Why was this guy here too?
The smile on Bei Bei's face stiffened.
"Senior Sister." Bei Bei called out somewhat rigidly.
Zhang Lexuan nodded without speaking, calmly sipping her tea.
"What made you think of returning to Sea God Pavilion tonight?" Mu En's voice rang out.
Ever since Long Yaochen had arrived, Mu En had seen Bei Bei, his great-grandson, less and less often.
Bei Bei glanced at Long Yaochen, who was still channeling Soul Power, then forced himself to say, "The Tang Sect recently accepted a very talented student. During the Freshman Assessment, he even defeated a Soul Elder-level Hell White Tiger all by himself. He also happens to be Senior Sister's student."
"Mm." Seeing Mu En's gaze turn toward her, Zhang Lexuan replied coolly.
"That does show some talent. You came here for his sake?" Mu En nodded, neither approving nor disapproving.
"Yes... He is so talented, yet the academy only gave him an observation spot as a core disciple of the Soul Tool Department. I was wondering..." Bei Bei paused before continuing, "Could there be some issue behind this?"
"Lexuan, tell us what you think."
Mu En did not answer directly and instead turned to Zhang Lexuan first.
"Huo Yuhao's strength is indeed quite impressive. As a one-ring Soul Master, he actually managed to shatter the Hell White Tiger..." Zhang Lexuan praised him first, then shifted her tone. "However, there were several instances of deliberate injury during the match. In the end, he even publicly defied Dean Yan, who had stepped in to save him.
"If this is a side effect of using his martial soul, then a spiritual-type Soul Master whose first Soul Ring is only ten years old poses far too great a risk for the Martial Soul Department to cultivate."
Her tone did not change in the slightest.
The more she had once admired his hard work, the more she now disliked his personality.
"This..." Bei Bei gave a bitter smile, unsure of what to say.
So that was the reason. Huo Yuhao had not been like this before. Who knew what had happened to him?
Bei Bei sighed softly to himself, then could only explain stiffly, "Huo Yuhao... he is still young. It is normal for him to be somewhat immature..."
Before he could finish, Long Yaochen, who had slowly opened his eyes, directly cut him off.
"Being young and immature? Will he become the next Xuan Zi once he gets old?" Long Yaochen looked at Bei Bei with a faintly mocking smile.
The civilians who had been blown to death in his previous life could have circled Shrek several times over.
"You!" Bei Bei's refined demeanor instantly fell apart.
After hearing Long Yaochen's words, Zhang Lexuan's already unfavorable feelings grew even stronger.
That was right. With such an extreme personality, would he not end up getting people killed someday?
"Since the academy has already made its decision, there is no need to change it. Besides... a core disciple of the Soul Tool Department is still a core disciple. The Soul Tool Department is no less important than the Martial Soul Department." Mu En's words settled Huo Yuhao's matter once and for all.
No matter who succeeded him as Master of the Sea God Pavilion in the future, Mu En truly did not wish to leave behind another person like Xuan Zi for them.
Speaking of which, Xuan Zi has been rather well-behaved lately.
Mu En glanced toward a room deep within Sea God Pavilion.
"I understand..." Bei Bei said regretfully. Though he had not held much hope to begin with, he could not help feeling disappointed.
"Senior Sister... how has your health been lately?" Bei Bei shifted his gaze to Zhang Lexuan.
Zhang Lexuan's hand paused slightly as she held her teacup. "Much better."
"It is getting late. Are you done with your business?" Zhang Lexuan asked Long Yaochen beside her.
"Nothing else. Let's go."
Thanks to the tacit understanding they had developed over several months, Long Yaochen immediately understood what Zhang Lexuan meant.
He rose to leave.
Just then, a jade-like hand unexpectedly hooked around his arm.
Long Yaochen looked over in surprise. It was Zhang Lexuan.
She revealed a gentle, serene smile. "Let's go."
Long Yaochen nodded, said a word to Mu En, and calmly left with Zhang Lexuan.
At some point, Bei Bei had clenched his fists. He remained motionless as he watched their retreating figures.
"Stop looking. Since you chose that girl Tang Ya, some things should be discarded as well," Mu En said indifferently.
There was nothing wrong with his great-grandson, except that he was too weak-willed and lacked the heart of a true strong man.
Mu En no longer held much hope for that.
"But..."
Bei Bei's feelings were complicated as well. Before, he had only felt unable to accept Senior Sister's feelings for him.
Yet now that she no longer paid him any attention, for some reason, unwillingness kept surfacing in his heart.
"But... doesn't Long Yaochen still have an engagement with Senior Sister Ma Xiaotao?"
Bei Bei's voice was low. "Senior Sister, she..."
He was not an ordinary Outer Court student, so he naturally knew some inside information.
"If you are strong enough, someone will naturally explain everything for you." After saying this, Mu En lowered his eyelids.
Why could he not pick up a disciple like Long Yaochen whenever he went out for a stroll?
Forget it...
Yan Shaozhe was not much better than Bei Bei.
Thinking of Yan Shaozhe's appearance, Mu En felt considerably comforted.
By Sea God Lake.
The night breeze lightly brushed against their faces, while the chirping of summer insects rang especially loud.
Zhang Lexuan linked her arm through Long Yaochen's as the two strolled amid the tranquil atmosphere.
"Happy now?" Long Yaochen asked softly.
"Of course... I never expected this feeling to be quite... relaxing."
Zhang Lexuan smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. At this moment, she had none of the mature bearing she usually displayed as the Inner Court's Senior Sister. It was as though a trace of a young girl's nature had finally emerged from beneath that gentle, dignified shell.
Bei Bei used to parade his little girlfriend around in front of her whenever he had the chance.
Now she had finally vented some of that resentment.
"The Inner Court's Senior Sister is actually this petty?" Long Yaochen teased.
Smack.
Zhang Lexuan slapped his arm, then released it. Putting on an angry expression, she said, "That's right! This petty Inner Court Senior Sister has decided not to approve your leave!"
"Then I will tell my teacher to borrow Senior Sister as well." Long Yaochen refused to yield, looking as though he were threatening her.
Though it was only a joke, Zhang Lexuan froze. She then turned her head away slightly and stammered, "Mu En... definitely would not agree! I am not talking to you anymore. I need to go deal with matters concerning the new class."
With that, Zhang Lexuan turned and headed toward the office area without looking back.
Yet beneath the moonlight, Long Yaochen clearly saw the blush on her cheeks.
He smiled and shook his head, continuing along the lakeshore.
Since there was nothing else to do, he might as well pay Ma Xiaotao a visit.
Otherwise, after disappearing for several days, she might blow up at him.
Just then, Zhang Lexuan's voice called out from behind him.
"Long Yaochen, be careful."
"Worried about me?" Long Yaochen turned his head slightly and asked.
"Y-you are my student. It is my responsibility." After tossing out those words, Zhang Lexuan finally headed fully toward the office area.
"Girls... truly are complicated creatures," Long Yaochen muttered to himself.
He then made his way toward Ma Xiaotao's dormitory.
The next one would not be so easy to placate.
Before you continue