"Honestly speaking, it's not certain who should be called 'grandma' here."
Xiao Wu muttered under her breath, handing the breakfast in her hand to Ye Tian before turning her gaze to Bo Saixi:
"Sister Bo Saixi, where are you from?"
"Sister?" A faint smile appeared on Bo Saixi's face. "No one has addressed me like that in a hundred years."
"I come from overseas, but that place isn't worth mentioning."
As if recalling something, Bo Saixi lightly waved her hand.
Xiao Wu, thinking she had touched upon a painful memory, instinctively covered her mouth:
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine," Bo Saixi replied with a gentle smile.
"See, I knew she'd be here."
At that moment, two more people walked in through the door—Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.
Ning Rongrong pointed at Xiao Wu and said to Zhu Zhuqing, "I knew she'd be here. She even bought an extra portion of breakfast."
Zhu Zhuqing crossed her arms, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, simply smiling without a word.
"You—why are you two here?" Xiao Wu's face flushed slightly as she hurriedly hid the breakfast behind her back—the portion Ye Tian hadn't yet taken.
"No use hiding it, we've already seen it," Ning Rongrong said, clasping her hands behind her back as she tiptoed over to Xiao Wu and leaned in to whisper in her ear.
This made Xiao Wu's ears turn red.
She knew all too well how much of a gossip her best friend Rongrong was. Once she saw something, there was no telling what rumors she might spread.
"I just thought Ye Tian came back late last night and might not wake up early, so I bought him breakfast!"
"Ohhh, I see, I see," Ning Rongrong said knowingly, tilting her head up to look at the sky.
"Ugh." Xiao Wu's earlobes reddened as she handed the breakfast to Ye Tian.
She knew that no matter how much she explained, Ning Rongrong wouldn't believe her.
She might as well not have bothered.
It would only encourage Ning Rongrong to tease her even more.
"Alright, look how red Xiao Wu's face has gotten," Zhu Zhuqing said, pulling Ning Rongrong's hand and dragging her away from Xiao Wu.
Then, turning to Xiao Wu, she composed her expression and said seriously:
"Xiao Wu, we didn't come here just to tease you. Dean Flender asked us to gather because he has something important to announce."
"Something important?" Xiao Wu tilted her head. "Could it be that Oscar and Xiao San are back?"
"That jerk, coming back?" Ning Rongrong's expression darkened as she huffed.
Then she waved her hand dismissively. "Probably not that. Teacher Erlong didn't look too good when we ran into her earlier."
"Alright then." Xiao Wu turned and waved at Ye Tian. "I'll head to Dean Flender first. See you later."
Ye Tian smiled calmly and waved back. "I'm afraid we won't be able to meet later. His Majesty assigned me an important task last night, and I'll need to take care of it after breakfast. Also, thanks for the breakfast."
He raised the paper bag containing the meal.
"No need to thank me. We're good friends," Xiao Wu said, emphasizing the last three words as if trying to prove something to Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.
Nearby, Bo Saixi watched Xiao Wu leave with a faint smile. "She's a spirit beast."
"Nothing escapes your eyes, Your Excellency," Ye Tian praised.
Bo Saixi turned her head slightly and said plainly, "Though she's a spirit beast, choosing reincarnation means she's gained the recognition of the rules and become human. Aren't you going to seize the opportunity? She's quite taken with you."
"You're both still young, but if you miss this chance, you might end up like me—never able to grasp it again."
Watching Xiao Wu's retreating figure gradually fade into the distance, Ye Tian shook his head:
"It seems even Your Excellency Bo Saixi can be mistaken sometimes."
"There's no romantic feelings between us."
"Oh?" Bo Saixi paused briefly before her smile widened slightly. "Ye Tian, as someone who's been through it, let me tell you—there's no such thing as purely platonic feelings between men and women."
"Then it's still impossible for us," Ye Tian shook his head again. "Your Excellency might not know this, but I'm already married, and Xiao Wu also has someone she likes."
"I wasn't wrong about you after all," Bo Saixi said with a serene smile. "Men like you are rare these days."
Ye Tian: "..."
Well, that was a trap.
"Thank you for the praise," Ye Tian cupped his hands in a slight bow and set the breakfast down. "Your Excellency, you can have this breakfast. I still have official business from His Majesty to attend to, so I won't keep you company any longer."
"At my level—a 98th-ranked Super Douluo—skipping one meal won't leave me starving," Bo Saixi declined with a wave, stepping forward and stretching lazily.
"Since I have nothing better to do, why not follow you around and learn how to live among mortals?"
She tilted her head slightly as she looked at Ye Tian. "After all, having spent a hundred years on Sea God Island, suddenly coming to this bustling capital of the Heaven Dou Empire isn't something I can adjust to easily."
Ye Tian instinctively averted his gaze from Bo Saixi's eyes, taking a step back and glancing down at her long, fair legs.
There was no denying it—a beautiful woman looked good in anything.
Bo Saixi's beauty was nearly on par with Bibi Dong's.
Dressed in youthful attire now, it was hard not to let one's imagination run wild.
"If you follow me like this, it'll make it hard for me to get things done," Ye Tian shrugged helplessly.
The moment they stepped outside, they'd probably be swarmed by onlookers.
"Is my outfit not pretty enough? I picked it out carefully," Bo Saixi lifted the hem of her skirt and twirled in front of Ye Tian, showcasing her graceful figure.
"It's precisely because it's too pretty that you should cover up a bit more," Ye Tian hinted tactfully.
"Oh, I see," Bo Saixi tapped her temple with a finger, tilting her head thoughtfully.
"But I don't have any other clothes with me."
She spread her hands helplessly.
"That's not a problem. I do."
Ye Tian immediately retrieved a black cloak from his storage space.
Wrapped in it, she'd be completely covered—even her face wouldn't be visible.
"Is it really necessary to cover up this much?" Bo Saixi hesitated.
"You should have more confidence in your figure and face," Ye Tian said matter-of-factly, draping the cloak over Bo Saixi's shoulders and lecturing her sternly.
Seeing Bo Saixi still resisting, Ye Tian stared at her seriously and said, "If you're unwilling, then I can't take you out either. You're just too eye-catching."
"So living among mortals means not being able to do as one pleases," Bo Saixi sighed, lightly patting her forehead.
"Where there are people, there are rules. If we were in the wilderness, no one would care if you walked around naked," Ye Tian chuckled.
Bo Saixi: "..."
After a quick breakfast, Ye Tian didn't head to the palace to see Qian Renxue.
In truth, she had already given him all the necessary instructions.
So Ye Tian went straight to the military affairs office, where he met Tiger General Luo Feng, who had recently been promoted to Deputy Minister of Military Affairs.
The gaunt Luo Feng had suffered serious injuries during the battle with Prince Xue XIng at Shrek Academy.
Even now, his head and right hand were still bandaged.
Though Qian Renxue had granted him leave to recover, he insisted on working despite his injuries.
"Imperial Preceptor Ye Tian, here to visit General Luo Feng," Ye Tian announced cheerfully, offering a slight bow to Luo Feng, who sat behind his desk.
Bo Saixi, shrouded in her black cloak, stood silently behind Ye Tian, emanating an aura of intimidation.
"So the Imperial Preceptor has come to visit. Forgive me for not welcoming you properly."
Luo Feng's tone was neither warm nor cold.
In truth, the moment Ye Tian stepped into the military headquarters, Luo Feng's spiritual power had already detected him—and the mysterious woman accompanying him.
His first impression of her was one of danger—her strength was formidable.
Now that they were inside, that impression was only reinforced.
The woman beside Ye Tian was likely at the level of a Super Douluo, capable of killing him effortlessly.
At this moment, Luo Feng finally understood why His Majesty had appointed Ye Tian as Imperial Preceptor.
Anyone who could have a Super Douluo as a bodyguard must have an extraordinary background.
Though wary of Ye Tian, Luo Feng didn't show excessive deference.
As a soldier who had served for many years, he took orders only from the Emperor and never associated with nobility.
This was the reason he had remained unshaken all these years.
"What brings the Imperial Preceptor here today?" Luo Feng's hawk-like eyes fixed on Ye Tian.
Faced with that piercing gaze, Ye Tian showed no trace of fear.
If he could remain composed in front of the Sea God, a mere general was nothing.
Slowly, he pulled out Qian Renxue's decree from his robes and laid it before Luo Feng:
"By His Majesty's decree, I am to mobilize three thousand troops to apprehend a traitor to the state."
"Three thousand troops?" Luo Feng frowned.
The city defense force numbered only fifteen thousand.
Deploying three thousand at once—for what purpose?
He quickly picked up the decree on the table, scrutinized it, and verified the imperial seal.
Only after confirming its authenticity did he let out a slow breath.
"Duke Pan Song has indeed been corrupt and lawless for years—he deserves execution."
"But has the Imperial Preceptor or His Majesty considered that Pan Song is the leader of the nobility? Not only is he closely tied to the court officials, but he also shares deep connections with the subordinate kingdoms of Heaven Dou."
"His daughter is the queen of the Kingdom of Silvers."
"The four great kingdoms are already estranged from Heaven Dou. If Pan Song dies, they will surely seize the opportunity to rebel."
"Though I am merely a general and should not interfere in state affairs, I must urge the Imperial Preceptor to reconsider!"
(End of Chapter)