Xiao Xiao's hand, holding the towel, froze.
She looked at Huo Yutong, then at Tang An, then at the dress she was wearing. Suddenly, she understood everything.
Xiao Xiao stepped forward and took Huo Yutong's hand, smiling with pursed lips. "So that's how it is. I knew it—there's no way a boy could be this cute."
Xiao Xiao could tell from the way Huo Yutong looked at Tang An—full of dependence, shyness, and a hint of possessiveness—that she clearly liked him.
Huo Yutong blushed faintly at the compliment and lowered her head to straighten her hem.
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 for letting me bathe here. I'll head back now..."
Before she could finish, Tang An grabbed her wrist.
"What's the rush?" Tang An pulled Xiao Xiao back to the bedside, then drew Huo Yutong over as well.
"You can both fuse with me individually. Maybe the two of you can perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill together, too. Try it before you leave."
The two girls exchanged a glance, both seeing the eager curiosity in the other's eyes.
They sat facing each other as instructed and reached out, pressing their four palms together. Then they closed their eyes at the same time and began circulating the Mysterious Heaven Skill.
The first few cycles passed calmly, but when they reached the fifth, a flash of silver light suddenly appeared behind Huo Yutong, and the phantom of her Spirit Eyes emerged.
Right after, a blue-green and a purple light lit up behind Xiao Xiao, and the phantoms of the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron and the Nine-Phoenix Flute appeared together.
The silver glow of the Spirit Eyes intertwined in midair with the blue-green and purple light of the cauldron and flute, forming a strange, three-colored halo.
"So there is one," Tang An murmured.
Xiao Xiao and Huo Yutong opened their eyes at the same time, too stunned by the sight before them to speak.
Huo Yutong could clearly feel her Spirit Eyes channeling an unending stream of spiritual power through the three-colored halo into Xiao Xiao.
With her spiritual power bolstering it, the range and strength of the Nine-Phoenix Flute's sonic support increased dramatically, while the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron's defensive power surged as well.
At the heart of their Martial Soul Fusion was Huo Yutong using her spiritual power to amplify Xiao Xiao in every way. With that boost, Xiao Xiao became the core combatant, capable of both offense and defense.
Xiao Xiao's eyes shone brilliantly. She had long since forgotten that she'd been about to leave.
Huo Yutong was flushed with excitement, too, but soon remembered something and glanced at Tang An hesitantly. "Big Brother Tang An, Xiao Xiao isn't in our dormitory. How will she come over to cultivate with us from now on?"
Before Tang An could answer, Xiao Xiao quickly spoke up, sounding a little anxious.
"Then can I move in here? Yutong's a girl, and so am I. We both have Tang Sect techniques, so it'll be more convenient to cultivate together."
Only after saying it did Xiao Xiao realize what she'd blurted out. Her face reddened, and she lowered her head to fidget with her clothes, but she didn't take it back.
Tang An stood up and straightened his collar. "You two keep working out the details of this fusion skill. Teacher Zhou and Teacher Mu have something to discuss with me anyway, so I can speak to them directly about moving Xiao Xiao to your dorm."
Xiao Xiao nodded eagerly, and Huo Yutong answered too. The two of them could hardly wait to press their palms together again and test how different Soul Power rhythms worked in tandem.
Night was just falling, and the corridor in the teaching building was quiet.
Tang An pushed open the door to Zhou Yi's office. The light inside was dim and warm.
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 bristling with tension.
Tang An's gaze swept over them, and his brows lifted slightly.
Mu Jin had clearly taken extra care with her appearance today.
She'd changed out of the academy's fitted uniform from earlier and into a dark green silk dress. Its neckline plunged low, accentuating her slender yet curvaceous figure just right.
Mu Jin had always been fair-skinned, and the dark green made her skin look even more like snow. The faint beauty mark at the corner of her eye seemed all the more alluring in the dim light.
She sat with one leg crossed over the other, her calf, wrapped in a black stocking, appearing and disappearing beneath the hem. When she saw Tang An enter, the corner of her mouth curled into a smile.
Zhou Yi still wore her black business suit, sitting primly across from Mu Jin. At the sight of Mu Jin, she curled her lip in disdain.
Tang An took the seat between them. "Teachers, you've waited this late for me. Go ahead and tell me what's on your mind."
As soon as he finished speaking, they both began at nearly the same time.
"Student Tang An, Class One is the best fit for you—"
"Don't listen to her. Class Two has the teaching resources—"
They both stopped and glared at each other.
Mu Jin sprang to her feet first and sauntered over to Tang An in her high heels. Her dark green hem swayed gently, and the faint scent of irises drifted over.
"Student Tang An," Mu Jin said with a bewitching smile, "Class Two is the best choice for you. Class One's teaching methods are rigid and harsh. A genius like you needs to be taught according to his strengths, not held back by some old woman."
As she spoke, Mu Jin leaned forward almost imperceptibly, her tone intimate. "And I can tutor you one-on-one. You'll get priority access to cultivation resources, too. If you'll come to Class Two, name your terms."
Zhou Yi's face darkened, and she shot to her feet. "Mu Jin! Who are you calling an old woman?"
Mu Jin said nothing, merely raising an eyebrow.
Zhou Yi took a deep breath and turned to Tang An, her tone a little urgent. "Student Tang An, don't let her sweet talk fool you. Class One's teaching is strict, but it gets results fastest, and besides..."
Zhou Yi gritted her teeth, as if she'd just made a momentous decision. "And I can offer you the same terms she can, or even better. Priority resources, private tutoring—I can do all of that."
Mu Jin chuckled and shook her head. Then she moved a little closer to Tang An in her high heels and looked down at the boy in the chair. "Student Tang An, setting the teaching conditions aside..."
Mu Jin tilted her head slightly. "Take a good look. Who's easier on the eyes, me or this old woman?"
Her words were blunt and daring. Zhou Yi trembled with anger and slammed her hand on the table, making both of them jump.
"Mu Jin, you think you're the only one who knows how to dress up?" Zhou Yi said through gritted teeth. Then she took a deep breath and ran a hand over her face.
A faint ripple of Soul Power spread across Zhou Yi's face. The features lined with the marks of time began to change before their eyes.
Her wrinkles smoothed away, her sagging skin grew taut and smooth again, her dull complexion turned fair and luminous, her jawline became sleek and refined, her nose stood straight, and her lips regained their full, pale pink color.
In the blink of an eye, the elderly woman standing before Tang An had become a cool, stunning beauty in her thirties.
Zhou Yi still wore her stiff black business suit, but with her face as it was now, it created a strikingly restrained, almost ascetic beauty.
The smile on Mu Jin's face faltered. She'd known Zhou Yi was disguising herself, but she hadn't expected the woman to reveal her real appearance in front of Tang An.
After all, Zhou Yi had played the part of an old woman at the academy for years, and had never shown her true face to anyone.
"You think you're the only one with good looks?"
Zhou Yi looked coldly at Mu Jin. Though she'd restored her appearance, she clearly wasn't used to using her looks as a weapon. Her tone remained stiff, making the contrast all the more striking. "I'm much prettier than you."
Tang An leaned back in his chair, his gaze moving between the two beautiful teachers, each with her own distinct style. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
Mu Jin quickly recovered her composure. Her eyes glimmered as she suddenly took another half-step forward, almost pressing against Tang An's back. A heavy, soft sensation brushed the top of his head.
Mu Jin tilted her head, her voice seductive. "Student Tang An, do you have a girlfriend? If not, you could consider your big sister."
Before you continue