Four Great Deans

Meanwhile, inside Sea God's Pavilion.

"How many times do I have to say it, Yan Shaozhe? Look at this piece of metal. Tang Wulin's forging talent means he has to join the Soul Engineering Department!"

"Old Qian, don't get worked up. You need to understand that forging is ultimately just a side profession. Martial Soul cultivation is a Soul Master's proper duty."

"Yan Shaozhe, cut the bullshit! If you want to snatch people from me, just say so! There's no need to beat around the bush here!"

"Sigh, Lin'er, that's not quite right. Tang Wulin is a child with an Ultimate Martial Soul, one seen only once in a thousand years. If his cultivation is delayed, who among you can take responsibility?"

"..."

Yan Shaozhe, Cai Mei'er, Qian Duoduo, and Xian Lin'er had gathered together, fiercely arguing over where Tang Wulin should go.

Before them, Mu En sat in his wheelchair with his eyes closed, seemingly asleep. Yet no one present dared to ignore him.

Yan Shaozhe's expression was full of helplessness.

"Sigh, Old Qian, Lin'er, let me be honest with you. Wulin was supposed to belong to our Martial Soul Department from the start. It was Teacher who told us not to interfere, which was why I didn't make a move on him myself. Otherwise, did you really think you could compete with me?"

He felt that he had already been merciful enough.

If not for Mu En's orders, he would have sought out Tang Wulin himself long ago, made him a whole pile of promises, and lured him over.

Qian Duoduo sprayed saliva as he spoke.

"Bullshit, Yan Shaozhe! Don't think I don't know what you've been plotting behind the scenes. If we didn't take the initiative, would we just watch Wulin get snatched away by you?"

He knew the Soul Engineering Department's situation all too well. If they relied purely on their own merits, it would be nearly impossible to win Tang Wulin over.

But he truly could not bear to let a student with such formidable forging skills slip away. He could only bring Xian Lin'er along to seek an opportunity from Mu En.

Yan Shaozhe spread his hands like a rascal.

"Hey, Old Qian, you can't just slander me. You say I've been making moves behind the scenes? Then show me the evidence if you can."

"You..."

Qian Duoduo was so frustrated that he nearly spat out blood.

Evidence? What evidence did he have?

Yan Shaozhe might not be good at anything else, but he was an expert at little tricks behind the scenes. He would never let Qian Duoduo and Xian Lin'er catch him by the handle.

Seeing that he could not say anything, Yan Shaozhe turned toward Mu En.

"Teacher, didn't you say before that we should each rely on our own abilities, and let Tang Wulin decide for himself which department to join? Now Qian Duoduo and Xian Lin'er have violated the rules first. What do you think should be done?"

Mu En slowly opened his eyes and looked at the two deans of the Soul Engineering Department.

"Duoduo, Lin'er, I understand how you feel, but this sort of thing cannot be forced. The child's future direction should be decided by himself. We cannot disregard his wishes."

"...Yes."

The moment Mu En spoke, Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo immediately fell silent.

Although Mu En had rarely involved himself in affairs in recent years, his prestige within Sea God's Pavilion had not diminished in the slightest. As long as it was something he said, no one in Shrek dared disobey.

Yan Shaozhe curled his lips into a smug smile.

He was not worried at all.

According to the academy's rules, all students belonged to the Martial Soul Department during First Year. Only when they reached Third Year would some students be assigned to the Soul Engineering Department according to their circumstances.

To put it bluntly, the Soul Engineering Department's students were basically the ones the Martial Soul Department had passed over. Over time, the Martial Soul Department had crushed the Soul Engineering Department in both resources and reputation. What could the Soul Engineering Department possibly use to fight him?

As long as he steadily built a good relationship with Tang Wulin, he would have no fear of losing him to the Soul Engineering Department.

However, what he did not expect was that after reprimanding the two deans of the Soul Engineering Department, Mu En suddenly turned on him.

"And Shaozhe, explain to me what happened with Xiaotao this morning."

"Uh..."

Yan Shaozhe's expression immediately tightened.

He knew this matter probably could no longer be hidden.

Lying at a time like this would bring no benefit. The best way to handle it was to tell the truth and try to earn his teacher's forgiveness.

Yan Shaozhe lowered his head and said guiltily:

"I'm sorry, Teacher. I believe you also know about Ma Xiaotao's evil fire. I underestimated its influence on her and failed to stop her from continuing her cultivation in time, nearly causing a grave disaster. If you wish to punish someone, punish me alone."

Mu En said coldly:

"What use is there in punishing only you? What I want is for this kind of thing to be completely eradicated from the academy in the future. It will be useless if Ma Xiaotao herself does not learn her lesson."

He had not managed affairs for many years. Though he knew the academy's atmosphere had become somewhat improper lately, before this morning, he truly had not expected it to have deteriorated to such a degree.

Due to poor discipline, an Inner Court Disciple had nearly killed an Outer Court student. After the matter was resolved, their first thought was not to make the perpetrator apologize to the victim, but to threaten and bribe the victim into keeping quiet. How could this still be what an academy was supposed to be like?

If not for paying more attention to Huo Yutong because of Tang Wulin, Yan Shaozhe might have concealed Ma Xiaotao's assault from him.

"Yes."

Yan Shaozhe's gaze was somewhat bitter. He knew that the punishment Ma Xiaotao received this time would likely not be light.

What terrible luck. Who could have expected Teacher to witness that scene?

Wait, Teacher witnessed it?

Yan Shaozhe abruptly raised his head, his eyes lighting up as he looked at Mu En.

"Teacher, does that mean you saw the entire incident this morning?"

"Mm."

When Mu En nodded slightly, Yan Shaozhe grew even more excited.

"Then did you see who saved Huo Yutong? This is extremely important to Xiaotao!"

After examining Ma Xiaotao's body, he had concluded that an extremely powerful Ice Attribute Soul Master had stopped her.

Furthermore, the Cold Qi left behind by that mysterious Ice Attribute Soul Master had greatly suppressed Ma Xiaotao's evil fire, allowing her to return to normal.

Yan Shaozhe desperately wanted to know that Ice Attribute Soul Master's identity. If he could find them, Ma Xiaotao might be able to cultivate like a normal person in the future.

To his surprise, after a moment of silence, Mu En said calmly:

"I know the truth of what happened, but I cannot tell you. Do not investigate it either. You would only be wasting your effort."

"Why, Teacher?!"

Yan Shaozhe immediately became anxious.

Mu En closed his eyes and said:

"I naturally have my reasons. You will understand sooner or later. This matter ends here. I will inform you of Ma Xiaotao's punishment later. You may all leave now."

"...Yes."

Since Mu En had said so, Yan Shaozhe could only agree bitterly and leave Sea God's Pavilion with Qian Duoduo and the others.

After everyone left, Mu En opened his eyes to a narrow slit. What had happened that morning seemed to replay before him.

The petite and adorable Young Girl had spoken in a childish voice utterly at odds with her appearance. With a proud point of her finger at the red-haired girl, all the blazing flames around the red-haired girl had gone out, and she had fallen into the water in a bedraggled state.

Recalling that scene, Mu En's lips curved slightly upward.

He had not expected that after Tang Wulin, another pleasant surprise had appeared within the academy.

"This chill that approaches the ultimate... It seems I must find time to make a trip to the Extreme North."