Just then, Oscar poked his head into the tent, a strange smile on his face.
"Yin Ge, you have visitors. Your father-in-law is here, and there's someone else I don't recognize."
The tent immediately fell silent. Ning Fengzhi, the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, had arrived. This was a significant visit. Flender and Grandmaster quickly stood up to greet him, and Ye Yin rose as well, his expression shifting back to its usual gentle smile.
"Please, invite them in."
The tent flap was lifted again, and Ning Fengzhi walked in, followed closely by Xue Qinghe. Ning Fengzhi was dressed in an elegant white robe, and his warm smile made everyone feel at ease.
"School Master Flender, Grandmaster, and students, I apologize for the disturbance."
Xue Qinghe wore the simple attire of a nobleman. His clothing wasn't particularly luxurious, and standing next to the refined Ning Fengzhi, he seemed rather plain and didn't draw much attention. His gaze swept casually across the tent, but as it passed over Ye Yin, it lingered for a fraction of a second, like the light touch of a feather, carrying a hidden meaning that only the two of them understood before moving on.
[Resentment from Qian Renxue +10!]
Flender quickly cupped his hands in greeting. "Not at all, not at all! Sect Master Ning, your presence brightens our humble camp! Please, have a seat!"
With the new arrivals, the tent felt a bit crowded, so the Shrek members tactfully made some space.
Ning Fengzhi smiled and shook his head. "We won't sit for long. We just came to check in. Where's Rongrong? I haven't seen her in a while, and I miss her."
Ning Rongrong, hearing her father's voice, ran in from outside. After a brief chat with his daughter, Ning Fengzhi began to discuss the possibility of sending more disciples from his school to study at Shrek Academy, an offer Flender was more than happy to accept.
Finally, Ning Fengzhi turned his gentle gaze to Ye Yin. "Ye Yin, the promotion rounds are about to begin. How are you feeling? Are you under any pressure? As a support-type Spirit Master, you won't be able to dominate the stage the same way you did in the team matches."
Ye Yin smiled faintly. "That's not necessarily true."
Ning Fengzhi looked at him with surprise. Could Ye Yin, a support-type, actually be planning to challenge a battle-type Spirit Master in a one-on-one fight? Even Ning Fengzhi, a Spirit Douluo, would never dare to do something like that.
"Well then, I shall look forward to it," he said politely.
"Junior Brother Ye's talent is extraordinary. Your methods in the preliminary rounds were truly astonishing," Xue Qinghe spoke up at the perfect moment, his voice warm and filled with genuine admiration. "The so-called unique characteristics of the Five Element Academies became a different kind of scenery in front of you. It really opened my eyes."
The words sounded like a compliment, but the emphasis on his "methods" and the "scenery" he created, combined with the smile in Xue Qinghe's eyes, carried a hidden jab.
Ye Yin simply nodded as if he didn't catch the underlying meaning. "I was merely adapting to the situation. The promotion rounds are in a different venue, so I'm also looking forward to whatever unique scenery our opponents will bring."
[Resentment from Qian Renxue +10!]
Qian Renxue wanted to slap him. He was impossible to reason with.
As if on cue, Ye Yin casually picked up the small black jade bottle from the table and began twirling it between his fingers. The bottle was smooth and cool, and the feeling of the thick liquid shifting inside it made Xue Qinghe's body tense up almost instantly. A chill that came from the depths of her soul and an indescribable sensation washed over her. It was a mixture of fear, shame, and even a faint, twisted hint of anticipation.
[Resentment from Qian Renxue +50!]
She remembered those hands, that cool, slippery touch, and the chilling refinement of the netherworld essential oil as it seeped into her skin. Most of all, she remembered the feeling of complete powerlessness, of being thoroughly analyzed and controlled. Although the oil's effects had been powerful, she still wanted to kill him for it.
"Your Highness?" Ye Yin asked, seeming to notice her reaction. He raised an eyebrow slightly, his eyes filled with concern. "Are you feeling unwell?"
"Cough… it's nothing," Xue Qinghe said, forcing herself to suppress the turmoil inside her. She took a deep breath, and her gaze became sharp and profound again. "Junior Brother Ye, there are no outsiders here. I want to know, what exactly are your intentions?"
"Intentions?" Ye Yin looked puzzled, his smile still perfectly harmless. "Why do you ask, Your Highness? I'm just focused on my cultivation. I hope to lead my friends to a good result in the competition and bring glory to the Empire."
"Bring glory to the Empire?" Qian Renxue almost choked. "In the preliminaries, you made the Five Element Academies lose all face. The Empire's future pillars were publicly disgraced. Is that what you call bringing glory to the Empire?"
"Your Highness, you're mistaken," Ye Yin said, shaking his head with a hint of helplessness. "On the competition field, winning and losing are normal. The methods might have been a bit special, but they were all within the rules. As for their 'face'..." He paused, looking at Xue Qinghe meaningfully. "True dignity comes from strength, not from meaningless vanity. If they can't even handle a setback like that, how can they bear the responsibility of being the future pillars of the Empire? Perhaps what I did was actually helping them temper their character and improve themselves. How can someone achieve superhuman strength without first experiencing inhuman suffering?"
[Resentment from Qian Renxue +50!]
Tempering character? Farting, limping, singing, and searching for legs… you call that tempering character?! Qian Renxue felt her expression begin to crack.
"What a fine way to temper character," she said, almost through gritted teeth. "Then I suppose your leniency towards Shui Bing'er of Tianshui Academy was also a form of tempering?"
"Miss Shui is intelligent and resilient," Ye Yin said calmly. "She faced a strong enemy without losing her composure and chose to admit defeat to preserve her teammates' dignity. Why would a character like that need tempering? I naturally showed her the respect she deserved."
[Resentment from Qian Renxue +30!]
Leniency? Respect? Then what about me?! That massage was nothing but torture! Qian Renxue felt a surge of frustration. Her voice deepened, carrying a clear warning—a warning Emperor Xue Ye had instructed her to deliver.
"Ye Yin, I know you're very talented and very strong, but you must remember that a blade that is too sharp breaks easily. There are boundaries that must not be crossed, and there are people you can't afford to provoke."
"Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness," Ye Yin said smoothly. "I always act with my own discretion. If others don't offend me, I won't offend them. As for boundaries..." He raised his hand, the small black bottle twirling deftly between his fingers, reflecting a dark luster. "Boundaries are meant to be broken. As long as one has enough strength and reason."
His gaze subtly swept over Xue Qinghe's slightly stiff neck and the gentle rise and fall of her chest. The moment his eyes passed over her, Qian Renxue felt as if an electric current had shot through her. That familiar, chilling sensation of being seen through completely washed over her again. She had to fight the urge to take a step back.
[Resentment from Qian Renxue +99!]
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