In front of a neatly constructed rectangular building—
Neuvillette didn't bother explaining much, simply leading the bewildered young girl slowly inside.
The gray building looked solid and weighty. The construction wasn't just bricks and tiles — in many places, metallic glints could be seen. From within came deep, muffled rumbling sounds, and even beneath their feet they could feel a faint vibration.
Because of Zhou Yi's recommendation, Huo Yutong had been here before and studied under Fan Yu.
But when His Highness the Holy Son had said change teachers…
The girl didn't have long to be confused before Neuvillette brought her to the second floor. Compared to the first floor, there were far fewer people here. Judging from the badges on their chests, most were senior Outer Court students, with even a few Inner Court seniors mixed in.
Naturally, all of the Inner Court seniors greeted Neuvillette with respectful formality.
Even though Neuvillette had already graduated from the Inner Court, there were simply too many legends about him — so many that these junior students regarded him as a lifelong goal to chase after.
Neuvillette returned each greeting in turn, his face always carrying a gentle smile.
Before long, the two stopped in front of an office door.
From inside came a hearty voice.
"Oh? His Highness the Holy Son actually has time to grace my humble abode?"
Neuvillette smiled lightly.
With an easy push, he opened the door and walked straight in.
"Uncle Qian, you must be joking. Don't tell me… you still haven't forgotten about that incident two years ago?"
Sitting down casually, his gaze fell upon the man on the sofa opposite — a slightly portly middle-aged man, smiling warmly at him.
"Ha! You even dared to judge Elder Xuan — I certainly had no objections then, haha!"
Qian Duoduo waved dismissively.
His eyes held a complicated look as he regarded the boy he had, in a way, watched grow up.
"All right, tell me — what brings you here?"
Qian Duoduo's gaze shifted to the shy, head-bowed girl standing beside Neuvillette, a faint hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Heh, I'm here to switch her to a different teacher."
Neuvillette smiled lightly and looked at Qian Duoduo. "Uncle Qian, believe me — she won't disappoint you."
"Huh…"
Qian Duoduo looked genuinely surprised.
"You, kid — the so-called 'Executor.' Of course I trust you. But if I remember correctly, this girl has talent, and she's already been taken in by Fan Yu. Aren't you asking me to steal a student from him?"
"And with Fan Yu's rank and strength, he should be more than qualified to teach her."
"Fan Yu is indeed good… but his wife is Zhou Yi."
Neuvillette took a slow sip of tea, speaking in an unhurried tone.
"You mean…?!"
Qian Duoduo's face changed sharply.
"Mhm. I intend to make her my opening move."
Neuvillette held his teacup, voice calm.
Qian Duoduo immediately understood. After a long moment, he sighed softly, then nodded.
"All right."
But he remained deep in thought.
It wasn't until Neuvillette was about to leave that Qian Duoduo finally raised his head, his expression complex.
"If possible… and I'm only saying if possible… could you give him a chance to redeem himself? After all, over the years, his contributions to the Academy — and to advancing the Soul Tool Department — have been considerable…"
Stepping out of the Soul Tool Department building, Neuvillette let out a faint sigh.
In that brief instant earlier, he had seen regret, hesitation, and even a trace of pleading on Qian Duoduo's face.
And in that same instant, Neuvillette felt a flicker of the Water Dragon King's confusion toward Justice from his previous life's PV.
Forget it.
He gave a small shake of his head.
Come to think of it, his initial pursuit of Justice had mainly been for the sake of restoring the Ancient Dragon Authority.
Cases like judging Elder Xuan had given him enormous gains in that Authority…
"All right, Yutong."
Neuvillette stopped walking and turned his head toward the girl following close behind, her small hands clutching the hem of her skirt.
"You can head back for now. From now on in the Soul Tool Department, you'll train under the person we just met."
"O-oh."
The girl lifted her head, both hands clasped behind her back, as if hesitating about something. Finally, she gathered her courage.
"Um… senior… could you… could you let me keep the Tear of Crystal? I… I'm not asking for it because I want to… it's just… I'd like to have it as a memento. Is that okay?"
Neuvillette looked at the flustered girl whose hands were nervously twisting together, curiosity stirring in his heart.
Strictly speaking, while the Tear of Crystal was valuable, it was of little practical use to Huo Yutong now.
"That's… of course not a problem."
He reached into his robes, took out the pale blue crystal that shimmered under the sunlight, and gently placed it in her fair, outstretched palm.
"All right, I'll be going then."
He smiled, ruffling her hair, and headed toward the teaching building.
Left behind, Huo Yutong stood there in a daze, her gaze fixed on his departing back until it vanished completely from sight.
Then, glancing furtively around and seeing no one nearby, she raised the crystal to her nose and took a light sniff.
A faint blush spread across her fair cheeks.
"So this… is the scent of His Highness the Holy Son?"
Inside the teacher's office—
Knock knock.
A faint, aged voice called out, "Come in."
Quite the self-important tone.
Neuvillette's expression remained calm as he opened the door and entered.
Inside sat an elderly woman, at least in her fifties or sixties, legs crossed leisurely in her chair.
She gave him a cursory glance, a flash of disdain in her eyes.
Casually picking up some documents from the desk, she didn't even look up as she asked,
"You're the new teaching assistant?"
"Yes."
Neuvillette's face stayed impassive as he sat down on the sofa, replying evenly.
Zhou Yi glanced at him again, and seeing that he didn't stand to listen while she spoke, her sense of contempt deepened.
But remembering her husband's request, she gave an impatient click of her tongue.
"All right, I get it. Tomorrow, make sure you come to class and watch me teach. Don't be late!"
Expression unchanged, Neuvillette gave a slight nod.
"Okay."
Then he stood and left the office.
Watching the slowly closing door, Zhou Yi's disdain only grew.
"Just another second-generation brat sent down from above to gild his résumé, acting like he's something special."
"Not an ounce of respect for his seniors — all he knows is how to put on airs."
She tossed the documents in her hand onto the desk.
On the sheets, under Information, every field was blank.
"Hurry it up! What are you all doing, moving like snails?"
"And you — you're the class monitor, yet you're this useless? If I'd known, I'd have made Wang Dong class monitor instead!!"
Zhou Yi's impatient voice lashed out at the already pale-faced, sweat-soaked Huo Yutong.
"If you're this slow again on the next lap, get out! The last thing I lack is students — Shrek's honor isn't something for you to tarnish!"
"One more lap!!"
At her words, Huo Yutong's face went even paler.
But gritting her teeth, she forced her swaying body to pick up speed.
(End of chapter)