Inside the campus of the Changsheng immortal sect, within an office in the teaching building.
Jiang Mengxin stood as straight as a bamboo shoot, her head hanging low like a child who had made a mistake.
“Jiang Mengxin, you messed up again! Why is it always you?” The elite class homeroom teacher was a middle-aged woman wearing glasses.
She had a long face and sagging skin, which had earned her a recent nickname among the students — Hippo.
“I’m sorry, that Demon King’s speed was just too fast…”
“It was already heavily injured, and you still couldn’t stop it? Did you just throw away everything you learned in class!”
“No, I didn’t…”
Jiang Mengxin’s voice grew smaller and smaller.
At the same time, at another desk nearby, the homeroom teacher Old Wu couldn’t help but speak up.
“Alright, alright, don’t keep making things difficult for the little girl. This Demon King was difficult to fight to begin with.”
“You should worry about that king of truancy in your own class first!” Hippo snapped.
“I’ve got it handled. That girl from my class will be back for lessons soon,” Old Wu said. “You shouldn’t constantly insult the students. It’s not right.”
“Spells and rods make the scholar! What do you know? Every student in the elite class will become a pillar of society,” Hippo retorted.
“I just wanted to say, your teaching method…” Old Wu’s expression soured.
Before he could finish his sentence, a crisp and pleasant voice, like that of a lark, rang out from outside the door.
“Old Deng, are you in there?”
The sudden shout shattered the awkward atmosphere in the office.
“Ah!” Old Wu rubbed his forehead. “I’m here, I’m here. Come in.”
“You got it!” Su Mumu walked in with a carefree air.
She immediately noticed Jiang Mengxin standing to the side.
“Hmm? Xin Xin?”
“Mumu…?” Jiang Mengxin looked up, her eyes wide with shock. “What are you doing here?”
“Old Deng begged me to come,” Su Mumu said with a grin.
“Stop talking nonsense. Come over and sign in. You’re late!” Old Wu said with a dark expression. “And don’t use that name on campus.”
“I know, I know.”
Su Mumu found her homeroom teacher quite amusing. He was clearly a middle-aged bald man, yet he always posted emo updates on his friend circle late at night, filled with emotion and regret.
She scribbled her name down haphazardly.
“Old Deng, I…”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Okay, Old Deng.”
“Dammit!”
“Old Deng, you should use civilized language on campus.”
“I’m going to cough up blood because of you one of these days!” Old Wu shook his head repeatedly.
“Don’t blame me, it has nothing to do with me,” Su Mumu snickered.
On the other side, Hippo, the elite class homeroom teacher, spoke in an unpleasant tone. “Look at yourself! You’ve been like this for years! No wonder the students don’t respect you. What a disgrace!”
Old Wu clicked his tongue and rubbed his temples.
Su Mumu threw a confused glance at the old woman nearby. ‘Old Deng, is this old lady going through menopause? She’s got such a short fuse.’
“Hey! Su Mumu, it’s rare to see you speak so sensibly!” Old Wu suddenly slapped his thigh and gave her a thumb’s up.
“Thank you for the compliment, Old Deng.”
“Su Mumu? Oh, I remember now. Jiang Mengxin, I heard you know her?” Hippo said.
“You’ve always been such a failure! If you hang out with a bottom class student like her, it’ll be hard for you to ever improve! I suggest you stop associating with such losers from now on!”
“But we’re best friends…” Jiang Mengxin muttered resentfully.
“Best friends? What use are best friends! Your credits are already in the negatives!” Hippo’s saliva flew as she spoke.
Jiang Mengxin lowered her head, biting her lower lip in frustration.
The atmosphere in the office fell into a stalemate once again.
Old Wu just kept shaking his head, his face full of sighs and pity.
Su Mumu finally understood the reason for the tension. It turned out her best friend was being lectured by her homeroom teacher…
“Old Deng, what happens if your credits are negative?”
“You get demoted to the bottom class,” Old Wu explained.
“The bottom class? Which one?”
“Our class, of course!”
“Oh, oh. So that means… Xin Xin is already in our class?” Su Mumu asked.
“Yes, but we have to wait for their homeroom teacher to finish the transfer…” Old Wu started to say.
Before he could finish, Su Mumu stepped forward and grabbed Jiang Mengxin’s wrist.
Under the latter’s startled gaze, Su Mumu pulled her forcefully into their camp.
“Mumu… my homeroom teacher hasn’t finished talking…”
“Why do you care about her? Since you’ve switched classes anyway, we only need to listen to this Old Deng!”
Jiang Mengxin’s gaze was dazed, looking like a doll being toyed with.
Having been scolded until now, her brain was a complete mess.
“Heh, what’s the use of this kind of ‘best friend’! You don’t even know how to respect your teachers!” Hippo was still venting.
Su Mumu turned her gaze toward the middle-aged woman’s face.
That horse-like face was revolting to look at.
“This… Mrs. Hippo?” Su Mumu said, sounding a bit uncertain.
“Pfft, hahahaha!” Old Wu laughed so hard he bent over. “Su Mumu, how did you find out about that?”
“Huh?” Su Mumu was momentarily stunned. She noticed that even Jiang Mengxin was struggling to hold back a laugh.
On the other hand, Hippo’s face had turned green with rage. She pointed a finger and began to scream, “How dare a student speak like that! Come over here and apologize to me right now!!”
“Hippo?” Su Mumu called out again, still sounding unsure.
“You! You! You… sghjkdgshij…” Hippo became incoherent with rage.
“Oh!” Su Mumu had a sudden realization. She struck her palm with her fist as if settling on a conclusion. “So your name really is Hippo! I really shouldn’t have called a teacher by their name directly.”
“Outrageous! You are simply a delusional student! Right now, immediately, apologize to me this instant!” Because her blood pressure was spiking, Hippo’s entire face was trembling slightly.
“Old Deng.” Su Mumu scratched her head and looked at Old Wu.
At this moment, Old Wu was drinking tea with a look of great satisfaction. “What is it, my dear and excellent student?”
“This Mrs. Hippo wants me to apologize. Should I?” Su Mumu asked.
“Do you even need to ask such a question! You should know the answer yourself!” Old Wu slammed his teacup down, his face becoming serious.
“That’s right!” Hippo quickly interjected, her tone rising. “Did you hear what your homeroom teacher said? Come and apologize!”
“Old Deng, I don’t want to apologize.” Su Mumu blinked.
“Then don’t!” Old Wu said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “You are my student, so of course you only listen to me. How could you not understand such a simple answer?”
Su Mumu nodded repeatedly. “I see. My mistake.”
“You… Old Wu, have you gone mad too!?” Hippo slammed the desk, making a loud noise. “Is this how you teach your students!? I’m going to report you to the Dean’s office!”
“Then I’ll report you first for insulting and even threatening a student, causing negative psychological trauma,” Old Wu said nonchalantly.
“Dammit!” Hippo cursed, unable to say anything for a long time.
“Alright, welcome to the class, Jiang Mengxin.” Old Wu smiled as he looked at Jiang Mengxin.
“I’ve heard about your situation. I want to say… the environment isn’t important. What matters is the firm belief in everyone’s heart. Even in a bottom class, you are all excellent, like stars in the clouds. Your light is just hidden for now.”
“Teacher…” Jiang Mengxin’s pupils trembled slightly.
“Xin Xin, you said it wrong. You have to call him Old Deng. He gets unhappy if you call him teacher,” Su Mumu corrected her.
“Is that so? Okay… Old Deng, thank you for the guidance.” Jiang Mengxin nodded thoughtfully. “I understand what I want in my heart.”
“Cough! Su Mumu, you… sigh, forget it.” Old Wu waved his hand. “Go back to the classroom. I’ve already prepared two sets of desks and chairs.”
However, Old Wu noticed the two girls were whispering something to each other.
“See that, Old Wu? This is the quality of your students!” Hippo spoke up again.
Old Wu frowned and opened his mouth.
But before he could speak, Jiang Mengxin’s voice rang out first.
“Teacher… Hippo?”
“…?” Hippo looked at Jiang Mengxin, looking confused.
“Thank you for your cultivation, Teacher Hippo. I will always remember your name! I hope Teacher Hippo’s name is immortalized forever in the Changsheng immortal sect!”
Jiang Mengxin’s eyes were firm, her small face filled with sincerity.
“Pfft — !” Hippo sprayed out a mouthful of blood and slumped back in her chair, fainting on the spot.