The Principled Shui Yuerong

After the four returned to Skywater Academy.

Xue Furong watched Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er lead Li Jiuxuan by the hand toward the cafeteria, then went alone to the dean's office.

She pushed open the door. Shui Yuerong was seated quietly by the window, rolling an ice-crystal jade pendant between her fingertips. When she saw Xue Furong enter, she lifted her eyes and gave a faint smile, her expression calm and even.

"Furong."

Shui Yuerong spoke first, her tone relaxed and casual, without a trace of seriousness or sharpness.

Xue Furong closed the door and walked up to her, her face expressionless. "I came to apologize."

Shui Yuerong was taken aback, then smiled. "Is it because you took that boy to the Frozen Forest to obtain a Soul Ring?"

She knew everything that happened at Skywater Academy. How could she not know?

Xue Furong shook her head. "That's not all."

"Then what is it?"

"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan knows Li Jiuxuan is at our academy," Xue Furong said.

"Mm."

Shui Yuerong wasn't surprised.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect was bound to find out sooner or later, unless that boy hid in Skywater Academy for three years without ever stepping outside.

As long as he continued cultivating, every faction would eventually learn that Skywater Academy had a special male student.

"Most importantly, Thunder Academy came to demand his return today, and I refused," Xue Furong continued.

"You were forcibly dragged out by Bing'er and Yue'er. I didn't agree, so they had no choice but to come to you. You're not to blame for that." Shui Yuerong shook her head.

"That's not all. I also beat up Yu Tianhong and the other two from Thunder Academy."

"..."

Shui Yuerong fell silent.

On the surface, the Four Element Academies were friendly and avoided direct, real conflict.

Beating someone up... Whatever the reason, a fight had taken place, and that was a slap in the face to the other academy.

Normally, if another academy bullied a female student from Skywater Academy, Shui Yuerong would even go there to demand an explanation.

But Li Jiuxuan was different...

He wasn't a female student. He was also a prize coveted by countless factions...

So the negative impact would be magnified without limit.

In the end, Shui Yuerong merely waved a hand. "It doesn't matter. You beat them, so be it. If Thunder Academy wants an explanation, they can come to me, Shui Yuerong."

Shui Yuerong understood Xue Furong's temperament. She and Thunder Academy had a considerable history together. How could she blame her?

"What about Li Jiuxuan...?"

"It's the same as before. He'll be safe inside the academy. Outside, his life and death are his own concern."

Xue Furong nodded, understanding.

Shui Yuerong wanted to protect Li Jiuxuan...

Ever since Li Jiuxuan obtained his first Soul Ring, he had spent the past month cultivating like a man possessed.

He had practically reached the point of neither eating nor drinking.

When thirsty, he drank a mouthful of water from Calm Heart Lake. When hungry, he caught a small fish from the lake and ate it.

He hadn't spent a single one of his thousand Gold Soul Coins.

Sometimes, Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er simply couldn't stand watching him and would force him to eat something. Otherwise, he would have lived like a wild man.

After the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's attempt to intercept him, Li Jiuxuan realized that he had to improve his strength as quickly as possible. At the very least, he had to reach the Soul Ancestor level within these three years!

Shui Yuerong's dean's office was on the top floor of Skywater Academy's tallest building. From there, she could look across Calm Heart Lake and see everything Li Jiuxuan did.

At first, she hadn't thought much of the boy, because he was male.

But over the past month, her opinion had gradually begun to soften.

She had seen many talented young Soul Masters. Some were arrogant and conceited, some craved comfort, and some became haughty the moment they achieved a little success.

But Li Jiuxuan seemed different.

There wasn't a trace of youthful restlessness in him, only a composure and tenacity far beyond his years.

He was tough on others, and even tougher on himself.

In the month and a half since he had come to Skywater Academy, he had done only one thing: cultivated. Judging by his build, he seemed even thinner than he had a month ago.

But though the boy was thin, the Soul Power within him had grown even more vigorous!

His Soul Power had increased by at least three or four levels!

"Xiao Jiuxuan, are you still training?"

Another week passed before Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er came to Calm Heart Lake with a pile of pastries.

Li Jiuxuan had become almost fanatical about training. Lately, he wouldn't even go eat when they tried to drag him along.

Even when Shui Bing'er personally tried to persuade him, he often still chose to cultivate.

At that moment, Li Jiuxuan had just reached a brief pause in his training. He opened his eyes, saw Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er, and immediately smiled. "Sister."

"Come eat something. If you're disobedient again today, your sister won't talk to you anymore!" Shui Yue'er wrinkled her nose and threatened him.

Li Jiuxuan realized he had been neglecting his two sisters lately, so he gave an embarrassed grin, stood up, and walked over to Shui Yue'er.

"Open wide. Ah!" Shui Yue'er opened the box of pastries, pinched one between her fair, jade-like thumb and forefinger, and popped it into Li Jiuxuan's mouth.

Li Jiuxuan was genuinely hungry by now, so he obediently opened his mouth.

"Is it good?" After Shui Yue'er watched Li Jiuxuan swallow the first pastry, he began wolfing down the rest. She smiled.

"It's delicious!" Li Jiuxuan answered honestly.

Maybe because he hadn't tried many foods from Douluo Continent, these pastries were the best thing he had ever eaten.

"I made them myself!" Shui Yue'er said with a grin, glancing at Shui Bing'er.

Li Jiuxuan blinked. So Sister Shui Bing'er wasn't just beautiful—she was a wonderful cook, too!

"Sister, this is the best food I've ever eaten." He praised her from the bottom of his heart.

Shui Bing'er paid no mind to the flattery. She only sighed, stroked Li Jiuxuan's face, and said with some heartache, "You've gotten so thin."

She had once said she would raise Li Jiuxuan until he was plump and rosy. Instead, she had done the exact opposite.

"I'm fine, Sister."

Li Jiuxuan didn't mind. Instead, he reached out, a thread of powerful Soul Power surging in his palm, and said excitedly, "Sister, look! I'm already a level-fourteen Soul Master!"

Before Shui Bing'er could take a closer look, Shui Yue'er leaned in toward Li Jiuxuan's palm. After seeing it, her mouth formed a perfect O. "Xiao Jiuxuan, you're amazing! You've gained three levels of Soul Power in just one month!"

That was incredibly fast. It was no wonder, considering he had spent the whole month cultivating like a madman.

Shui Yue'er proudly patted Li Jiuxuan on the shoulder. "Xiao Jiuxuan, with talent like yours, you really haven't let Master down!"

Li Jiuxuan was confused. Shui Yuerong's expectations?

Shui Bing'er stepped forward and dusted the dirt off Li Jiuxuan's bottom. She explained, "This month, Thunder Academy came to see Master three times. Each time, they wanted her to hand you over, but she refused them harshly every time."

Li Jiuxuan was stunned. Judging by how cold Shui Yuerong had been toward him that day, he had worried she might strike a deal with Thunder Academy and sell him out.

He hadn't expected her to have such principles.