Once Ning Rongrong made up her mind, her tone toward Ye Tian became noticeably warmer.
Since this was a test, she had to make it convincing.
Though she held no real fondness for Ye Tian, she knew he wasn't stupid.
Ordinary tricks wouldn't fool him.
But Ning Rongrong was confident Ye Tian would slip up.
Because she was going to take matters into her own hands.
She had absolute faith in her beauty.
Since childhood, wherever she went, she had always been the center of attention.
And a few months ago, in East Sea City, when Ye Tian first saw her, he had stared at her in a daze.
If she could make his heart skip a beat once, she could do it again.
That way, Xiao Wu would see Ye Tian's true colors.
And come to her senses.
Ning Rongrong pointed to a row of newly built cottages ahead.
"Ye Tian, these are the faculty dormitories. The cottage on the left is my temporary residence."
"The one on the right is empty. Why don't you stay there?"
"As a support-type soul master, I have some healing abilities. Since we'll be neighbors, I can look after you if anything happens."
Ning Rongrong smiled sweetly, her beautiful eyes blinking at Ye Tian.
She refused to believe he could resist her test.
Xiao Wu was the first to react with surprise, glancing at Ning Rongrong.
What was going on?
Just moments ago, Rongrong had made it clear she didn't like Ye Tian. Now she was offering to take care of him?
Xiao Wu couldn't make sense of it.
But then again, a guy as outstanding as Ye Tian was bound to be popular.
This reminded Xiao Wu of Ning Rongrong's usual tsundere princess act.
Maybe her earlier words were just tough talk masking a soft heart.
After all, Ye Tian had saved Ning Rongrong's life.
"Then I'll take the cottage on Ye Tian's right," Xiao Wu said cheerfully, grinning.
She wasn't picky about accommodations.
Having lived in the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest for so long, she preferred being close to nature over staying in enclosed rooms.
"Ye Tian, what do you think? Does staying here work for you?"
Xiao Wu turned her head, realizing she'd almost forgotten to ask for his opinion.
"Anywhere is fine." Ye Tian wasn't the type to fuss over trivial matters like room assignments.
But Ning Rongrong's sudden change in attitude did make him a little wary.
Why was this proud, princess-like girl suddenly being so gentle and friendly with him?
Was it because Xiao Wu was here?
Ye Tian shook his head inwardly, unable to figure it out.
"I was wondering who was talking over here. So another one has arrived."
Just then, a sultry female voice rang out from a distance.
Ye Tian turned to see a woman with long, straight black hair walking toward them along a grassy path, her snow-white legs on full display.
Her face was delicate and fair, and she wore a tight black leather dress that accentuated her voluptuous figure—especially the generous swell of her chest, which seemed ready to burst free.
"It's Teacher Erlong!"
Xiao Wu cried out in delight, rushing over and throwing herself into Liu Erlong's arms for a big hug.
"Long time no see!"
"Yeah, it has been."
Liu Erlong smiled softly and patted Xiao Wu's shoulder.
Then she held her hand up to Xiao Wu's chest, measuring.
"Last time I saw you, you were only this tall."
"Five years later, and you've grown into such a graceful young lady."
Xiao Wu giggled. "A girl changes a lot as she grows! Teacher Erlong, you've changed too."
"Gotten older!" Liu Erlong chuckled.
"Nonsense! If anything, you look even younger!" Xiao Wu declared confidently.
"Sweet talker." Liu Erlong tapped Xiao Wu's forehead with a finger, then turned her gaze curiously to Ye Tian. "And this is…? I don't think we've met before."
"Mm." Ning Rongrong stepped forward with a smile. "His name is Ye Tian. He's a friend of mine and Xiao Wu's."
Ye Tian also stepped forward politely and gave a slight bow. "Greetings, Teacher Liu. My name is Ye Tian."
Sensing through her spiritual power that Ye Tian had no soul power, Liu Erlong's expression flickered with surprise.
But since he was a friend of Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong, he had every right to be at Shrek Academy.
Facing Ye Tian's introduction, Liu Erlong nodded slightly and offered a polite compliment:
"A fine young man."
Then she turned to Ning Rongrong.
"Actually, I came here to ask for your help with something."
"Teacher Erlong, just say the word. If it's within my power, I won't refuse."
Ning Rongrong placed a hand over her chest, her tone earnest.
Liu Erlong's expression grew troubled as she hesitated before speaking.
"A week ago, Dean Flender took some of Shrek Academy's top students to Sunset Forest to obtain spirit rings."
"But unexpectedly, one of the students carelessly wandered into the territory of the Earth Spike Man-Eating Flower."
"By the time Dean Flender arrived, the student's entire left leg had been crushed by the flower, and she was also poisoned."
At this, Ning Rongrong's delicate brows furrowed.
"I've studied the man-eating flower species in Sunset Forest. They're a particularly vicious variant."
"Their toxin is extremely difficult to purge completely. The best solution is amputation."
Liu Erlong sighed and shook her head.
"I know that option, but this student's identity is… special. She's the youngest daughter of Prince Xue Xing's favorite concubine."
"If something happens to her under our care, we'll earn Prince Xue Xing's eternal enmity."
This was Liu Erlong's biggest concern.
Prince Xue Xing held immense power. With just a flick of his finger, Shrek Academy could be forced to shut its doors in Heaven Dou City.
Ning Rongrong raised an eyebrow. She understood Liu Erlong's dilemma all too well.
If something happened to her, the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan would go berserk.
The fallout would inevitably drag in countless others.
Compared to Prince Xue Xing's immense influence, Shrek Academy was nothing more than a tiny leaf adrift in the ocean—utterly insignificant.
As she pondered, Ning Rongrong's gaze suddenly landed on Ye Tian.
Wasn't the solution right in front of her?
Though she disliked Ye Tian, she couldn't deny his extraordinary medical skills.
"Ye Tian, you should help with this."
Ning Rongrong's voice softened deliberately.
In her mind, this was the perfect opportunity to let Ye Tian earn a favor.
Once he cured Prince Xue Xing's daughter, she could use the excuse of repaying him to invite him out.
That way, Xiao Wu would witness Ye Tian's true, womanizing nature.
A perfect two-for-one deal!
"Yeah, Ye Tian, please help Shrek Academy!"
Xiao Wu grabbed Ye Tian's arm and pleaded, her tone dripping with exaggerated sweetness.
A mischievous glint hid in her eyes.
Xiao Wu was clearly mimicking Ning Rongrong's act.
She had no idea when Ning Rongrong had learned this trick, but it seemed fun.
But Xiao Wu knew the method didn't matter.
With Ye Tian's personality, he would never stand by and do nothing.
"You can solve this problem?"
Seeing both Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong vouching for Ye Tian, Liu Erlong's shock was palpable.
Prince Xue Xing's daughter's injuries had even stumped Flender and the other Spirit Douluos.
How could an ordinary person—not even a soul master—possibly heal her?
"I'll do my best," Ye Tian replied modestly, not making any grand promises.
"Good, follow me." Liu Erlong didn't waste time. With no other skilled healers available, she had no choice but to try anything.
Ye Tian followed Liu Erlong to Shrek Academy's auditorium.
At the moment, the hall was packed with a dense crowd.
A few armored guards stood before Flender, their expressions grim.
"If anything happens to our young lady, your Shrek Academy can forget about staying open!"
The lead guard's voice was icy.
Flender's face was ashen, but he didn't argue back.
Though his cultivation surpassed the guards', they represented Prince Xue Xing.
And this incident was his fault for failing to protect the prince's daughter.
He had no choice but to swallow his pride.
Still, it pained him to think of Shrek Academy's future.
He had poured his life's work into building the academy's reputation.
Now, a single accident threatened to undo everything.
"Make way."
Liu Erlong pushed through the crowd and stepped onto the stage.
"Who are you?!" the lead guard barked.
Liu Erlong's expression turned frosty. "If you don't want your young lady to lose her leg, step aside."
The guard snorted but reluctantly moved back.
Nothing was more important than his lady's leg.
Seeing Liu Erlong arrive, Flender brightened and hurried forward.
"Erlong, did you find a solution?"
Liu Erlong gave a wry smile and gestured to Ye Tian behind her.
"Let him try."
"Dean, Ye Tian's medical skills are amazing!" Xiao Wu added with a grin.
Hearing this, Flender looked at Xiao Wu in surprise, only recognizing her after a moment.
"Ah, Xiao Wu."
Then he turned his attention to Ye Tian. "May I ask where you studied?"
"I'd rather not say." Ye Tian bowed slightly.
Flender frowned. This young man didn't look a day over twenty.
Even if he came from a medical family, he'd only be at the apprentice level at best.
Was he really capable of treating Prince Xue Xing's daughter, Xue Lanlan?
"Dean, Ye Tian can do it."
Ning Rongrong noticed Flender's hesitation and spoke up to reassure him.
With Ning Rongrong's endorsement, Flender reluctantly nodded.
"Fine, give it a try."
"But let me warn you—this is Prince Xue Xing's beloved daughter."
"Humph! If you fail to cure our lady, I'll run you through with my sword!" the guard snapped coldly.
Ye Tian's brows knitted as he shot the guard a disdainful glance.
He hated people who vented their incompetence through empty threats.
Without a word, Ye Tian walked over to the unconscious girl lying on the stage.
She was dressed in an elegant gauze dress, her features delicate and refined.
Her left leg was pale and flawless, while the veins in her right leg bulged grotesquely, blackened by poison.
The entire right leg had withered, its bones likely shattered.
A single glance was all Ye Tian needed to form a treatment plan.
But his current weakened state made it difficult to perform major surgery.
He worried he might pass out mid-operation.
If that happened, the girl would undoubtedly bleed to death.
With that in mind, Ye Tian decided to postpone the procedure.
It would also give him a chance to teach that arrogant guard a lesson.
He calmly summoned his martial soul, the Divine Taiyi Needle, and began inserting it into the acupuncture points on the girl's right leg.
This would unblock the congested meridians, allowing nutrients to reach the injured leg.
The needles would also temporarily suppress the toxin's spread.
At the very least, the girl would survive for three days without issue.
But after inserting just seven needles, Ye Tian felt his mind grow foggy, his vision swimming.
He knew that if he continued, he'd collapse.
Steeling himself, he pretended to remain composed and turned coldly to the guard.
"These seven needles will keep her alive for three days."
"If you want me to treat her, tell Prince Xue Xing that Ye Tian demands one million Gold Soul coins as payment."
Of course, he didn't actually want the money.
This was just a way to make Prince Xue Xing owe him a favor—and to humble that insolent guard.
The moment these words left his mouth, the crowd erupted in gasps.
"One million Gold Soul coins?! Are you robbing us?!"
The guard's face twisted in outrage.
His annual salary was only a thousand gold coins.
To earn a million, he'd have to work as a guard since a thousand years ago!
This kid had some nerve!
If not for the fact that Ye Tian seemed to have real skills, the guard would've drawn his sword on the spot.
The audacity to swindle Prince Xue Xing!
"One million Gold Soul coins?! That's more than Shrek Academy's entire annual tuition revenue!"
Flender was equally dumbfounded. He'd assumed Ye Tian would help for free.
After all, Shrek Academy was a prestigious institution.
If Ye Tian proved his skills today, Flender had even considered hiring him as the academy's physician!
Never in his wildest dreams did he expect Ye Tian to demand such an exorbitant fee.
A million gold coins could hire a Titled Douluo for a mission!
Flender cautiously approached Liu Erlong and whispered, "Where did you find this guy? Is he reliable?"
Liu Erlong sighed. "Ye Tian is a friend of Xiao Wu and Rongrong. I just met him today."
Hearing this, Flender's heart sank.
He sidled up to Ning Rongrong and murmured, "Can you convince Ye Tian to lower his price? A million is outrageous."
"Even Prince Xue Xing would feel the pinch paying that much."
And without a doubt, a financially strained Prince Xue Xing would take his frustration out on Shrek Academy.
(End of Chapter)