Zhan Fei thought he had misheard and asked again, “Two… what two star techniques?”
He Song quickly caught on and asked, “The other blue star technique, was it given to you by Dean Si?”
Everyone turned to look at He Song, confused.
What did he mean?
How could the dean of the Agricultural Science Department be giving out rare star techniques?
He Song explained, “The dean of the Agricultural Science Department is a Half-Step Supreme.”
This was no secret.
The Agricultural Science Department had been low-key for the past twenty years, and the students hadn’t known about it.
“!!!”
As He Song’s words hung in the air, everyone stood in stunned silence.
It made sense now.
A blue star technique was nothing to a Half-Step Supreme; it was like breaking a stone.
They looked at Li Yang with newfound awe.
Wah La Ge, who had been silent till now, suddenly spoke up.
“Li Yang, how did you come to join the Agricultural Science Department? Did you already know about its situation?”
Li Yang shook her head and said, “I didn’t know.”
He Song almost spoke in unison with her, “She didn’t know.”
The others looked at Li Yang and then at He Song, their curiosity deepening.
He Song cleared his throat and continued, “I met Li Yang when I was on a mission in Donghua Province. She had never been to Zhongdu, and her family doesn’t have any Star Masters, so how could she have known about the Agricultural Science Department?”
He added, “I wasn’t close to her back then, so I never mentioned the Agricultural Science Department.”
At this point, even He Song looked at Li Yang with a curious gaze, asking, “Then why did you choose the Agricultural Science Department?”
Li Yang smiled, and with sincerity in her voice, she answered, “I like agricultural science. I’m very interested in exotic plants and star plants, and I wanted to research them, so I applied to the Agricultural Science Department.”
The four of them were stunned by this simple, yet profound reason.
For a moment, none of them spoke.
After a long pause, the cool and composed sister nodded thoughtfully, “Indeed, liking something is the most important thing.”
“That’s right!”
Wah La Ge agreed, “Choose what you love, and you’ll never regret it!”
Sun Anmo didn’t say much but gave a solemn nod in agreement.
He Song said, “I understand now. I might have been young back then, but I remember some things. My parents also loved star plants… always studying them in their lab…”
He shook his head, letting out a sigh, “No wonder Professor Si said I wasn’t suited for the Agricultural Science Department. I didn’t love star plants as much as I loved swordsmanship.”
From a young age, he had admired the Star Masters from the Star Combat Department who wielded swords.
No wonder Professor Si had “referred” him to the Star Combat Department.
She must have seen it long ago.
A warmth spread through He Song’s heart as he realized this.
Li Yang then returned to the topic of her four star techniques.
She didn’t go into great detail about each stage but gave a brief overview.
The others were stunned into silence as they listened.
However… three out of these four star techniques were non-combat types…
Zhan Fei said, “That’s great! Nothing is more important than protecting yourself.”
Zhan Fei was very graceful and didn’t think of relying on Li Yang just because she had so many blue and green star techniques.
Instead, she considered that Li Yang’s cultivation was only at the First Grade, and she hoped she could protect herself.
Li Yang knew her cultivation was low and said seriously, “I will try my best to help and not hold everyone back.”
The five of them chatted happily and discussed their battle plans before they finally parted ways.
The operation was set for two days later.
He Song would issue a call to assemble, and the five of them would leave the school together, meet with the city defense army, and then hunt down the heretics.
That night, as Li Yang was just drifting off to sleep, she was suddenly awakened.
Shen Binghua’s voice echoed faintly, “Please, Dean Si, unlock the barrier. I’ve come to return the Tree Tower.”
Logically speaking, Li Yang shouldn’t have heard this voice, which meant that Dean Si had deliberately allowed her to hear it.
Shen Binghua must have been in a difficult situation—during the day, the Agricultural Science Department had been surrounded by people, and there was no way she would have come to return to the Tree Tower.
But this matter could no longer be delayed. It was already decided, and it had to end decently.
Shen Binghua, a woman who cared about her pride, had chosen the dead of night to come deliver the Tree Tower.
Her ideal situation was to leave immediately after placing the Tree Tower without disturbing Li Yang.
But Dean Si wasn’t going to let her get away so easily.
Li Yang climbed out of bed, threw on an outer garment, and said, “Professor, let Shen Dean in. I happen to have something I want to discuss with her.”
Dean Si immediately transmitted Li Yang’s words through the spiritual sea to Shen Binghua.
Shen Binghua: “What nonsense, I don’t want to talk to her!”
Dean Si unlocked the barrier, and Shen Binghua appeared in the small courtyard halfway up the mountain.
She completely ignored Li Yang and courteously addressed Dean Si.
“Dean Si, I’ve returned the Tree Tower. Please continue to take care of it in the future.”
As she spoke, a small “potted plant” appeared in her palm.
The potted plant was entirely golden, like a little money tree that dazzled the eyes.
Li Yang’s eyes widened as she looked at it, her mind full of the image of little money.
The treasure of a master was indeed extraordinary.
The magnificent Tree Tower had been compressed into such a tiny form.
Shen Binghua handed over the Tree Tower, and Li Yang immediately felt an overwhelming pressure.
It wasn’t that Shen Binghua was exerting force on her, but rather that the seemingly small and delicate Tree Tower emanated a vast, suffocating aura.
If Li Yang had reached out to take it, she would have been crushed in seconds.
Dean Si extended her hand, and the Tree Tower trembled before disappearing into her sleeve.
The pressure, like a mountain or the sea, dissipated with it.
Shen Binghua said, “I’ll take my leave now…”
Before she could finish, Li Yang spoke up, “Wait a moment, Teacher Shen.”
The previously polite Dean Shen had now become Teacher Shen, and a bad feeling rose within her.
She didn’t want to talk to Li Yang and was about to leave.
Li Yang blinked at Dean Si, who cast a cold glance at Shen Binghua.
Shen Binghua froze and had no choice but to stop.
Suppressing her anger, Shen Binghua turned to Li Yang, “What is it?”
Li Yang, still polite, said, “Teacher Shen, two days from now, I’m going to leave school to undertake a bounty mission.”
Shen Binghua responded, “What does that have to do with me?”
Li Yang replied, “Actually, it has a lot to do with you.”
Shen Binghua shot her a cold look.
Dean Si had no idea what Li Yang was planning.
Li Yang smiled and continued, “Thanks to your reminder, Teacher Shen, I now realize that you can’t leave school for the time being…”
She then said, “So, what if something happens to me after I leave? Who will protect me?”
Shen Binghua sneered, “If you’re too scared, you should quit school and stop wasting resources.”
Li Yang stared at her, saying slowly, “I’m not afraid of the heretics. I’m afraid of you, Dean Shen.”
Shen Binghua narrowed her eyes, her aura cold and sharp, “What do you mean by that?”
Li Yang spoke plainly, “It’s well known that I’ve offended you, so if anything happens to me after I leave school, who will be the prime suspect?”
Dean Si turned her head sharply and looked at Shen Binghua, “You want to kill her?”
Shen Binghua was so furious that she could hardly maintain her composure.
She felt like shouting at Li Yang.
Shen Binghua: “When did I ever say…”
Li Yang interrupted her, “It doesn’t matter what you say. What matters is, you really want to kill me, don’t you? After all, I made you lose so much face and even cost you the Tree Tower…”
Li Yang finally got to the point, saying, “So, I hope Teacher Shen can protect me.”
Shen Binghua was so angered she could only laugh.
“Li Yang, listen to yourself. One moment you say I’ll kill you, and now you’re asking me to protect you?”
“Yes,” Li Yang nodded.
“You want to kill me, but you can’t, right, Teacher?” She then turned her gaze to Dean Si.
Dean Si’s cold stare bore into Shen Binghua.
Shen Binghua was too smart not to understand what Li Yang was implying, and it only served to further infuriate her.
Li Yang continued, “My teacher can’t leave school for the time being, but I need someone to protect me… no, I’m afraid Dean Shen might secretly kill me, so tonight, I’m asking you for a protective charm.”
Shen Binghua was utterly speechless.
Li Yang looked confidently at Dean Si, “Teacher, if I die, it will be at the hands of Dean Shen.”
Dean Si had no qualms about offering her full support, “If you are killed, I will immediately destroy the Star Law Department.”
Shen Binghua almost exploded with rage.
Before these madmen, she couldn’t maintain any semblance of dignity.
Shen Binghua: “Don’t go too far, Si!”
Dean Si shot back, “You kill my student, I kill your student. Is that a problem?”
Li Yang casually said, “Dean Shen, why are you so nervous? As long as nothing happens to me, everything will be fine, right?”
Shen Binghua, fighting to suppress her fury, said, “You mean to say that you’re going on some ridiculous bounty mission, and I have to babysit you the whole time?”
Li Yang responded, “That’s not necessary. I’m going out to break my mirror, and breaking the mirror requires life-or-death battles.”
Shen Binghua gritted her teeth.
“If you go out with such poor strength and get killed by the heretics, don’t blame me.”
Li Yang calmly said, “Whether I die by the hands of a Second Grade or a higher-level practitioner, I’m sure my teacher can distinguish between them.”
Shen Binghua’s headache worsened. She’d never suffered such humiliation in her life.
And yet, she realized that Li Yang had completely trapped her.
Shen Binghua took a deep breath and said, “Li Yang, I won’t kill you. I’m a teacher at Zhongdu Military Academy, and I would never harm a student from Zhongdu Military Academy, no matter what department they’re from.”
Li Yang scoffed, “But I don’t trust you.”
Shen Binghua: “Then I can’t do anything about it!”
Li Yang smirked, “It’s simple. Teacher Shen, all you have to do is protect me from being killed by high-level practitioners.”
She had never met someone so shameless in her life.
Fuming, Shen Binghua threw her sleeves over her shoulder and left in a huff.
Li Yang waved cheerfully, “Safe travels, Teacher Shen.”
Even Dean Si, who usually kept a stern face, couldn’t help but smile.
She tapped Li Yang’s forehead, “You really know how to deal with her.”
For the first time in all her years of knowing Shen Binghua, Dean Si had seen her reduced to such a helpless state.
The sweet victory was too satisfying.
After Shen Binghua returned to the Star Law Department, she slowly calmed down.
She pondered Li Yang’s words and had to admit that the brat was right.
If Li Yang did die outside, Dean Si would not spare her.
The Tree Tower dispute had already caused quite a stir.
Everyone knew that Li Yang had offended Shen Binghua to the extreme.
If someone were to kill Li Yang to frame Shen Binghua, who would bear the consequences?
Shen Binghua’s heart clenched.
She was starting to panic.
Shen Binghua, even though unwilling, knew she had no choice.
Dean Si couldn’t leave the school, and now, it seemed she had to bear the responsibility of protecting Li Yang.
This little troublemaker couldn’t die—at least not for now.
Shen Binghua regretted it deeply.
Why had she ever gotten involved with this troublesome little thing?