Xue Beng, the Fourth Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, has the Swan Spirit, is in his prime, is a Spirit Ancestor, and has a natural Aptitude rating of B-.
Xue Ke, the Princess of the Heaven Dou Empire, has the Swan Spirit, is in her early teens, is a Rank 22 Spirit Grandmaster, and has a natural Aptitude rating of B+.
At Peach Garden Academy, in front of the Red Maple Hall, Su Ran sat casually on a stone bench under a red maple tree, glancing at Xue Beng and Xue Ke.
Their Aptitude appeared in his Peach Garden eyes; the Tian Dou Royal Family's combat strength wasn't outstanding, so Xue Beng and Xue Ke's talent wasn't particularly high either.
Tang Yuehua carried herself with grace, but her gaze couldn't help but drift towards Su Ran; he was truly the most extraordinary person she had ever seen in her life.
She performed a courtly bow, "Prince Xue Beng was simply eager to learn and acted impulsively.
Please, Teacher Su, don't take offense."
"Prince Xue Beng, why aren't you apologizing to Teacher Su?"
Upon hearing this, Xue Beng said unwillingly, "I'm sorry, Teacher Su, I acted impulsively."
"The person you should apologize to isn't me, but him."
Su Ran glanced indifferently at Xue Beng, then pointed to Wang Sheng.
Su Ran had some impression of Xue Beng; he was quite arrogant and domineering, though it was said he was faking it, whether genuinely or deceptively, was unknown.
"Apologize to him? No, Teacher Su, why should I? Isn't he just a gatekeeper, a country bumpkin? Do I, a Prince, need to apologize to a gatekeeper? Is he worthy?"
Xue Beng glanced at Wang Sheng; this fellow had an ordinary demeanor, plain looks, and a rustic appearance—clearly a commoner.
In this world, where was the logic of a Prince apologizing to a subject?
"Hmm?"
Upon hearing this, Su Ran's eyes narrowed, and his expression instantly changed.
"Prince Xue Beng, don't forget His Majesty's instructions; when you come to Peach Garden Academy, you must listen to Teacher Su."
Tang Yuehua noticed Su Ran's displeased expression and quickly interjected a reminder.
"Alright."
Xue Beng recalled what his father, His Majesty, had said: Peach Garden Academy would surely become a top academy on the continent in the future, perhaps even an existence like the Upper Three Sects, and it would be a great aid to his future claim to the throne.
He swallowed his anger and was about to apologize to Wang Sheng with a look of disdain.
Unexpectedly, Su Ran had already spoken first, but Su Ran wasn't speaking to Xue Beng, but to Wang Sheng.
With a wave of Su Ran's hand, all the gold and silver treasures he had retrieved from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan were laid out under the large red maple tree in the center.
He said, "Wang Sheng, your own dignity, and the dignity of your family, must be fought for with your own fists."
"This is the compensation I, your Teacher, have secured for you, and it is also the funding I am providing for your new home.
These treasures are enough to ensure your future wife lives a good life, without having to rush around.
However, to obtain them, your Teacher has an assessment; only by completing this assessment will they belong to you and your future wife."
"As a husband, you must be strong.
As a father, you must be firm.
A man is like a mountain; he can endure the sharpening of wind and rain, and countless carvings, but he cannot be humiliated."
"Do you dare to beat the Prince?"
"If you beat him out of the academy, these betrothal gifts will all belong to your future wife, and it will also prove your determination to support a family."
Su Ran said coldly; these words shook Wang Sheng, and also firmed his resolve, his gaze like a tiger staring at Xue Beng:
"I dare."
"Disciple respectfully obeys Teacher's command!"
"You dare! I am the only Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire! If you dare to hit me, have you considered the consequences?!"
Boom!
As the Tiger Form Fist was unleashed, the air seemed to reverberate with the roar of a tiger.
In just a few steps, under the astonished gazes of Tang Yuehua and Xue Ke, a punch landed directly on Xue Beng's abdomen.
Xue Beng's body flew several hundred meters like a kite with a broken string, and blood immediately seeped from his mouth.
"In a feudal kingdom, imperial power is divinely granted, commoners are as lowly as ants, and the imperial family is the most noble existence.
However, when studying at Peach Garden Academy, regardless of gender, regardless of your background, and regardless of your Aptitude, one principle must be followed: all beings are equal, and one must know and observe proper etiquette."
"Even if you are a Prince, humiliating my Disciple and trampling the academy gates is a provocation.
Having been beaten out this time, do not return; I will not accept you as a Disciple."
Wang Sheng landed punch after punch on Xue Beng's body with immense strength, directly beating Xue Beng all the way out until his body, covered in punch marks, fell outside the school gate, lying on the ground like a dead dog, his voice weak:
"I am the future Heaven Dou Emperor! Not accepting me? And beating me… I'm going to, *cough*..."
...
Teacher Su Ran's words left everyone from the Royal Family who had come utterly dumbfounded.
At this moment, Tang Yuehua and Xue Ke were speechless; Su Ran's teaching was both reasonable and unyielding.
Su Ran merely glanced at them indifferently:
"You two still possess some manners; please make yourselves at home."
"Teacher Su... Teacher Su! I want to become your Disciple! I want to stay and study at Peach Garden Academy!"
Xue Ke mustered her courage and stepped forward, saying.
The teaching style of this academy was truly different from other places: regardless of gender? Regardless of status? Do both men and women have the same qualifications?!
A daughter of the Royal Family might be born into favor, but her authority could absolutely not compare to that of a Prince; with no fiefdom and no official position, she was destined to become a sacrifice for political marriage, just like Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun.
For Xue Ke, this was a refreshing statement that made her heart flutter even more.
Su Ran turned his head and glanced at her, "Your brother was beaten out; do you still want to stay and study here?"
"Yes, his being beaten out is his business.
I never liked him, nor did I agree with him.
My studying is my own business."
Xue Ke nodded.
"As you wish.
Since you have such a thirst for knowledge, you can first study with the academy's Named Disciples.
This place is not like Heaven Dou City, where everyone will indulge you.
If you can endure it and abide by the school rules, then we can discuss the matter of apprenticeship."
After Su Ran finished speaking, his figure vanished from where he stood.
Xue Ke clenched her small fists: "I can do it!"
Tang Yuehua: "Since the Princess is willing to stay, then I will also follow His Majesty's wishes and accompany Her Highness the Princess in studying here."
...
"These are all betrothal gifts Teacher prepared for Senior Brother Wang Sheng?"
"So much gold and silver jewelry, wow~ This pair of Dragon and Phoenix precious jade is so beautiful; even the Royal Family's dowry wouldn't be much more than this, right?"
"Senior Brother Wang Sheng is getting married soon; we should also work hard to graduate earlier and then win over Teacher!"
After Teacher left, Shui Yueer and the other students looked at the treasures Teacher had left for Wang Sheng's betrothal, their eyes filled with envy, not out of greed for wealth, but out of envy for finally finding someone to spend their lives with.
This also greatly stimulated them.
But Shui Bing'er sighed:
"But, graduating is too difficult; our basic unique skills haven't even reached Perfection like Senior Brother Wang Sheng's."
"Are all these treasures left by Teacher Su for the marriage of that male Disciple just now?"
Hearing the students' sighs, Tang Yuehua walked over and asked gently.
Several Senior Sisters were still feeling indignant for Senior Brother Wang Sheng and were somewhat unwilling to bother with her and Xue Ke.
Still, Shui Bing'er politely nodded:
"Yes."
"I didn't expect to arrive at such a coincidence, encountering the marriage of an academy Disciple.
Prince Xue Beng offended this Disciple earlier, and we deeply apologize.
Since Ke'er can stay and study, I am willing to perform a 'Rainbow Dragon and Phoenix Resounding' dance as an apology then, would that be alright?"
Tang Yuehua said humbly; her specialty finally had a use.
"You'll have to talk to Teacher about that, but even if your sincerity is decent, with Xue Beng's terrible attitude, it's impossible for him to study at our academy," Meng Yiran said.
"It doesn't matter, I'm not dancing for Prince Xue Beng."
Tang Yuehua smiled slightly, "I am dancing and playing music for Teacher Su!"
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