"No, I must have the Hall Master come and take charge personally."
Elder Ma's mind moved, and he had made a decision. Then he instructed Qin Xiao, "Recently, you must be careful when you go out. Do not leave the range of my sight. I'm worried that a strong individual from the Body Sect may harm you. Unpredictable dangers could arise."
Qin Xiao nodded, "Okay."
In fact, he knew that Lang Ya and Yu Tao would not be returning any time soon.
However, this was merely the calm before the storm. The Body Sect was brewing something big. Silent but deadly, even Mingde Hall had been caught off guard.
Watching Qin Xiao return to his room, Elder Ma went to a hotel not far from the Imperial City Grand Hotel, where he saw Jing Hongchen.
Pushing open the door, Elder Ma found his academy's dean and Hall Master indulging in hotpot.
"Old Ma, you're just in time, join us," Jing Hongchen actively invited Elder Ma.
"Hall Master, with such big things happening, how can you still be in the mood to eat hotpot here?"
"What big things?" Jing Hongchen calmly picked up a slice of lamb and placed it in the hotpot.
"It's Qin Xiao, that kid has been targeted by the Body Sect!"
"Oh, that's normal. Gold will shine wherever it is. That kid Qin Xiao is so outstanding, it was only a matter of time before he attracted attention."
Jing Hongchen dipped the lamb slice in the sauce and put it in his mouth nonchalantly, but the next moment, he sprayed it out, "Wait a minute! Old Ma, you said he caught whose attention?"
"Hall Master, you're finally listening. Today a strong person from the Body Sect found Qin Xiao, but I drove him off."
After confirming that he hadn't misheard, Jing Hongchen's face showed a cold smile, "Heh, flies don't sting a seamless egg."
Elder Ma sighed, "Hall Master, you can still laugh? If I'd known, I wouldn't have let this kid enter the competition. If we had kept him hidden for a few more decades until Qin Xiao grew up, it would have been better."
But Jing Hongchen waved his hand indifferently, "What's there to worry about? We'll deal with whatever comes. If they bring soldiers, we'll meet them head-on. If they bring flood, we'll build a dam."
"It's not that easy..." Elder Ma was not as optimistic as Jing Hongchen, "The old monster from the Body Sect is not only overwhelmingly strong, but also domineering. Since Qin Xiao possesses a self martial soul, it's like giving them a perfect excuse."
Jing Hongchen slapped the table, "Who said the Body Sect gets to dictate everything? Then I might as well declare that all Soul Masters in the world belong to Mingde Hall and just waltz into the different Empires to whisk away all their Soul Masters, huh?"
"That's not possible..." Elder Ma hesitated a moment before answering, his head lowered.
Jing Hongchen snorted coldly, "Hmph, don't worry. I believe the old guy from the Body Sect won't cause trouble recklessly. And I'm not a pushover either. This time I'm fully prepared; anyone who faces me will have more than their fill."
...
Elsewhere.
Shrek Academy.
Beibei arrived outside a familiar room and gently knocked twice, softly saying, "Tang Ya, I'm back."
Normally, Beibei would be greeted by Tang Ya's coquettish rebuke, warning him to call her Hall Master, not Tang Ya... or at least, add the word 'Teacher' after Tang Ya.
Beibei really liked Tang Ya when she acted like that. So often, he would deliberately refer to Tang Ya as Tang Ya.
But today...
It was very strange...
"Eh, I've been knocking for a long time, why hasn't anyone opened the door?"
Beibei started to feel perplexed.
He had timed his visit knowing that Tang Ya had no classes today.
"If you don't open the door, I'm going to burst in!"
Beibei clamored outside the door again, but still there was no response from inside the room.
Beibei panicked, no longer speaking and instead took direct action to burst open the door and rush into the room.
Tang Ya's room was based in shades of pink.
Pink sheets, covers, curtains, and so on, filled with a girl's charm.
But Beibei keenly noticed a thick layer of dust on the desk in Tang Ya's room.
He touched it and the trace of his finger left a distinct mark on the desk.
"It looks like... Tang Ya hasn't come back for a long time."
Beibei was struck by a startling fact.
Did this mean that Tang Ya had left?
"But where could she go?"
"Why didn't she leave me any message?"
Panic spread across Beibei's face as he started to search around desperately.
He rummaged through boxes and drawers, but couldn't find any clues of value; even the items in the drawers had been tidied away.
"She really left."
Beibei looked lost.
He just couldn't understand, why would Tang Ya leave without saying goodbye?
Even if she had to leave, at least she could have left a letter for him?
So he would at least know where to look for her.
He thought helplessly.
But just then, a scream from outside the room pierced Beibei's ears.
It even spread throughout the entire dormitory building.
"Ah... everyone, come quickly, there's a pervert here!"
Beibei looked outside and saw a girl of above-average height and appearance.
"Where is the pervert? Don't be afraid, I'll help you..."
As Beibei said this, he went to the girl's side.
Who knew the girl would slap Beibei across the face.
Beibei was stunned.
He had just been glancing around trying to help the girl find the alleged pervert.
"Spit, you despicable pervert, you're trying to take advantage of me!"
The girl took a step back and covered her chest with her hands.
Beibei was baffled, am I the pervert?