47: Chapter 47 This peach is destined for me
Upon hearing this, Teacher An Nuolan was delighted and quickly straightened her back. "I will listen to the Dean!"
"Good."
Dean Zhou Qingyuan nodded, though a trace of imperceptible fatigue flashed across her eyes, and she sighed softly.
"Go ahead and finalize the team list as soon as possible."
"Yes." Teacher An Nuolan replied and retreated, gently closing the office door behind her.
Only Dean Zhou Qingyuan remained in the room. She gazed at the dense forest outside the window, slowly removed her glasses, and rubbed her temples.
The Eastern Martial Soul Academy appeared calm, but it was actually rife with undercurrents. Many people were eyeing her position, and one wrong move could trigger a storm.
Meanwhile, Lin Mo and his three companions were strolling along the academy's stone path.
The cherry blossom trees on both sides were in full bloom; pink and white petals drifted down, blanketing the ground in tenderness.
Occasionally, they could see upperclasswomen in school uniforms sitting cross-legged on the lawn, cultivating. The fluctuations of Soul Power swirling around them rippled gently like spring lake water, exuding an aura of tranquility.
"Boss, look! That's the orchard!"
The four of them had unknowingly walked to the back mountain. Lu Mengmeng suddenly pointed at an enclosed garden ahead, her eyes shining as if they held stars.
Lin Mo looked in the direction she pointed. He saw that the peach trees in the orchard were lush and leafy, with branches heavy with plump, rosy peaches that looked ready to burst with juice.
He subconsciously swallowed, and drool leaked out uncontrollably.
Scanning the surroundings to ensure no one was there, Lin Mo lowered his voice. "This peach is destined for me. Let's go, let's pull a job!"
Su Xiaoxiao was shocked when she heard this.
How could these three still be so reckless even after starting university?
Weren't they afraid of getting caught by the teachers?
She quickly tried to dissuade them. "Don't, don't! Didn't Teacher An say this is a cultivation garden? You'll be punished for picking them without permission..."
Lin Mo waved his hand dismissively. "Listen here, little fox, your perspective is too narrow. Why fear punishment? A thousand pieces of gold can't buy my happiness."
"Exactly, exactly!" Lu Mengmeng chimed in. "It's not like they're going to spank us; a little punishment won't cost us a pound of flesh. Besides, you're going to be hanging out with my boss from now on, so you need to learn to adapt!"
Su Xiaoxiao tilted her head, strangely finding some logic in those words.
Although Lin Mo and his trio caused a little trouble every day back in high school, they always seemed to carry an unrestrained, joyful energy.
But she still shook her head. "No, no, I still think this isn't right..."
However, Lin Mo didn't give her a chance to refuse.
He immediately started assigning tasks. "Alright, it's settled. Su Xiaoxiao, you and Da Chun are responsible for keeping watch. Lu Mengmeng and I will go in to pick them. Remember, if you see anyone coming, meow three times."
The subsequent operation was as smooth as flowing water.
When scaling the wall, Lin Mo hoisted Lu Mengmeng over in one leap, landing as lightly as a leaf.
The two of them skulked and wove between the fruit trees, picking only the largest and reddest peaches, their movements dazzlingly fast.
In just a few moments, they vaulted back out with their pockets stuffed full of peaches.
The entire process was executed in one go; one could tell at a glance they were "habitual offenders" who had collaborated for a long time.
Su Xiaoxiao stood there, stunned, her hands tightly clutching the hem of her clothes, her heart nearly jumping out of her chest.
"Here, for you."
The four of them slipped under a tree.
Lin Mo immediately gave two to each person.
The peaches were large and round, their skins covered in fresh fuzz and glistening with crystal-clear water droplets.
Lu Mengmeng wiped hers off casually and took a huge bite. Her eyes instantly lit up, and she said indistinctly, "Sweet! It's much sweeter than the ones bought outside!"
Lin Mo also took a big bite, the juice running down the corner of his mouth. "Hmm, not bad. It can actually restore a bit of Soul Power."
"Mmhmm, Brother Mo is right. Things that are free just taste better!"
Su Xiaoxiao watched the three of them eating with such relish.
She also looked at the two large peaches in her arms, her cheeks inexplicably flushing hot.
She carefully wiped the fuzz off, opened her mouth, and took a small bite.
"Sss, so sweet..."
The four of them squatted in the shade of the tree, keeping a vigilant watch on their surroundings.
While nibbling on the stolen peaches, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves and spilled onto their faces.
It carried a hint of the secret joy of adventure and the mischief of youth.
The next day.
The annual back-to-school season.
In a large auditorium.
Hundreds of freshmen gathered together.
"Hehe, I feel like I'm living in a dream!"
Niu Dachun looked around and discovered he was in the midst of a flower garden.
Among the hundreds of freshmen, there were fewer than seventy or eighty boys; the rest were all girls.
A flock of young women, and the various scents of young girls filled the entire classroom.
"Indeed, the imbalance between yin and yang is severe!"
Lin Mo was also overwhelmed by the sights.
"This year is actually quite a lot. Last year, there were four hundred freshmen, and only twenty were boys," Su Xiaoxiao revealed.
The group whispered to each other.
As the school leaders took their seats on the podium one by one.
A charming, mature woman sat in the principal's seat.
She immediately attracted the gaze of all the freshmen.
"Is this our Dean? She's so young."
"That's right, she is Dean Zhou Qingyuan of the Eastern Martial Soul Academy, a level 82 Soul Venerable."
"Hiss, no wonder she's so young. Once your strength reaches Tier 6 or above, who doesn't look young!"
"I heard this Dean is still single..."
The freshmen immediately began to discuss.
Lin Mo also felt stunned by her beauty.
"Hmph, this Dean Zhou Qingyuan is clearly a few years older than my mom, yet she's still so young!" Lu Mengmeng pouted, looking a bit unconvinced.
"It's quite normal. Every time you cross a major stage, the cells in your body undergo a massive evolution, so it's normal to look younger!" Lin Mo explained while watching Dean Zhou Qingyuan on the stage.
"What's the matter, Boss? Do you like this kind of old woman?"
Seeing Lin Mo staring intently.
Lu Mengmeng complained unhappily.
"What do you mean old? Look at how supple her skin is; she looks like someone who is filial."
"Hmph, what a pervert. I haven't seen you pay this much attention to so many young, beautiful female classmates!"
"Go away, go away. What do you know..."
Once the leaders were mostly seated, Dean Zhou Qingyuan turned on the microphone.
Dean Zhou Qingyuan tapped the microphone with her fingertip, and the auditorium instantly quieted down.
"Welcome, students, to the Eastern Martial Soul Academy. I am Dean Zhou Qingyuan."
Her voice clearly spread throughout the entire auditorium.
Next was a brief introduction to the Eastern Academy.
In the middle, two other vice-deans, a man and a woman, also gave their own speeches.
It was all just some encouragement and nonsense.
In the blink of an eye, more than two hours had passed.
Lin Mo and the others were almost falling asleep.
Finally, the microphone returned to Dean Zhou Qingyuan's hands.
"Alright, if there is anything else you don't understand about this academy, you can ask your team mentor after the class assignments!"
"Now I announce that this orientation meeting is over. Next is the class assignment segment."
After speaking, the deans and directors left.
A middle-aged female teacher walked onto the podium.
"Students, from the moment you entered this academy, you were no longer just simple students, but warriors in training!"
"In order to help you get used to the cruelty of this world, we will now divide you into five-person squads to undergo training and complete various missions!"
"We will now begin grouping according to the list! Those whose names are read, please follow your assigned team mentor and leave."
The teacher picked up the list and read out one by one: "Team 001 Li Xuefeng: Li Xue, Zhang Yao..."