"Teacher Qin Ming, this is on you."
Bai Mu spread his hands calmly.
"In a team, you've stacked far too many agility–attack Spirit Masters, yet you never considered strengthening control or preparing substitutes. That imbalance was bound to cause problems."
He smiled lightly.
"Everyone has their own difficulties. If Yanzi comes with me, I can give her better guidance, can't I? In every aspect—resources, methods, opportunities—what I can offer will only be better than what she has here."
"Mhm! That's right, that's right!"
Dugu Yan nodded enthusiastically, echoing his words without hesitation.
Qin Ming's vision went dark.
What was the most painful thing in the world?
Having your team's vice-captain poached—right in front of you.
And that pain was only the beginning.
Bai Mu hadn't come here for Dugu Yan alone.
His gaze shifted to a quiet girl standing nearby. She wore a veil, her temperament cold and distant, her eyes faintly hollow.
Leading Yanzi forward, Bai Mu spoke without any detours.
"Ye Lingling, are you willing to come with me as well?"
The air instantly froze.
"…Ah?"
Ye Lingling's eyes widened. She glanced at Dugu Yan in shock, disbelief written plainly across her face.
This… was far too direct.
No preamble. No buildup.
She was so stunned that she didn't even know how to respond.
Seeing her reaction, Bai Mu smiled faintly and continued casually,
"Don't be nervous. I don't know if Uncle Ning mentioned it, but a few days ago he brought up a marriage proposal on my behalf."
Her expression stiffened further.
"I know what troubles you," Bai Mu went on, his tone calm.
"The Curse of the Nine-Heart Begonia. If you're willing to follow me, I might be able to help you break it."
"…What did you say?"
Ye Lingling's entire body trembled.
"You can break my family's Spirit Curse?"
"Of course."
Bai Mu answered with absolute confidence.
"I'm certain I can help the Nine-Heart Begonia evolve completely, severing the curse at its root. Are you willing to follow me and try?"
Ye Lingling fell silent.
Only one Nine-Heart Begonia Spirit Master could exist in each generation—two at most in the entire world. For years, she had lived beneath the shadow of that fate.
She took a deep breath. When she raised her head again, her eyes were no longer empty.
"If you truly can break my family's curse and evolve my Spirit…"
"…then I'm willing."
Her cheeks flushed faintly, but her gaze was resolute.
For the first time, light flickered in her eyes.
Bai Mu smiled, satisfied.
The truth was, the Nine-Heart Begonia hadn't interested him much before. No matter how strong it was, could it really surpass Jungle Healing?
Unlikely.
But viewed from another angle, the Spirit carried astonishing vitality.
If it evolved…
Could it accelerate the growth of the Blue Silver Emperor?
If that were possible, then both Ye Lingling and her mother—who also possessed the Nine-Heart Begonia—would become invaluable caretakers for his Immortal Herbs.
His long-term plans would rise to an entirely new level.
"Lingling! You can't leave!"
Qin Ming panicked.
"You're vital to the team—you must stay!"
"Don't worry, Teacher."
Ye Lingling comforted him gently.
"I'm just going to take a look."
Take a look?
Qin Ming's heart sank.
Once she looked… she wouldn't be coming back.
Two core members gone in a single day—how was he supposed to explain this to the Education Committee?
The other team members wanted to speak, but when they met Bai Mu's indifferent gaze, every word died in their throats.
They lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound.
Yu Tianheng watched in silence, his expression shifting repeatedly, but he said nothing.
He knew better than anyone that he was no match for Bai Mu.
Resistance would be meaningless.
"Teacher Qin, don't look so pessimistic."
Bai Mu smiled lightly.
"Try thinking about it another way."
"…Another way?"
Qin Ming looked up instinctively.
"For example," Bai Mu said smoothly, "Order Academy would be very happy to welcome a teacher like you."
Qin Ming swallowed.
"This… doesn't seem appropriate."
"Men strive upward; water flows downward," Bai Mu replied calmly.
"What's wrong with seeking a better path?"
Qin Ming hesitated.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted.
With Shrek's teachers already gathered at Order Academy, and with his own commoner background, he would be judged far less there.
After a long pause, he clenched his teeth.
"If you don't abandon me… then I, Qin Ming, am willing to follow you."
"Welcome aboard."
Bai Mu nodded in satisfaction.
Holding Dugu Yan, he turned back to Ye Lingling.
"Come. Let's handle the withdrawal procedures."
Ye Lingling nodded quietly, following him with flushed cheeks beneath her veil.
Behind them, the Heaven Dou Royal Team stood stunned.
Out of eight members—three were gone.
And even the coach had left.
How was this team supposed to continue?
Unfortunately, matters didn't end there.
The three Education Committee Members rushed over, blocking their path.
"Bai Mu," Meng Shenji said gravely,
"Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling are outstanding students, and Qin Ming is an excellent teacher. They cannot simply leave."
"Oh?"
Bai Mu sounded almost amused.
"I'm taking my people away. They believe your academy doesn't suit them, and a better one is willing to accept them. On what grounds are you stopping them?"
"Have you never heard the saying?"
"Blocking someone's path to prosperity is like killing their parents. Ruining someone's future is even worse."
"Are you truly unwilling to see them grow stronger?"
"You—!"
The three committee members' faces darkened.
They wanted to argue—but they didn't dare.
They all knew that even together, they might not be able to stop Bai Mu.
In the end, they could only watch as he led Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling past them and away.
Standing there, the three felt an overwhelming sense of powerlessness.
Education Committee Members—yet unable to decide anything of importance.
Unable to keep anyone.
An utterly incompetent Education Committee.
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