Tang Yin was hurrying back to Lanba Academy when a familiar figure strolling leisurely through Tian Duo City caught his eye.
"Dugu Bo?" he muttered, then quickly made his way toward the old man. "Old— I mean, Grandpa! Where have you been these past three months? I already have the cure for you and your granddaughter!"
His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Don't tell me… you were trying to dodge the three promises you made? I swear, I'll snitch to Dugu Yan."
Dugu Bo snorted, unfazed. "Who said I forgot? I've just been busy, that's all. That's why I didn't make it to Sunset Forest. So? Have you decided what you want in return?"
Tang Yin nodded firmly. "First, I want you to serve as an advisor at Lanba Academy for ten years."
Dugu Bo paused for a moment, but then quickly nodded. "Fair enough. Yan Yan's there anyway, so it works out. What about the second promise?"
Tang Yin smirked. "Haven't thought of that one yet. I'll let you know when I do. For now, let's head to Lanba."
Before long, the two arrived in front of Lanba Academy's gates, only to be stopped by the guards. Tang Yin waved them off casually.
"Go let Dean Liu Erlong know I'm back," he said.
Barely five minutes passed before Liu Erlong came bolting out, the girls trailing behind her, all of them bursting with excitement the moment they saw him.
The moment Tang Yin stepped through the gates, he was greeted by a blur of movement.
Ning Rongrong and Meng Yiran rushed him first, showering his face with kisses before he could even say hello. Just as he started laughing, a fierce force yanked them aside.
"Hmph, move!" Dugu Yan declared possessively, throwing her arms around him. She hugged him tightly, then kissed him full on the lips—right in front of her dumbfounded grandfather.
"Y-Yan Yan?!" Dugu Bo's eye twitched violently.
"Hey! That's not fair!" Rongrong and Yiran protested in unison, pouting.
But before they could reclaim their place, Ye Lingling calmly walked up, her cheeks slightly flushed. "You've been gone long enough," she said, and then softly pecked Tang Yin's lips—joining Dugu Yan without hesitation.
"This...This…" Dugu Bo mumbled, clutching his chest.
Just when he thought it couldn't get any worse, Zhu Zhuqing appeared from the side like a shadow, using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to weave between the group. Before anyone could react, she grabbed Tang Yin by the arm and kissed him—longer, slower, more deeply.
She pulled back and looked away, whispering, "I missed you... idiot."
Dugu Bo staggered two steps backward. "Pfft—! Cough cough— Damn it! Just how many lover does this brat have?!"
His horrified gaze turned to Liu Erlong, who had been silently watching with her arms crossed and a strange sparkle in her eyes.
"…And what's with that look, Dean Liu Erlong?! Are you trying to eat him too?! Aunty, have some shame!"
Liu Erlong smirked, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Why? You jealous, old man?"
Dugu Bo almost coughed up blood. "This isn't an academy, it's a harem in disguise!"
The girls, who had just been competing for Tang Yin's attention, suddenly froze as Dugu Bo's words sank in.
"W-Wait... Dean?" Ning Rongrong blinked.
"Don't tell me…" Meng Yiran's jaw dropped.
"When did Tang Yin make his move on Dean Erlong?!" Ye Lingling whispered, stunned.
Even Zhu Zhuqing's always-calm expression cracked slightly.
Before anyone could voice their shock, Liu Erlong had already thrown decorum to the wind. With a fiery gleam in her eyes, she launched herself at Tang Yin like a woman who'd waited far too long.
Tang Yin reacted instantly, holding her waist and pulling her into a warm embrace. She buried her face against his chest, her voice trembling as she whispered, "I missed you so much... Dear"
And then she kissed him. Right there, in front of everyone.
The other girls went wide-eyed, jealousy flashing in their gazes—but not a single one raised a complaint.
Because they knew her past tragedy.
So, just this once, they looked away, letting her have this moment.
Tang Yin just chuckled softly, holding Liu Erlong tighter as he whispered back, "I missed you too."
Dugu Bo coughed awkwardly, face dark. "Hey, little monster! Did you bring me here just to feed me dog food?!"
Tang Yin smirked and gestured to Liu Erlong. "This old guy agreed to be our advisor for ten years. Can you have Teacher Flender show him around before he dies of jealousy?"
Liu Erlong turned to a nearby guard and said,
"Go call Teacher Flender. Tell him to meet us here immediately."
Flender arrived, saw Liu Erlong being lovey-dovey with Tang Yin, and instantly looked like he swallowed a fly.
Liu Erlong smiled and said, "This is Dugu Bo, our new advisor. Teacher Flender, please show him around the academy."
Although Flender felt a bit awkward seeing Liu Erlong and Tang Yin's obvious closeness, he kept his composure and politely led Dugu Bo through the academy grounds.
Tang Yin had fully settled into life at Lanba Academy.
With Liu Erlong still dean and Flender stepping into an instructor role, the academy began to change. Tang Yin's relationships with the girls were already the talk of the campus, but it was his relentless training that truly set him apart.
Every morning, without fail, he trained under Zhao Wuji's gravity domain, wearing heavy weights strapped across his limbs. The pressure crushed down on him like a mountain, but he persisted.
And he wasn't alone.
Ning Rongrong, Meng Yiran, Ye Lingling, Dugu Yan, and Zhu Zhuqing—refused to fall behind. Without hesitation, they joined his brutal regimen, enduring the same crushing pressure, refusing any special treatment.
They sweated. They stumbled. But they never gave up, fully utilizing their strength and willpower to unleash their true potential.
The bond between them all grew stronger with every drop of sweat shed under the scorching sun. Yet, among all the deepening relationships, the one that grew fastest and brightest was the connection between Tang Yin and Liu Erlong.
Despite their age difference, they felt a strong pull toward each other. What started as comfort grew into passion and unspoken understanding. With Tang Yin, she laughed more, smiled more.... lived more.
One afternoon, after a particularly intense training session, Tang Yin was toweling off sweat under the shade of a tree when Ning Rongrong approached, her ponytail bouncing with each step.
"Hey," she called out, arms crossed beneath her chest and a teasing smirk on her face. "You know, while you were off training for three months, I went back to my seven treasured Clan."
Tang Yin looked up, curious. "Why are you telling me just now? Hmm? Don't tell me you forgot?"
Ning Rongrong blushed slightly—because yes, she had. Pouting, she snapped back, "Are you calling me stupid?!"
Tang Yin raised his hands in mock surrender. "Not at all. So? How was it?"
"Oh, you know… strict father, doting Grandpa—the usual." She sat beside him and leaned in closer, eyes sparkling. "But guess what? I told my father about your hidden weapons. He's interested. Very interested."
Tang Yin raised an eyebrow. "He agreed?"
She nodded proudly. "Yup. After I showed one to Grandpa Sword and accidentally almost injured him—heh—Father realized how effective they really are."
Tang Yin blinked. "You attacked Sword Douluo?"
"It was a demonstration," she sniffed. "Anyway, Grandpa forgave me, and Father was thrilled. He even said he wants to set up a deal with you immediately."
Tang Yin rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "That's actually perfect timing. I've already completed the designs. Your clan can handle the material prep, but assembly will still be done by me." He handed her two blueprints—the Silent Sleeve Arrow and the Godly Zhuge Crossbow.
Rongrong lit up. "Father said he wants five hundred sets of hidden weapons—and he's offering 10,000 gold coins per set! Generous, right?!"
Tang Yin gave a low whistle and nodded. "Really generous."
"And—" she added brightly, "He was super impressed with my Nine Treasured Glazed Tile Pagoda. He wants to meet you in person. When should I tell him to visit?"
Tang Yin smiled. "Anytime. I don't have any plans right now."