Repaying Kindness Is the Greatest Virtue

Er Ha had somehow darted over and circled Yu Mengdi twice, head held high and face full of pride.

"Little girl, do you know who bit that Thousand-Year Gale Wolf to death and saved you in the Star Dou Great Forest today?"

Yu Mengdi lowered her head to look at the silver-white Slender Dog. Remembering that perilous scene, she nodded honestly.

"It was Senior White Emperor."

"That's right! It was This Emperor!"

Er Ha's tail spun like a propeller. "That was a Thousand-Year Gale Wolf! This Emperor bit right through its neck! And that Phoenix Tail Snake was subdued by This Emperor too!"

"And also, back in the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest, This Emperor kicked a Hundred-Thousand-Year Black Bear flying and saved your master's Eighth Brother... No, saved your martial uncle! That was absolutely savage!"

Shen Zhou could not stand listening any longer.

"When did you ever kick a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast flying?"

"In my dreams."

Er Ha answered with perfect confidence.

"..."

"Besides, Lao Da, don't you brag all the time too? Just now, you even hinted that Big Brother should marry that little girl! This Emperor heard it all!"

Shen Zhou's face darkened as he grabbed Er Ha by the snout.

"Say another word of nonsense, and you'll be dog meat soup tonight."

Er Ha struggled desperately, shouting indistinctly through his pinched muzzle, "This Emperor's meat doesn't taste good! Snake meat! Stew snake meat!"

Laughter erupted throughout the hall.

Tang Ya laughed so hard she collapsed against Bei Bei's shoulder, while Bei Bei could not hold back his laughter either.

Huo Yuhao covered his mouth, his shoulders shaking.

Yu Mengdi laughed too. But as she laughed, tears began to fall again.

Qian Daoliu watched the scene and shook his head, though the corners of his mouth refused to stay down.

He turned to look beyond the door, toward the academy bathed in moonlight.

The Martial Soul Academy had finally begun to feel like a home.

And he was no longer alone.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window lattice into Qian Daoliu's study.

Yu Mengdi stood before the desk with her hands clasped before her, her fingers twisting together uneasily.

She had changed into clean clothes, and her golden hair had been combed again. She looked far more refreshed than she had the night before.

Yet faint shadows still lingered beneath her eyes. Clearly, she had barely slept.

"Master." Her voice was slightly tight.

Qian Daoliu sat behind the desk, sunlight falling over his golden hair and making his brilliant gold eyes seem especially bright.

He did not urge her. He simply waited quietly.

Yu Mengdi took a deep breath, as though she had finally made up her mind.

"Master, there's something I want to tell you."

"Speak."

"I... I'm deeply grateful that you were willing to take me as your disciple, and I'm also grateful that the Martial Soul Academy took us in."

Yu Mengdi's voice trembled, but she tried her best to speak smoothly. "The resources and conditions here are better than those of any academy I've ever seen.

"And the strength of you and the other seniors is beyond anything I could ever hope to reach."

Qian Daoliu nodded slightly without interrupting.

"But..." Yu Mengdi bit her lip. "I can't simply stay at the Martial Soul Academy like this."

"Oh? Why not?"

"Zhengtian Academy trained me for fourteen years."

Yu Mengdi's eyes reddened slightly. "When my Martial Soul awakened at six, a recruiter from Zhengtian Academy noticed me and waived all of my tuition.

"I cultivated there from a little girl until I reached Rank 50.

"Every Soul Ring I gained was hunted with the academy's teachers leading me.

"Every breakthrough I made was supported by the academy's resources."

Her voice grew softer and softer, but more and more resolute.

"I'm not an ungrateful wretch.

"I can't just leave after everything Zhengtian Academy has done for me."

Qian Daoliu looked at her silently. There was no displeasure in his gaze. Instead, there was something... approving.

"And," Yu Mengdi continued, "the academy arranged for me to lead the team in the Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Competition three months from now.

"It's the largest Youth Soul Master Tournament in the Star Luo Empire. Zhengtian Academy hasn't made it into the top four for three consecutive years.

"The Dean entrusted this task to me because he trusts me.

"I... I can't let him down."

By the end, her voice had become nasal, but she never cried.

"Master, I want... I want to return to Zhengtian Academy first and finish this competition."

"After the competition ends, I'll come back to the Martial Soul Academy to cultivate with you."

After speaking, Yu Mengdi bowed deeply, her forehead nearly touching her knees.

The study fell silent for a long time.

Qian Daoliu's gaze rested on Yu Mengdi's lowered head.

Her golden hair glowed softly beneath the sunlight, reminding him of someone from his memories.

He was not angry.

On the contrary, a long-forgotten warmth rose within him.

That was how an Angel Martial Soul wielder ought to be.

Grateful and loyal, devoted and righteous.

Not an ungrateful wretch, nor a petty person who forgot righteousness for profit.

"Raise your head."

Yu Mengdi straightened up and looked at Qian Daoliu uneasily.

She had prepared herself to be reprimanded. After all, her master had accepted her as his disciple, yet she was saying she wanted to leave. No matter how one looked at it, she seemed ungrateful.

Yet there was not the slightest hint of displeasure on Qian Daoliu's face.

"You did the right thing."

Qian Daoliu rose to his feet and walked to the window with his hands behind his back. "Zhengtian Academy trained you for fourteen years. You cannot forget that debt of gratitude."

"If you had packed up and left today just for better conditions, I would have looked down on you instead."

"The Angel Martial Soul stands for openness and integrity, for having a clear conscience."

"The fact that you could say these words today proves that you deserve those wings."

Yu Mengdi's eyes reddened further. This time, she truly could not hold it back, and a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Master..."

"Sit and speak."

Qian Daoliu pointed to the chair beside her, then returned to his seat behind the desk.

Yu Mengdi wiped away her tears and obediently sat down.

"You said just now that the Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Competition is three months away?"

Qian Daoliu asked.

"Yes.

"Zhengtian Academy finally managed to assemble a competition team this year, and I'm the captain."

Yu Mengdi paused. "Without me, it would be difficult for the academy to achieve a good result."

"What are the cultivation levels of the team members?"

"On Zhengtian Academy's side, I'm Rank 50. There are also two classmates at the early Four-Ring level, while the rest are Three-Ring."

"Our main opponents are the royal academies of the major empires. They have two Five-Ring Soul Kings leading their teams, and their overall strength is far greater than ours."

Qian Daoliu nodded slightly and did not ask further.

"You want to return and lead the team in the competition. Your master will not stop you."

His tone was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable force. "But I have one condition."

Yu Mengdi sat up straighter and listened attentively.

"For these three months, you will remain at the Martial Soul Academy to cultivate."

"Before the competition begins, I will personally send you back to Zhengtian Academy."

"But Master, if I don't go back to train, the coordination with the team—"

"As for coordination, one month will be enough."

Qian Daoliu raised a hand and interrupted her. "Your strength is what matters."

"You are Rank 50 without a fifth Soul Ring. In the end, you are only an empty shell."

"What your master must do is give you a Soul Ring worthy of you."

He rose from behind the desk and walked over to Yu Mengdi.

"Three months."

"Your master will personally go to the Star Dou Great Forest and hunt the most suitable Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast for you."

"Not an ordinary Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, but a top-tier Soul Beast at least fifty thousand years old."