After the door closed again, Du Weiya let out a long breath. Her whole body immediately relaxed, and she slumped against the edge of the desk.
Then, seemingly remembering something, she went to the window and lifted a corner of the curtain, just in time to see Yan Shaozhe's golden-red figure leading Gu Xingyue through the assessment area, apparently heading farther into the academy.
The two figures, one tall and one short, receded farther and farther before her eyes.
Du Weiya lowered the curtain, returned to her chair, and rubbed her temples with both hands. Then she picked up the unfinished assessment report on the desk, raised her pen, and set it down again.
She murmured to herself, turning the thought over in her mind, "An ultimate attribute... he might become Dean Yan's Personal Disciple someday."
Meanwhile, outside the Outer Court's new student registration office.
Bei Bei, Tang Ya, and Huo Yutong were waiting off to one side.
Huo Yutong clasped her hands in front of her, occasionally rising onto her toes to peer inside, an unconcealable layer of nervousness lingering around her eyes and brows.
Bei Bei leaned against a nearby pillar. Although she looked relaxed on the surface, her fingers kept unconsciously tapping her arm, likewise betraying how much she cared.
Tang Ya was comparatively composed, though his gaze also drifted toward the registration office from time to time.
"Why has he been gone so long..." Huo Yutong muttered softly.
"It's an assessment. Those take time," Bei Bei reassured her, certainty in her voice. "Don't worry. He's so strong, he'll definitely be fine."
The words had barely left her mouth when she caught sight of two figures emerging from the direction of the academic affairs office.
She focused her gaze-the person in front was an elegant woman in a long golden-red dress, her bearing proud and her presence extraordinary.
And the boy following half a step behind her-who could it be but Gu Xingyue?
Bei Bei's pupils contracted slightly, and she instinctively exclaimed under her breath, "It's actually Dean... Dean Yan?!"
Tang Ya followed her gaze, and his expression shifted slightly too. "Why has the dean of the Martial Soul Department come in person? Could Little Brother Gu's talent really be that terrifying?"
Tang Ya would have been lying if he said he was not envious. After all, other students at Shrek Academy had criticized him plenty, saying he was nothing but a man living off a woman. The students had even secretly bestowed titles on him: Moocher Douluo, Layabout Scholar, and other derogatory names. Even someone as mild-tempered as him had been furious.
But... fortunately, he had met the love of his life, who would never abandon him! Whenever anyone gave him trouble, Bei Bei would descend from the heavens, then beat those rebellious students until they knelt and begged for mercy. She would even gently tell him that she wanted him to live off her.
After that, Tang Ya had firmly resolved to become Bei Bei's sworn loyalist for the rest of his life!
Even though living off a woman was comfortable, deep down, he still yearned to display his glory before others.
Then Tang Ya looked at Bei Bei, and Bei Bei turned to look at him.
Their eyes met, and they tacitly fell silent.
This time, they really had stumbled into the imperial household.
Following Yan Shaozhe across the Outer Court plaza, Gu Xingyue spotted the three figures from afar through the crowd.
He raised his hand slightly and made an "OK" gesture toward them, then followed Yan Shaozhe around a corner and disappeared from everyone's sight.
When Huo Yutong saw that gesture, her heart finally settled back into place, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously lifted. Bei Bei also breathed a sigh of relief and patted Huo Yutong on the shoulder. "See? I told you he could do it."
"Mm." Huo Yutong nodded vigorously, though she continued looking in the direction Gu Xingyue had disappeared for a while before slowly withdrawing her gaze.
Gu Xingyue was walking beside Yan Shaozhe when he suddenly slowed half a step, tilted his head toward the golden-red figure ahead, and asked, "Dean, could you help me with something?"
Yan Shaozhe kept walking, as though she had not heard him.
But soon she turned her head, a trace of a smile rippling through her azure eyes. Her voice carried an unquestionable confidence. "What is it? Just say it. As long as you aren't asking for the stars in the sky, any other problem is child's play to me."
Her tone was certain, and she did not even blink an extra time. She looked every bit the big shot.
Gu Xingyue was almost taken in by her manner.
If he had not clearly remembered that this "Bright Phoenix Douluo," Yan Shaozhe, had been merely a Hyper Douluo in the original story-an intimidating title, but nothing all that impressive in actual combat-he might really have believed her grand declaration.
But on second thought-it was a parallel universe. Perhaps there really was something different about this Dean Yan.
"Since you've put it that way, I won't stand on ceremony," Gu Xingyue replied, taking the opening.
Yan Shaozhe privately pondered that this little fellow was probably relying on the confidence his ultimate attribute gave him and was about to ask her for something.
She had even mentally gone through her inventory-hundred-thousand-year soul bones, heavenly treasures...
Shrek had vast holdings and resources. Supporting someone with an ultimate attribute was well within its means.
Even if he really dared to make such a grand request, it was not as though she could not give it to him.
After all, within the Martial Soul Department's little patch of territory, her word was law.
"Back at the new student registration office-you should have seen her. I have a friend-" Gu Xingyue began.
Yan Shaozhe's steps faltered slightly. She almost thought she had misheard him.
That's it?
No soul bones, no heavenly treasures... he simply wants to bring someone in?
For a moment, she did not know whether to laugh or cry.
In her view, nothing a genius of Gu Xingyue's caliber asked for would have surprised her. The one thing she had not expected was such a trivial request.
Wasn't this a lion opening its mouth just a tiny bit?
Then she instinctively categorized Huo Yutong: probably a study maid or someone similar Gu Xingyue had brought from home, specifically responsible for his daily needs.
As for a romantic partner?
The thought never even crossed her mind-how could a little girl who could not even cross Shrek's threshold, with talent that poor, be worthy of a promising youth with an ultimate attribute?
Although those thoughts ran through her mind, Yan Shaozhe maintained her reserved, composed expression. A hint of languor tinged her cool voice. "By rights, someone at her level isn't even qualified to enter the Outer Court, let alone the Inner Court." She paused, then changed tack. "But rules are dead, and people are alive. I approve. I'll have someone arrange the paperwork for her later and put her in the room next to yours, so you can look after each other."
Gu Xingyue's eyes lit up, and genuine warmth entered his voice. "Thank you, Dean Yan! You're the most generous person in the world, the one least inclined to keep good things to yourself!"
Yan Shaozhe glanced at him, feeling that something about those words sounded off.
When had she ever been ungenerous?
Who in all of Shrek didn't know that she, Yan Shaozhe, was lavish with her gifts? Did this brat really need to emphasize it?
Besides, her martial soul was the Light Phoenix. Light and flame represented exuberance and generosity to begin with. Generosity was carved into her bones.
If Gu Xingyue could have shouted his thoughts aloud right then, he probably would have muttered, "That's hard to judge." After all, Uncle Yan Shaozhe in the original story had possessed a super martial soul, yet still spent half his life languishing at the threshold of Hyper Douluo.
All one could say was that the Light Phoenix had held Uncle Yan back. With a martial soul like the Death God Demon Puppet instead, he probably would have reached rank ninety-eight long ago, just one step away from the perfection of the Limit level.
Of course, he only dared turn such words over in his mind. Saying them aloud would probably get him roasted to a crisp on the spot.
After walking a few more steps, Yan Shaozhe suddenly turned her head again, her gaze lingering on his face for a moment.
The boy really was exceptionally good-looking, with well-formed features and clearly defined bone structure. One look was enough to tell he was the sort to draw bees and butterflies.
And he even had a "maid" with him.
She considered her wording before tactfully saying, "Ahem, well... Xingyue, some things ought to be done in moderation."
Gu Xingyue's steps stopped, as though a question mark were slowly rising above his head.
He turned to look at Yan Shaozhe, his expression filled with confusion.
When a question mark appeared above his head, it did not mean there was something wrong with him-it meant there was something wrong with you!
How old was he?! What was she getting at?!
If not for the gap in their cultivation, he would have wanted to strike her with a bolt of lightning right then.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the surging speechlessness in his heart, and kept his voice as even as possible. "Perhaps you could make yourself a little clearer."
Looking at the little brat before her, Yan Shaozhe was secretly amused, though her expression gave nothing away. She merely gave a soft huff, turned away, and continued walking, leaving behind a lightly delivered remark. "Little body, grown-up ways."
Before you continue