Chapter 107: Stirring Things Up Is Shui Bing'er About to Become My Junior Sister?
Qing Luan didn't stay long at Han Li's residence. He had mainly come to visit since it had been a while, and he wanted to see Xiu'er's spirit ring absorption, as well as confirm what he had heard from Guang Ling that Han Li's third spirit ring came from a Shadow Sky Eagle and that he had even acquired its wings. Now that he had seen everything and even received an unexpected gift in the form of Wind Chime Grass, he had little time to linger. After wrapping up his business, he left in a hurry.
Guang Ling, however, remained behind. He needed to assist in developing Dugu Yan's training regimen that afternoon. Additionally, there was Han Li's earlier mention of aerial combat training, which required his involvement as well. Though Guang Ling could personally teach them, he was primarily a long range fighter, while Han Li could handle both melee and ranged combat. Dugu Yan leaned more towards ranged attacks, but foundational training was still crucial.
For now, Guang Ling wanted to observe rather than rush into imparting his own experiences. If necessary, he planned to invite members of the Angel Corps to help with their training. After all, that's where he had learned aerial combat himself. Surely, the Grand Worship wouldn't refuse, right?
Noticing that the two young women were engrossed in their own conversation, Guang Ling decisively joined his disciple instead.
Han Li also looked at him it just so happened that he had something to ask his master.
"Go ahead, you first."
Guang Ling noticed Han Li's expression seemed a bit off, like the kind of look Guang Ling himself usually gave Han Li. Frowning slightly, he decided to let Han Li speak first.
"Alright, Master, don't get mad, but I have to ask this 'surprise' you mentioned for Senior Uncle… it's not going to cause trouble, is it? And why did you drag me into this out of nowhere? If things go south, Senior Uncle is going to crank up my combat training, and that stuff hurts."
Han Li probed cautiously, though by the end, his face was full of genuine concern.
Hearing this, Guang Ling barely restrained the urge to smack his disciple.
What kind of nonsense was that? Since when was a disciple supposed to speak to their master this way? No wonder Han Li had been giving him that weird look earlier who was the real master here?
Guang Ling shot him a menacing glare before glancing at the two girls nearby. Then, extending his hand, he formed a soul power barrier around them before speaking in a threatening tone.
"Dear disciple, you wouldn't want me to tell Xiu'er and Dugu Yan about your little habit of reading up on the female students at Tianshui Academy, would you?"
Han Li rolled his eyes.
"Go ahead, tell them. I'm not worried. I only check for proper research purposes, not anything shady."
Wait a minute… why would his master bring up Tianshui Academy out of nowhere? Could this "surprise" for Senior Uncle have something to do with it?
Feeling suspicious, Han Li tentatively asked, "Master, don't tell me the 'surprise' is Shui Bing'er?"
Guang Ling's eyes lit up as he nodded approvingly. "That's right! That girl. And you were the one who told me about her in the first place."
"You're not planning to kidnap her and make her Senior Uncle's disciple, are you?"
Han Li's voice was full of doubt.
Guang Ling's eyes narrowed. "I'll give you a chance to rephrase that properly."
Han Li immediately backed down and reworded his question. "Are you planning to find a talented disciple for Senior Uncle?"
Guang Ling nodded in satisfaction. "That's right, exactly what you're thinking."
"Master, don't you think you're being a bit too optimistic? The situation with the Elemental Academies is complicated. What if you end up getting turned away at the door? Shui Bing'er may still be in the junior division, but her parents are high ranking figures in Tianshui Academy. It won't be that easy to bring her back."
Han Li didn't want to get himself or his master tangled in unnecessary trouble. Bibi Dong was already playing political chess against the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan why should they go and throw themselves into the fray?
"You sure do keep up with the intelligence reports better than I do."
Guang Ling chuckled, then waved off Han Li's concerns.
"Relax. I have a plan. According to the reports, Shui Bing'er struggles to control her martial soul properly, right? And you mentioned that her martial soul's transformation bears some resemblance to Dugu Yan's after its evolution."
"We don't need to meddle in their political games. We just need to go directly to her parents and have a discussion. Think about it how many spirit masters would turn down the offer of a Titled Douluo personally accepting their child as a disciple and promising to solve their martial soul issues? On top of that, we wouldn't even interfere with Tianshui Academy's decisions. Do you really think her parents would refuse such an opportunity?"
Guang Ling exuded confidence, though there was a hint of sly amusement in his smile.
"But will they believe you? If a Titled Douluo suddenly appears and offers to take their daughter as a disciple, people will assume it's an order from Spirit Hall. If you go through with this, it'll escalate things. What will you tell the Pope? She'll definitely come knocking. And what about the Grand Worship will he approve?"
Han Li tried to reason with him. As expected, Guang Ling was planning something big, and in the process, he was trying to stir up trouble for Bibi Dong.
"That's not an issue. I'll just swear in the name of the Angel God. The Grand Worship will agree." Guang Ling shrugged, completely unconcerned.
Han Li pressed a hand to his forehead.
No wonder he always found people in Douluo Continent so easy to fool his master had been casually swearing oaths in the Angel God's name left and right. Even Qing Luan had started giving Guang Ling weird looks whenever he did it.
Why was he so practiced at this? Han Li really wanted to shake his master to knock some sense into him.
"Have you asked the Grand Worship about this yet?"
"Nope."
"Then how do you know he'll agree?"
"The Grand Worship isn't made of stone he has his limits. Bibi Dong has been getting out of line lately. Did you know she's been trying to push for her disciple to be named Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden? What a joke. That Hu Liena girl? Not even close to being worthy. She's nowhere near as good as Xiaoxue. Just the fact that she has that ambition is unacceptable."
As soon as Guang Ling finished speaking, he realized he had let something slip. He quickly turned to Han Li, but to his surprise, Han Li showed no reaction.
"You knew?"
Guang Ling was genuinely surprised.
"I didn't before, but I do now. The Grand Worship mentioned it to me yesterday just briefly."
Han Li nodded calmly.
"You had a private conversation with the Grand Worship? And I didn't even know about it?"
Guang Ling stared at him in disbelief.
"The Grand Worship said it didn't matter whether you knew or not, so he didn't tell you."
Han Li's response was delivered in a neutral tone, but his words were a direct hit to Guang Ling's pride.
Guang Ling looked like he had just eaten something sour but didn't push the matter further. If the Grand Worship said it wasn't necessary for him to know yet, then he wouldn't ask.
"What exactly do you know?"
After a long pause, Guang Ling asked again.
"Just a little bit."
Han Li made a gesture that, in his past life, would have been considered offensive in South Korea.
"Fine. Either way, now you understand why I'm sure the Grand Worship will approve, right?"
Guang Ling's confidence returned, his smile smug.
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