"Keke, Bing'er, what's going on here?"
Shui Xinrou looked worriedly toward the scene. Even with the combined strength of all the academy's instructors, this Fire Meow Meow was no match—so how had it suddenly gone berserk?
"Dean, here's what happened…"
Shui Bing'er calmly and clearly explained the cause of the situation to the dean and the other instructors.
"Fire Meow Meow…"
Yu Keke bowed awkwardly to Shui Xinrou, then ran straight between the Fire Meow Meow and the instructor, stretching out her small hands and calling out to the beast, her little face scrunched in concern.
"Miss Keke, the lord said to protect you. She broke the rules and deserves to die." Fire Meow Meow looked at Yu Keke, who was about its leg's height. Though still burning with anger, it lowered its head and said softly.
"It's okay, it's okay…"
Yu Keke gently stroked Fire Meow Meow's head, soothing it with a soft voice.
"B-but she…"
Fire Meow Meow really wanted to spit a burst of fiery flame to burn that reckless instructor to ashes, but with this Second Little Auntie standing in the way, it didn't know what to do.
"Don't be angry. We can't cause trouble for big brother."
Yu Keke continued to comfort it.
"Don't kill me! I was wrong… please spare me! Please spare me…"
The instructor was on the verge of collapse, mumbling incoherently.
"Keke, Fire Meow Meow…"
Shui Xinrou led the Shui sisters and the other instructors over carefully, calling out softly.
"Dean, sorry for causing trouble to everyone…"
Yu Keke glanced at the chaotic scene and apologized with a troubled look.
"This isn't your fault, Keke. Don't blame yourself."
Shui Xinrou smiled, waving her hand lightly to reassure Yu Keke, then turned to Fire Meow Meow.
"Fire Meow Meow, can we take this matter from here? Rest assured, I will not tolerate or excuse someone like her."
Fire Meow Meow said nothing, just looked at Yu Keke. No matter what, now that it was following this little auntie, it had to heed her advice.
"It's okay, it's okay. Let's listen to the dean, alright?"
Yu Keke glanced at the incoherent instructor and said to Fire Meow Meow.
"Alright, but if there's a next time, I will protect you by killing her."
Fire Meow Meow had no choice but to agree.
"Mm, thank you."
Yu Keke happily leaned against Fire Meow Meow's huge lion head; her hair brushed against its nose, tickling her a little.
"Wang Wan, you take care of this person. I don't want to see her again at Skywater Academy or anywhere else!"
"Yes, Dean."
Wang Wan, a veteran of Skywater Academy and a tutor in the Academic Affairs Office, naturally had more prestige than the other instructors.
Receiving the order, she immediately summoned two instructors to drag away the instructor who was so terrified she had lost control of herself and was babbling nonsense.
As for her final fate, given Shui Xinrou's position as dean of one of the Five Element Academies, it was unlikely any academy would accept her again.
With the situation resolved, Shui Xinrou turned to the instructors and students present, speaking solemnly:
"As the only one of the Five Element Academies open to commoners, I never expected to see such attitudes of nobles looking down on the lower classes here!
This is my failure, and I apologize to everyone."
After speaking, Shui Xinrou bowed deeply to the crowd. When she lifted her head, her expression turned cold. Her eyes flashed with a deadly light as she scanned everyone.
"If such incidents happen again within the academy—whether instructor or student—they will be severely punished!"
Her voice was low but fell like a boulder in the hearts of all the instructors and students.
Some with ulterior motives quietly lowered their heads, and when an instructor responded, the whole assembly echoed the agreement.
"Alright, everyone, return to your duties. Dismissed."
The punishments had been dealt, the lessons taught. Shui Xinrou waved her hand, signaling everyone to go about their business.
Though many couldn't tear their eyes from Fire Meow Meow, the dean had spoken, so they turned back to their companions and resumed training.
After all, most people had only ever heard of hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts in records; few had seen one so vividly before.
From another perspective, hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts were even rarer than Titled Douluos.
Ordinary people might meet Titled Douluos now and then, but encountering a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast usually meant deep forest encounters where survival—not admiration—was the primary concern.
Shui Xinrou herself was holding back her shock. Even for her, this was the first time seeing a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast.
Though she had met Fire Meow Meow before, this towering, soul-power-radiating Beast King was completely different from the small cat Yu Keke had held.
Looking at the massive Fire Meow Meow, Shui Xinrou pressed her lips and finally said:
"Fire Meow Meow, could you tone down your presence? If any Titled Douluo nearby senses your aura, it could cause trouble."
Hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts were terrifying, but that meant they had hundred-thousand-year spirit rings and guaranteed spirit bones.
Spirit masters might be weak individually and avoid hunting such beasts, but the powerful Titled Douluos were a different matter.
No one could remain indifferent toward those spirit rings and bones, especially when a Beast King stepped out of the forest into the human world—it was like a lamb entering the wolves' den.
Still, Shui Xinrou only worried about trouble, not that Fire Meow Meow would be killed by any human Titled Douluo here.
After all, it was backed by that exalted one.
That exalted one rarely acted, but from the rumors Shui Xinrou heard, even the Sword Titled Douluo couldn't withstand a single round against him.
It was said that this exalted being's strength was terrifying—some even regarded them as a god.
Even the strongest Titled Douluos would find trying to obtain spirit rings and bones from Fire Meow Meow like reaching into the fire for chestnuts.
If that exalted one got displeased, the rings and bones might exist—but whether you'd live to keep them was another question.
"Fire Meow Meow, please change back to your usual form."
Yu Keke patted Fire Meow Meow's head gently.
"Roar~"
Fire Meow Meow let out a roar, then flames engulfed its whole body. Moments later, a cute little figure stepped out.
Yu Keke squatted down and held it in her arms.
"Mmm~ I still like Fire Meow Meow this little way more."
She preferred the small Fire Meow Meow—when it got big, its aura felt like an entirely different beast, and even she was a little scared…
_
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