"Hey, Xiao Wu, what are you peeking at?"
"You look all secretive and nervous. Did someone steal your carrots?"
Here, under a red maple tree outside the girls' dormitory, Meng Yiran returned from studying in the Weaponry Repair Pavilion and patted Xiao Wu's shoulder.
The autumn breeze carried a faint chill, causing the red maple leaves above them to tremble and fall in slow spirals. The academy grounds were usually peaceful at this hour, but Xiao Wu's unusual behavior made the atmosphere feel slightly tense, as if something hidden was about to surface.
Xiao Wu's eyes were secretly fixed on Bibi Dong's back in front of the academy.
Her posture was low and controlled, yet every muscle in her body seemed tightly coiled. There was no trace of her usual playful innocence. Instead, she observed with sharp focus, like a predator evaluating a dangerous target.
Her fists were tightly clenched, and she indeed looked very nervous, as if she was staring at an enemy.
Startled by Meng Yiran's pat, Xiao Wu quickly said,
"Senior Sister Meng Yiran, don't mind me, I'm just checking the situation. You go Cultivate."
Her voice was slightly rushed, trying to sound casual, but her eyes never fully left Bibi Dong's direction. The tension in her stance suggested she was ready to react at any moment.
"Tense body, solemn expression, sharp eyes... According to the Hidden Weapons assassination knowledge taught by the teacher, this completely matches the characteristics of an assassin targeting their vital prey."
Meng Yiran tilted her head, analyzing the situation with serious curiosity. Her background in weaponry made her instinctively interpret Xiao Wu's behavior through tactical logic rather than emotion.
"Is that... the teacher?"
Her gaze followed Xiao Wu's line of sight, narrowing slightly.
"Oh my goodness, Xiao Wu, you want to kill the teacher?"
The statement came out too quickly, half shocked and half joking, but it carried enough weight to make the surrounding air feel momentarily heavier.
"Other Senior Sisters only fantasize about pushing the teacher down every day, but you actually want to kill the teacher?! Isn't that too rebellious?!"
Meng Yiran's tone shifted into exaggerated disbelief, but her eyes remained observant, as if still trying to determine whether there was any truth hidden beneath Xiao Wu's reaction.
"Oh, Senior Sister Meng Yiran, I didn't, don't talk nonsense."
Teased by Meng Yiran, Xiao Wu's little face turned red with urgency.
She clenched her fists even tighter, not from aggression, but from panic. The misunderstanding was dangerous. If rumors spread, especially within Heart of Fire Academy, it could create unnecessary attention and disrupt her plans.
This woman is very strong, and she cannot expose herself yet.
Her thoughts briefly sharpened. As a Spirit Master with a hidden identity and mission, Xiao Wu understood better than most how important concealment was. Every careless word or misinterpreted action could have consequences far beyond the academy.
But at this moment, Teacher Xin's voice drifted over lightly:
"Xiao Wu, come here."
The voice was calm, neither loud nor commanding, yet it carried a natural authority that made resistance impossible.
"Yes, Teacher."
Hearing the teacher's call, Xiao Wu's body trembled slightly. She tried her best to regain her composure and walked in front of the teacher, giving a slight teacher's salute, but her peripheral vision couldn't help but glance at Bibi Dong on the other side.
Her steps were controlled, but her mind remained alert. Every detail of Bibi Dong's presence still weighed on her instincts like a lingering threat she could not ignore.
Meng Yiran behind her was a bit confused. Out of her Hidden Weapons instinct, she always felt that the atmosphere was a bit off. She waved her hand and said,
"Teacher, then I'll go back to continue my studies."
Xin nodded, his smile as warm as sunlight after rain: "Go."
His expression remained gentle, but there was a subtle depth in his eyes, as if he had already noticed more than what was being spoken aloud.
...
"Teacher Xin, why did you suddenly call this student over? Could it be... could it be that the spirit ring and Spirit Bone you want are not for yourself, but for her?"
Bibi Dong looked at Xiao Wu in surprise.
Her gaze shifted between Xin and Xiao Wu, quickly analyzing the situation with practiced political intuition. The presence of another disciple being summoned at such a moment naturally led her to reconsider Xin's intentions.
Just now, after hearing Xin's promise, in order to solve the problem of 'Shallow Fate' that Xin mentioned, she agreed to give away the 100,000-year spirit ring and Spirit Bone, provided there was no life-threatening danger.
Although the 100,000-year spirit ring and Spirit Bone are very precious, in her eyes, exchanging them for a connection with Teacher Xin and an opportunity to stay at Heart of Fire Academy was worth it.
But when she confirmed her agreement, Xin called over a student.