"En." Lillie nodded. "Actually, to tell you the truth, it was not until recently that the master knew I was even married. That's why he was so adamant to make us visit by sending out my Senior Brother to search for me when he found out."

"Eh? What do you mean just recently?" Han Taiyi was confused.

​​

"I lost touch with him for a few years after I left the Academy." Lillie casually admitted like it was no big deal. She proceed to tell Han Taiyi her fabricated reasons that she had formulated beforehand.

Every words that comes out from Lillie and Ethan were either complete lies or half truths.

In her guise as Shengming, Lillie indulged her new friend with answers and information that she wouldn't normally share if they were true.

Lillie wouldn't carelessly run her mouth off like what she was doing right now unless there's a deeper purpose for it or that it would be beneficial to their cover.

Han Taiyi's jaw dropped. "Wha—what?! You mean to tell me that Grandmaster Wei knew nothing for a long time? At least tell him you had a boyfriend, and that boyfriend became your husband. I don't remember Grandmaster Wei going out of the Academy before, does this mean you didn't invited him to the wedding?"

Well, Lillie and Ethan just skipped through the dating stage and straight to being engaged.

Pretending to feel ashamed, Lillie tried to defend herself. "Contacting him was quite difficult since the Academy wasn't too keen in having any connections outside. Even if I tried to personally give him an invitation, I'm not certain that the Headmaster would allow him to leave..."

Soaring Dragon Academy's teachers rarely leaves the academy, especially the Grandmasters. If they wish to leave for personal business, they would have to ask the Headmaster's permission and prepare a really good reason why.

Another purpose of returning to the academy was to actually ask the Headmaster to let her master attend her wedding and give Grandmaster Wei the invitation.

Lillie would never forget Grandmaster Wei or remove him from her life when he was one of the great factors that helped her become who she is today.

He also has connections with the Bai family even before they met. He and her paternal grandfather, Bai Wuqing, were good friends.

Grandmaster Wei had been her father's teacher, even if it was only for a while, before he took the position of Grandmaster and stayed in the academy ever since.

"No excuses, young lady."

"I'm older than you—"

"Hush, no excuses." Han Taiyi drew her index finger to Lillie's lips.

"Does your husband know martial arts?" Han Taiyi asked. "Not that I'm judging, but out of pure concern. Knowing Grandmaster Wei's temperament—and his obvious favoritism to you—he'll beat the sh*t out of him for snatching you...and distracting you from telling him."

"He's adept."

"Do you think it's enough for him to stand a chance."

"Nope."

"Aren't you afraid that there's a high chance he'll be beaten to death?"

Why this question again? Yes, Grandmaster Wei goes too far at times, but not to the extent that those he swung his fists at ended in a near-death situation.

"Don't jinx it, Taiyi, I'm too young to be a widow." Lillie said, half-serious.

Han Taiyi raised her hand and shrugged. "We'll see".

***

Many eyes landed on the group resurfacing from the water and pulling themselves up the dock.

People standing by the harbor rubbed their eyes to make sure that what they're seeing right now was not an illusion caused by the heat going through heads.

"Sun and Heaven students? How rare it is to see this many of you swimming across the ocean instead of boarding the ferry."

None of the tired students replied the comment. Crawling on the stoned surface, their bodies collapsed and lay supine on the ground. Chests heaving up and down, greedily gasp for air.

They reached Yinglong Chao [1] island before the ship and not drowned!

To be honest, this was actually the first time they swam all across the ocean to Yinglong Chao island. Nobody really thought it was possible, or that their body could handle the strain of diving non-stop.

The person they knew capable was the Grand Disciple Death—only because he was always broke and had no choice; Grandmaster Xie confiscates his points as a punishment for leaving without consent.

Unaware of the real reason, the teachers admired this group and were incredibly delighted of their resolve in not taking the easy way.

"Take your seniors as an example, Sky students." A Drillmaster faced his students who were about to embark on their first mission outside, and pointed at the exhausted group.

"Although given the choice to take the easy route, they persevered in their training and crossed the unpredictable waves to vitalize their body!" His chest swelled with pride. This timing was perfect for his students to feel motivated.

And it was effective! The Sky students were in awe, inspired to be like their seniors someday.

Gurgling sounds snapped everyone's attention back to the group.

"What is that? Could you repeat it slowly?"

*gurgle gurgle*

"Oh, this student says something about a...a disciple?"

*cough cough*

"Ming? Shengming?"

"G-grand...di-disciple..." One uttered, barely coherent.

A teacher slammed a fist down on his palm, figuring the answer. "Aha! They were saying Grand Disciple Life."

"Hm? What about her—" The Drillmaster was about to ask but cuts himself short, realization struck him like lightning.

The area suddenly went silent, the name that hasn't been uttered for years, registered into their heads.

Regaining their energy, the group bounced back to life and up to their feet. They didn't even let one teacher question them again for confirmation before making a dash for the gondola lifts.

"Give me a ride, quick! I must be at the Academy before the ferry arrives!"

"Take my points! Take all of it, just let me go first!"

"Choke on your d*mn points! I came here first!"

"The gondola can carry five people, you selfish prick!"

"Stop shoving us, you brats! Respect your seniors!"

The teachers who were left frozen, stared at the students they praised highly before.

Wh-where are they? What good students? We see nothing but a bunch of raving monkeys crowding the gondola station!

"You witnessed nothing at this point, you hear me?" The Drillmaster embarrassedly turned away. "...forget what I said earlier."

He received hesitant nods.