The two made their way back to the academy, passing through the familiar stone corridors until they reached Teacher Wu Haoxuan's classroom.
Even before they stepped inside, the low hum of voices and controlled breathing could be heard.
The classroom was already filled to the brim with students, every seat occupied, and several students were even standing near the walls.
It was immediately obvious just how popular Teacher Wu Haoxuan was among the academy's students.
Wu Haoxuan stood at the front of the room with his hands clasped behind his back, overseeing the class with sharp, calculating eyes.
The moment Lin Feng and Su Wanwan appeared at the entrance, his gaze snapped toward them.
Recognition flashed across his face, followed instantly by displeasure.
His eyes narrowed, and a faint trace of anger leaked out as soon as he saw Lin Feng.
When his gaze shifted toward Su Wanwan, the pressure intensified.
She stiffened and instinctively moved closer to Lin Feng, her fingers gripping the edge of his sleeve.
Wu Haoxuan's look of disapproval made her heart pound, and her breathing became uneven, as though she had done something unforgivable merely by standing beside him.
"Continue practicing the breathing exercises I taught you," Wu Haoxuan said coldly, his voice carrying clearly throughout the room. "I'll be asking questions later."
The students immediately refocused, none of them daring to be distracted any further.
Wu Haoxuan then turned his back on the class and strode outside, his robe fluttering slightly as he passed Lin Feng, clearly signaling for him to follow.
Outside the classroom, the atmosphere grew heavy.
Wu Haoxuan stopped a few steps away and turned around slowly, his eyes sharp as blades.
"What are you doing with Teacher Lin Feng, Wanwan?" he asked, his tone stern and demanding, leaving no room for excuses.
Su Wanwan's body trembled. She lowered her head, her lips parting as she struggled to find the right words.
"Wanwan is… is…" Her voice faltered, fear choking her throat until no sound came out at all.
Wu Haoxuan frowned deeply, clearly displeased by her hesitation.
The pressure bearing down on her felt suffocating, and her legs nearly gave out beneath her.
Before Wu Haoxuan could speak again, a calm and steady voice cut through the tension.
Lin Feng stepped half a pace forward, positioning himself between Wu Haoxuan and Su Wanwan, his presence immediately relieving the pressure on her.
"Su Wanwan is going to be my student from now on, Teacher Wu Haoxuan," Lin Feng said evenly, his gaze unwavering.
The words landed like a stone dropped into still water, sending invisible ripples through the air.
For a brief moment, silence reigned as Wu Haoxuan stared at Lin Feng, his expression unreadable but the brewing storm in his eyes made it clear that this was far from over.
"…"
For several long breaths, Wu Haoxuan simply stared at Lin Feng, his mind momentarily blank.
He genuinely wondered if he had misheard. Never since he began teaching at the academy had anyone spoken to him in such a manner, let alone openly tried to take one of his students right in front of him.
If this had been any other teacher, Wu Haoxuan would have waved his hand and allowed Su Wanwan to leave without the slightest hesitation.
In fact, he would have been relieved. He knew the girl all too well… slow reactions, poor comprehension, weak physical foundation, and absolutely no talent in cultivation.
No matter how many resources or techniques he used on her, the result was always the same… utter disappointment.
She was, in his eyes, nothing more than dead weight.
But Lin Feng was different.
Wu Haoxuan's lips curled slightly as he sneered inwardly.
Allowing Lin Feng to take Su Wanwan now would mean conceding ground, admitting weakness even if the student in question was worthless.
That, he could not tolerate.
"I'm sorry, but I can't agree to that," Wu Haoxuan said, his voice turning cold and authoritative. "Unless Su Wanwan herself formally requests to leave my class, she will remain my student. Not yours."
As he spoke, his gaze snapped toward Su Wanwan, sharp and intimidating, carrying the full weight of a senior instructor's pressure.
It was a warning, a silent command for her to think carefully before opening her mouth.
Then, just as quickly, his eyes shifted back to Lin Feng, daring him to object.
Lin Feng did not rise to the provocation. He did not argue, nor did he return Wu Haoxuan's glare.
Instead, he calmly turned toward Su Wanwan, his expression gentle, completely unaffected by the oppressive atmosphere.
"How about it, Wanwan?" Lin Feng asked, his voice low and steady. "Do you want to leave Wu Haoxuan's class and become my student from now on?"
Su Wanwan's heart pounded violently in her chest. Her fingers trembled, and tears blurred her vision.
For months, she had lived under Wu Haoxuan's shadow… enduring scorn, indifference, and thinly veiled contempt.
Every mistake had been magnified, every failure silently judged.
She swallowed hard.
This was the first time someone had asked what she wanted.
Her knees felt weak, and for a moment she thought she might collapse.
Still, she nodded, clutching her robe as if it were her last source of strength.
When she finally spoke, her voice quavered but it did not break.
"Yes," she said softly at first, then more firmly. "Wanwan wants to learn under Teacher Lin Feng."
The words echoed faintly in the corridor.
For a split second, Wu Haoxuan's expression stiffened. His brows furrowed, clearly displeased that the girl had dared to speak against his will.
Lin Feng, however, smiled faintly, a warmth in his eyes that Su Wanwan had never seen from a teacher before.
"Then it's settled," Lin Feng said. "From today onward, I'll take care of you, Wanwan."
He turned back to Wu Haoxuan, his tone returning to calm professionalism.
"I'll personally handle all the necessary paperwork, Teacher Wu Haoxuan. You won't be troubled any further."
Without waiting for a reply, Lin Feng turned and led Su Wanwan away.
His pace was steady, unhurried, as though he had not just challenged one of the academy's most respected instructors.
Su Wanwan followed closely behind him, her head lowered, tears finally slipping free but this time, they were not tears of fear.
Wu Haoxuan remained where he stood, watching their figures disappear down the corridor.
After a moment, a low, cold laugh escaped his lips.
"Fool," he muttered. "Let's see how long you can keep smiling once the year ends."
Every year, the academy held a grand evaluation where teachers presented their students' achievements.
It was more than a simple showcase… it determined reputation, future resources, and standing within the academy.
Wu Haoxuan had maintained his lofty status precisely because his students always performed exceptionally well.
That was also why he despised underachievers like Su Wanwan. They stained his record.
He believed firmly that no matter how skilled a teacher was, some people were simply beyond saving.
Even the finest craftsman could not carve a priceless gem out of an ordinary stone.
With that thought, Wu Haoxuan turned back toward his classroom, his steps light and his mood lifted, utterly convinced that Lin Feng had just walked headfirst into humiliation while he himself would once again stand proudly at the center of the academy's praise.