By rights, Li Chang'an should have met Ye Lingling much earlier. But ever since arriving in Heaven Dou City, he had been endlessly occupied—one important matter after another—so their meeting kept being postponed.
Strictly speaking, Ye Lingling wasn't even one of his "women." Their agreement had been simple: if she could find a spirit beast suitable for her, he would help her once in return.
At the time, Ye Lingling had half-jokingly said she would serve him as his servant. Li Chang'an hadn't cared much.
Ye Lingling was at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, and with a little effort, Li Chang'an called her out to meet him at an elegant teahouse.
She appeared in her usual black attire, her face veiled by a thin layer of black gauze. Her shoulder-length blue hair framed her cold, aloof demeanor.
Seeing Li Chang'an again, her calm mask slipped slightly. Sitting down, she immediately poured him a cup of tea with her own hands.
"Thank you." Rising to her feet, she gave him a deep bow.
From the aura of her soul power—already at level 45—Li Chang'an could tell she had indeed found the right spirit beast, successfully advanced, and gained considerable growth.
"No need for thanks. It was a fair exchange. You only owe me one favor," Li Chang'an said casually, helping her up before pouring her a cup of tea in return.
"No, not one favor. I said before—if you helped me advance and obtain the right soul ring, I would serve you as your servant." Her clear, cold voice was firm, resolute.
"I only helped you once. Serving me isn't necessary," Li Chang'an said with a dismissive wave. He always kept his word.
"I've already told my teacher about this. He agreed. Say it—what do you want me to do?" Ye Lingling asked steadily. She had her own principles.
Then, without warning, Li Chang'an leaned forward until his face was only a centimeter from hers, staring directly into her eyes through the veil.
Her heart skipped a beat.
'So… in the end, he really does want my body?'
'Forget it. I already promised. Let him do as he pleases. Besides… he really is handsome. Thinking of it like that… maybe it wouldn't be a loss.'
"Join my team. Compete with me in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament," he said softly, locking eyes with her deep-blue gaze.
"Alright… but, um… could we go to a hotel? You'll… be gentle, right?" she blurted instinctively.
Li Chang'an froze, then dragged a hand down his face, his expression pained.
"Can you actually listen? I said join my team, not my bed!"
"Ah… I—I'm sorry. I misunderstood." For the first time, Ye Lingling's voice lost its usual coldness. She sounded almost timid. But as her eyes flickered back to his face, she couldn't help feeling a twinge of disappointment.
"In about two months, you'll withdraw from Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. I'll make arrangements. Also, your teacher is probably still stuck at level 49, unable to break through, right? Give this fruit to him."
Li Chang'an tossed her a High-grade soul Power Fruit.
"This… this is far too precious. Even my teacher wouldn't accept it." Ye Lingling shook her head firmly, trying to hand it back.
"No need to return it. Once he eats it and finds a suitable spirit beast, he'll advance to Spirit King. After that, let him go serve in Spirit Hall—I've already arranged it."
"Spirit… Spirit Hall?!"
Her blue eyes widened in disbelief.
She knew well that the Nine-Heart Flowering Apple Clan had once stood at the very peak, serving as Worshippers in Spirit Hall. Back then, their prestige had been unmatched. But as their cultivation stagnated, their ties with Spirit Hall had long since been severed.
Yet her teacher dreamed of regaining that recognition—of returning the clan to its former glory.
"Yes. Spirit Hall. Not just a branch, but the Spirit Hall in Spirit City itself."
As he spoke, Li Chang'an casually wrote a note, stamped it with his seal, and handed it to her.
"Give this to your teacher. That's all. I'll be going now."
With a wave, he left the teahouse without a trace of hesitation.
Ye Lingling stared after him, her mind blank.
'Could it really be that easy? Just one word from him, and my teacher could enter Spirit Hall?'
She lowered her eyes to the note in her hand. When she read it, she froze again.
"Appoint this person to the rank of Worship. Full treatment as per Worship standards. All other matters to be handled by the Secretariat. Carry this out immediately."
Beneath was a bold seal: Li Chang'an.
"…Li Chang'an? But… wasn't his name Li Changsheng?" she murmured in confusion.
In Shrek Academy, she had only ever known his alias.
"Wait… Li Chang'an… it was him all along!"
---
Unaware of Ye Lingling's shock behind him, Li Chang'an simply enjoyed the points that kept flowing in. It was very satisfying.
'Next stop: the imperial palace. Time to find Qian Renxue again.'
_____
T/N:
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