"Ma Xiaotao..."
Chu Ge looked stunned. Even though he had considered all sorts of possibilities, he had never imagined that the person Yan Shaozhe meant would be Ma Xiaotao.
Was this really as simple as having someone show him around?
"She's a student of the Shrek Inner Court, and a member of this generation's Shrek Seven Devils..."
"Her cultivation has been stuck at a bottleneck for a long time, so she's in no hurry to cultivate. There's nothing wrong with taking a stroll together now and then."
Yan Shaozhe spoke with an utterly righteous expression.
"Elder Yan, to be perfectly honest, I've already explored all of Shrek Academy. From the tiniest patch of Blue Silver Grass on the ground to every corner of the Outer and Inner Courts, I've seen it all."
Chu Ge spoke with a smile, pretending not to notice the deeper meaning behind his words.
That old rascal Yan Shaozhe... the old drunkard's heart wasn't really set on the wine.
He regarded Yan Shaozhe as a senior, but Yan Shaozhe clearly didn't regard him as just an ordinary junior.
"It's still necessary."
"Having someone guide you is different from going alone. You're the same age, so spending time together is bound to do you both some good."
"Besides, she's my disciple. Although her strength falls far short of yours, she's still one of the brightest talents of this generation. You two could exchange ideas and learn from each other."
He spoke earnestly, his face the very picture of integrity. Only when he reached the end did his fox's tail finally show.
Chu Ge smiled without saying anything.
He had no intention of exposing Yan Shaozhe's little schemes.
That last sentence was probably the part that mattered most to him.
He really hadn't expected Yan Shaozhe to summon him for something like this. To put it nicely, he wanted two young people of the same age to get to know each other, but in reality...
Wasn't this just setting him up with someone? And he had come directly to Chu Ge on his disciple's behalf to tie the red thread of fate.
Ma Xiaotao really is an outstanding genius of this era. Her talent is genuinely terrifying.
Chu Ge thought to himself.
Ma Xiaotao was indeed around his age, and her talent was certainly impressive. She was already a high-level Soul Emperor.
Although she seemed exceptionally weak compared to him, that was only because he had a system. Across the entire Douluo Continent, her talent was something rarely seen even once in a thousand years.
Unlike a cheat user like him, she was a genuine genius.
Even with Evil Fire affecting her, she had broken through to Soul Emperor before turning twenty. That alone clearly demonstrated her talent.
If not for Zhang Lexuan, who's even more of a monster, Ma Xiaotao would have practically no equal.
When Chu Ge came back to his senses, he found Yan Shaozhe watching him quietly, apparently waiting for an answer.
This was the first time Yan Shaozhe had found such a suitable prospective husband for his disciple. He had to reel him in.
As a former ladies' man, he understood perfectly well that a young man this outstanding would be in high demand. If he didn't stake a claim now, things would only become more difficult later.
More importantly, Xiaotao really did need someone to suppress her Evil Fire. As her strength drew closer and closer to Soul Saint, it was already showing signs of slipping beyond her control.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been in such a hurry.
Although Chu Ge didn't possess the ultimate ice that could help her, his Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul itself brimmed with extraordinarily concentrated life energy. Perhaps it would have some effect as well. Besides...
Even if it proved ineffective, he was far, far stronger than Xiaotao. That overwhelming difference in strength alone could pin the Evil Fire down completely.
So what if he doesn't have ultimate ice?
Overwhelming strength shatters ten thousand techniques.
A gleam flickered in Yan Shaozhe's eyes. With the young man's strength, suppressing Xiaotao would be as easy as lifting a hand.
"I'll meet her when I have time."
Chu Ge spoke calmly.
He had a feeling that, on Ma Xiaotao's side, Yan Shaozhe had probably also arranged everything first and planned to inform her afterward.
Besides, his missions at Shrek would inevitably bring him into contact with her sooner or later. There was nothing wrong with making a friend.
The falling flowers were indifferent, but the flowing stream was full of longing. He just wondered whether, with this man playing matchmaker, they could remain ordinary friends.
"Wonderful."
Seeing him agree, Yan Shaozhe's eyes lit up, and joy welled up inside him.
It's in the bag.
The first step had succeeded. As for how things developed afterward, he trusted Xiaotao to handle that herself.
He should be able to secure this husband for his disciple. In that case, it probably wouldn't be long before he could sit back and wait to hold a little grandchild...
Ahem, perhaps I'm getting a little ahead of myself.
And since his young friend Chu Ge had no objections, it was time to call his disciple.
"Xiaotao."
"Come over at noon today and have lunch with me. There are a few things I'd like to tell you."
Without batting an eyelid, Yan Shaozhe took out his soul communication device, called Ma Xiaotao, and spoke with a broad smile.
"All right, Teacher."
A woman's voice soon came from the other end, and the call ended shortly afterward. Watching this unfold left Chu Ge dumbfounded.
Wait, seriously?
So... Yan Shaozhe hasn't even told Ma Xiaotao yet!
Has our Dean Yan always been this efficient?
Chu Ge looked thoughtful. He had already started wondering whether Ma Xiaotao might spring a surprise visit on him, yet she wasn't even in the loop.
"Ahem, I'll have her come over."
"My young friend Chu, my disciple isn't as talented as you. Please bear with her if she falls short in any way."
"If she does anything wrong, just tell her directly. She's very willing to listen to advice."
Apparently sensing the shift in Chu Ge's mood, Yan Shaozhe gave a light cough and changed tack.
Ma Xiaotao hadn't been at the academy over the past few days, so he hadn't had a chance to tell her. Having them meet directly today was clearly more suitable.
Not talented.
Hearing that assessment, Chu Ge shook his head helplessly. A Soul Emperor under twenty, and he called that untalented?
How was a certain twenty-year-old Soul Emperor who absorbed his deceased wife's Soul Ring supposed to keep his composure, then?
"All right."
"Dean Yan, I just remembered I have something to take care of. I'll be going now, but I'll come back at noon."
Looking at the rather unreliable Yan Shaozhe before him, Chu Ge spoke with considerably less composure.
If I can hide for a little while, I might as well.
"Teacher, I'm here."
But in the very next moment, a light, lilting female voice reached him, making his expression freeze again.
He looked toward the voice and saw a figure in red appear before him, with a full figure and exceptionally beautiful features.
She wore a long dress in a rich shade of red, yet it didn't look the least bit jarring on her. Instead, it suited her perfectly.
This was none other than Ma Xiaotao, a powerful member of the Inner Court and captain of this generation's Shrek Seven Devils-the very person Yan Shaozhe had just been about to introduce to him and had summoned with a single call.
"My young friend Chu Ge."
"It seems you won't need to head back first after all."
Yan Shaozhe looked at Ma Xiaotao with a beaming smile, then turned his gaze toward Chu Ge, his smile growing even wider.
Chu Ge didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Wasn't this supposed to be lunch at noon? Why was she already...
There really is a reason you two ended up as teacher and disciple.
The two of you...
Are you always this efficient?
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(End of chapter)
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