"Thank you, Supreme Pontiff, for acknowledging our academy's teaching capabilities. However, I am still very sorry, but I cannot offer you a position at Heart of Fire Academy.
This is not due to a lack of recognition for your strength, but for other reasons."
Under the Cherry Blossom, Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong did not receive the answer she desired; she was rejected by the handsome and ethereal man before her.
The soft wind that had once made the cherry blossoms feel like a poetic backdrop suddenly seemed heavier, as if even the atmosphere itself had paused in uncertainty. The petals still fell gently, but the warmth in the air felt slightly diminished, replaced by a subtle tension that lingered between the two figures.
"Other reasons? What reasons?"
Bibi Dong's purple eyes trembled. She was willing to set aside her authority and status as Pope to take on a not-so-high position at Heart of Fire Academy.
For someone of her stature, such a compromise was almost unheard of. The Supreme Pontiff of Spirit City had always stood at the pinnacle of power, feared and respected across the continent. Yet here she was, lowering herself to request a position that, under normal circumstances, countless others would have fought for. The irony of the situation did not escape her, but her focus remained fixed on Xin.
With her strength, looking across the entire continent, in any academy, let alone an assistant teacher role, even a vice-dean position would be within her grasp.
But now, Xin wouldn't even give her such an opportunity?
Thinking of this, even for a figure as esteemed as the Pope, her heart was filled with grievance, and her eyes showed some turmoil:
Her emotions, usually tightly controlled beneath layers of authority and composure, began to show faint cracks. It was not rage, but confusion mixed with a rare sense of rejection she had not experienced in years. The feeling of being refused outright, without negotiation or compromise, was unfamiliar and unsettling.
"Could it be that Teacher Xin truly resents me because the Supreme Pontiff Palace sent people to intercept Heart of Fire Academy during the Soul Master Competition?"
The question slipped out before she could fully restrain it. There was a trace of vulnerability hidden beneath her tone, something that even she seemed reluctant to acknowledge.
"At that time, I was indeed dissatisfied with Heart of Fire Academy's strength, and spurred on by Yu Xiaogang, I made a wrong decision.
Fortunately, the teachers and students of Heart of Fire were not harmed."
As she spoke, the memory of that incident resurfaced more clearly. The decisions made in haste, influenced by external voices, had led to a confrontation that could have escalated far more dangerously than it ultimately did. The fact that Heart of Fire Academy had remained unharmed was both a relief and a lingering source of unease in her mind.
"I now sincerely apologize to Teacher Xin and the students involved for that incident and am willing to offer compensation."
Bibi Dong did not look like the Pope, who was second only to one person and above ten thousand; at this moment, she looked more like a young wife seeking forgiveness for a mistake.
However, this young wife might still have a lot of schemes in her heart:
The contrast within her was striking. On one hand, there was genuine acknowledgment of fault and a willingness to make amends. On the other, there remained the deeply ingrained instincts of someone who had ruled from the highest seat of power for too long. Even in humility, parts of her mind continued to analyze, calculate, and evaluate possible outcomes.
Ah ah ah ~ Damn it, if Teacher Xin's strength wasn't extraordinary, why would Pope have to be so obsequious?
I would just force him!
Make Teacher Xin lick my toes!
See if he still dares to refuse me!
Even if I take ten thousand steps back, it would be wonderful for Pope to lick Teacher Xin's jade feet!
… …
These chaotic thoughts flickered through her mind like fragmented impulses, revealing the contradiction between her pride and her current situation. Yet outwardly, she maintained her composed posture, as if none of these turbulent thoughts existed beneath her calm expression.
"Supreme Pontiff, you misunderstand. The Soul Master Competition incident is long past; the students have almost forgotten it, and your Supreme Pontiff Palace also offered a Spirit Bone as compensation, so it's considered settled.
I am not refusing because of that."
Xin looked deeply at Bibi Dong.
His gaze was steady, not sharp, but it carried a quiet weight that made unnecessary explanations feel redundant. There was no anger in his expression, nor lingering resentment. Instead, it was something more measured—an evaluation of boundaries, consequences, and the stability of his own academy's future.
This woman was beautiful, but she was also a thorny rose.
Interacting with her, one wrong move and you might be pricked by her thorns.
...
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