as long as the stock is replenished regularly, the Milk Tea Shop can stay on track and provide a steady stream of cash flow.

Soul Guidance Department.

A quiet, detached house reserved for faculty.

Inside a room filled with the scent of metal, the burly and broad-shouldered Fan Yu is sitting at his workbench.

He is focused on carving a piece of crimson metal.

The palm-sized metal is being etched with various mysterious and intricate lines, appearing to be a component for a complete soul guidance device.

On the workbench in front of him, there are five other similar pieces of metal, varying in size and color.

"Tap, tap, tap..."

Footsteps approach from afar, and Zhou Yi walks in.

Her expressionless face is covered in a layer of frost.

"Damn it, no matter what method I use, he manages to deal with it."

"Why?!"

She says through gritted teeth, "Even if he is capable, he is only an ordinary three-ring soul master!"

"Why?!"

The methods she used in previous years to discipline students—long-distance running, combat, endurance training...

They simply don't work on Lu Ran!

Fan Yu sighs, continuing to carve with his hands, his broad chest rising and falling.

"Can't you just teach your class properly?"

"You are a teacher; you shouldn't be deliberately targeting a student..."

"Besides, Lu Ran is from the Inner Academy and has a good relationship with Dean Yan. I've even heard that Xuan Zi looks after him as well..."

"It won't look good for anyone if you really blow this out of proportion..."