Yan Shaozhe walked out of the Sea God Pavilion, his heart full of frustration and anxiety. He strode toward Ma Xiaotao's residence, planning all the way how to persuade her to influence Tian Chen.
Ma Xiaotao lived in a secluded courtyard on Sea God Island, surrounded by flowers and plants that lent it an especially tranquil air.
Yan Shaozhe arrived at the door, took a deep breath to steady his emotions, then knocked.
"Who is it?" Ma Xiaotao's voice came from inside, tinged with languor.
"It's me, Xiaotao. Your teacher." Yan Shaozhe tried to keep his tone calm. The door soon opened, revealing Ma Xiaotao in loose pajamas, her hair slightly disheveled. She had clearly been resting.
"Teacher, what brings you here?" Ma Xiaotao was a little surprised, but politely invited him inside.
Yan Shaozhe sat on the living room sofa, a trace of solemnity on his face. He came straight to the point. "Xiaotao, I came to discuss something about Tian Chen with you."
The moment Ma Xiaotao heard that name, she remembered what had happened that night, and a blush instantly rose to her cheeks.
"Did you know? A while ago, he said he wanted to study in the Soul Tool Department. I thought the boy was still too young, so I only intended to let him see how complicated Soul Tools were, to make him and his Blood Demon Heart-devouring Thunder abandon the idea completely and focus on cultivating his Martial Soul from then on!"
Ma Xiaotao scratched her head when she heard this. "Well, isn't that a good thing?"
As an Inner Court disciple of the Martial Soul Department, she naturally looked down on Soul Tools from the bottom of her heart, considering them nothing more than external aids.
"That may be so, but things developed