In front of all the others, she threw herself into his embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around him.
The others could only watch with mixed emotions as their most admired teacher accepted her closeness.
[Xue Wu – Favorability: 98%]
[Shui Bing'er – Favorability: 96%]
[Shui Yue'er – Favorability: 98%]
[Zhu Zhuqing – Favorability: 89%]
[Ning Rongrong – Favorability: 90%]
[Wu Ling – Favorability: 95%]
[Yu Hairou – Favorability: 97%]
[Shen Liuyu – Favorability: 97%]
[Zhu Zhuyun – Favorability: 100%]
Feeling the warmth in his arms, Yuan Longxuan allowed the faintest smile to touch his lips.
Xue Wu was not just another member of the team.
Among the Tianshui girls, she held a position of natural authority.
Even Shui Bing'er, the official captain, often followed her lead in certain matters.
"Alright, you little imp. You're nearly nineteen already....don't act like a spoiled child."
He ruffled her silky blue hair gently before releasing her.
Xue Wu lingered a moment longer, reluctant to let go, then finally stepped back to join her sisters.
Turning to face the whole group, Yuan Longxuan's expression grew solemn.
Soon, I'll be taking you to the Heaven Dou Imperial City to register for the Great Spirit Arena.
Until then, you must give everything you have to your training."
He paused, his gaze steady.
The four techniques....Xuan Tian Gong, Ghost Shadow Steps, Purple Demon Eyes, and Controlling Crane, Capturing Dragon....must not be neglected.
Each of them is vital. Train diligently. Do not slack."
"Got it!" a chorus of voices replied, though Shui Yue'er added with a mischievous smile:
"Hehe, but Brother Longxuan… Yue'er still doesn't understand some parts either."
Yuan Longxuan could only shake his head helplessly, though there was warmth in his eyes.
As night fell, the vast expanse of stars stretched above like a magnificent painting unfurling slowly across the heavens.
Countless points of light shimmered with a quiet mystery, as if a thousand invisible eyes were observing the world below.
Some stars shone bright as diamonds, while others flickered faintly like fireflies.
Together, they formed an endless ocean of light, and the Milky Way flowed across the sky like a silken ribbon, sparkling with ethereal beauty.
In the serenity of this starry night, the world seemed to pause, wrapped in a quiet stillness.
A gentle breeze brushed through the air, carrying a hint of coolness.
Leaning back on a sofa, Yuan Longxuan gazed up at the stars. An inexplicable feeling stirred within him...a mix of nostalgia, longing, and reflection.
Amid the infinite universe, his own worries and uncertainties seemed insignificant.
The stars silently witnessed the passage of time.
Their permanence reminded him of the beauty of the world, of moments that transcend the fleeting troubles of life.
The night sky was a gift of nature, eternal and mesmerizing.
In just a few days, Yuan Longxuan would take his team to the Heaven Dou Imperial City for the Grand Spirit Arena competition.
There, they would likely face the proud and self-assured Huangdou team.
He wondered quietly whether the spirited little girl, Dugu Yan, would enroll in the Heaven Dou Royal Academy as the original story foretold.
He sighed inwardly, blaming himself for not having brought her to Tianshui earlier.
Still, it was a minor concern; if necessary, he could always visit her grandfather, Dugu Bo, to check in.
With a blink, sleep beckoned.
Tonight, Yuan Longxuan felt a rare melancholy. Perhaps it was the playful defiance of his girls, who never ceased to challenge his authority in little ways.
Because of the upcoming competition, he and his companions....Han Ru Yan, Xiao Wu, and Liu Erlong....had agreed to give the four younger girls a short break.
Yet, Yuan Longxuan did not anticipate their clever ruse:
claiming it was a holiday for Shui Bing'er and the others, they had actually intended to bring Zhu Zhuyun, a strategic ally, into the mix to overwhelm him through sheer numbers.
The result, of course, was predictable. After two days of tactical skirmishes, Yuan Longxuan still emerged victorious.
The girls' hopeful expressions, so full of anticipation, finally faltered.
To reinforce his lesson, Yuan Longxuan increased the intensity of their punishment, leaving the four young women unable to rise from bed for most of the day.
Late at night, silence reigned over the world.
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