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Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Senior Brother’s Tricks, and Huo Yutong’s Talent in the Soul Tool Department

"Heh."

Neuvillette shook his head.

"You're not repentant — you're just afraid."

"People must bear the consequences for their actions. If there's no cost to anything, if one can act recklessly without restraint, then the whole world would descend into chaos."

"Expelling students out of spite — it's as if you considered them your personal property, to be treated according to your whims."

"What's more, many of those internal injuries they suffered had already shown signs halfway through, and some even went to the infirmary to get checked. There's no way you didn't know."

"But you still insisted on clinging to your so-called 'running theory,' and even intensified your treatment of them. All for your career advancement, while ignoring the students' health. People like you are not worthy of being called teachers."

"I beg you, just let me out — I'll do anything you want!" Zhou Yi wept bitterly.

"What if I have you expelled from Shrek Academy and banned from ever being hired again?"

Neuvillette spoke lightly.

"You… you can't do that! They'll kill me!"

Zhou Yi's expression turned to horror.

She was no naive, ignorant "white lotus."

In her heart, she understood perfectly well: without Shrek Academy's protection, her death outside would be far worse. Those students she had crippled hated her to the bone — they'd gladly eat her flesh and drink her blood.

If she fell into their hands, that would truly be a fate of neither living nor dying…

"Haa…"

Neuvillette let out a soft sigh, then turned to leave.

"No! You can't leave! Let me out!"

Zhou Yi struggled, crawling toward the doorway, but just as she was about to reach the prison gate, the heavy iron door slowly closed.

When she looked up, Yan Shaozhe's cold face was all she saw.

"Since you're unwilling to be expelled from the Academy, stay here obediently."

And with that, the light faded away —

The cold darkness returned to what it had been before.

Only Zhou Yi's despairing wails remained.

Leaving the cell, Neuvillette looked up.

Night had already draped itself over the land; only a few faint stars twinkled in the sky, while a bright moon hung high, casting a silvery glow.

"You have the freshman examination tomorrow. You should head back and rest early," Yan Shaozhe said with a slight smile.

"You'll be presiding over it this time?" Neuvillette asked.

"Yes. I'll be there — I want to see if that new class you've taken over has any bright little monsters," Yan Shaozhe replied.

"Heh… then I'll have to give you something worth seeing." Neuvillette's faint smile carried quiet confidence.

"Oh? Judging by that tone, it sounds like you've got some promising seedlings?"

Yan Shaozhe raised his brows, then suddenly sidled up to Neuvillette with a grin, draping an arm around his shoulders.

"How about telling your senior brother ahead of time? Otherwise, after the freshman exams, that guy Qian Duoduo will fight me for them again."

"Actually… she's better suited for the Soul Tool Department," Neuvillette replied impassively, giving no room for Yan Shaozhe's chumminess.

"A Spirit Eye martial soul, mental-type, control-oriented — practically a talent tailor-made for the Soul Tool Department."

"Ahem, there's no such thing as being born perfectly suited. It still takes training to find what's best for oneself," Yan Shaozhe said, with righteous air.

"That's true enough."

Neuvillette gave him a sidelong glance and a faint smile.

"But there are also two others — one with a tri-spirit martial soul, the other a twin martial soul. Both are exceptionally gifted, potential candidates for future Shrek Seven Devils."

"Those two, you'd better save for your senior brother!" Yan Shaozhe's eyes gleamed. "Don't make me beg you!"

"Mm… I've had no appetite lately, feeling uncomfortable all over. If I could get two jin of Dragonwhisker Tea, I might recover…" Neuvillette sighed dramatically.

"Two jin! You're trying to kill me!" Yan Shaozhe grimaced in pain. "One jin — I'll give you one jin right now."

"Forget it, I suddenly don't feel like drinking tea."

Neuvillette shook his head and turned to leave.

"No, no, you're my ancestor, alright?" Yan Shaozhe sighed helplessly, shooting Neuvillette a glare before pulling a delicate jade bottle from his storage ring. With a pained expression, he handed it over, then turned away, as if not seeing it would make it hurt less.

"Heh… then I'll accept it."

Neuvillette nodded in satisfaction.

For something to pain a powerhouse like Yan Shaozhe, it had to be truly valuable.

As its name suggests, legend said Dragonwhisker Tea originated from the whiskers of a true dragon that had fallen tens of thousands of years ago, imbued with its bloodline's essence.

It could cleanse the lungs, purge bodily impurities, and was considered on the verge of being a spiritual medicine — capable of increasing soul power. Even to a powerhouse like Yan Shaozhe, it had its uses.

Compared to Xu Sanshi's Mysterious Water Pill, it was dozens of times more precious…

Neuvillette opened his palm.

"Rest assured, senior brother — those two students will remain in the Martial Soul Department. No one will take them."

Yan Shaozhe grinned, nodding with satisfaction before casually waving and turning to leave.

"Remember tomorrow…"

Neuvillette watched his senior brother's retreat with a faint smile.

Tricking his senior brother brought no guilt at all.

Of course, his senior brother was more than willing to be tricked…

Soul Tool Department, Academy Building

Top Floor

In the innermost office, Huo Yutong sat before a metal desk, slender jade-like fingers holding a hexagonal metal piece the size of a walnut in her left hand, while her right held a slender carving knife, carefully engraving the piece.

Her movements were meticulous, her bright eyes fixed intently on the work before her, her young face filled with focus.

Under the knife's edge, complex patterns gradually took shape.

Time passed minute by minute, yet the girl's body remained still; only a few pale fingers moved, guiding the knife as she slowly carved with infused soul power.

Behind her —

Silently, two figures stood. No one knew when they had arrived, simply watching her work.

"Not bad. The child you recommended does have a natural aptitude for soul tools. She's been working with them for less than three months, and she's already reached the level of a Rank-2 Soul Engineer — nearly Rank-3."

"I told her to go home and rest for tomorrow's freshman examination, but she insisted on staying to study. That kind of diligence is rare among today's Shrek students."

Qian Duoduo's lips moved slightly, sending the words by voice transmission.

"Not bad," Neuvillette replied simply.

In the original history, this girl had only just reached Rank-2 Soul Engineer by the end of the semester, nearly half a year later.

He hadn't expected that, with his intervention, she'd reach it so much earlier.

"So, why not let her join the Soul Tool Department? That old fox Yan Shaozhe would just waste her in the Martial Soul Department — he can't bring out her full potential. In my department, I'm confident I can make her at least a Rank-9 Soul Engineer, maybe even one comparable to a Super Douluo in strength!"

Qian Duoduo's eyes shone with hope.

"We'll see…" Neuvillette pressed his lips together, pondering for a moment before speaking slowly.

Without her original ice-type martial soul, joining the Martial Soul Department truly did offer her less future than specializing in soul tools.

"Give her this."

Neuvillette took out a small jade bottle and handed it to Qian Duoduo.

"This is… Dragonwhisker Tea? You… you're generous — even I can't bear to drink this often."

Qian Duoduo smacked his lips, eyes full of envy.

"I'm off. Don't hog it all to yourself," Neuvillette said with a faint smile, waving as he disappeared from the room.

"You kid…"

Qian Duoduo shook his head helplessly, but this young man was in a good mood.

Half an hour later —

The girl finally came back to herself, the complex lines in her hands suddenly shining with bright light, the engraved array slowly rotating.

She had succeeded.

"Not bad, not bad," Qian Duoduo's voice came from behind, full of admiration.

"Hehe… just lucky," the girl said, scratching her head in embarrassment.

"Alright, go home and rest early. You'll need to be ready for the freshman exam tomorrow," Qian Duoduo said with a smile.

"Yes, teacher!"

The girl bowed respectfully and turned to leave — only to be stopped again.

He handed her a delicate jade bottle.

"Here. This is from Neuvillette — he told me to give it to you. You can brew it when you get home."

With that, Qian Duoduo turned away.

"Neuvillette-sensei came here?" the girl murmured, stunned, staring at the jade bottle in her hands.

A faint blush crept onto her cheeks.

Was Neuvillette-sensei… concerned about her?

Author's Note: Huo Yutong's role is to specialize in the Soul Tool Department — to become a god of machinery — and blast Tang San to bits.

(End of Chapter)

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