When Shui Rou introduced herself, Qian Chongling realized his chance to become the old gatekeeper had arrived. Perhaps the tale of Skywater Academy's campus belle and Uncle Qian the gatekeeper-the story that simply had to be told-would gradually begin spreading across the continent.
And so, he lost all interest in tormenting Wang Liao any further. He released every hovering ice blade in one go, and then...
Boom!
With an explosive roar, Wang Liao was blown apart, vanishing from this world completely. Not even a fragment of bone remained.
Seeing Wang Liao's gruesome end, Shui Rou and her two companions could not help their mouths twitching. This old man was vicious!
Qian Chongling looked at the three of them and said, "I am Qian Chongling, an unaffiliated cultivator. My cultivation has currently just barely reached the Titled Douluo realm."
After a pause, Qian Chongling continued, "Seeing that it was getting late, I originally intended to find somewhere to stay the night, but never expected..."
"Alas, I arrived a step too late and only managed to save this little girl." Qian Chongling pointed at the little girl, who was still unconscious.
"Thank you for intervening, Senior." Shui Rou studied Qian Chongling closely before speaking.
Just then, the thickheaded Huo Xu suddenly muttered, "Even if he was an Evil Soul Master, that was far too heavy-handed. There isn't even a single bone left."
At those words, Shui Rou and Feng Jinghong were practically frightened out of their souls. Which of those present did not possess profound cultivation? His voice might have been quiet, but who couldn't hear him?
You actually questioned a Titled Douluo! Your iron head might not fear the hammer, but ours do!
Feng Jinghong hurriedly pointed at his own head and explained, "Senior, this friend of mine has a bit of a problem up here."
Had it been some other narrow-minded Titled Douluo, the three of them might already have been dead. But how could Qian Chongling be that sort of person? He said calmly, "Years ago, my loved ones died at the hands of Evil Soul Masters before my very eyes. Thus, after achieving success in my cultivation, whenever I encountered Evil Soul Masters during my travels across the continent, I killed every last one I saw. Beasts like these deserve nothing less than death!"
"Senior, we were in the wrong. We made you recall painful memories. Please punish us." A woman's heart was still rather tender and sentimental. Seeing an old man reveal his true feelings, Shui Rou could not help offering words of comfort.
Shui Rou's words played right into Qian Chongling's hands. That's exactly what I was waiting for. I'll leave my position as gatekeeper or student dormitory supervisor to you.
"It was merely an unintentional mistake. What need is there for punishment? However, I do have two requests for Dean Shui," Qian Chongling said calmly.
"You are too kind. Please speak, Senior." Shui Rou paused, then bowed slightly to show her respect.
"First, this little girl suffered a terrible tragedy today. I'm afraid she will have no one to care for her in the future. Could Dean Shui consider admitting her to Skywater Academy?"
"As for her talent, I examined her body. She has Soul Power at Level Four or Five, which is reasonably good," Qian Chongling said, gently stroking his white beard.
Shui Rou's slender body trembled. She had wondered what Qian Chongling might demand, never expecting it to be about caring for this little girl. She agreed almost instinctively.
"Rest assured, Senior. From now on, Skywater Academy will be this child's second home."
"Second, I am already 'advanced in years,' and the end of my allotted lifespan is not far off. I would like to find a position at your Skywater Academy and enjoy my remaining years in peace."
At those words, Shui Rou, Huo Xu, and Feng Jinghong all wore expressions of disbelief. A Titled Douluo wanted to become an instructor at Skywater Academy? Wasn't this a meat pie falling straight out of the sky?
There were only so many Titled Douluo in this world. Every one of them was an honored guest of the major sects and the two great empires. There was even a saying that only sects with a Titled Douluo were qualified to compete for a place among the Upper Three Sects.
And while their Skywater, Blazing Fire, and Godwind Academies sounded impressive, they were really nothing special. A single Titled Douluo could string them up and beat them senseless, leaving them completely powerless to resist. It would be utter domination.
Thus, Shui Rou was the first to ask, "Senior, do you truly mean that?"
It was not that Shui Rou had grown suspicious. The windfall was simply too enormous for her to believe. This was a Titled Douluo powerhouse!
Qian Chongling smiled faintly and said calmly, "Why would I joke with you? Of course I mean it!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a scorching gaze fixed itself on Qian Chongling, as though its owner wanted to swallow him whole. That gaze belonged to none other than Shui Rou.
At almost the same moment, two resentful gazes also settled on Qian Chongling. They belonged to Huo Xu and Feng Jinghong, whose resentment naturally stemmed from his choosing Skywater Academy rather than their Godwind and Blazing Fire Academies.
And so, once she learned that Qian Chongling was not joking, Shui Rou immediately instructed Huo Xu and Feng Jinghong to clean up the traces inside the house, then return to Four Elements City first to hand over the matter concerning the Evil Soul Master.
Meanwhile, she supported the elderly Qian Chongling as she led him into an inner room to rest. Tomorrow, they would head to Four Elements City, where she would arrange a position for him as an externally hired teacher.
Qian Chongling: What happened to being the girls' dormitory supervisor?
Although Skywater Academy's rules stipulated that it admitted only women, whether students or teachers, they also had to possess water-type Martial Souls or Martial Souls related to the water attribute.
Rules, however, were meant to restrain ordinary people. For the powerful, they were often easily broken.
Moreover, although Shui Rou was only Skywater Academy's vice dean, the dean was her older sister, Shui Ning. Thus, her words still carried considerable weight.
And if a Titled Douluo powerhouse wished to join an advanced Soul Master Academy, that academy certainly would not refuse. Godwind and Blazing Fire Academies were living examples.
If they could recruit a Titled Douluo expert as a teacher, what were school rules worth? Could they fill an empty stomach?
On the Douluo Continent, strength alone was the unassailable truth. As an academy made up entirely of women, Skywater Academy naturally understood this all the more deeply!
During the founding and development of their Soul Master Academy, quite a few ill-intentioned Soul Masters had coveted Skywater Academy's students. However, Godwind, Skywater, and Blazing Fire had always been branches of the same tree, standing together, so those incidents generally brought scares but no real danger.
Thus, even without Shui Rou's recommendation, if Qian Chongling wanted to join Skywater Academy to spend his retirement there, the academy would not refuse. They might even try every possible means to cater to his tastes and win the favor of this Titled Douluo.
Finally, the first request Qian Chongling had casually raised left Shui Rou even more admiring of him. After all, a kindhearted, broad-minded Titled Douluo would naturally not harbor improper desires toward Skywater Academy's students. Perhaps the old man simply wanted to see whether this child was living well.
Therefore, as long as Skywater Academy's senior staff had not lost their minds, Qian Chongling's admission into the academy was a matter set in stone.
Three days later, in an obscure little hotel in Four Elements City, Qian Chongling received an invitation to teach at Skywater Academy, personally delivered by Shui Rou.
Seeing the invitation, Qian Chongling froze on the spot. I wanted to be a gatekeeper or a dormitory supervisor!
The invitation read: Skywater Academy cordially invites Qian Chongling to serve as a specially appointed teacher at Skywater Academy!
Before you continue