Mu Jin: Classmate Tang An, do you want a girlfriend?

Xiao Xiao's hand, holding the towel, froze.

She looked at Huo Yutong, then at Tang An, and finally at the dress she was wearing herself; suddenly, everything became clear.

Xiao Xiao stepped forward, took the initiative to grab Huo Yutong's hand, and pursed her lips into a smile. "So that's how it is. I was just saying, there's no way a boy could grow up to be this cute."

Xiao Xiao knew clearly in her heart that the way Huo Yutong looked at Tang An was filled with reliance, shyness, and a hint of possessiveness—it was obvious she liked Tang An.

Huo Yutong blushed slightly from the compliment and lowered her head to smooth out the hem of her clothes.

Xiao Xiao let go of her hand and bowed slightly to Tang An. "Tang An, thank you for teaching me the cultivation technique today and letting me bathe here. I'll be heading back now..."

Before she could finish, her wrist was firmly gripped by Tang An.

"What's the rush?" Tang An pulled Xiao Xiao back to the bedside and brought Huo Yutong over as well.

"You two can both fuse with me individually; perhaps there is a Martial Soul Fusion Skill between the two of you as well. Try it before you go."

The two girls exchanged a glance, both seeing a spark of eager curiosity in the other's eyes.

Following his instructions, they sat facing each other, extended their hands until their four palms met, closed their eyes simultaneously, and began to circulate the Mysterious Heaven Skill.

The first few cycles were calm, but by the fifth cycle, a silver light suddenly ignited behind Huo Yutong, and the phantom of the Spirit Eyes emerged.

Immediately after, a cyan light and a purple light shone behind Xiao Xiao, and the phantoms of the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron and the Nine-Phoenix Flute appeared simultaneously.

The silver light of the Spirit Eyes intertwined with the cyan and purple light of the cauldron and flute in mid-air, forming a strange, tri-colored halo.

"As I thought," Tang An muttered.

Xiao Xiao and Huo Yutong opened their eyes at the same time, stunned into silence by the sight before them.

Huo Yutong could clearly feel her Spirit Eyes channeling her mental power continuously into Xiao Xiao through this tri-colored halo.

With the boost of mental power, the range and intensity of Xiao Xiao's Nine-Phoenix Flute sound wave support increased significantly, and the defensive power of the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron skyrocketed along with it.

The core of their Martial Soul Fusion Skill was Huo Yutong using her mental power to fully amplify Xiao Xiao, while Xiao Xiao, under this amplification, became the core damage dealer capable of both offense and defense.

Xiao Xiao's eyes shone brilliantly; the thought of leaving from moments ago had long since been cast to the back of her mind.

Huo Yutong was also flushed with excitement, but she soon remembered something and looked at Tang An hesitantly. "Brother Tang An, Xiao Xiao isn't in our dormitory. How will she be able to come over and cultivate together in the future?"

Before Tang An could answer, Xiao Xiao spoke up first, her tone tinged with urgency.

"Then can I move in? Since Yutong is a girl and I'm a girl, and we both have Tang Sect techniques, it would be much more convenient to cultivate together."

Only after saying it did Xiao Xiao realize what she had blurted out. Her face turned red again, and she lowered her head to fidget with her hem, but she didn't take back her words.

Tang An stood up and smoothed his collar. "You two continue researching the details of this fusion skill. As it happens, Teacher Zhou and Teacher Mu have something to discuss with me, so I'll just speak to them directly about Xiao Xiao's dormitory transfer."

Xiao Xiao nodded vigorously, and Huo Yutong echoed her agreement. The two were already impatient to press their palms together again and start experimenting with different frequencies of soul power coordination.

Night had just fallen, and the corridor of the teaching building was quiet.

Tang An pushed open the door to Zhou Yi's office, where the light inside was dim and soft.

Zhou Yi and Mu Jin had been waiting for a while. They sat at opposite ends of the office with three or four chairs between them, the atmosphere tense and confrontational.

Tang An's gaze swept over them, and his eyebrows twitched slightly.

Mu Jin had clearly dressed up meticulously today.

Her daytime academy uniform was gone, replaced by a dark green silk dress with a deep neckline that perfectly outlined her slender yet curvaceous figure.

Mu Jin was naturally fair-skinned, and the dark green made her skin look like snow. The light-colored tear mole at the corner of her eye appeared even more alluring in the dim light.

She sat with her legs crossed, her calves wrapped in black silk stockings appearing and disappearing beneath the hem of her dress. Seeing Tang An enter, the corners of her lips curled into a smile.

Zhou Yi was still in her black professional attire, sitting upright and stiffly opposite her. Seeing Mu Jin's appearance, she curled her lip in disdain.

Tang An sat in the middle seat. "Teachers, you've been waiting for me so late. If you have something to say, speak up."

As soon as he finished, both spoke almost simultaneously.

"Student Tang An, Class One is the most suitable for you—"

"Don't listen to her, the teaching resources in Class Two..."

They both stopped at the same time and glared at each other.

Mu Jin stood up first, her high heels clicking as she walked gracefully to Tang An's side. Her dark green skirt swayed gently, and a faint scent of iris drifted over.

"Student Tang An," Mu Jin smiled seductively, "Class Two is your best choice. Class One's teaching methods are rigid and harsh. A genius like you needs education tailored to your talents, not to be delayed by an old hag."

As she spoke, Mu Jin leaned forward imperceptibly, her tone intimate. "Besides, I can provide you with one-on-one tutoring, and cultivation resources will be prioritized for you. As long as you come to Class Two, you can name your terms."

Zhou Yi's face darkened, and she stood up abruptly. "Mu Jin! Who are you calling an old hag?"

Mu Jin smiled without answering, merely arching an eyebrow.

Zhou Yi took a deep breath and turned to Tang An, her tone tinged with urgency. "Student Tang An, don't be fooled by her flowery words. Although Class One's teaching is strict, it produces results the fastest, and..."

Zhou Yi gritted her teeth, as if she had made a major decision. "And the conditions she can offer you, I can offer as well, perhaps even better. Resource priority, private tutoring—none of that is a problem."

Mu Jin chuckled and shook her head, stepping closer to Tang An in her heels and looking down at the young man sitting in the chair. "Student Tang An, setting aside the teaching conditions..."

Mu Jin tilted her head slightly. "Take a good look. Between me and this old hag, who is more pleasing to the eye?"

The words were blunt and bold. Zhou Yi trembled with rage; she slammed the table, startling both of them.

"Mu Jin, do you think you're the only one who knows how to dress up?" Zhou Yi said through gritted teeth, then took a deep breath and wiped her hand across her face.

A faint ripple of soul power emanated from Zhou Yi's face, and that visage etched with the marks of time began to change at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Wrinkles smoothed out, sagging skin became firm and supple once more, her dull complexion turned fair and radiant, her jawline became sleek and refined, her nose bridge grew high and straight, and her lips regained a plump, pale pink hue.

In the blink of an eye, the person standing before Tang An was no longer that old woman, but a cold, stunning beauty in her thirties.

Zhou Yi was still wearing that same stiff, black professional attire, but paired with this face, it created a contrasting aesthetic of restrained, ascetic allure.

The smile on Mu Jin's face faltered slightly; she knew Zhou Yi used a disguise, but she hadn't expected this woman to actually reveal her true appearance in front of Tang An.

One had to know that Zhou Yi had been playing the part of an old woman at the academy for years and had never shown her true face to outsiders.

"Do you think you're the only one with a bit of charm?"

Zhou Yi looked at Mu Jin coldly. Although she had restored her appearance, she was clearly unaccustomed to using her looks as a weapon, and her tone remained blunt, creating a sharp contrast instead. "I am much prettier than you."

Tang An leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the two teachers of vastly different styles, the corners of his mouth curling upward slightly.

Mu Jin quickly regained her composure. Her eyes shimmered as she suddenly took another half-step forward, pressing almost against Tang An's back, a heavy sensation brushing against the top of his head.

Tilting her head, Mu Jin said in a seductive voice, "Student Tang An, do you have a girlfriend? If not, you could consider your big sister here."