Seriously, Dean? Are you serious?

Chapter 97 Seriously, Dean? Are you serious?

"That damned little beast!"

At dawn, a sharp cry shattered the tranquility of the White Tiger Duke's mansion.

With a venomous look on her face, Zhu Ling shrieked, "Why hasn't Zhu Da returned yet? He's just a Soul Douluo, leading so many Soul Saints and Soul Emperors, and he can't even handle a Great Soul Master?!"

A figure slowly emerged from the darkness: "Miss, please calm down. After all, that's someone else's territory. And that kid is quite cautious. Your elder brother is probably waiting for the right opportunity. The head of the family wants you to take care of your health. Besides, the young master will be back soon."

"Okay, you can go now. I'll be alone for a while."

Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy.

"Master of the Red Dust Hall".

Jing Hongchen, who was on her way to Mingde Hall to handle some business, heard the call from behind and turned around to see Xu Tianran's warm smile.

Jing Hongchen paused, then gave an unnatural smile:

"Your Highness, what a refined taste you have! Coming out so early to care for the people. I have other matters to attend to, so I won't bother with any more pleasantries."

After saying that, he turned to leave. He didn't have a good impression of this Crown Prince. As the head of Mingde Hall, he didn't want to and didn't need to get involved in these complicated factional struggles.

Seeing that he was about to leave, Xu Tianran's smile inexplicably turned cold, and he said with a faint smile:

"Master Hongchen, please don't be in a hurry. I have some questions for you."

Jing Hongchen turned around with some confusion, but the latter's expression instantly returned to normal, and she spoke calmly:

"That student named Lin Dong didn't attend the commendation ceremony last time, and he's been away from school for so long this time, with no intention of returning. I heard that the Red Dust Hall Master cares a lot about him, but we should hope he doesn't follow in his footsteps. Don't you think so?"

Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Jing Hongchen's eyes. It seemed that this Crown Prince's magnanimity was not as broad as it appeared. Was this because she had repeatedly distanced herself, and he was trying to use the Conferred God Platform incident to teach her a lesson?

"Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness. However, His Majesty will not interfere too much in the affairs of Mingde Hall, so there is no need for you to worry about it."

Without wasting any more time, he left, leaving Xu Tianran with a gloomy expression, coldly watching his departing figure, muttering to himself:

"What a shrewd Master of the Red Dust Hall! To speak to me like this for the sake of Lin Dong. Perhaps we should find a way to teach that Lin Dong a lesson."

Jing Hongchen felt a faint chill behind him, and his expression darkened.

"I hope that His Highness the Crown Prince can control his temper and not take it out on Lin Dong. Otherwise, I'm afraid I really will have to side with the Third Prince."

As he spoke, he walked briskly toward Mingde Hall. Suddenly, a clear, joyful shout flew past his ear:

"Lin Dong! You're finally back."

Turning his head, he watched his granddaughter run past him with a beaming smile. He stared blankly for a moment before realizing what Xiaomeng had just said. Lin Dong?!

Only then did he hurriedly turn his gaze to the distance, where a figure was slowly walking towards them under the morning sun.

Jing Hongchen suppressed her excitement and turned her gaze to Meng Hongchen, who had run past, while looking at Lin Dong with a beaming smile:

"You're finally back, Lin Dong. Grandpa and the others missed you terribly. Xiao has been training like crazy these past few days, saying he'll surpass you when you get back, and..."

Looking at the girl in front of him who had spoken so much in one breath, Lin Dong glanced at her helplessly and changed the subject:

"Why did you run so far today, Miss Meng? Don't you have class right now?"

Meng Hongchen looked at his calm face, blinked her bright blue eyes, and stared intently at him. After a while, seeing his expression become somewhat unnatural, she finally said "Oh."

"I felt like something good might happen today, so I went a bit further. I'm only a Soul King now, but the Soul Guidance Device that my grandfather made for me is already at level eight. There's no need for me to learn those courses."

Lin Dong was speechless for a moment upon hearing her words, and after a brief pause, he chuckled and replied:

"Miss Meng is truly blessed."

"What's the use of being blessed if no one dares to take you?"

Seeing Lin Dong's suddenly changed expression, Meng Hongchen rolled her eyes at him and said with a hint of resentment:

"Speaking of Grandpa, I think I just walked past someone."

Before she could finish speaking, Lin Dong cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards her back: "Dean."

"Hehe, it's good to see you back." Jing Hongchen smiled kindly at him and patted Meng Hongchen on the head.

"You silly girl, you're not paying attention in class again. The soul tool that Grandpa made for you is a matching set, meant to be your future dowry. Don't even think about it now."

Lin Dong glanced helplessly at the grandfather and grandson, and said with a headache:

"Dean, Miss Meng, may I go back to my lodgings first? I'm a little tired."

After hearing this, the two turned around and led the way, with Jing Hongchen muttering to himself as they walked:

"After you left, I had your room sealed off. Apart from the daily cleaning, nothing much has changed. After being away for so many days, you're finally back."

Hearing his slightly intimate words, Lin Dong felt a warmth rise in his heart. He glanced at the silver-haired girl beside him, a hint of worry appearing on his face. The latter seemed to notice his gaze and couldn't help but scrutinize him, thinking to herself:

This guy seems to have gotten even more handsome since he went out, and he's now almost a head taller than me. Is this the benefit of cultivating one's physical body?

While Meng Hongchen was lost in thought, the three of them had unknowingly arrived at Lin Dong's residence. Looking at the somewhat familiar room, Lin Dong couldn't help but smile with nostalgia.

Thinking back to a year ago when I was getting struck by lightning every day in this house, I realize that I've unknowingly come this far. To be honest, my progress this year has been quite remarkable.

Of course, this is only true for him. If others knew that a waste who had zero soul power a year ago could easily kill a Soul King a year later, they would probably think it was a fantasy.

He's been here for over a year now. For someone like him who has to grit his teeth and become stronger every day to find a moment of peace, this place is one of the few places that can give him a sense of security.

Seeing Lin Dong's exhausted expression, the two silently closed the door and left. Lying on the bed, Lin Dong was overwhelmed by memories: Qingyang Town, the Dao Sect, and that beautiful figure that had tormented his heart. He then fell into a deep sleep, completely unaware of what was happening.

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Dong opened his eyes, feeling a splitting headache. He pressed his temples and whispered:

"I couldn't help but think of her again. I need to settle things here as soon as possible. I don't have much time to waste. But, she's only barely at the Heavenly Origin Realm. It's really infuriating."

Cursing under his breath, Lin Dong stubbornly got up and sat cross-legged to enter a meditative state.

On the other side, Jing Hongchen looked at Meng Hongchen, who was lost in thought, and sighed:

"Girl, there's nothing your grandfather can do to help you with this. You know that with Lin Dong's talent, if he doesn't work hard, you might not even see his back when he goes to seek revenge on Xuan Zi in a few years."

Meng Hongchen glared at him, somewhat embarrassed and indignant: "Grandpa, what are you saying? I just asked him a few questions because he took so long to come back. What are you thinking?"

Jing Hongchen didn't argue with her, but affectionately patted her head:

"Alright, alright, but to be honest, our Xiaomeng is quite talented too, she's just a bit playful."

"Grandpa~!"

"Haha, I'm just kidding. Go back to class, Grandpa still needs to tell Confucius and the others this good news."

"Okay."

Inside a laboratory, Xuan Ziwen, wearing a white lab coat, frowned with displeasure upon hearing hurried footsteps.

Until the waiter whispered a few words in his ear, his previous worry vanished instantly, and a hint of excitement and joy appeared in his eyes above his mask:

"He's finally back..."

"Elder Kong, the Hall Master asked me to tell you that Lin Dong has returned. Would you like to see him?"

A servant's respectful voice broke the tranquility of the ancestral hall. Kong Deming, who had been resting with his eyes closed, nodded calmly upon hearing this: "I understand, you may leave."

Although he did not stand up excitedly, his slightly trembling fingertips were enough to show that his heart was not as calm as it appeared.

After calming down, he murmured with some curiosity, "I wonder what kind of opportunity allowed this exceptionally talented young man to scheme for him for so long. If it causes too much of a stir, His Majesty might even summon him. But given that kid's temperament, he'd probably defy the imperial decree."

Early morning, in the villa area.

Kong Deming stood in front, with Xuan Ziwen, Lin Jiayi, and Jing Hongchen behind him, their heads bowed respectfully, peering expectantly inside, as if waiting for something. Whispers arose all around them.

"Everyone living here is an exceptional individual, not only from powerful families but also possessing outstanding personal strength. Given their temperaments, few people usually dare to approach them. Why are so many people gathered here today?"

"Shh, of course we're not here for them. Didn't you see those four? They're big shots whose mere stomp can make the academy tremble!"

"What?! That middle-aged man is the youngest level eight soul master in Mingde Hall. It is said that he is far ahead in theory. I don't need to introduce the other two, right? Our Dean of Students and Dean."

I'm currently reading the error-free version! This is the first time I've published this novel.

"And what about that old man with gray hair? Who is he? I've never seen him before."

"These are important figures we can't possibly know. Just look at how the teachers, the headmaster, and the dean treat him. Can he be a simple person? Maybe he was sent from over there?"

"They even sent people from over there. Who could it be that makes these important figures wait outside like this? Even those two geniuses from the academy, who are said to be once-in-a-millennium talents, don't deserve this kind of entourage, do they?"

"Just wait and see. I heard a remarkable genius has returned. But it's strange, I haven't heard from those fervent female fans about Lin Dong's schedule in a long time. Do you think it might be him who's back?"

"Nonsense. I admit Lin Dong is very strong, but he's still young. If he can't seize this opportunity, could it be a genius from Shrek Academy?"

"How could that be? Wasn't their exchange program rejected by the college? I still think it's Lin Dong."

"Shh, stop with the nonsense. The big shots are all waiting, so why don't we just wait and see?"

Lin Dong had just woken up. He rubbed his sleepy eyes, stretched, and then his expression changed as if he suddenly remembered something.

"Oh no, I overdid it yesterday. The dean said he wanted to see me today. I shouldn't keep him waiting."

After hurriedly tidying up, Lin Dong walked out of his room to the entrance of the villa area. Looking at the exaggerated scene before him, he opened his mouth in astonishment:

"Seriously, Dean? Are you serious?"

Looking at the huge crowd in front of him, Lin Dong couldn't help but smile with a headache: "This level of attention is a bit too exaggerated."

Kong Deming and the other three also saw Lin Dong, who had a wry smile on his face. The latter took the initiative to raise his hand and greet them.

"Professor Kong, Dean, Director, Teacher, what are you doing?"

The four of them shook their heads, somewhat amused and exasperated. Master Kong glanced at Jing Hongchen, who instantly understood and explained with a smile:

"Hehe, this has nothing to do with us. The academy is on holiday today, and everyone came on their own initiative."

Lin Dong chuckled, annoyed. "You guys are all top-notch wherever you go, how could you be unrelated?" Seeing his gaze, Jing Hongchen spoke again:

"Let's not talk about that. Master Kong and the others all have questions for you. I'm just here to guide you, so don't pass this on to me."

Upon witnessing this scene, the surrounding students fell into a deathly silence, but after a moment, they seemed to be instantly ignited, bursting into a lively and chattering discussion.

"You Shrek Academy sycophants, come out here! Open your dog eyes and take a look, or you'll be too weak to stand up after kneeling for so long."

"Lin Dong, you're awesome! I want to have a love affair with you that transcends gender, I'm kneeling before you."

"Get out of the way, Lin Dong belongs to us girls, what are you men doing getting involved?"

Seeing the chaotic scene before him, Lin Dong's eyelids twitched involuntarily a few times. He looked at Jing Hongchen and the others and sighed helplessly.

"Alright, let's go inside and talk, everyone."

Amidst the deafening roar outside, Lin Dong gave Jing Hongchen a wink, and the latter immediately nodded in understanding, then instructed the attendant beside him:

"Go and call the guards over to discipline them! What kind of language are these students using all day!"

Although his tone was somewhat reproachful, his playful expression revealed that he still enjoyed seeing Lin Dong in an awkward situation.

After leading the group into the room, Xuan Ziwen, who was keen on research, couldn't wait to speak:

"Lin Dong, I've finally been waiting for you to come back. You left right after the competition, and it's been two months since we last saw each other."

"Is it really that exaggerated, Teacher Xuan?"

Seeing Lin Dong's helpless smile, Xuan Ziwen had no intention of letting him off easily, and looked at him with expectant eyes:

"Actually, the director and I came here this time for only one reason, which is about the core formation."

After hearing this, Lin Dong glanced at Lin Jiayi beside him, who was nodding in agreement, and nodded and replied with a smile, "Then I'll take some time this afternoon to tell you."

Hearing his agreement, Xuan Ziwen nodded happily: "Then it's settled. I'll wait for you in the lab this afternoon."

"Okay, I have some new research to share with you then."

Seeing Lin Dong's deliberately mysterious smile, Xuan Ziwen felt a surge of curiosity, but she still managed to nod while suppressing her excitement.

Lin Dong turned to Kong Deming and clasped his hands in greeting: "Elder Kong, may I ask what brings you here to see me?"

"It's nothing really, I just wanted to ask about your attitude towards the royal family. If His Majesty issued a decree requesting to meet you, how would you respond?"

After listening, Lin Dong pondered for a moment and replied calmly:

"Master Kong, I only want to focus on cultivation right now. Although I must respect the imperial edict, I don't really want to get involved in those political struggles. I'm sorry."

Kong Deming waved his hand with a faint smile: "There's nothing to apologize for. I just wanted to know an answer. Since your ambitions lie elsewhere, then focus on your cultivation at the academy. I will do my best to help you avoid trouble in the officialdom."

Lin Dong smiled calmly: "Then thank you very much, Elder Kong."

Looking at his calm expression, Kong Deming thought to himself:

It seems he really doesn't have much respect for the royal family, otherwise he wouldn't have so casually said something about resisting the imperial edict.

Such a talented person must have some trump card to dare to be so confident. We can't let some fools offend him. I need to discuss this matter thoroughly with His Majesty when I get back...

(End of this chapter)