"Goodbye, teacher."
Wang Zhong nodded to Ying Yanyang and left the office.
After Wang Zhong's departure, the entire office became quiet. Ying Yanyang sat alone in his chair, put away the cup Wang Zhong had used, and placed a new one on the desk. He poured a full cup of tea, as if speaking to the air.
"Lord, what do you think of Wang Zhong's reaction?"
As the words fell, the dark corner of the office twisted, transforming into strands of black mist that slithered through the air like snakes, exuding an eerie and sinister aura.
The black mist condensed on the sofa opposite Ying Yanyang, forming a pitch-black shadow from which a pale hand emerged, gently grasping the teacup.
His lean and strong body, his somewhat gloomy face, and the mysterious shadow tattoos on his face all spoke of his identity.
Ghost Douluo, Gui Mei!
"What can be seen from just these few sentences?"
His voice was hoarse and low, devoid of any inflection.
"As long as his identity remains unclear, he will continue to be suspected."
He drained the tea in the cup, and Gui Mei's words were cold and filled with malice.
"Is this suspicion worth it?"
Ying Yanyang looked at Gui Mei with calm eyes, his gaze lacking the fear and caution most people exhibited when encountering a Titled Douluo. It was surprisingly indifferent.
"Oh! You have other ideas."
Gui Mei poured himself another cup of tea, responding casually.
The tea tasted good, fragrant, strong, and lingering. Even as a Titled Douluo, he found it novel upon his first taste.
"Merely for a suspicion, to be wary of and constantly test a student of such extraordinary talent is quite inappropriate."
"If he truly has no connection to those people, our suspicion will only chill his heart, and worse, it could push him to their side, which would be a great loss for the Spirit Hall."
Ying Yanyang spoke his worries with a calm tone.
Given Wang Zhong's current talent, barring an untimely demise, becoming a Titled Douluo was a certainty. It was even possible for him to reach Peak Douluo and Extreme Douluo realms.
If this young man were to develop a dislike for the Spirit Hall, and such an exceptional future powerhouse were to slip through their grasp, as a teacher at the Spirit Hall Academy, he could not bear to accept such an outcome.
"But if he truly is, then we will have preemptively eliminated a significant hidden danger for the Spirit Hall, won't we."
Gui Mei offered a slight smile, replying indifferently and casually.
The two held their own opinions, neither able to easily convince the other.
The situation reached a stalemate, yet the atmosphere between them remained calm. Both belonged to the Pope's faction, and despite their differing views, conflict was not imminent.
While Gui Mei was a distinguished elder of the Spirit Hall, the Spirit Hall Academy was highly valued by Bibi Dong, arguably cherished.
Especially the teachers of Class A, who were entrusted with great expectations to nurture true pillars of the Spirit Hall, their importance not a whit less than his as elders.
Moreover, Ying Yanyang, though only a Rank 74 Soul Saint, had dispatched more than one Soul Douluo and had even come close to taking down a Titled Douluo.
As long as he could not subdue the opponent immediately, Gui Mei did not have absolute confidence in suppressing Ying Yanyang.
This was because Ying Yanyang's fifth spirit ability was too monstrous. Though it came from a mere hundred-year spirit ring, the spirit ability it granted was practically cheating. This skill allowed Ying Yanyang to increase the power of his Fierce Fire Eagle spirit's flames by one-fifth every fifteen breaths!
It could be described as a prime example of growing stronger and fiercer the longer the battle.
Coupled with Ying Yanyang's inherent strengths in speed and agility, subduing him in a short time was extremely difficult. If the battle were prolonged, Gui Mei could not withstand the power of those flames.
"Oh, this fragrance, Dragon Blood Jade Tea. Little Yanyang, you are indeed fortunate to have found such a treasure among teas."
A sibilant, sharp voice suddenly echoed in the office. Petals of chrysanthemum drifted down from the air, and Chrysanthemum Douluo's figure abruptly appeared before them.
With an enraptured expression, he lifted the teapot, took a cup, and carefully poured himself some, Yue Guan's eyes filled with delight.
He took a gentle sip and let out an exaggerated sigh of comfort.
"Good tea, good tea. It truly lives up to its reputation as a treasure. Such a flavor is truly irresistible."
"If Lord Chrysanthemum Douluo likes it, perhaps you could take some with you later? Yanyang doesn't have much, but it should be enough for you to drink for a while."
A smile appeared on Ying Yanyang's face as he said this lightly.
"Very well, then I shall not refuse. I have long yearned for such a delicacy."
Yue Guan accepted directly, without any pretense or feigned modesty.
"Lord, you are here regarding Wang Zhong's matter as well, are you not?" Ying Yanyang inquired.
"Yes and no."
Yue Guan glanced at Ying Yanyang and casually sat on the other sofa, responding loosely.
"Please elaborate, Lord." Ying Yanyang replied casually.
"I have two matters to attend to during my visit to the academy."
"The first is to check on how my disciple is progressing in her training. Currently, I am extremely satisfied."
Yue Guan's disciple was the homeroom teacher of Class A, Year Two, Shuang Yue Lian.
Yue Guan's spirit was a celestial herb called the Glorious Sky-Reaching Chrysanthemum, not only a formidable spirit but also extremely rare on the continent.
Furthermore, due to his spirit, Yue Guan had a deep love for all kinds of flowers, bordering on obsession, especially for rare and precious celestial flowers.
Shuang Yue Lian's spirit, the Pure Ice Lotus, while not a celestial flower or a rare treasure, was a rare and peculiar bloom.
Just as the lotus emerges from mud unstained, Shuang Yue Lian's Pure Ice Lotus took this to the extreme.
Dispelling, dissolving, fading, removing, purifying – the Pure Ice Lotus could erase any negative status from a person, such as poisoning, weakness, excitement, rage, and so on.
It was precisely these characteristics that led Yue Guan to take Shuang Yue Lian as his disciple the moment he saw her many years ago.
"The second is to convey the Pope's verbal decree."
"Gui Mei, Ying Yanyang, from this moment forward, all probing actions towards Wang Zhong are to cease immediately!"
Ying Yanyang's face was filled with surprise, and Gui Mei's expression instantly changed.
"Yue Guan, what is going on!"
Facing Gui Mei's stern questioning, Yue Guan shrugged and chuckled, "Old ghost, you ask me, and I don't know either."
"All I know is that His Holiness the Pope visited the Judgment Hall and had a conversation with the Judgment Elders. When His Holiness emerged, he issued this command to me."
Gui Mei's face was filled with shock and uncertainty.
He had no right or qualification to question matters concerning the Pope and the Judgment Elders.
"Alright, old ghost, let's put an end to this matter."
"Furthermore, His Holiness the Pope may be intending to take Wang Zhong as a disciple!"
"Your speculations are merely overthinking!"