The question had clearly piqued more than just Dugu Yan's curiosity. Even Ye Lingleng, standing nearby, had turned to look.
She had already met the two of them several times. Being as perceptive as she was, she could tell their relationship was no ordinary one, so it was only natural she felt curious.
"Mm. Sister Erlong adopted me when I was little," Mo Li said.
"Oh." Dugu Yan nodded. For once, she didn't press him for more.
"Your academy's grounds are quite nice, though."
Dugu Yan walked over to the spot where Mo Li usually sat, crouched down, and reached out to stir the lake water.
"You've got a good eye," Mo Li said, unusually refraining from contradicting Dugu Yan. "Why don't you and Sister Yan Yan and Lingling consider transferring to our academy?"
"Our cafeteria food is really good," Mo Li added, tilting his head slightly to signal Jiang Zhu, who was spacing out nearby.
Jiang Zhu blinked her big eyes and immediately understood. Her gaze swept over Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan, full of anticipation. "That's right! How about it?"
"Would that be all right?" Ye Lingling's lips curved slightly beneath her veil.
"Lingling!"
Dugu Yan glared fiercely at Mo Li and sneered. "Lingling must be joking. I'd never go to your academy. Our Heaven Dou Royal Academy is much better than yours."
"Nonsense. Our academy is the best," Mo Li said, shaking his head.
"You're the one talking nonsense! Our academy is better than yours!" Dugu Yan retorted.
"Your academy isn't good. Ours is," Mo Li said.
"Your academy is the one that isn't good! Ours is the best!" Dugu Yan shot back.
Ye Lingling and Jiang Zhu watched the two bicker, speechless. They exchanged glances, their expressions helpless.
After who knew how long, Mo Li sighed and shook his head. "What a shame."
"What's such a shame?" Dugu Yan glared at him.
"I'm sad you passed up a golden opportunity to come to our academy."
...You really have some nerve.
"Thanks for the compliment," Mo Li said with an unconcerned smile.
"You little—!" Dugu Yan snapped.
While the group was chatting about this and that, Liu Erlong returned.
She spotted them by the pond from a distance.
"Sister Erlong!" Mo Li was the first to notice her. He waved, then waited until she came closer before introducing them. "You've met these two before. You haven't forgotten them, have you?"
Liu Erlong gave Mo Li an exasperated glance, then looked at the two girls and smiled. "Hello."
"Hello, Dean Liu," Ye Lingling replied gracefully.
Dugu Yan greeted her as well, then sized up the tall, striking woman in black standing before her.
High-level female Soul Masters were quite rare, and every one of them drew attention.
Dugu Yan's goal was to become a powerful Soul Master, so it was only natural she was curious about Liu Erlong, who looked quite formidable.
Mo Li noticed Dugu Yan's gaze too, but wasn't surprised.
After all, female Soul Masters made up half of the students and staff at Blue Tyrant Academy. Quite a few of them had been drawn there by Liu Erlong's personal charm.
Sister Erlong's charm was irresistible.
Liu Erlong seemed not to notice Dugu Yan's gaze. She looked at the group and laughed heartily. "Well, have you finished what you came to do?"
At that, Dugu Yan's face grew a little embarrassed.
She had just been bickering with Mo Li, fiercely arguing over which academy was better for no reason at all. Then, in the blink of an eye, the other academy's dean had arrived—and she seemed so friendly.
And then there was her loss to Mo Li in their spar. She was a student of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, after all. Losing to Mo Li was a fact, and now the other academy's dean had heard about it.
For Dugu Yan, that was mortifying.
"What is it, Sister Erlong?" Mo Li asked.
Dugu Yan's furious gaze never left Mo Li, but to her surprise, he didn't make an issue of either matter.
"Nothing," Liu Erlong said, shaking her head slightly and lifting her eyes. "I heard from one of the academy's teachers that two unfamiliar girls had come by. I guessed it was you."
"Mo Li told me about you. He said you were his friends and might come visit our academy, so I thought I'd come see you."
Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan glanced at Mo Li at the same time.
"I've already spoken to the gate guards. From now on, you can come straight in whenever you like."
"Since this is your first visit, I'll be your host this time. Xiao Li, ask the cafeteria to prepare a banquet in the private dining room on the second floor."
"Make sure our two young guests are treated well at lunch."
Liu Erlong's hearty manner made Ye Lingleng and Dugu Yan warm to her.
"Dean Liu, there's no need to trouble yourself. We still have to get back to our academy early today," Ye Lingling politely declined.
"Sister Erlong, should I go, then?" Mo Li asked, puzzled by the situation.
"Judging by what the two young ladies want, you don't need to," Liu Erlong replied helplessly.
"In that case, you can chat for a while. I have some things to take care of."
"Xiao Li, don't neglect our guests." After giving Mo Li her instructions, Liu Erlong waved and turned to leave.
Mo Li thought back to the meaningful look Liu Erlong had given him as she left, and couldn't make heads or tails of it.
"Don't you have classes in the morning?" Mo Li asked curiously.
"There aren't many assigned tasks at the academy. We can decide for ourselves how to spend our cultivation time," Dugu Yan finally answered seriously for once.
"Got it."
After that, Mo Li showed the two girls around the academy for a while. Jiang Zhu had to leave early.
Just before noon, the two girls decided it was time to go.
At the gates of Blue Tyrant Academy, Mo Li called after Dugu Yan, who had her back to him. "Sister Yan Yan, when are you coming back for another spar?"
"Would you like to visit our Heaven Dou Royal Academy sometime?" Ye Lingling asked with a smile, ignoring Mo Li.
"Sure," Mo Li readily agreed. He hadn't been to Heaven Dou Royal Academy yet, either.
"Sister Yan Yan, if you ever decide our academy is better, you're always welcome here," Mo Li called after Dugu Yan, who still hadn't turned around.
"You insufferable, pushy jerk!"
Dugu Yan had already turned her back, trying to ignore Mo Li's nonsense, but her hands clenched so tightly they trembled. At last, she erupted like a volcano.
Unable to hold back, she turned around and started charging at Mo Li.
Fortunately, Ye Lingling grabbed her hand. Beneath her veil, her expression was utterly helpless.
She said goodbye to Mo Li as she coaxed the fuming Dugu Yan away.
"What a girl who just can't admit defeat," Mo Li said with a smile as he watched them walk away, then returned to the academy.