The intimacy in Liu Erlong's words was unmistakable.
Dai Mubai, Tang San, and the others standing nearby exchanged glances, all understanding where this sudden special treatment came from.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun were even waggling their brows at each other, silently mouthing, The Master really has some clout!
Liu Erlong offered the Shrek Seven Monsters a few more gentle words of encouragement, but her obvious favoritism and enthusiasm toward Cinderella had already been clearly conveyed to everyone present.
Only then did she turn and leave with Teacher Yin Shu to handle the academy's affairs.
For the moment, calm returned to the training grounds.
Yet the Shrek Seven Monsters all knew that their days at Blue Tyrant Academy would likely become much more comfortable because of the Master's mysterious past and Principal Liu Erlong's still-unextinguished, complicated feelings for him.
Feeling the looks from her teammates, Cinderella lowered her eyes slightly, her long lashes casting faint shadows across her fair cheeks.
The Master Yu Xiaogang's most beloved student, huh.
She smiled silently to herself.
Perhaps this identity could bring some unexpected conveniences at Blue Tyrant Academy.
In the blink of an eye, three years passed.
Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, deep within Queen Eva's chambers.
Unlike the clamor outside and the atmosphere of the approaching tournament, this place was shrouded in an invisible stillness and luxury.
Heavy velvet curtains blocked out most of the light. Only several soul-tool lamps embedded in the walls cast soft, steady halos, bathing the costly carpets and antique furniture in a warm sheen.
A refined, cool fragrance lingered in the air, forming a subtle contrast with the faint court music drifting in from beyond the windows.
Queen Eva reclined against a broad chaise draped in snow-white animal fur, lazily toying with a string of black pearls whose