It was late at night.
Shrek Academy, the dean's office.
Flender sat in his chair, holding a letter that had just arrived, his brows knitted tightly.
The letter had been delivered overnight by someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
A man in black had ridden a Soul Beast all the way from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to Suotuo City.
After delivering the letter to Flender, the man hadn't said a word. He had turned and left.
Flender opened the letter and glanced at the signature. His pupils suddenly contracted.
Ning Fengzhi.
The sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the strongest support-type Soul Master on the continent, had written him a letter personally?
He took a deep breath, unfolded the letter, and read it carefully.
"Dean Flender, I hope this letter finds you well. I am Ning Fengzhi, sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Please forgive me for writing without prior notice."
Flender pushed up his glasses and continued reading.
"I have a daughter named Ning Rongrong. She is six years old and awakened her Martial Soul not long ago. Her Martial Soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and she possesses Innate Full Soul Power. She is already a One-Ring Soul Master. Her talent is passable, but she is willful. The whole sect has spoiled her since childhood, leaving her ignorant of the world and lacking in social graces."
Flender's mouth twitched.
Sect Master Ning certainly didn't go easy on his own daughter.
"I know that if Rongrong stays in the sect with her current temperament, she will only grow more spoiled. When she inherits the sect one day, she may struggle to win the support of its members, let alone find companions who will truly stand by her. Therefore, I would like to send Rongrong to your academy for a proper Soul Master education."
Flender's eyes widened.
The little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wanted to study at his rundown academy?
He continued reading.
"Dean Flender, please do not feel constrained by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's standing. While Rongrong is at your academy, please treat her like an ordinary student. Scold her when she deserves it, punish her when she deserves it, and train her as you would any other student. I even implore you to be stricter with her than with the others."
Flender set down the letter and sat in silence for a long time.
Sect Master Ning was determined to make him the villain.
He picked up the letter and continued.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will pay double your academy's standard tuition and living expenses for Rongrong. Also, I have heard that your academy has recently been selling a food-type Soul Skill product called the 'Flying Sausage' at the auction house, with astonishing effects. If your academy is willing, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would like to purchase them on a long-term basis for one hundred Gold Soul Coins each."
Flender's eyes widened again.
One hundred Gold Soul Coins apiece?
More than the auction house's highest price?
"Of course, this is only my initial proposal. We can discuss the details after Rongrong enrolls. Lastly, I would like to say that although Shrek Academy is small, I trust Dean Flender's character. I entrust Rongrong to your care. Respectfully, Ning Fengzhi."
He had finished reading the letter.
Flender laid the paper on the desk, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.
He was trying to absorb what he had just read.
The little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was coming to study at Shrek Academy.
Ning Fengzhi had asked him to train the young lady hard.
Double tuition.
One hundred Gold Soul Coins per Flying Sausage.
Every detail had stunned him, but what shocked him most was Ning Fengzhi's trust.
He, Flender, was merely a Seven-Ring Soul Sage and the dean of a rundown academy. What had he done to earn such trust from the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?
"Knock, knock, knock."
Someone rapped on the door.
"Come in."
Flender opened his eyes.
Fu Wen pushed the door open, carrying a cup of tea.
"Dad, I saw your office light was still on, so I brought you some tea."
"Put it on the desk."
Flender pointed to the corner of the desk.
Fu Wen set down the tea, glanced at the letter on the desk, and, without asking about it, turned to leave.
"Wait."
Flender called after him.
Fu Wen turned around. "What is it?"
Flender hesitated, then handed him the letter. "Take a look at this."
Fu Wen took the letter and read it from beginning to end. His expression remained calm, though a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
Ning Fengzhi was sending his daughter here?
And offering double tuition, plus one hundred Gold Soul Coins per Flying Sausage?
The sect master had certainly made a generous offer.
"Dad, what do you think?"
Fu Wen put the letter back on the desk.
"I'm wondering if this is a trap."
Flender frowned. "The little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, coming to study at our rundown academy? Who would believe it?"
"Ning Fengzhi does," Fu Wen said. "He believes in you."
Flender fell silent.
"Dad, I think this is a good thing."
Fu Wen sat down across from him. "With Ning Rongrong here, we'll have a fourth student. Double tuition is a substantial sum. And one hundred Gold Soul Coins per Flying Sausage is more than the auction house offers. Ning Fengzhi is sending us money."
"Sending us money?"
"Right." Fu Wen nodded. "But it's not just for Rongrong's sake. He's investing in our academy."
Flender paused. "Investing in our academy?"
"He knows better than anyone what the Flying Sausage is worth. One hundred Gold Soul Coins each, with a long-term purchase agreement. He isn't just paying Rongrong's tuition; he's also making a gesture of goodwill toward us."
Fu Wen paused. "He wants Rongrong to get along with Xiao Ao."
Flender narrowed his eyes.
"You mean... he wants to recruit Xiao Ao?"
"Not just Xiao Ao." Fu Wen shook his head. "He wants to recruit the whole of Shrek Academy. The Shrek Academy of the future."
Flender fell silent.
He considered Fu Wen's words.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was one of the Seven Great Sects of the Continent. Its resources, wealth, and connections were beyond his reach.
If Ning Fengzhi really wanted to recruit Xiao Ao, he wouldn't need to go to such lengths.
He could simply send someone to negotiate and offer a high price. Xiao Ao might well be tempted.
But Ning Fengzhi hadn't done that.
He had sent his daughter instead.
That was the greatest show of sincerity.
"Dad, I think we should agree," Fu Wen said. "With Ning Rongrong here, our academy will become more famous. It'll be easier to recruit students in the future, too. As for her spoiled-princess attitude..."
The corners of Fu Wen's mouth lifted slightly. "We have plenty of ways to deal with that."
Flender looked at him and couldn't help laughing. "You brat, have you already thought up how to deal with her?"
"No." Fu Wen's expression didn't change. "I just don't think we should let her bully Xiao Ao and Xiao Pang."
Flender burst out laughing.
Then, as suddenly as it had come, his laughter stopped.
"All right, it's settled." Flender picked up his pen and began writing a reply.
Early the next morning, Flender called the three children into the courtyard.
"I have some news for you."
With his hands behind his back, Flender paced in front of them.
"In a few days, a new student will be joining our academy."
"A new student?"
Ma Hongjun was the first to jump up. "A boy or a girl?"
"A girl."
Flender pushed up his glasses. "She's six, the same age as Fu Wen and Ma Hongjun."
"A girl?" Oscar's eyes lit up. "Is she pretty?"
"Can you think about anything else for once?"
Flender smacked the back of his head. "She's the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi's daughter."
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