Yun Ming's Recruitment, Leng Yaozhu's Vigilance! Yuanen Yehui's Arrival!

The morning breeze still carried a lingering chill, and the tip of the sword pierced through the thin mist.

A fine, almost transparent mist was splashed out.

Bai Yuan stood in the center of the courtyard.

The enormous Dawnmaker swirled and thrust in his hands, his movements even more fluid than two months ago.

He sheathed his sword, his gaze still fixed on the lingering gleam of light on the blade.

Is this what 'meaning' is?

He felt that his swordsmanship had improved extremely quickly under Xiao Bai's influence.

So fast that sometimes he didn't even have time to think about how he got there.

But he knew that this path was becoming more and more like his own, rather than someone else's shadow.

"You actually grasped the meaning."

Leng Yaozhu's voice came from under the corridor; she had been standing there without anyone noticing.

Their gazes fell upon him.

Why didn't you tell me?

Bai Yuan turned around and saw Leng Yaozhu standing under the eaves.

It seems they've been watching there for a while.

"Teacher."

Weren't you too busy last time?

Leng Yaozhu's lips twitched slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but then swallowed it back.

Looking back on that period, I was indeed extremely busy.

"... It seems so."

She cleared her throat, her voice regaining its usual crispness.

Why did you suddenly decide to practice this?

I don't have time to teach him, so I guess he'll learn kendo mostly on his own.

Bai Yuan placed the sword aside:

"It was that Shrek teacher who told me. He said that my swordsmanship had already taken shape and that I should try to move in the direction of 'intention'."

Leng Yaozhu's brow twitched slightly, and a hint of barely perceptible wariness appeared in her voice:

"Shrek's teacher? Who?"

Her gaze lingered on his face for a moment, as if she were piecing together some clues.

"Is no one planning to dig up my cabbage?"

Bai Yuan, seeing Leng Yaozhu's wary expression, understood perfectly well what was going on.

Her words already show that she took it seriously.

This is exactly the effect he wanted.

Life is all about strategy!

Leng Yaozhu looked at him without speaking, and asked him instead:

"Who came looking for you!"

"I'll settle the score with him then!"

"How dare you try to take advantage of my apprentice!"

Bai Yuan replied, "Yun Ming!"

Leng Yaozhu paused in her speech.

She looked up at Bai Yuan.

His eyes held that usual air of composure and strategic brilliance.

It's gradually being replaced by another, more complex emotion.

"Yun Ming?"

"He came to see you in person?"

Her voice carried an unusual, almost distraught tone.

Bai Yuan did not avoid her gaze.

"Yes, he came to see me and said he wanted to take me on as his apprentice."

Leng Yaozhu didn't speak, her gaze fixed on him, as if she was processing the impact of his words.

Of course she knew that Bai Yuan was very popular, having topped the Genius Ranking and attracting bets from various families.

Some Shrek Academy students have even approached him, wanting to join the Spirit Pagoda.

But she really didn't expect Yun Ming to personally step forward.

He actually came to find an exchange student in person and said he wanted to take him on as his apprentice.

Why didn't you tell me?

There was a hint of urgency in her tone that she didn't try to hide.

Bai Yuan looked at her, his tone still calm:

"You didn't ask me."

Leng Yaozhu was momentarily speechless after hearing his words.

She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but then realized that she hadn't actually asked him.

She was silent for a moment:

"... What did he say to you?"

"He said that the Spirit Pagoda couldn't find a teacher to instruct in Sword God, but his name could help me find one."

Bai Yuan's tone was completely unbiased.

He also said that becoming a disciple of the Sea God Pavilion Master does not mean completely leaving the Spirit Pagoda. I can also take up a position in the Spirit Pagoda. Becoming a disciple of the Sea God Pavilion is the opportunity to turn the tide.

Leng Yaozhu tapped her fingers lightly twice on the table.

The Spirit Pagoda certainly doesn't have any sword masters, but it does have some who use staffs.

The people from the Qiangu Family are masters of the Coiling Dragon Staff, but they would never teach him unless he was willing to become Qiangu Family lackey.

But even Shrek isn't known for being good with a sword, is he?

Although Yun Ming has a prestigious reputation, he is not skilled in swordsmanship.

Don't let him fool you!

Leng Yaozhu raised her voice a few decibels.

"Shrek doesn't have any sword masters either! He wants to poach you! See through his intentions!"

Men's words are deceitful! You didn't agree, did you?"

Her gaze was fixed on Bai Yuan's face, as if she were waiting for an answer that would put her at ease.

He didn't answer directly, but just smiled and said, "Don't worry, it can't escape."

I just thought that since the teacher is so busy, I'll practice on my own first and report back when you have time."

Leng Yaozhu looked at his smiling face, remained silent for a while, as if she wanted to say something, but then swallowed it back.

Finally, she waved her hand, her tone carrying a resigned helplessness:

"Sigh, I'm scared of you."

"Kid, I'll come to you and talk to you from now on, okay?"

"It's the teacher's fault; we haven't communicated enough."

Bai Yuan smiled inwardly as he looked at her helpless yet resigned expression.

The objective has been achieved.

"Teacher, I've recently reached a bottleneck in my physical cultivation and need some precious resources to break through."

He didn't say exactly what it was, but she knew what he meant.

Leng Yaozhu looked at him. "Buy."

She paused, then added,

"If you need money, just take it from the account."

"Besides."

There was a hint of probing in Bai Yuan's voice.

"I want to build my own direct team, but under the Leng Family's name."

Leng Yaozhu glanced at him. "Permission granted."

She paused abruptly after saying that.

She squinted at Bai Yuan:

"Wait... something's not right."

"You brought up Yun Ming on purpose, didn't you?"

"Are you just waiting to stab me here?"

She seemed to have just realized that she had agreed to a whole bunch of conditions.

Bai Yuan smiled innocently, "How could that be, teacher? You promised! I'm going now to do my daily work in the lobby!"

He stood up and walked towards the door.

"Get lost!"

Leng Yaozhu's voice came from behind, carrying a hint of mockery.

Bai Yuan walked out the door, which closed gently behind him.

Leng Yaozhu sat alone in the room, looking at the closed door, and couldn't help but chuckle, "That little rascal..."

She shook her head. "Why not just say it directly? Why go through all this trouble?"

"The kind of talent Yun Ming desperately wants..."

"There must be more to you than what I've seen."

Her gaze fell on the view outside the window.

It's like waiting for an answer, or perhaps waiting for the right moment.

After a long while, she withdrew her gaze:

I hope you won't let me down.

Bai Yuan walked down the stairs, in a good mood.

His gaze swept aimlessly across the hall before settling on the desk in the corner.

Gu Yuena was lying face down on the table, holding a pen in her hand.

Her eyelids were already almost closed.

It's like they're planning to just sleep through the morning's work.

"This is supposed to be a revived Soul Beast!"

"Purely a pain!"

Bai Yuan silently circled behind her, lowering his voice to imitate Leng Yaozhu's tone:

What are you doing?!

Gu Yuena's chair slid back a little.

Those purple eyes stared at Bai Yuan with a mixture of wariness and confusion.

"Are you tired of living, mimicking the teacher's way of speaking?"

"Stop fooling around, junior sister! Someone's coming!"

Bai Yuan took a step to the side.

His gaze fell on the direction of the hall entrance.

A small, thin figure was standing in front of the reception desk.

He had delicate features and a youthful air about him, but his figure was thinner than that of his peers.

Are you hiring here?

"My name is Yuanen Yehui."

Bai Yuan stared at the figure, his gaze sharpening slightly.

I never expected her to be here.

It came to me without any effort at all!