"Teacher Xuan, your eyes really are sharp as torches... hahaha."
With his intentions exposed, Jing Hongchen gave a dry laugh.
Inwardly, though, he grumbled.
I'm the dean, after all. Is it really appropriate for you to put things so bluntly?
Don't I have any dignity to preserve?
You keep calling me 'Dean,' but why can't I see a scrap of respect for your esteemed dean?
"Dean, just tell me what you want. I, Xuan Ziwen, will certainly do my best."
At last, Xuan Ziwen said something Jing Hongchen could accept.
"Well, here's the thing. You know Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, don't you?"
Xuan Ziwen nodded.
"They're both outstanding talents in our family... and we acknowledge your teaching ability. So I'd like to sign those two children up for your classes..."
After speaking, Jing Hongchen unconsciously rubbed his hands together, waiting for Xuan Ziwen's reply.
Xuan Ziwen, however, wore an odd expression. "Dean, you're a powerful soul engineer yourself. Besides, the Hongchen Family has soul engineers who are no less capable than I am. Why send your family's heaven-favored prodigies to study under me?"
"Ahem."
Jing Hongchen coughed lightly, then said solemnly, "The path of a soul engineer requires learning the strengths of many schools and gathering them within oneself. Only then can one forge one's own path."
There was some sense in that, though not much... After a brief pause, Xuan Ziwen shook his head. "No. I already have nominal disciples, and now there's Qin Xiao too. I'm also usually busy researching soul tools, so I'm afraid..."
That already counted as a polite refusal.
Ordinarily, he thought an old fox like Jing Hongchen should be able to tell what he meant, right?
But...
As though he had given it considerable thought, Jing Hongchen added, "Then how about just one?