At the center of the Academy grounds, a tall building stretches towards the sky, seemingly striving for the Heavens. Nine sets of tiled roofs protrude from the building, each marking a floor. A dragon coils along the ridges of each roof, curving towards the sky as it reaches the corners.

On the ninth floor, lined by a carefully curated collection of books and scrolls, a brush weaves across a scroll resting atop a desk adorned with carvings of mountains, clouds, and dragons. The scroll’s edge, previously aligned perfectly parallel with the grand desk, suddenly shifts as a pair of hands reach out to roll it up before setting it aside. With the immediate headaches out of the way, the elderly man behind the desk rises and makes his way towards the window.

He runs his fingers through his beard as he watches the artisans, craftsmen, and landscapers make haste to finish the final touches. Seeing the Academy almost fully restored, washing away all signs of the long night six weeks prior, the elderly man suddenly feels his aching shoulders grow ever so slightly lighter.

Whilst enjoying the fresh brisk air, his ear twitches in response to a muffled, barely audible, explosion in the distance. He smiles and turns towards the direction of the sound, making his way towards another window. Squinting his eyes, he observes a cloud of dust looming inside the training ground, waiting patiently for it to settle.

“Hohoho!” He releases a hearty chuckle as the wind sweeps the dust cloud away. “The future of the grand continent… Not bad at all.”

The elderly man observes as peace returns to the training field in the distance, stroking his beard and enjoying the moment free from his thoughts. Unfortunately, a voice calls out from outside his office, cutting the tranquil moment short.

“Headmaster Mo, your guests request an audience.”

“Bring them up.” Headmaster Mo breaks his gaze from the training field and makes his way back towards his desk.

After a short moment, the doors swing open to reveal two figures. A man with sharp eyes as sharp as knives stands beside an elegant woman. Two attendants stand behind them, each holding an ornately decorated chest in their hands. They keep their feet together and their gazes low to keep their presence minimal.

The man stands tall, exuding an air of quiet authority with sharp eyes that survey the room with composed intensity. He wears a simple yet elegant white robe adorned with a dark green sash. The sleeves of his robe bear intricate depictions of a majestic mountain and a rising sun, symbols of strength and promise. With a swift yet graceful movement, he folds his fan as a gesture of respect, tucking it into his sash before bowing towards Headmaster Mo.

Beside him, the lady possesses an elegance that seems effortless. Her demeanor exudes confidence, marked by a bright glint in her eyes that reveals her intellect. She wears a robe similar to her companion's, the same symbols adorning her sleeves and collar, albeit with a touch of delicate femininity. Chrome hairpins hold her dark hair in an intricate arrangement above her head, each adorned with round jades that sway with her movements as she bows towards Headmaster Mo.

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“Hohoho! At ease, students. At ease.” Headmaster Mo chuckles, signaling for them to enter. As the two make their way across the office, Headmaster Mo carefully nudges the scrolls towards the edges of his desk. “Feels like yesterday that you two blessed our Academy with your presence.”

“Headmaster, you speak too kindly of him.” The lady smiles as she seats herself beside her husband. “Always chasing after his idols, too blinded by the greats of the previous generation to care for the present.”

“Ahem!” The man clears his throat as he averts his eyes from Headmaster Mo. “Great weather we’re hav-”

“Always changing the subject too.” Headmaster Mo joins the lady in teasing her husband. “So, what brings you two here? Don’t tell me you’re leaving already.”

“Regretfully, Headmaster.” The lady responds, lowering her eyes towards the desk. “As much as we’d like to stay…”

“We have matters to attend to back in Qi.” The man chimes in upon hearing his wife’s voice trail off. “We wanted to stop by to say our farewells and thank you for taking care of Anning. With Ghost Doctor Yi taking care of her...”

“That is a given, my students.” Grandmaster Mo preemptively affirms the man’s request. “Anning will be cared for by the Ghost Doctor himself, that you can be sure of.”

The husband and wife duo bows in appreciation. As they lift their gaze, the man opens his mouth, but hesitates to speak. He glances over at his wife. She meets his eyes, nodding slightly before turning back to Headmaster Mo.

“Headmaster, one last thing…” She lifts her hand, signaling for the attendants to enter. Both attendants trot towards the desk, setting the boxes down upon arrival. “A gift for that man.”

Headmaster Mo chuckles as he glances at the two chests. Judging from the size, he estimates there to be at least five hundred gold coins in each. Without replying, he rises to his feet and steps towards the window. Upon arriving, he steps off to the side of the window and signals for the two to join him.

“Why don’t you hand it to him yourself?”

The two exchange confused looks before rising from their seats and making their way towards the window. Their eyes squint into a line as they observe the group of people eating by the training field. Upon spotting the four pink ribbons fluttering in the breeze, they rub their eyes in disbelief.

“That…” The lady mutters upon confirming that she wasn’t seeing things.

“Friends of Anning…” Headmaster Mo smiles, reaching out to pat them on the shoulders. “Some of them, anyways.”

“Friends? ‘Some of them’?” The man raises a brow, his eyes full of confusion and shock.

“You already met one, you just didn’t notice...” Headmaster Mo voice trails off as gazes at the ribbons in the distance. “As for the details of how it came to be, I can only guess.”

“And that man…” The man squints his eyes once again, sending his aura out to gauge the man with the ribbon.

“Restrain your curiosity.” Upon sensing the aura radiating outwards, Headmaster Mo slaps the man’s back to disrupt his focus. “Even your idols do not have the qualifications to measure that man.”

The man’s eyes suddenly grow wide upon hearing the nonsensical words. If these words were to come from anyone else, he would’ve vehemently questioned their sanity without any hesitation. No sane person would question the qualifications of brothers who brought the Heaven Steps Sect to new heights, the pride of Qi. However, Headmaster Mo isn’t just anyone.

“Make haste, Anlong, Bibi.” Headmaster Mo pats the two on the shoulder one last time, snapping them out of their daze. “They adhere to a rather strict training schedule these days.”