"Sister Erlong, still busy?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
Liu Erlong propped her face up and watched Mo Li.
Whenever Liu Erlong dealt with official business, she always forgot to eat and sleep. Most of the time, Mo Li was the one who noticed and brought her a meal.
Though she'd told Mo Li many times not to bother, he never listened. Whenever he found that she hadn't gone to the dining hall, he'd bring her food and stay to chat with her.
She never said it aloud, but she really liked this time they spent together.
"Thanks for all your hard work, Sister Erlong."
"At least you have a conscience and know to think of me."
"Sister Erlong, that really hurts. If it were anyone else, they'd have given up on you by now."
Mo Li clutched at his chest as if wounded, making Liu Erlong laugh.
He knew Liu Erlong was all bark and no bite, so he didn't take her words to heart.
But at Mo Li's words, Liu Erlong seemed to think of something, and her mood sank again.
"What's wrong?"
Mo Li noticed the change in Liu Erlong's mood and asked softly.
"Nothing."
Liu Erlong shook her head. Seeing the concern in Mo Li's eyes, she smiled faintly, her gaze softening as she reached out to ruffle his hair.
"Hey, I'd better check if you're really Sister Erlong. You're not a fake, are you?"
Mo Li pretended to be surprised and reached out to pinch Liu Erlong's cheek. Her skin was smooth and soft, and it felt wonderful beneath his fingers. But he knew when to stop, and pulled his hand back.
A flush instantly rose across Liu Erlong's usually fair, smooth cheek, making her look especially adorable. Then she pinched Mo Li's cheek hard in return, scolding him with mock indignation:
"I'll show you right now whether I'm the real deal!"
After a brief scuffle, they both stopped at the same time and smiled at each other.
Mo Li moved beside Liu Erlong and curiously glanced at her desk, where all kinds of documents were piled up like a small mountain.
He casually picked up one and skimmed it. It was a proposal to add a Mimicry Cultivation Environment. He flipped through a few more documents, but all the rules and regulations gave him a headache. Losing interest, he tossed the papers back.
Liu Erlong had seen it all. Watching Mo Li go from eager to sighing in dismay in the blink of an eye reminded her of herself when she'd first started working, and she couldn't help laughing to herself.
She looked at Mo Li, seated in the chair to her right, and asked, "Would you rather attend a junior Soul Master Academy, or stay here?"
"Do I even get to choose?" Mo Li asked, surprised. "Didn't you say you'd teach me yourself, Sister Erlong?"
If he had a choice, Mo Li would much rather cultivate on his own. Staying at the academy would give him the greatest freedom.
"Though that's what I had in mind, I still wanted to hear what you think."
"My opinion matters that much?" Mo Li looked astonished.
Liu Erlong glanced at him and smiled faintly. "Not at all."
"Then aren't you just messing with me?" Mo Li looked at her helplessly, then shifted to a serious tone. "But of course I'd rather have you teach me, Sister Erlong."
"Sister Erlong is strong and beautiful. You're all I need. Why would I want to go to some other academy when I've got one of my own?"
"At least you have good taste."
Clearly pleased by Mo Li's roundabout flattery, Liu Erlong nodded in satisfaction.
Her gaze wandered over Mo Li's face before she asked, "Then tell me, how does our academy compare with Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"
"Hm?"
Leaning against the back of his chair, Mo Li clearly hadn't expected Liu Erlong to ask him that.
He thought it over briefly, then answered honestly. "We definitely can't compare."
Blue Tyrant Academy had only just gotten off the ground. It was being held together entirely by its dean, the Soul Saint Liu Erlong, and its other teachers were still far behind those at the established advanced Soul Master academies.
In seven or eight years, though, they might have a chance to compete.
Liu Erlong nodded slightly after hearing Mo Li's answer. "You're right. Over the past three years, our academy has been working hard to build training facilities. I believe that within two years, even if we still can't match Heaven Dou Royal Academy, we might be on par with the other advanced Soul Master academies."
"But our teaching staff and reputation still lag behind those of the other advanced Soul Master academies. So I plan to enter this year's Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament."
Liu Erlong turned to Mo Li with an expectant look. Under her gaze, he grew a little uneasy. His instincts told him there was more to this, and he gave an awkward laugh.
"Why are you looking at me, Sister Erlong? You can discuss something like that with the other teachers."
He had a feeling Liu Erlong had something else in mind.
Liu Erlong sighed softly. "Unfortunately, we're also short on students. It'll be difficult to get a good result this time."
She changed tack, fixing Mo Li with a burning gaze.
"So I want you to compete in the next Soul Master Tournament."
Mo Li's eyes widened as he suddenly understood. So this was what Sister Erlong had been getting at!
"The next Spirit Master Elite Tournament is still seven or eight years away! You're not planning to put me under pressure this early, are you, Sister Erlong?"
Liu Erlong's red lips curled, and her elegant brows lifted, giving her a radiant, spirited air. She smiled. "I never said I was asking. It's settled."
After Liu Erlong's combined assault of sweet talk and hard pressure, Mo Li finally gave in. He sat in his chair and nodded helplessly.
"Fine, fine. I'll do what you say, Sister Erlong."
Knowing Liu Erlong's personality, if the gentle approach didn't work, she'd probably try the rough one next.
"Good boy!"
At his words, Liu Erlong broke into a smile and patted Mo Li on the shoulder, deeply satisfied.
Mo Li smiled helplessly. Whenever she was with him, Liu Erlong would let some rare, lively emotions slip through without realizing it.
Their relationship was like a strange blend of adoptive mother and son and siblings. It was unusual, but never awkward. Before Mo Li, Liu Erlong had seemed able to show her true self more freely.
Liu Erlong was beautiful to begin with, but she usually kept people at a distance, and her temper was a little fiery. Most people found her difficult to approach.
After assigning Mo Li an eight-year task, Liu Erlong felt much better. Her good mood, however, came at the expense of Mo Li's.
She opened the food Mo Li had brought and began eating.
Although Mo Li was more than "willing" to compete in the next Soul Master Tournament, for now she still had to deal with the challenge of the tournament taking place three years from now.
"Sister Erlong, can our academy even gather seven competitors?"
It wasn't that Mo Li didn't believe in Blue Tyrant Academy. They really were short on students at the moment.
When Liu Erlong first founded the academy, she'd made a rule to accept only commoner Soul Masters.
As a result, their students' Martial Soul quality and natural talent were slightly inferior to those at other academies for noble Soul Masters.
But Liu Erlong firmly believed that because they came from common backgrounds, her students worked harder than the children of great clans and nobles.
Under her leadership, Blue Tyrant Academy gradually developed its own diligent and hardworking spirit.
And in the expensive capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, setting up an academy open specifically to commoners meant facing unimaginable pressure and resistance.
For that reason, Mo Li deeply admired Liu Erlong.
At his question, Liu Erlong paused.
"That's the first problem we're facing."
She gave a wry smile.
"There are only eleven students in the advanced class right now."
"Three years from now, only five of them will still be within the eligible age range."
"But we still have three years. If we can recruit suitable students in that time, then we absolutely have to compete in this Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament!"
Mo Li nodded. In the original story, Blue Tyrant Academy overcame powerful opponents three years later and made it into the top eight, which was proof enough of Liu Erlong's skill as an educator.
If he led the team, he was fully confident he could win the championship.
"By the way, Sister Erlong, I think there's something a little off with my Martial Soul. When you get back tonight, could you take a look?"
"What's wrong with it?"
Liu Erlong immediately turned to Mo Li.
"It's nothing serious. We can talk about it after you're done."
"Then wait for me at home."
Liu Erlong hesitated for a moment, then nodded.