Although Mu Guiyun was also quite taken with Jiang Nannan's long legs, he wasn't some lust-crazed lecher who would give everything away without a second thought.
"Ah, looks like I'll have to put on an act after all."
Meanwhile, the Sea God Pavilion Meeting was underway in the inner courtyard. Every elder was in attendance, and even the reserve elders at the Titled Douluo level had shown up. Even Xuan Zi, who was under house arrest, had been temporarily released by Mu En.
"Yan Shaozhe! What do you mean by this? All these years, the Spirit Department has always had first pick. I don't care this time—Gui Yun has to join the Spirit Tool Department!"
Xian Lin'er slammed her palm on the table in a fury. Everyone could only shake their heads at the sight.
Elder Song frowned and reprimanded her. "Lin'er, this is the Sea God Pavilion, not a marketplace! What kind of behavior is this?"
"Mom!"
"Enough! How many times have I told you? When we're working, use our titles!"
"Oh..."
Xian Lin'er pouted in a sulk, then silently sat back down without another word.
Elder Song sighed, then turned to Yan Shaozhe with a smile. "Shaozhe, Lin'er has a point. Whenever the academy gets a promising young talent, the Spirit Department gets first pick. This time, let the Spirit Tool Department choose first."
As a staunch supporter of the Spirit Tool Department, Elder Song naturally had to speak up for Xian Lin'er.
"Well..."
Yan Shaozhe was a little troubled by this, but in order to keep Mu Guiyun, he still said, "How about this, Elder Song? Aside from Gui Yun, the Spirit Tool Department can pick anyone it wants!"
Cai Mei'er hurried to chime in as well. "Elder Song, it's not that we're being unreasonable. Gui Yun's talent is plain to see: he's a Soul Elder at ten, with three Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings, not to mention his rare affinity for the elements."
"The Spirit Department guarantees that in less than twenty years, we'll raise Gui Yun into a Titled Douluo—and one whose lowest Soul Ring is a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring!"
At this, Xian Lin'er let out a cold laugh. "Less than twenty years? Even without you, Gui Yun's talent alone is enough to make him a Titled Douluo within twenty years!"
Cai Mei'er wasn't fazed in the slightest by Xian Lin'er's taunt. She shot right back, "Then can your Spirit Tool Department provide a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and a full set of top-grade soul bones?"
Xian Lin'er fell silent. The Spirit Tool Department really couldn't provide those things...
When she realized they couldn't compete on resources, Xian Lin'er changed tack and invoked the academy's future, speaking with righteous indignation. "Then what about the future? The Sun Moon Empire's Soul Tool technology is becoming more advanced by the day. Are we, Shrek Academy, just supposed to sit by and watch?"
"If Gui Yun joins the Spirit Tool Department, in less than twenty years, we'll have a Level 9 Soul Engineer of our own!"
But no one took Xian Lin'er's words seriously.
Between a Level 9 Soul Engineer and a top-tier Titled Douluo, even the Sun Moon Empire would choose the latter.
Yan Shaozhe stroked his beard with a cheerful smile. His next words made Xian Lin'er see red. "Lin'er, you and Duoduo are only Level 8 Soul Engineers yourselves. What makes you think you can raise Gui Yun into a Level 9 Soul Engineer?"
"Yan Shaozhe, you!"
Xian Lin'er wanted to argue, but she couldn't find a single reason to. Yan Shaozhe had spoken the truth.
Seeing his goddess at a disadvantage, Qian Duoduo hurried to console her. "Lin'er, calm down..."
But before he could finish, Xian Lin'er glared him into silence.
Qian Duoduo: ...
Just as the crowd's argument grew heated, Mu En, who had been silent all this time, suddenly gave a light cough. "Ahem!"
At Mu En's voice, the noisy meeting room instantly fell silent. Everyone turned to look at the figure in the seat of honor.
"Since you all want Gui Yun to join your respective departments, why not simply ask what he wants?"
Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er brightened at Mu En's suggestion. They were both sure that, given their relationship with Gui Yun, he would join their department.
They exchanged a glance and couldn't help sneering inwardly.
This time, I've got this in the bag! ×2
On Shrek's commercial street, Mu Guiyun was out shopping with Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan when he suddenly sensed a familiar presence racing toward them.
"The old geezers nearly came to blows in the Sea God Pavilion over you! And here you are, strolling around with two pretty girls!"
His voice arrived before he did. As soon as he finished speaking, a fiery-red figure landed in front of the three of them.
Mu Guiyun looked at him in surprise. "Elder Gong, what brings you here?"
The Elder Gong Mu Guiyun meant was Gong Changlong. He was in charge of Shrek Academy's Beast Fighting Arena, a reserve elder of the Sea God Pavilion, and a Titled Douluo at rank 92.
At this, Gong Changlong gave him a teasing look. "I came to find you, of course. It's something important, so hurry up. Don't keep Elder Mu waiting."
"As for your two little girlfriends, you'll have plenty of time to spend with them later."
Elder Gong's words made Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan blush bright red.
Ignoring Gong Changlong's teasing, Mu Guiyun calmly nodded when he heard that Mu En wanted to see him.
He slipped a prepared note into Tang Ya's hand, then turned to the two of them. "I've got something to take care of. I'll be going first."
With that, he vanished alongside Gong Changlong.
Looking at the note in her hand, Tang Ya couldn't help feeling delighted.
Could it be... a love letter?!
"Honestly, you're so mean. Nannan's right here."
"Ah, what if Mu Guiyun confesses to me? Should I say yes, or should I say yes..."
Tang Ya giggled to herself, then opened the note with eager anticipation. But its contents immediately shattered her fantasies:
"Please take good care of Jiang Nannan for me."
For a moment, Tang Ya felt her nose turn red.
"Ah! Mu Guiyun, you jerk!"
Furious, Tang Ya tore the note to shreds and ground the pieces into the ground with gritted teeth.
Even after that, Tang Ya still wasn't satisfied. She simply lifted her little foot and stomped on the scraps twice.
"I'm so mad!"
She looked at Jiang Nannan, who was standing beside her, bewildered, and felt like crying.
"I should never have introduced the two of them..."
Why had she gone and introduced Mu Guiyun to a new friend when everything had been perfectly fine?
Under Gong Changlong's guidance, it wasn't long before the two of them arrived at the Sea God Pavilion.
The moment they stepped inside, countless eyes fixed on Mu Guiyun, making the corner of his eye twitch.
"Teacher, Senior Brother, Senior Sister, Elder Xuan, Elder Song..."
After greeting everyone one by one, Mu Guiyun suddenly felt as if he were paying New Year's calls to relatives from a previous life.
Seeing his chosen successor, Mu En couldn't help letting a smile curl across his lips. He waved him over. "Child, come here."
"Teacher."
Mu Guiyun obediently walked over to Mu En.
Mu En didn't beat around the bush. He went straight to the purpose of the Sea God Pavilion Meeting. "Shaozhe and Lin'er want you to join their respective departments as a core disciple. Gui Yun, what do you think?"
Was that all?
Wasn't the script supposed to go like this: everyone kept arguing, and then you'd make the call and announce that I'd become the first-ever dual-core disciple?
Mu Guiyun instinctively looked toward Xian Lin'er and the others. They were all leaning forward, watching him expectantly.