"Do you know what flavor Su Teacher likes? Is it fresh or spicy?"
"It should be fresh. When he was at the Academy, Su Teacher didn't like too many seasonings; he preferred the original taste."
"Then does Su Teacher prefer it tight or a bit loose?"
"Ah? What are you saying? (Blushing)"
"Hey, don't misunderstand. I'm talking about whether the meat is firm or a bit tender."
"We're also talking about the meat! I think Su Teacher would probably like it firm."
"Hehe, I think so too. After all, I'm very firm, and Su Teacher likes me very much~"
Here, wisps of cooking smoke rose on the lawn. Zhu Zhuqing extended a small cat's paw, its sharp claws gleaming coldly. She flipped the fragrant roasted meat while discussing Su Teacher's taste preferences with her sisters.
Xiao Wu blinked her eyes, very interested in Su Teacher's preferences:
It's good that he likes it firm. My little bunny is very firm.
Just then, Su Ran, who had changed into a black outfit, walked out of the house and tapped Xiao Wu and the others on the head:
"Xiao Wu, Meng Yiran, Rongrong, no nonsense."
"Ouch!"
Xiao Wu rubbed her forehead; it hurt so much when Su Teacher flicked her!
"Su Teacher, Su Teacher, do you want to try the noodles I made?"
Ning Rongrong pouted, already used to Xiao Wu and the others drooling over Su Teacher's body. Her small face was smudged with two streaks of soot. Holding a spatula, she saw Su Teacher come out and presented the result of her twenty minutes of hard work.
Father said that a girl who is virtuous and can cook is the most virtuous.
But... cooking is really hard.
Looking at the slightly burnt fried noodles in front of Ning Rongrong, Su Ran's handsome face beneath his mask changed slightly. He took out a towel to wipe her small face, which was blackened by smoke:
"Rongrong, you must remember that everyone does not come to this World for no reason, but with a mission. Your mission is to become the strongest defensive support system Spirit Master, not a cooking god."
Su Ran took out a towel and gently wiped Ning Rongrong's face, making Rongrong's small face turn red:
"Okay, Su Teacher, I might indeed not be suited for this line of work. Besides delicious meals, what else do you like, Su Teacher? I can learn anything!"
However, becoming the strongest defensive support system is only the mission Su Teacher gave me, but my family's mission is to bring Su Teacher home!
"Rongrong, you don't have to do anything. When you can perfect the Seven Treasure Golden Bell Shield and transform the Golden Body Glazed Pagoda into a Demon Suppressing Pagoda, that will be my happiest moment."
Su Ran said helplessly.
"Alright, you all performed well in today's competition. I'll personally grill meat for you as a reward."
"Huh? Su Teacher, didn't you say the reward was a kiss? Are you not giving it anymore?!"
"Or, Su Teacher, let's go, come inside. It's fine if this student just gets to see Su Teacher's face alone, slurp~"
"If there's a reward for seeing his face, it should be given to me, right? Neither I nor Ye Lingling have seen Su Teacher's appearance yet."
...
Just as Su Ran rolled up his sleeves and flipped the charcoal, and his students were not behaving, coveting Su Teacher's stunning appearance.
Under the starry sky, a young man bravely walked over, and with a thud, knelt before Su Ran:
"Su Teacher, I know this might be presumptuous, but I don't want to lose this opportunity."
"I also want to be like Wang Sheng... I want to learn by your side. Please give me a chance, even if it's just to do odd jobs."
"Eh?"
Seeing Wang Sheng's old classmate Xiao Chenyu suddenly asking to become a disciple, the female students of the Academy were a bit surprised, but they were all very sensible. They stopped giggling and stood quietly to the side.
Su Ran stopped what he was doing and glanced at them.
Wang Sheng didn't hesitate at all. He knelt down with Xiao Chenyu in front of Su Ran and said with his head lowered:
"Su Teacher, it was this disciple who suggested he do this. Please punish this disciple."
"Su Teacher, you can't blame Wang Sheng. Please don't punish him. This was my own decision. Wang Sheng just made me more determined—I want to become your disciple!"
Xiao Chenyu said.
"You two, are you really that close as brothers?"
"I haven't said he did anything wrong, nor have I said I would punish him."
Su Ran glanced at Wang Sheng and said faintly:
"Why did you suggest he become my disciple?"
"I think Xiao Chenyu is not bad. If he comes to our Academy, he can learn real things. Also, this disciple has selfish motives. Although Xiao Chenyu used to bully us a lot, we became acquainted through fighting. If he can stay and study at the Academy, this student will have more people to communicate and spar with in the future."
Wang Sheng said truthfully.
"What about you? Why do you want to become my disciple? I want to hear the truth."
Su Ran then looked at Xiao Chenyu.
Xiao Chenyu took a deep breath. Although this Su Teacher looked calm and collected, when he spoke, he exuded a lot of pressure:
"I want to become a strong person and go further on the path of a Spirit Master."
This is what most Spirit Masters aspire to, and it's not uncommon.
"Ordinary people want to become strong for two reasons: one, to gain more power and authority, have more say, and enjoy more benefits; two, to have a reason to become strong, like revenge or being hunted."
"Are you the former or the latter?"
"I... I should be both. My father told me from a young age that in this World, the strong make the rules, and the weak have no say. So, one must learn to assess the situation and not offend talented individuals with backgrounds or influence. Only by having strength oneself can one build one's own power and control the overall situation... My father was right about some things and wrong about others, but I believe that, at least, becoming strong means having choices. The weak have no choices; they can only be dominated. Becoming strong means at least being able to ensure that I, my family, and my friends no longer have to live at the mercy of others, and we gain the opportunity to be treated fairly."
Xiao Chenyu only remembered the two words Wang Sheng told him at this moment: be sincere.
Just follow your heart.
"You're right. The weak have no choices."
Su Ran sighed slightly. Although he was dedicated to cultivating good character in his students, what Xiao Chenyu said was indeed the truth of the World. Only with strength can one gain choices and equal treatment.
If they didn't have strength, Peach Garden Academy might have perished at the hands of Shrek long ago, and they wouldn't have been able to stop Dugu Bo.
"Wang Sheng, get up."
"Girls, I can't give you those flowery winning rewards you asked for. However, I have seven pills here that can increase the age of your spirit rings. After taking them, your spirit rings can increase by one hundred years. Take them and absorb them; they should provide a significant improvement."
Then, Su Ran looked at Xiao Chenyu and said faintly:
"Come with me."
After speaking, Su Ran went up the stairs and walked towards the villa's rooftop.
"Wang Sheng, is Su Teacher not accepting me?" Not getting a direct answer from Su Ran, Xiao Chenyu felt a bit disappointed.
"Xiao Chenyu, are you stupid? Su Teacher is letting you undergo a separate test; don't you know what that means? Go quickly."
Ning Rongrong wiped the dirt from her face with the towel Su Teacher gave her and reminded Xiao Chenyu.
Xiao Chenyu suddenly realized, his face brightening with joy:
"Thank you, Senior Sister, for the guidance!"
"Wang Sheng, I love you to death!"
Xiao Chenyu gave Wang Sheng a flying kiss.
Watching Xiao Chenyu excitedly follow Su Ran's retreating figure, Ning Rongrong, Meng Yiran, and Dugu Yan chuckled:
"Wang Sheng, why is this Xiao Chenyu as silly as you?"
Wang Sheng rubbed his head, embarrassed: "Xiao Chenyu is much smarter than me. He used to be the campus boss."
...
On the rooftop of Taoyuan Villa, under the faint starlight and moonlight, Su Ran stood quietly at the edge in a black robe. The night breeze gently brushed past. He turned to look at Xiao Chenyu and said faintly:
"Xiao Chenyu, regardless of whether your desire to become a disciple comes from yourself or Wang Sheng's persuasion, you must understand that Wang Sheng's current strength is not only due to my guidance but also his own persistence and unwavering determination."
"As my disciple, you might need to endure more hardship and pain that ordinary people cannot bear. Even if you gain great power, you must not commit evil or bully the weak. You must strictly adhere to the Academy's rules and regulations."
"Do you see her? She is currently cultivating a power that can change the drawbacks of her Spirit, but this will bring her immense pain. If it were you, could you endure it?"
Su Ran pointed to the highest part of the rooftop, where Ye Lingling was diligently cultivating the Nine Revolutions Black Lotus, striving to complete the initial transformation of her Black Lotus Heart after witnessing her teammates' strength during the day.
Her delicate face was covered in cold sweat, showing an expression of extreme pain. Her body was also convulsing, and the meridians on her body had turned bluish-black, clearly indicating she was enduring inhuman torment.
To become strong, one must endure immense pain, and after becoming strong, one cannot act as one pleases, being bound by Academy rules. In many people's eyes, this is not as easy and pleasant as cultivating on their own.
Of course, not all disciples need to experience such pain, but at least, the path Su Ran had prepared for Xiao Chenyu, and the pain required for his metamorphosis, would be no less than Ye Lingling's.
Xiao Chenyu gritted his teeth and once again knelt before Su Ran:
"I, Xiao Chenyu, am willing to endure any pain, even if it means being torn to pieces, I will gladly bear the consequences."
"Good. From today onwards, you and Wang Sheng are both my disciples. Take this peach blossom token."
From Su Ran's sleeve, a dark peach blossom token engraved with intricate peach patterns and the Academy motto fell before Xiao Chenyu. Looking at the peach blossom token, Xiao Chenyu's heart suddenly pounded.
Picking up the peach blossom token, he immediately kowtowed three times to Su Ran:
"Disciple Xiao Chenyu, greets Su Teacher!"
[Ding—]
[Accepted Disciple: Xiao Chenyu]
[Aptitude Level: C-]
[Spirit: Wolf]
[spirit power Level: 19]
[Disciple Acceptance Reward: Host's total spirit ring age increased by 1%, spirit power slightly increased.]
[Reward Basic Unique Skill: Hungry Wolf Fist.]
[Host has set this disciple's evolution path: Wolf → Adamantite Wolf → Undying Heavenly Wolf → Undying Divine Slaughter Wolf, System — Self-healing Defense System, attack system dual-route.]
-------------------------------
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