Chapter 533 - Council of the Sea Gods Pavilion (1/2)

Chapter 533 - Council of the Sea God's Pavilion

The Pavilion Master said, “The malum soul masters are becoming increasingly audacious with their actions lately. We cannot afford to continue holding back when dealing with them. But it's damn near impossible to track them! We can only reinforce the security of cities and dispatch military forces to keep an eye out. The Federation has also requested our assistance in retaliating against them, and I’ve agreed to lend our strength.

“Our inner court students will participate in the subjugation of the evil soul masters! We will also be working with the Tang Sect to create a network of informants, so we can root out their scheming and have some advance warning. The moment either of us discovers anything, we’ll report it to the other.”

“Understood,” the elders said in a chorus.

Elder Cai interrupted him before he could continue the discussion, “Pavilion Master, there is a smaller matter to discuss first. The delegation from Star Luo would like us to send a group of our students to an academy on Star Luo in an student exchange program.” She handed him some papers before continuing, “Here, take a look at their proposal.”

The Pavilion Master flipped through the proposal for a couple of seconds. Then he looked up and smiled. “Tell them that this student exchange is acceptable to us. We’ll send the best students from the outer court’s first and second grades. Let’s say… ten students, and Wu Zhangkong will take charge of the group. Our two recent classes have been excellent, especially the latest one. That Tang Wulin is always getting into trouble, so make sure he’s in the exchange group. This is a good opportunity to place him far outside the sight of the malum soul masters.”

Zhen Hua clenched his teeth when he heard the last part of the Pavillion Master’s plans. He opened his mouth to voice what might have been a protest, but then thought better of it and closed it without saying a word.

“Pavilion Master,” Zhuo Shi said. “Those kids are still growing. If we let them go now…”

The Pavilion Master waved dismissively. “The delegation from Star Luo won’t be returning any time soon. While we’re waiting for them, let’s invest extra resources into the students going on the exchange. We’ll help them grow as much as possible! Besides, this is just a simple exchange to foster relations, we don’t have to be that concerned about peacocking. It isn’t necessary to send a group of our senior inner court students out. We just need to send the best of our younger students.”

Elder Cai nodded. “I agree. The exchange should take place roughly half a year from now, so the students will have that time. I suggest that we begin by creating a shortlist of candidates.”

“Then it’s settled,” declared the Pavilion Master. “Yue’er, please handle the shortlisting and selection of students for the exchange.”

“Understood,” Cai Yue’er answered.

Since the relatively straightforward matter of the student exchange was settled, they returned to the discussion of countermeasures and retaliation against the malum soul masters.

☀

Meanwhile, completely oblivious to the machinations being devised behind the curtain, Tang Wulin and Gu Yue reached their classroom. Fortunately for them, today’s class was led by Shen Yi instead of Wu Zhangkong. She was, of course, astonished by how late they were but she let them join the class without interrogating them.

“Oh? Mister Class President finally decided to show up? This late? Did he get too caught up enjoying himself and completely lose track of time?” Xie Xie snickered as he elbowed Tang Wulin.

Tang Wulin glared at him. “That’s right! I was absolutely enjoying myself! How about this, next time I’ll let you have a taste and you’ll understand exactly how much I was enjoying myself.” He crossed his arms. Let’s see how happy he is after he nearly dies! Tang Wulin was so caught up in his resentment that he was completely unaware of what he had just implied, and invited Xie Xie to participate in, with his sarcastic outburst. Xie Xie gave him a dastardly wink, enjoying the moment. On the other hand, the looks that Xu Xiaoyan, Xu Lizhi, and Ye Xinglan gave him and Gu Yue as his quip sunk in contained hints of awkwardness. Farther away, Wu Siduo also heard their conversation. She stared at Tang Wulin. Then her eyes darted to Gu Yue briefly, and then back to him. She frowned, unknown thoughts swirling in her mind.

When class ended, Shen Yi called out, “Tang Wulin and Gu Yue, both of you stay behind.” Then she led them to the teachers’ office to speak to them privately. When she opened the door to the office, she found Elder Cai was already there waiting for her.

“Shen Yi, tell those two to wait outside for a minute. There’s something I need to speak to you about,” Elder Cai said as they entered. Shen Yi nodded at Tang Wulin and Gu Yue, and they stepped out and closed the door behind them.

Once they were alone, Elder Cai briefed Shen Yi on everything that had taken place at the Council of the Sea God’s Pavilion, focusing on the student exchange with Star Luo and the shortlist that she was building. Then Elder Cai left the office. Moments later, Tang Wulin and Gu Yue walked back in.

“Why were the two of you so late? The class President and Vice Presidents are supposed to be role models for everyone else in the class. You showed up to class an hour late! So, tell me why? What happened?” Shen Yi asked, her tone firm but fair. She wasn’t as strict as Wu Zhangkong was, but she couldn’t afford to be lax with them either. With all of the first grade’s shining achievements, the many eyes of the other teachers and students from other grades remained fixed upon them.

Tang Wulin scratched his head, while his eyes darted around the room. “Uh, we ran into an malum soul master and nearly got killed.” While he wasn’t trying to be glib, he realized from Shen Yi’s shocked expression that this was not sufficient and that he needed to explain. He recounted every detail of their entire trip to Heaven Dou City, the deadly incident, finally culminating to how Zhen Hua had personally escorted them back.

“I cannot believe that the malum soul masters would have the temerity to do something like this!” Shen Yi exclaimed, her complexion still pale from Tang Wulin’s story.

“Yeah!” Tang Wulin nodded quickly. “They even tried to assassinate my uncle-master! It's obvious that they’re conspiring to weaken all of us good soul masters!”

“Alright then. I’ll forgive you for being late this time,” Shen Yi said. She crossed her legs and slumped back in her seat, her thoughts consumed with everything she had just learned. “Run along now. You’ve only got a few more days until the competition with the third grade, you’d better be preparing to win.”