"No, not at all. The Imperial Concubine has come here in person. It's naturally an honor for Shrek Academy."
Flender explained with a bashful smile. Just that charming, breathtaking smile of hers was enough to make his blood surge.
The feeling was even more intense than what Liu Erlong had stirred in him when they were young.
Was this what a woman the Crown Prince had welcomed into his harem was like? No wonder she was extraordinary.
When he looked at Yu Xiaogang beside him again,
Yu Xiaogang was already staring fixedly at Ye Yunxi, his gaze audacious.
Flender even worried that Ye Yunxi might take offense and punish him on the spot.
Fortunately, Ye Yunxi didn't take Yu Xiaogang seriously. She glanced at the three of them, then looked away.
"Flender, is she really the Crown Prince's woman?"
Zhao Wuji rubbed his chin beside him and asked, sounding surprised.
He had barely attended the banquet last time, staying at Shrek Academy instead, but the Little Monsters had all been talking about how beautiful the Imperial Concubine was.
"How could she not be? At the banquet, she danced with the Crown Prince," Flender said calmly.
Just then, while talking with Zhao Wuji, Flender suddenly noticed that Yu Xiaogang had walked up on his own and stopped beside Ye Yunxi.
"What on earth is that fellow Xiaogang doing? She's the Imperial Concubine!"
"Imperial Concubine, we met at the banquet last time. I wonder if you remember me?"
Yu Xiaogang gave the nobleman's salute, which he had learned from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
There were few people here this time, and nobody was watching too closely. He refused to believe that the Imperial Concubine didn't know his name as the Grandmaster.
"You're Yu Xiaogang, right? Sorry, I don't like getting acquainted with people."
Ye Yunxi's face turned cold. Then she looked at Tang San and smiled. "You're Tang San, right? I have higher hopes for you than for your teacher."
Tang San's cheeks flushed at her words, especially when he met Ye Yunxi's gaze. She was as beautiful as a lily blooming in spring.
"Thank you for believing in me, Imperial Concubine. I'll do my best," Tang San replied with a smile and a nod.
Yu Xiaogang, left standing there with his warmth met by cold indifference, clenched his fists. It was Little San again. Was he, as his teacher, really inferior to his own student?
He was the one who had published the Ten Core Theories of Martial Souls, and those people had all reached where they were through his guidance.
Couldn't the Imperial Concubine see how hard he had worked?
"And what's this shy student with the cold expression thinking about?"
Ye Yunxi turned her gaze to Zhu Zhuqing across from her.
From the moment Ye Yunxi had arrived, Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks had been faintly red. She had kept her emotions tightly under control, refusing to let them show.
"Im—Imperial Concubine, I just..."
"Just what? Or are you saying you won't give me face?"
Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head shyly, not daring to meet Ye Yunxi's eyes. Her voice was a little tense as she explained, "Imperial Concubine, you're so beautiful that I can't help being overwhelmed."
Many of the others agreed. The Imperial Concubine's every movement and smile were truly beyond comparison.
Why was the Imperial Concubine paying attention to her? From the Star Luo Empire to the Heaven Dou Empire, no one had ever paid her any attention—except for her older sister, Zhu Zhuyun, who wanted to kill her.
Just as Ma Hongjun was about to approach Ye Yunxi and strike up a conversation,
Ye Yunxi suddenly appeared beside Zhu Zhuqing.
The sight startled many of them.
"Flender, did you see that just now?" Zhao Wuji rubbed his eyes, thinking he'd seen things.
"No. The Imperial Concubine just moved very fast."
Flender was a little stunned. Could the Imperial Concubine really have some abilities? And if the Crown Prince was willing to let her out in the middle of the night, she must have a few tricks up her sleeve.
"Why are you shy, little kitten? I'm not some heinous villain."
Ye Yunxi drew Zhu Zhuqing into her arms and tipped up her stubborn chin with one hand.
"Imperial Concubine, please don't." Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks flushed. She stammered and tried to protest and struggle, but Ye Yunxi held her wrist firmly.
"I just love girls who put up a fight."
Ye Yunxi smiled faintly and began teasing Zhu Zhuqing.
Seeing how close Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Yunxi were, Ning Rongrong couldn't help feeling envious.
She wanted to get close to the Imperial Concubine, too, but she couldn't manage it on her own.
The safest way was to ask her father to get her in touch with Xue Qinghe, then approach Ye Yunxi through him.
Yu Xiaogang watched Ye Yunxi with a dark expression, unable to understand why she was so averse to him.
Flender walked over as well and clapped his hands. "Everyone, your top priority now is to prepare for the Soul Master Tournament, not to waste time thinking about other things. The Imperial Concubine has already said at the banquet that if you perform well, you can spend an evening with her."
"Dean Flender is right. If you perform well, I'll naturally take notice. But who I choose to get close to is my business. You can't decide that for me."
"Isn't that right, little kitten?"
Ye Yunxi poked Zhu Zhuqing, who was nearly worn out in her arms.
"Imperial Concubine, please stop fooling around. Zhuqing really, really can't take any more." Zhu Zhuqing panted, limp in Ye Yunxi's arms.
Those little tricks had only brushed against her body, yet they'd left her tingling all over. She couldn't muster the slightest desire to resist—in fact, she even felt a little pleasure.
When enough time had passed, Ye Yunxi stopped teasing her and set her down beneath a nearby tree.
She returned to the bonfire and glanced at the others' ravenous expressions, as well as Yu Xiaogang's displeased one. A playful smile touched her lips.
"Remember, you're not the only ones hoping to spend an evening with me. The other academies want the same thing. Heaven Dou Royal Academy and the Four Elements Academies are every bit as strong as you. What do you think you have to compete with them?"
"Of course, I'll watch the entire tournament. Perhaps one of the contestants will catch my eye. You know how these things go—sometimes it just happens."
At her words, the seven students of Shrek Academy were immediately fired up. If they performed well in the tournament and caught the Imperial Concubine's eye, they still had a good chance.
"Of course, the one I have the highest hopes for is Tang San. If you really manage to impress me, I might even grant you a few small requests."
"That's all for now. Until next time, everyone."
Ye Yunxi put aside her playful mood, lightly tapped the ground with her jade feet, and vanished into the night.
The seven had different thoughts, but all of them were filled with envy and jealousy toward Tang San.
Zhu Zhuqing, meanwhile, was starting to think she wanted to claim that position for herself.
"Little Monsters, time to head back. Since the Imperial Concubine has set you a challenge, I hope you'll give it your all in the tournament."
Flender clapped his hands, signaling for the seven to set off.
Zhu Zhuqing's legs were weak. She looked at Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu, her face reddening with embarrassment. "Rongrong, Xiao Wu, could you help me up?"
"Little kitten, the Imperial Concubine's nickname for you really suits you."
Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong helped Zhu Zhuqing to her feet, teasing her together.
Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks flushed. Stammering, she said, "Oh, stop it, both of you. And the Imperial Concubine was only joking."