"I want to ask you a few questions."
Zhu Zhuqing glanced at Xiao Wu, then looked over at Li Chang'an. Her tone was cool, but there was an undercurrent of emotion in her voice.
"Brother, I'll wait for you up ahead," Xiao Wu said tactfully. However, the look in her eyes clearly carried a hint of jealousy. After all, Zhu Zhuqing's beauty was on par with hers—and she was even older...
Just then, Li Chang'an gently tugged Xiao Wu's hand and said, "No need. You can stay right here."
"It's okay, Brother, I'll still wait for you up ahead," Xiao Wu replied, reassured by his words. Since Li Chang'an wasn't hiding anything from her, her heart eased. She thought to herself, 'Since he's not shutting me out, I shouldn't cause any trouble.'
"Alright then, go wait for me in front," Li Chang'an said, patting her head with a guilty smile. Xiao Wu left happily, skipping away like a child.
Li Chang'an finally walked up to Zhu Zhuqing, stopping about a meter away—a respectful distance that neither felt awkward nor distant.
"Thank you. Thank you for saving me during the exam. Thank you for guiding me during the match. And... thank you for stopping Dai Mubai."
It was rare for Zhu Zhuqing to say so much on her own initiative. She then bowed deeply to Li Chang'an.
But before she could complete the bow, a large hand gently supported her. With a soft yet firm touch, Li Chang'an lifted her back up and said gently,
"First, saving you was something I had promised. Second, offering you guidance—well, I'm your teacher, so of course I should. And finally, even if I hadn't stepped in, Dai Mubai wouldn't have dared to actually hurt you."
"Your way of thinking and teaching is really unique," Zhu Zhuqing said. "I can feel it—your words have helped boost my strength by at least ten percent. I want to become stronger. Can you teach me?"
Though slightly embarrassed, her voice was firm.
She carried heavy burdens—both personal and familial. She needed power. At first, she'd held onto the hope that Dai Mubai could be her partner, someone to face hardships together. But tonight, that hope had completely shattered.
So now, all she could do was push herself to grow stronger—fast. She had been taught by masters from a young age and knew exactly what a ten percent increase in power meant. It was practically impossible—yet Li Chang'an had made it happen.
"Of course I can. I'm already your teacher, after all," Li Chang'an said with a rare lightness in his voice. "Don't worry—with me around, you won't be any worse than anyone else."
"Thank you. If you want anything—gold soul coins, cultivation resources—I can provide them."
Zhu Zhuqing asked this seriously. It wasn't that she was suspicious—she simply didn't believe such help could come free.
"You think I'm someone who lacks gold soul coins or cultivation resources?" Li Chang'an chuckled. "How about this: just do something for me in the future. I'll let you know what it is when the time comes. Meet me after class tomorrow—I'll give you special training."
Then, just like that, he walked off.
Zhu Zhuqing hesitated for a moment. After-class training meant it would be evening, which felt a bit... awkward. Still, she nodded.
Li Chang'an had a certain charisma—a kind that made people trust him.
---
"Brother, what did Zhuqing want from you?" Xiao Wu asked, clinging to Li Chang'an's arm.
"She? Oh, she just thanked me for saving her and asked me to guide her more from now on."
As he spoke, Li Chang'an casually wrapped his arm around Xiao Wu's slender waist and added with a smile,
"Don't worry, Xiao Wu. I just see Zhu Zhuqing as a little sister—nothing more."
"But... Brother, aren't I your little sister too?"
Xiao Wu wasn't dumb—she replied instantly.
Li Chang'an: "..."
He didn't say anything, just leaned close and gently blew a warm breath into Xiao Wu's ear. Her ears were extremely sensitive—she trembled instantly.
Seeing her reaction, Li Chang'an let out a wicked grin.
---
Back at the academy, everyone returned to their dorms for the night. Dai Mubai looked like he was in a foul mood, while Zhu Zhuqing—unusually—glanced at Li Chang'an before heading to her room. She even gave him a small nod.
And so, the night passed without incident.
---
The next morning in the dining hall, Li Chang'an finally saw Ma Hongjun, who had just returned from pleasure house.
The chubby boy looked refreshed and energized, as if he had shed several pounds overnight.
Although brash, Fatty knew how to read a room. Seeing Dai Mubai's dark expression, he kept quiet and quickly scarfed down breakfast.
"Fatty, you're not going out tonight, right?" Dai Mubai asked after breakfast.
Ma Hongjun nodded, keeping his voice low, "That evil fire got purged pretty well last night. I should be staying in for the next few days."
"Good," Dai Mubai said. "Then stay in the dorm tonight—I'm heading out. Gonna find that pair of twins from last time."
Fatty's eyes lit up. "Boss Dai, if you're going to sleep with them tonight, can I join in too? Make it a foursome?"
Dai Mubai gave him a sharp look and scoffed, "Get lost. This kind of thing only works when everyone's into it. You think I'm dragging you along to scare them off?"
Fatty grinned shamelessly, "Hey, just asking. Two girls, one guy—it's a waste not to share!"
Zhu Zhuqing, meanwhile, didn't react at all—like she hadn't even heard them. The icy girl just sipped her rice porridge, already mentally labeling Dai Mubai as a stranger.
---
The class bell rang. Everyone quickly finished their meals and headed to the main training field.
Although the teachers hadn't arrived yet, someone was already there—Ning Rongrong.
Still no sign of Oscar.
Her pale, pretty face looked a bit weary, eyes red-rimmed, and her spirits low. But at least she hadn't taken another hard hit yesterday—Li Chang'an had stood up for her.
Today's instructor was once again Dean Flender.
Li Chang'an and the others waited a full fifteen minutes before Flender strolled in at a leisurely pace. His eyes immediately locked onto Ning Rongrong, but he didn't say anything to her.
"Today is lesson two. Where's Oscar? Overslept again?"
Tang San quickly stepped up, "When I left this morning, he was still cultivating. He might've entered a deep meditative state and didn't wake up in time."
Flender frowned. "This lesson can't begin without him. Tang San, go fetch him."
Just as Tang San was about to head back to the dorm, Oscar came running from that direction—though not looking flustered at all. In fact, he looked... excited.
Li Chang'an raised an eyebrow. 'This guy... did he hit level thirty?'
Sure enough, his hunch was confirmed by the next exchange.
"Oscar, are you trying to weasel out of class again?" Flender glared at him.
Oscar hurriedly waved his hands. "No, Dean, let me explain! I broke through—I've reached level thirty!"
___
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