As for the green beans floating on top, glistening with moisture—they were clearly fresh.
In other words, undercooked.
They were probably forgotten during cooking and tossed in at the very end.
White steam curled upward.
An indescribable odor assaulted his nose.
Su Wen's face turned green.
"How could Sister Xiao Tao possibly harm you?"
Ma Xiaotao rolled her eyes.
Believe me, this Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup was something I carefully prepared. It took an entire day. Try it."
"Where did you learn to make this?" Su Wen narrowed his eyes, desperately buying time.
"Don't worry about that. Just tell me—are you eating it or not?"
Ma Xiaotao turned her head away guiltily.
"I'll try it."
Su Wen spoke calmly.
His hand clenched tightly beneath the table. With the other hand, under Ma Xiaotao's eager gaze, he scooped up a single fresh green bean—the only thing that looked remotely edible.
Its full name was Earth Crystal Green Bean, a plant-type soul beast ingredient popular in an eastern province of the Heavenly Soul Empire.
"Crunch, crunch~"
As Su Wen chewed expressionlessly and swallowed, Ma Xiaotao's heart leapt into her throat.
"Is it good?" she asked cautiously.
"It's very good."
Su Wen nodded.
"That's great!"
Ma Xiaotao beamed, turning around and heading for the kitchen, clearly intending to bring him a full bowl.
"Don't make it again next time."
Su Wen stirred the dark, sticky soup with his spoon, looking utterly resigned.
Ma Xiaotao: "???"
…
"Then eat more~"
Ma Xiaotao sat across from him, resting her chin in her hands, blinking repeatedly. Her eyelashes nearly brushed Su Wen's face.
"Xiao Wen, I've got news about what you asked me to investigate."
Yan Shaozhe rushed in.
"Jiang Nannan is indeed—"
He paused, glancing at the tonic soup on the table, stunned.
"…Is this for feeding soul beasts?"
He looked at Ma Xiaotao in surprise.
"I didn't expect you to be so reliable…"
He stepped closer, dipped his chopsticks into the soup, sniffed lightly, then frowned.
"Don't give this to the soul beasts. This pot of mixed stew is far too toxic. Xiao Jin and the others are only thousand-year soul beasts—their bodies might not be able to handle it."
Su Wen: "…"
Ma Xiaotao: "…"
Su Wen stared straight at Ma Xiaotao, a sense of post-disaster exhaustion washing over him.
"Look me in the eyes."
Ma Xiaotao felt guilty and immediately picked up the pot.
"I'll go clean up the kitchen. You two talk~"
"You actually ate it?"
Yan Shaozhe leaned over quietly.
"I ate one green bean."
Su Wen replied flatly.
"Then you won't die… no, it's nothing serious."
Yan Shaozhe smiled slyly.
Su Wen: "…"
"You said you had news about Jiang Nannan?"
"Yes."
Yan Shaozhe's expression turned serious.
"I asked Du Weilun to look into it. Her father passed away early. She lives with her biological mother, who's now critically ill. Over the past few months, Jiang Nannan has taken leave and returned to the Heavenly Soul Empire to seek medical treatment for her mother."
Su Wen caught the flash of anger in Yan Shaozhe's eyes.
Most likely, a teacher from Shrek Academy had suppressed this matter.
It wasn't exactly a secret—more that no one took it seriously, and it was never reported to Du Weilun or Yan Shaozhe.
"Zhou Yi?" Su Wen raised an eyebrow.
"Hm? How do you know her?" Yan Shaozhe asked in surprise.
Su Wen's lips twitched.
So it really was her…
She was quite infamous in the original story.
"It wasn't her—it was another second-year teacher, Yang He."
Yan Shaozhe shook his head.
"Zhou Yi's reputation isn't great, but she still values outstanding students. That's her evaluation standard."
He glanced at Su Wen with a teasing look.
"Yang He? Never heard of him."
Su Wen shrugged.
"You wouldn't unless you investigated."
Yan Shaozhe said coldly.
"That bastard extorted over ten million gold soul coins from students."
"Shrek Academy students are really rich…"
Su Wen clicked his tongue.
But he understood.
If Yang He hadn't been so excessively greedy—using his authority to extort students while suppressing Jiang Nannan's plea letter, keeping Yan Shaozhe and Du Weilun completely in the dark—Dean Yan wouldn't be this furious.
Students were the foundation of an academy.
Dig out the foundation, and you still want to remain in the outer academy?
He'd probably be dismissed within days—or simply disappear.
"There are always experts behind the scenes…
Su Wen sighed.
Yan Shaozhe looked slightly embarrassed.
After all, he had full authority over the Martial Soul Department, and such a scandal had occurred—right in front of Su Wen.
"Managing the academy is a long-term matter," Su Wen said calmly.
"The most urgent issue is stopping Jiang Nannan from being pushed onto the wrong path."
"A helpless girl forced into darkness—your Martial Soul Department would bear full responsibility."
"You brat…"
Yan Shaozhe glared at him, teeth aching.
"Fine."
"Then let's go to the Xuanming Sect."
As an old fox, after weighing the overall situation, he had already seen through the Xuanming Sect's scheme.
Read More 80+ Advance chapter
patreon.com/HeavenlyYinYang