Ma Xiaotao [Youth Limited Edition]

"Who provoked you this time?"

Mu Guiyun shook his head, his tone filled with helplessness. Although there was a five-year age gap between them, they were childhood sweethearts who had grown up together; he understood Ma Xiaotao's habits better than anyone.

"Hmph, who else could it be! Those bastards in the Inner Court are actually calling me the Flame Madman behind my back!"

Ma Xiaotao gnawed on a chicken leg, her cheeks puffed out in anger as she gritted her teeth. "If I catch whoever is badmouthing me, they're dead meat!"

With that, Ma Xiaotao grabbed a steamed bun from the side and stuffed the whole thing into her mouth.

"Chomp, chomp, chomp~"

Mu Guiyun: ...

So, the nickname you were destined for has finally arrived, has it?

He offered a silent three-second prayer for some unlucky soul who didn't know when to quit. Given Ma Xiaotao's personality, if that person accidentally fell into her hands, they would be in for a world of hurt!

The food on the coffee table vanished rapidly. Even Liangzi would have to bow down before such an astonishing appetite.

Mu Guiyun was long used to this. Who was Ma Xiaotao? She was the ruthless powerhouse who had claimed the title of Shrek Outer Court's biggest glutton back in her second year!

Still, one had to admit, Ma Xiaotao fully absorbed all the nutrients from her food, and they had certainly gone to all the right places.

Before long, the food on the table was wiped clean, and Ma Xiaotao even smacked her lips, still feeling unsatisfied.

"Gulp, gulp, gulp~"

She took the fruit juice Mu Guiyun handed her and downed it in one go. Only then did she nod in satisfaction before lying down on her side on the sofa, her jade-like feet resting brazenly on Mu Guiyun's lap.

Because she was wearing a nightgown, her two heavy assets were instantly pushed to one side.

Seeing this, Mu Guiyun couldn't help but think: Good grief, is this the legendary "a ridge from the front, a peak from the side"?

"I heard Dean Xian looked for you today?"

Ma Xiaotao wiggled her small feet, her tone carrying a hint of implication.

Oh ho, news travels fast.

Without needing to think, Mu Guiyun could guess who had leaked this information to Ma Xiaotao—it was undoubtedly Yan Shaozhe.

"That's right. Senior Sister's intention is for me to join the Spirit Tool Department."

Without holding anything back, Mu Guiyun told Ma Xiaotao the whole story.

"So, what do you think..."

After hearing the details, Ma Xiaotao sat up straight and looked at Mu Guiyun with teary eyes, the meaning behind her gaze self-evident.

Although she didn't fully understand the conflict between the Spirit Tool Department and the Spirit Department, Ma Xiaotao still hoped Mu Guiyun would join the Spirit Department.

If that happened, the time they spent together would surely increase significantly, not to mention that the Spirit Department Dean, Yan Shaozhe, was her own foster father and teacher.

Watching the anticipation in Ma Xiaotao's eyes, Mu Guiyun just smiled and shook his head slightly. "I haven't decided yet."

"Tch, what a waste of my emotions."

Not getting the answer she wanted, Ma Xiaotao stopped pretending. She rolled her eyes at Mu Guiyun and got up to head toward the bathroom.

In reality, Mu Guiyun already had his answer: stall, stall as hard as he could!

With his talent, Mu Guiyun was convinced that neither the Spirit Department nor the Spirit Tool Department would choose to give up, and eventually, it would have to be brought to Mu En.

Based on his understanding of his teacher, there was a high probability that Mu En would make him an unprecedented dual-core disciple!

Only children make choices; Mu Guiyun decided that, of course, he wanted it all!

As long as Mu Guiyun stuck to his "three-no" principle—no initiative, no refusal, no responsibility—then Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er would surely pursue him relentlessly.

As the saying goes, what you can't get is always the most tempting; just like a wife, someone else's is always better...

In the evening, at Yan Shaozhe's home.

"Guiyun, you're still growing, you need to eat more."

Cai Mei'er smiled as she placed a piece of braised Soft Bone Rabbit into Mu Guiyun's bowl, her eyes filled with maternal love.

"Senior Sister, Senior Sister, I really can't eat any more!"

Looking at the mountain of food in his bowl, Mu Guiyun's eyes twitched involuntarily, though a trace of warmth rose in his heart alongside his helplessness.

Yan Shaozhe, sitting nearby, was long accustomed to this, but Ma Xiaotao, who had been busy stuffing her face, suddenly froze, her expression turning quite strange.

Senior Sister...

Whenever Mu Guiyun called Cai Mei'er "Senior Sister," for some reason, Ma Xiaotao always felt an inexplicable sense of shame.

If Mu Guiyun was of the same generation as her teacher, wouldn't that mean she would have to call him... Little Martial Uncle?!

Thinking about her relationship with Mu Guiyun, Ma Xiaotao suddenly felt the food in her bowl lost its flavor.

Isn't this just a kind of...

"I'm full!"

Ma Xiaotao, once again trapped in a mental storm, dropped those words and fled the dining table as if escaping.

Such a bizarre scene naturally caught the attention of Yan Shaozhe and the others. One had to know that Ma Xiaotao usually wouldn't be satisfied with three bowls and would only be half-full after five, yet today she had only eaten two.

"What's wrong with Xiaotao? Could it be that the food today isn't to her liking?"

Cai Mei'er, in particular, felt concerned; as the ultimate victor in the battle for Yan Shaozhe's heart back in the day, her culinary skills were just as crucial as her masterful tea ceremony.

"The taste is exactly as it should be."

After taking a small taste of the food, the confusion in Cai Mei'er's eyes only deepened.

After dinner, Yan Shaozhe and Mu Guiyun went to the study, while Cai Mei'er went to check on Ma Xiaotao to sound her out.

"Guiyun, have a taste of this. It's Golden Silk Tea, specially supplied by the Star Luo Royal Family. The flavor is quite good."

Noticing the breakthrough in Mu Guiyun's spirit power once again, a flash of surprise crossed Yan Shaozhe's eyes.

It had been less than three months since his last breakthrough, hadn't it? He'd broken through again?

Such talent was truly terrifying!

Thinking of this, the resolve to firmly bind Mu Guiyun to the Spirit Department grew even stronger in Yan Shaozhe's heart.

As the tea went down, Mu Guiyun felt his entire body's spirit power become invigorated.

One could only say it was worthy of being a royal supply.

"Have you considered attending school in the Outer Courtyard?"

Yan Shaozhe began to scheme, saying with a smile, "Bei Bei, who is the same age as you, has already advanced to the second grade this year."

"Besides, look at you, spending every day with us old folks—where is the vitality a young person should have? Getting out more to interact with your peers will never be a bad thing."

Finally, Yan Shaozhe didn't forget to add, "Oh, right, I've already cleared this with the teacher. As for whether or not you go to the Outer Courtyard, that's your choice."

Yan Shaozhe's words made Mu Guiyun pause, and a sense of wariness instantly rose in his heart.

"This... Senior Brother, if I recall correctly, the enrollment period for the academy this year has long since passed, right?"

Mu Guiyun had no objections to attending the Outer Courtyard, but his intuition told him that Yan Shaozhe must be up to something.

It's working!

Seeing Mu Guiyun hesitate, Yan Shaozhe felt a surge of joy, though he remained composed on the surface. "Sigh, you're a genius, after all. You receive special treatment wherever you go, and even here at Shrek Academy, that is no exception."

"It's settled then! Report to the Outer Courtyard tomorrow!"