"Me?" Zhang Lexuan froze.
"That's right." Mu En nodded, his tone gentle yet brooking no refusal. "You stay in Sea God Pavilion every day, all lifeless and gloomy. You look even more like an old person than this old man. Go take a look at the lively young people in the Outer Court and find some energy."
Zhang Lexuan fell silent for a moment before finally nodding lightly.
"Lexuan understands."
Only then did Mu En withdraw his gaze in satisfaction and turn to Long Yaochen beside him. "Little Chen, you started this fire. When you're in the Outer Court, follow Lexuan when you have nothing else to do. Help handle class affairs and take better care of her."
Long Yaochen looked even more bewildered. "Me?"
His gaze instinctively shifted to Zhang Lexuan, who happened to be looking at him as well.
Their eyes met, and both saw a trace of reluctance in the other's gaze.
And so, with Mu En's final word, the two of them somehow formed a ragtag group of the old, weak, sick, and disabled...
Sea God Island, Inner Court dormitory building.
"Achoo!"
Ma Xiaotao, who had been cultivating, was suddenly interrupted by several sneezes.
She rubbed her nose in frustration.
Could a dignified Soul Emperor actually catch a cold?
"That brat has been in the Outer Court for days and hasn't even come to see me once. He hasn't really forgotten me, has he?" A dangerous glint appeared in Ma Xiaotao's eyes.
He had tossed her into the Inner Court and ignored her completely. If she caught that brat flirting around outside, she definitely wouldn't let him off!
With that thought, Ma Xiaotao rose to her feet.
She changed into a fiery red gauze dress, casually put on a red gauze mask, and headed toward the Outer Court.
Freshman Class One.
After the morning's struggle, the freshmen had once again been gathered in the classroom.
They had heard that a new homeroom teacher had been found, and that there was even an assistant instructor assigned.
Just look at how seriously the academy was taking this.
They really had to thank Long Yaochen for what happened that morning. Otherwise, whether they had been expelled or not would still be uncertain.
If he had not stood at the front and shielded them from Zhou Yi's Soul Emperor pressure, then forcibly brought the matter all the way to Sea God Pavilion, it would still be unclear whether this group of them had been expelled.
What was more, everyone had seen it with their own eyes.
Zhou Yi's palm strike had forced Long Yaochen to cough up blood, sending his entire body flying backward before he slammed hard into the rear wall of the classroom.
That scene had left far too deep an impact on these freshmen.
So now, whenever Long Yaochen was mentioned, their expressions held more than just curiosity. There was also an indescribable reverence.
"Ugh, I haven't seen that bastard all morning. It suddenly feels a little strange." Wang Dong propped her cheek up with one hand, looking at the empty seat beside her as she sighed. "I wonder if he'll be okay..."
She was becoming more and more glad that she had not fought him back then.
That bastard was already a Soul Elder at twelve years old.
And he had three purple Soul Rings.
That was simply ridiculous!
Even more ridiculous were the quality of that martial soul and the depth of his Soul Power...
Ugh!
Didn't Big Uncle and Second Uncle say that I was already among the best of my generation?
How had I just arrived at Shrek only to be completely outclassed?
Just as Wang Dong was feeling downcast, the faint sound of a wheelchair suddenly came from outside the classroom.
The next moment, a familiar figure in white pushed a wheelchair inside.
It was Long Yaochen.
When they saw him appear safe and sound, the noisy classroom instantly fell silent.
Unlike the oppressive silence Zhou Yi had brought, the freshmen looking at Long Yaochen now held mostly respect and gratitude.
In the wheelchair before Long Yaochen sat a black-haired woman.
She wore a plain white dress, her long hair cascading down behind her shoulders like a waterfall. Her features were gentle and exquisite, like a moon veiled by clouds and mist.
The only pity was that her complexion was so pale it was nearly bloodless.
The bandages that had yet to be removed could still be faintly seen around her slender wrists, shoulders, and neck.
She immediately gave off an intense sense of fragility.
It formed a stark contrast with Long Yaochen, who had pushed her in.
One was pale as the moon, the other brilliant as the sun.
What a perfectly matched pair.
Seeing this, Wang Dong's previously worried expression immediately stiffened.
"Damn it, I knew it!" she muttered through gritted teeth. "I was so worried about you, and yet you came back pushing some fragile beauty the moment I looked away?"
He really was a bastard!
Zhang Lexuan stopped in front of the podium. She raised her head and looked at the clearly still-restless freshmen below, her voice gentle yet carrying a power that made people quiet down.
"Good afternoon, everyone. I'm your new homeroom teacher.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm also a Shrek student, and I suppose you could call me the Senior Sister of the Inner Court."
The Senior Sister of the Inner Court?!
Those few words instantly stirred the entire class up again.
This frail-looking, injured beauty was actually the Senior Sister of the Inner Court?
"The academy has already dealt with Teacher Zhou's matter."
Zhang Lexuan did not rush to begin class. Instead, she said softly:
"However, starting today, I hope Freshman Class One remembers one thing.
"Teachers should not teach students through fear, and students should not replace thought with anger.
"You may question and resist, but you must have the confidence to back it up, rather than charging around recklessly like someone."
After saying that, she glanced at Long Yaochen several times.
The murmurs in the classroom gradually quieted down.
The gazes many freshmen directed at Zhang Lexuan also became more serious.
Long Yaochen coughed lightly and hurriedly spoke to change the subject.
"Ahem. Senior Sister stepped forward to save her junior brothers and sisters and faced a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast head-on.
"That is why she is injured. Dean Yan asked me to serve as our class's assistant instructor and help Teacher Zhang with daily teaching duties.
"Everyone, give her a warm welcome."
As soon as Long Yaochen finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted in the class. Clearly, everyone welcomed this new teacher very warmly.
Faced a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast head-on?
Was that the strength of the Senior Sister of the Inner Court?
Together with her youthful and beautiful face, it made quite a few boys blush and not dare look directly at her.
Wasn't she ten thousand times prettier than Zhou Yi's old hag of a fake face?!
After settling Zhang Lexuan in place and waiting for her to officially begin the lesson,
Long Yaochen returned to his seat.
The moment he sat down, he felt a resentful gaze from beside him that seemed capable of killing someone.
"Hey, what kind of expression is that... I'm not that kind of person!" Long Yaochen rubbed his arm, which had broken out in goosebumps, and deliberately spoke with a look of disgust.
What kind of person?
Wang Dong was briefly confused by Long Yaochen's words, but when she saw the teasing look in his eyes the next second, she understood. Her face flushed bright red.
"You're done for!" Wang Dong said viciously, extending a finger as delicate as a scallion root and quietly pinching the soft flesh at Long Yaochen's waist.
The next moment—
"Ah!" Long Yaochen suddenly cried out, and the entire class immediately turned to look at him.
Come on, boss.
What are you trying to pull this time?
Senior Sister is too pretty. We really can't stay on your side anymore.
Even Wang Dong put on an expression as if she had been startled.
Her innocent pink-blue eyes blinked.
"Assistant instructor, please refrain from disrupting class discipline." Zhang Lexuan shot him a glance, placing extra emphasis on the words "assistant instructor."
Long Yaochen smiled awkwardly and gestured for everyone to continue.
Then he turned and glared at Wang Dong.
Wang Dong stuck out her soft pink tongue and gave him a sly smile.
Heh!
That felt good!
However, before Long Yaochen could retaliate—
Boom—!
The door to Freshman Class One was kicked open from outside.
A scorching wave of air surged into the classroom, making even the curtains by the windows flap wildly.
Zhang Lexuan, who had been about to continue the lesson, abruptly fell silent.
The entire class of freshmen also turned toward the doorway in unison.
There stood a tall red-haired girl in a fiery red gauze dress, her face covered by red gauze. A dangerous light burned in her visible pale pink eyes.
"Who's the homeroom teacher of Freshman Class One? How dare you bully my fiancé? Are you tired of living?"
Zhang Lexuan: "..."
No, could this class still go on?
To hell with finding energy. I want to go back to Sea God Pavilion!
Before you continue