The Dean's Double Standards

The moment Xue Wu heard that, her bold grin returned.

Not only did she keep hold of Shui Bing'er's other arm, she deliberately pressed closer and rested her head lightly on Shui Bing'er's shoulder.

"But I'm Bing'er's true sister. A Martial Soul Fusion Skill is ordained by heaven. You can envy us all you want."

"You!"

"What do you mean, her true sister? We share a father! You aren't related to her by so much as eight poles. You're the third wheel!"

"Third wheel?" Xue Wu raised an eyebrow. Far from getting angry, she laughed even harder.

"Bing'er hasn't said a word. Why are you so worked up? Besides, a Martial Soul Fusion Skill is a bond of souls certified by heaven itself. Even heaven says we're a pair. You, little sister, can step aside."

"Nonsense! My sister is mine!"

Shui Yue'er stamped her feet in fury. When that proved useless, she changed tactics at once, pouncing like a starving tiger to wrap her arms around Shui Bing'er's waist and rub her face vigorously against her sister's chest.

"Sis! Say something! Would you rather fuse with her, or be close to me? I'm your own sister!"

"Bing'er, don't listen to her. She's just jealous." Xue Wu refused to back down. She slipped an arm around Shui Bing'er's shoulders from the other side and winked at Shui Yue'er.

Trapped between them, one arm held by Xue Wu and her waist hugged by her sister, Shui Bing'er looked exactly like a doll being fought over by two children.

"My sister is mine!"

"Bing'er is mine!"

"Third wheel!"

"No, you're the third wheel! Your whole family are third wheels!"

"Both of you, stop it!" Shui Bing'er finally shouted, unable to take any more.

The students below the platform were already doubled over with laughter.

Clap, clap, clap...

Ling Shuang clapped her hands, drawing the class's attention away from the three troublemakers tangled together on the Spirit Battle Platform.

"All right. Today's practical test ends here."

"I've recorded everyone's performance. We'll analyze today's results in detail during the afternoon theory class. For now, go have lunch in the cafeteria. Dismissed."

"Yay!" Shui Yue'er was the first to spring away from her sister. A moment ago, she'd been red-faced over who her sister belonged to; at the word "lunch," she abandoned her on the spot.

The students left the training ground in twos and threes.

"Wu Changkong, stay a moment." Shui Qinghan's voice came from behind him.

Wu Changkong had just reached the training ground's entrance. He stopped and turned back.

Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er had heard the Dean too. The sisters exchanged a glance. Shui Yue'er was about to speak when Shui Bing'er gently tugged her sleeve, signaling that they should go on ahead.

"Dean, did you need something?"

"Did someone come to see you last night?"

Wu Changkong paused, then nodded.

"Bing'er's father came to my dorm last night and used his pressure to test my strength."

"I thought so." A knowing smile appeared on Shui Qinghan's lips. "Did he tell you about that old marriage arrangement too?"

"He did," Wu Changkong answered honestly.

He then briefly recounted Shui Yu's visit the night before...

Shui Qinghan listened, fell silent for a moment, then reached out and patted his shoulder.

"I never expected my brother to think so highly of you."

"In all these years, I've never seen him so pleased with a young man."

She withdrew her hand and lowered her voice. "Go for it. If you pursue Bing'er, you've got my full support, hands and feet."

"Dean, didn't you say romance between students could interfere with cultivation?"

"Ahem."

"That's different. Ordinary romances can be distracting, but you two aren't ordinary. If you get together, I'll turn a blind eye."

Wu Changkong broke into a sweat.

Never had he imagined that the Dean, renowned for her stern authority, would apply such a double standard when it came to him and Shui Bing'er.

Of course, he wasn't foolish enough to question it. Having the Dean's support was a stroke of immense good fortune by any measure.

Between Shui Yu and Shui Qinghan, the attitudes of the Shui Family's two elders couldn't have been clearer.

The only obstacle left was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

"All right, go get lunch."

"Oh, and don't be late for theory class this afternoon."

"Got it. Thank you for the reminder, Dean." Wu Changkong watched Shui Qinghan leave before turning toward the cafeteria.

He had barely passed through the training ground's archway when he ran into Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er waiting by the path.

"Changkong, over here!" Shui Yue'er waved as she called out. "What did the Dean want? Were you so amazing today that she's going to give you special training?"

Wu Changkong walked up to them. "Nothing much. She just asked about my strength."

"She asked how my cultivation was progressing, and about my plans to obtain my fourth Soul Ring."

"Tch. That was all? How boring."

Shui Bing'er glanced at him, a thoughtful look flickering in her eyes.

"Let's go, then. If we don't get to the cafeteria soon, all the good dishes will be gone."

The three headed toward the cafeteria.

Shui Yue'er chattered the whole way, now complaining about how brazen that "third wheel" Xue Wu was, now wondering how her sister and Xue Wu's Martial Soul Fusion Skill worked, and then pestering Wu Changkong to explain how he'd caught that attack.

Shui Bing'er walked beside her sister, occasionally cutting in when Shui Yue'er said something too outrageous. Yet her gaze kept drifting toward Wu Changkong, lingering on his face before she casually looked away.

Skywater Academy cafeteria—

Before they even reached the entrance, the aroma of food drifted toward them.

When they pushed open the cafeteria's glass doors, an even richer scent washed over them.

It was the fragrance of young women.

The spacious cafeteria was packed with girls in sea-blue academy uniforms.

Apart from Wu Changkong, everyone in the cafeteria was a girl—and a beauty at that.

As Wu Changkong entered, dozens of gazes turned toward him from every corner at once.

Several senior students in a corner put their heads together. He could just make out their whispers.

"That's him, that's him."

"The one with white hair."

Wu Changkong reached the cafeteria serving counter, where several long lines had already formed. The rich smell of food made Shui Yue'er swallow hard.

While they were getting their food, they ran into Xue Wu, who had gone ahead.

They found a long table by the window and sat down.

Not long afterward, two figures carrying trays came toward them.

Qiu Ruoshui led the way and spotted the empty seat opposite Wu Changkong.

She walked straight over and sat down. Shen Liuyu followed her, set her tray beside Qiu Ruoshui's, and gave everyone at the table a slight nod.

"Class monitor, that Heavenly Frost Slash of yours today..." Qiu Ruoshui smiled. "You took a Martial Soul Fusion Skill head-on. We've been talking about it all through lunch. How did you train your sword energy to be so strong?"