Ma Xiaotao: I'll take your carving knife!

"What are you staring at?!"

Ma Xiaotao finally couldn't hold it in any longer. She slammed her hand onto the table, and the pressure of a Soul Emperor erupted instantly. "Keep looking, and I'll burn your entire class to ash!"

Whoosh!

The freshmen, who had been passionately discussing just a moment ago, suddenly displayed speed comparable to Agility-type Soul Masters. They packed their bags, vaulted over windows, and kicked open the back doors. In a mere three seconds, the entire classroom was completely empty, not even leaving behind a scrap of waste paper.

Can't afford to provoke her, definitely can't afford it. That explosive temper...

No wonder her fiancé had to flee to the Outer Courtyard.

Once only the three of them remained in the classroom, Ma Xiaotao immediately turned around, grabbed Long Yaochen by the collar, and looked at him with eyes full of resentment. "You have to give me an explanation today! Do you have any idea how worried I was about you in the Inner Courtyard?"

Long Yaochen swatted her hand away and rubbed his brow with a sense of helplessness.

Hadn't he already absorbed the evil fire? Why did it feel like Ma Xiaotao was being affected by it even more?

During the class just now, he had already briefly explained the events of the past few days to her via sound transmission.

What other explanation could he give?

"There was no choice. I was the one who drove Zhou Yi away, and Elder Mu told me to look after the Senior Sister, so I'm just cleaning up the mess." Long Yaochen's tone was casual; he knew Ma Xiaotao's personality was just a bit fiery, but she was actually extremely protective of her own.

"Don't you dare use Elder Mu to pressure me! Does the Senior Sister need a mere Soul Elder like you to look after her?"

Ma Xiaotao let out a cold snort, but her tone softened significantly.

She looked Long Yaochen up and down, a flicker of imperceptible heartache flashing in her eyes.

"By the way, I heard from that stingy Dean Qian that you suffered internal injuries and specifically requested that wicked 'Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife'."

"Yes, I really need it." Long Yaochen nodded.

"I told Dean Qian not to bother preparing it." Ma Xiaotao placed her hand on his shoulder, incidentally leaking a bit of evil fire into him.

Long Yaochen's face flushed slightly, and he looked at Ma Xiaotao with some surprise.

"You... you're still too young." Ma Xiaotao said as she straightened Long Yaochen's collar, then continued, "A mere carving knife with a notorious reputation, costing only a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coin, and they even expect you to ask for it."

"It's completely unnecessary to waste a favor from the academy for this. Your injury cannot be solved by a mere hundred thousand Gold Soul Coin!" Her voice was uncharacteristically soft. If she had known he would run into that crazy woman Zhou Yi upon coming to the Outer Courtyard, she would have insisted on keeping him by her side no matter what.

Hearing Ma Xiaotao's words, a flash of surprise crossed Long Yaochen's eyes; she was actually quite thoughtful toward him.

Then, the corner of his mouth twitched.

No wonder Qian Duoduo had agreed so quickly at the time.

What a stingy guy...

"It just so happens that there is a Treasure Appreciation Fair in the center of Shrek City tonight to welcome the new students. That wicked knife is on the auction list. I have a VIP card for Inner Courtyard core disciples. Tonight, you're coming with me. I'll pay for that knife myself!"

Ma Xiaotao crossed her arms and lifted her chin slightly, her red silk robes revealing an air of wealth and arrogance.

"That wouldn't be right, making you spend your money again." Long Yaochen smiled, though his body leaned back against the chair quite honestly, clearly having no intention of refusing.

"Cut the act. Since we have a marriage contract, it's only natural for me to look after you."

Ma Xiaotao raised an eyebrow and declared with extreme dominance.

However, before Long Yaochen could speak, Wang Dong, who had been sitting to the side for a long time without saying a word, acting as if he were invisible, completely broke down.

Slap!

Wang Dong slammed his hand on the table and stood up.

He glared at Ma Xiaotao with those powder-blue eyes, looking like a little tiger whose territory had been violated, fur standing on end.

First adjusting the collar, then offering to pay... and going out alone as a man and a woman tonight...

No way! This young master really can't take it anymore!

"No! He can't go with you alone! It's just a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coin, don't act like no one else can afford it!"

Wang Dong had never yielded to anyone when it came to being wealthy.

Ma Xiaotao frowned, looking down at the handsome youth who was half a head shorter than her with a dangerous glint in her eyes. "What are you supposed to be? I'm taking my own man to the Treasure Appreciation Fair; is it your place to interrupt?"

"I..."

Wang Dong was left speechless by the retort.

He truly had no standing, and he was even still disguised as a boy...

But looking at Ma Xiaotao's possessive display, the stubbornness and pride of a Clear Sky Sect young master surged within him.

He grabbed Long Yaochen's arm and shouted righteously, "I'm his roommate! What if you sell him out there?! As his roommate, I have an obligation to moni... ensure his safety! So, I'm going to the Treasure Appreciation Fair tonight too!"

Just as Wang Dong and Ma Xiaotao were at a stalemate, a cold and gentle voice drifted over.

"Since you're going to the Treasure Appreciation Fair, consider it a leisure outing. You might as well take me along."

The group turned their heads and saw that Zhang Lexuan, who should have left, was pushing her wheelchair and had stopped at the doorway, watching them quietly.

"Senior Sister? You didn't leave?" Ma Xiaotao was stunned for a moment.

"I happened to need to head into the city to purchase some soothing herbs, and I overheard you all talking about going to the Treasure Appreciation Fair outside the door." Zhang Lexuan's expression was calm as her gaze swept over Long Yaochen. "Since you are my teaching assistant now, it shouldn't be too much to ask for you to push this wounded patient there, right?"

Another one?!

Almost simultaneously, this thought arose in the minds of Long Yaochen and the other two.

Long Yaochen felt his temples throbbing. The divinity that had begun to sprout in him made him feel an inexplicable sense of irritation.

Deciding to just throw caution to the wind, he took the initiative and, with extreme naturalness, wrapped his arms around the shoulders of both Ma Xiaotao and Wang Dong.

Amidst their instantly stiffened physical reactions, he looked at the gentle-tempered Zhang Lexuan, the curve of his lips revealing a hint of madness: "Since everyone wants to go, let's go together. It just so happens that I want to see for myself exactly how much substance Shrek City's Treasure Appreciation Fair really has."

Shrek City gate.

"Little Yuhao, just grilling twenty fish won't take up too much of your time." Tang Ya giggled as she said to Huo Yuhao.

"I know, Sister Xiaoya." Huo Yuhao nodded honestly.

"Oh, right, that old hag Zhou Yi didn't give you guys a hard time, did she?" Tang Ya suddenly thought of this and asked.

"Xiaoya..." Bei Bei frowned. "Although Teacher Zhou is strict, it is for the students' own good."

Tang Ya made a face at Bei Bei and didn't respond.

Huo Yuhao, however, said with some hesitation: "Uh... Teacher Zhou is actually a bit excessive... but because she attacked a student, she has already been completely expelled from the academy and cast out of Shrek."

"What?" Tang Ya and Bei Bei shouted in unison.

This was too surreal!

On the first day of school, the woman known as the Outer Court's "Ghost-Fear" Zhou Yi had been kicked out?

Under their questioning, Huo Yuhao gave a concise summary of what had happened in the classroom today.

"Wow! That classmate of yours is so cool! He dared to go head-to-head with a Spirit Emperor? Introduce me next time! He is perfect for joining our Tang Sect!" Tang Ya waved her little fist excitedly, as if she had experienced it herself.

Bei Bei, standing to the side, frowned even tighter.

Sister Lexuan...

She was actually seriously injured? And she's teaching in the Outer Court?

Thinking of all that had passed, a wave of guilt welled up in his heart.

Should he go and pay her a visit? But Xiaoya is right here...

"Hey, Sister Xiaoya. That's him!"

Just as Bei Bei was struggling with his dilemma, Huo Yuhao pointed toward the city gate in surprise.

Bei Bei subconsciously raised his head in that direction.

At just a single glance, his signature refined smile froze completely on his face.