"It's fine, really. It's no trouble at all."
Aether saw that Wang Wan still wanted to say something, but he simply shook his head and looked at Yu Keke with a doting smile.
"This girl will be just fine."
"Brother…"
Yu Keke whispered, her heart brimming with emotion.
So this is the sense of security he gives…
Shui Yue'er had the same thought.
Even though Aether's words weren't directed at her, her heart still pounded uncontrollably. She glanced at Yu Keke beside him, full of envy.
Shui Bing'er bit her rosy lips lightly, a trace of complex emotion rising within her.
She had always admired the strong—and this young man in front of her, which girl wouldn't be drawn to someone like him?
Even if there was a vast gap in strength between them, since he could like someone… why couldn't it be her?
Shui Bing'er stole a glance at Shui Yue'er. In matters like this, it seemed her younger sister was even braver than she was…
"Alright, everyone, let's eat. It won't taste as good once it's cold."
Aether was unaware of the sisters' swirling thoughts and didn't press further about Yu Keke's second soul skill.
Even if everything that happened to Keke seemed perfectly normal in his eyes, she was undeniably a special individual in the eyes of soul masters from this world. It was better not to startle them too much.
"This young powerhouse… he really is confident in his strength."
Wang Wan couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Even when she brought up Title Douluo and the Spirit Hall, he remained calm and indifferent. Could it be that what they saw was just the tip of his iceberg?
Their dinner concluded amidst these quiet undercurrents.
During the meal, Shui Yue'er learned from her sister that Instructor Wang intended to invite Yu Keke to enroll at Skywater Academy.
So she boldly brought it up. If they could really get Yu Keke to join the academy, a prodigy like her would not only bring glory to the school… but maybe he would also visit often…
As expected, though, the result was predictable.
After hearing their invitation, Yu Keke thanked them politely but ultimately declined.
She was lucky enough to travel with her brother and Paimon. How could she possibly go off to train at some academy?
Unless… it was her brother who told her to go.
"Rest well, everyone~"
Once the conversation ended, Paimon greeted Shui Bing'er's group before slipping into the tent with Yu Keke.
She'd eaten so much just now. And eating that much always made her sleepy.
Aether remained seated calmly beside the campfire, clearly keeping watch.
Skywater Academy had naturally brought camping gear for their soul beast hunt.
Since the two instructors had fought earlier to protect the group, Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er insisted they rest, volunteering to take over the night watch.
Wang Wan knew their soul power levels were relatively low and initially wanted to refuse, but when she saw that Aether had also chosen to rest outside the tent, she said nothing more.
She glanced at the sisters with some interest and ultimately let them have their way.
As long as Aether was present, safety was guaranteed—no matter whose side. Still, the little thoughts these two girls harbored did cause her some concern.
"Wang-jie, do you think Bing'er and Yue'er might be…?"
Inside the Skywater Academy tent, Wang Wan was re-bandaging the injuries of Teacher Xu, who had come with them.
Women always loved a bit of gossip. Xu had already noticed during dinner how differently the sisters looked at the powerful young man. She took this moment to bring it up.
"Ah, let them be…"
Wang Wan sighed softly. She was probably the first to notice the girls' little crushes.
"It's just that for someone like him, Bing'er and Yue'er are destined for unrequited love."
Skywater Academy, since its founding, had only admitted women as students and teachers. There wasn't a single male on the entire campus.
That in itself said a lot about the academy's philosophy.
They refused to admit men because, as women, they were proud and strong. They admired strength and believed women were in no way inferior to men. Anything a man could do, a woman could do just as well—or even better.
Of course, this didn't mean they disliked men. On the contrary, this belief made them admire the strong even more.
Especially a peerless powerhouse like the one they had met today.
If she were ten years younger, maybe she too would have fallen for him just like Bing'er and Yue'er…
Wang Wan quickly shook her head, forcing that thought away.
How could she entertain such a ridiculous idea…
"Mm~ I just wonder what faction they come from. I've never heard of anyone that young achieving the title of 'His Excellency'."
Xu voiced the doubt in her heart.
"I don't think any known faction could nurture a Title Douluo that young—let alone a girl with talent like hers. Not even the Spirit Hall could manage that!"
Wang Wan dismissed the idea, but then a sudden realization struck her. Her eyes widened.
"Wait, I just remembered something!"
"Huh? What is it?"
Xu looked at Wang Wan's shocked expression and grew even more curious.
"In Skywater City—have you heard a certain rumor?"
"Ugh, just tell me already, Wang-jie!"
Xu pouted and clung to Wang Wan's arm in mock annoyance.
As one of the five elemental cities of the Heaven Dou Empire, Skywater City's economy ranked just behind the imperial capital. With a huge and constantly moving population, rumors were a daily occurrence. How could she know which one Wang Wan meant?
"A while ago, all the slaves bound by contracts to nobles in the city had their slave contracts broken—all at once."
"I know that one!"
Xu immediately recalled the major event.
"Supposedly, a powerful figure stood up for them and forcibly broke their contracts!"
"And it's said that this person even communicated with a god in Heaven Dou City to serve as witness during the contract's dissolution…"
Wang Wan nodded subtly.
"So… what kind of strength do you think it would take to communicate with a god?"
"I can't even imagine…"
Xu shook her head, awe in her voice.
"Then what if I told you—that person was a god?"
"What?!"
Xu exclaimed so loudly that both sisters poked their heads into the tent.
Even Aether glanced over curiously from the campfire.
"Teacher, what happened?"
Shui Bing'er looked between the two instructors and, seeing nothing wrong, asked with a puzzled expression.
_
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