"Teacher, she has been kneeling outside for three days and three nights. I feel this elder sister's desire to become a disciple is quite firm, so why aren't you willing to accept her as your disciple?"
"She's quite pitiful. These past two days, it's either been scorching sun or torrential rain. Can she still hold on?"
"Teacher, has she ever done anything unforgivable in the past? That's why you aren't willing to give her even a tiny chance."
Inside Heart of Fire Academy's camp, Xiao Wu, Meng Yiran, and the other students felt pity for the woman kneeling outside, begging to be accepted as a disciple.
Bell stood by, expressionless. He believed his teacher must have his reasons for doing this.
Xin pondered for a moment, then said to Xiao Wu and the others:
"If you knew that someone painstakingly came to your side to help their loved one obtain benefits by unscrupulous means, would you keep her or kill her?"
Xin posed this question to his disciples.
Xiao Wu and Meng Yiran fell silent upon hearing this.
"Loved one… we can understand that to some extent, but she wouldn't be in love with Xiaogang, would she? Such low taste."
"If we keep her, it would undoubtedly be a disaster, helping an opponent, which would be detrimental to ourselves."
"But if we kill her, it seems her crime isn't punishable by death, and it would give the Academy a brutal reputation for wantonly killing those who seek knowledge."
"The best thing would be for her to leave, but she's refusing to go."
"Teacher, we don't know what to do either. Whatever decision you make, we will stand by your side."
Xiao Wu and Meng Yiran truly couldn't figure out the complexities involved, so they stated their position.
Anyway, they didn't really care about anything as long as they could learn by their teacher's side. No matter where, they were willing.
…
Outside Camp One.
Erlong looked at the bowl of warm rice in front of her, feeling a strange warmth in her heart. She couldn't help but glance up at the girl in front of her.
The girl had brilliant pink hair like cherry blossoms, and her entire being was as delicate as a little princess.
Erlong's lips were pale, and her body was quite weak: "Can I see Dean Xin?"
"Teacher will not accept you as a disciple, so there's no need for you to meet him now.
However, you kneeling here like this greatly affects the image of our Heart of Fire Academy. Seeing your willingness to abandon all self-respect and your persistence, you can stay by my side. This would count as half a member of the Academy, and this is my bottom line. Are you willing?"
Erlong swallowed, "You mean, you want to accept me as your disciple, which would make me Dean Xin's grand-disciple?"
"Not a disciple, but a guardian."