But Zhong Shenxiu then thought about it again—
Xu Xiaoyan is from a well-to-do family. You can tell from her speech and demeanor that she comes from a good family. A well-to-do young lady would never invite someone to a cafeteria. Although he hadn't been to many restaurants in Eastsea City, he knew that the food outside was much better than in the cafeteria, and if it was more expensive, it would be more substantial.
Since she could eat something good, Zhong Shenxiu naturally had no reason to refuse.
"Okay," he said succinctly.
Xu Xiaoyan's eyes lit up instantly.
That brightness wasn't the dazzling starlight of Martial Soul resonance, but a purer, heartfelt joy. Fireworks seemed to explode in her pupils, and her whole face became vibrant, rosy, as if warmed by the spring sunshine.
She almost jumped up—she really almost did.
Her toes were already off the ground, her knees were already bent, and her hands were already ready to rise, but at the last moment, she forcefully held back.
No, I can't get too excited, and I can't appear too unreserved.
Xu Xiaoyan took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to jump up, and tried her best to appear dignified. But she couldn't suppress the smile on her lips; it curved like a crescent moon.
"Then... then tonight! After training! I'll wait for you at the school gate!" she said quickly, then--
He turned and ran.
Her ponytail swung in a cheerful arc behind her, and her skirt fluttered gently at her knees. She ran very fast, as fast as a startled Xiao Bai, as if afraid that Zhong Shenxiu would change his mind.
Zhong Shenxiu stood there, watching Xu Xiaoyan's figure disappear around the corner of the corridor, somewhat bewildered.
It's just a meal, is it really necessary to rush like this?
He couldn't figure it out, and he was too lazy to think about it.
Zhong Shenxiu turned around and continued walking towards the training room. His steps remained composed, his expression calm, and his light golden vertical pupils showed no emotion.
How much better it would be to use this time for cultivation!
--
On the other side of the corridor corner, Xu Xiaoyan leaned against the wall, clutching her chest with both hands, panting heavily.
Her face was so hot it could fry an egg, and her heart was pounding like a drum.
"He agreed... he agreed..." she repeated softly, unable to suppress the smile on her lips.
She looked up at the ceiling, then down at her toes, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Whee."
The sound was very soft, so soft that only she could hear it.
--
Behind the office door.
Wu Zhangkong remained motionless, still covering his forehead.
But his ears had been perked up the whole time.
He didn't miss a single word of the conversation in the hallway.
"Okay." -- This is what Zhong Shenxiu said. Concise and to the point, fitting his character.
"Then... then tonight! After training! I'll wait for you at the cafeteria entrance!" -- These were Xu Xiaoyan. The joy in her voice could be heard even through the door.
Then came the sound of footsteps—hurried, cheerful footsteps that faded into the distance.
Then came another set of footsteps—calm, steady footsteps heading in another direction.
Then the corridor fell silent.
Wu Zhangkong lowered his hand from his forehead, his expression...
Well, how should I put it?
On his stern face, the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned, and there was a strange, gentle, even benevolent smile between his brows and eyes.
Auntie smiled.
If someone in the office saw this, they would definitely think they were seeing things.
Wu Zhangkong —the undisputed Cold-Faced Sword Emperor of the Eastsea Academy —actually has a maternal smile on his face?
But Wu Zhangkong himself was completely unaware of this.
He sat in the chair, his gaze passing through the window and landing on the azure sky outside, the corners of his mouth curving into a wider smile.
Then he suddenly realized—this didn't quite fit his public persona.
He quickly suppressed a smile, his expression returning to its usual aloofness. He sat up straight, straightened his collar, picked up the file on the table, and began to read it.
His expression was serious, his gaze focused, as if the person who had just been smiling like an aunt had nothing to do with him.
But he didn't read a single word on the file.
A minute passed.
Two minutes passed.
Five minutes passed.
Wu Zhangkong's gaze remained fixed on the first line of the file, showing no intention of moving down.
A fierce intellectual storm was raging in his mind.
a long time.
Wu Zhangkong finally put down the file in his hand.
He leaned back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling.
Then--
Hahahaha!
The laughter came without warning, loud enough to be heard throughout the entire floor. Wu Zhangkong laughed so hard he was doubled over, his cold mask shattering completely to reveal a face beneath, his eyes narrowed into slits with laughter.
He was incredibly lucky to be able to Wu Zhangkong.
He initially came to the Eastsea Academy simply because he had nowhere to go after being expelled from Shrek, and he just found a place to stay. He thought his career would end like this—just drifting through life at a local academy, teaching a few mediocre students, and living out the rest of his life in an ordinary way.
And the result?
I picked up the UR character Zhong Shenxiu and the SSR character Gu Yue in succession.
A ten-year-old Soul Ancestor, the lost heir of a reclusive family, capable of defeating high-level opponents as easily as eating and drinking—such a combination would be considered monstrous even at the Shrek Academy. Gu Yue, with her Elementalist Martial Soul, can control six elements at will, and her potential is equally immeasurable.
Later, they discovered Tang Wulin, a student with SR potential. Although he appears to be just a Blue Silver Grass on the surface, he has extraordinary bloodline abilities! His physical attributes, reaction speed, and learning ability are definitely more than what they seem on the surface.
Xie Xie is also a near-SR level. Innate Full Soul Power and Twin Martial Souls, the Light Dragon Dagger and the Shadow Dragon Dagger. As long as he lays a solid foundation, he will at least become a Titled Douluo in the future.
Now, Xu Xiaoyan has arrived.
He originally thought that Xu Xiaoyan was only selected because of her special control ability. In his mind, she had the potential to sit at the same table as Xie Xie. Not bad, but not amazing.
But now...
Can Xu Xiaoyan resonate with Zhong Shenxiu's Martial Soul?
That's a Martial Soul Resonance!
It is the prototype of a rare Martial Soul Fusion Skill on the entire continent!
Xu Xiaoyan, who can coordinate well with Zhong Shenxiu, is worth far more than an SR-rank character.
In team battles, if a Control System Soul Master can resonate with the main attacker's Martial Soul, the effect is not just 1+1=2, but 1+1=3, 4, or even 5!
Such a lineup--
Wu Zhangkong took a deep breath, unable to suppress the smile on his lips.
How did Skysea Alliance Grand Competition?
With Zhong Shenxiu in the junior group individual competition, the championship is a sure thing.
In the team competition, with the cooperation of Zhong Shenxiu, Gu Yue, and Xu Xiaoyan, plus the support of Tang Wulin and Xie Xie, they had a formidable team.
Even if Shrek Academy came, they'd still have a chance!
Wu Zhangkong smiled again.
This time he didn't hold back and laughed heartily, his laughter echoing in the office for a long time.
He laughed for a while before finally stopping. He wiped away the tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes, sat up straight again, and picked up the file on the table.
This time, his gaze finally fell on the words.
But the corners of his mouth were still slightly upturned.