162: Chapter 162 Becoming an Apprentice

Lin Yun was already overjoyed in his heart.

This was exactly what he had been hoping for!

Not to mention Shen Qingqiu's strength and status, just looking at her beauty, her temperament, and the System's rating of "marriageable"...

Being able to become her Disciple, spending time together day and night, and letting feelings develop over time—wouldn't that just be a natural progression?

He immediately stood up and bowed respectfully: "Student Lin Yun pays respects to the Instructor!"

Shen Qingqiu nodded slightly, accepting the gesture.

Qiao Shiyu watched from the side, her eyes wide with shock.

Auntie is taking Brother Lin Yun as a student?!

Doesn't that mean Brother Lin Yun will have to come see Auntie every day from now on?

And what about her?

She stomped her feet in anxiety, then rushed over to hug Shen Qingqiu's arm, activating her pouting mode, her voice soft and sweet:

"Auntie! Auntie! I want to be your Disciple too! You can't just take Brother Lin Yun and not me!"

As she spoke, she puffed up her cheeks and blinked her large, watery eyes.

She put on a pitiful expression.

This classic little girl act was impossible for anyone to refuse.

Shen Qingqiu glanced at her and said indifferently:

"You? Don't you have Lin Yun to guide you? Do you still need me?"

"That's different!"

Qiao Shiyu's face flushed red as she shook Shen Qingqiu's arm vigorously.

"Auntie, you are my real aunt! How can you only take outsiders and not your own niece! I won't allow it, I won't!"

She used every trick in the book, pouting and acting cute, blinking her big eyes with an expression that said, "If you don't take me, I'll cry for you to see."

The three teachers couldn't help but laugh.

Luo Xiangdong laughed:

"Little Qiao, you are Director Shen's own niece; do you really need to act like this?"

"It's precisely because we're related that I have to act like this!"

Qiao Shiyu retorted confidently.

"Other people's elders are always eager to give the best things to their Juniors, but my aunt is different; she gives all the good things to others and never to me!"

Shen Qingqiu got a headache from her fussing and reached out to flick her forehead.

"Ouch!" Qiao Shiyu covered her forehead, tearing up. "Auntie, you hit me!"

Shen Qingqiu sighed helplessly: "Alright, alright, I'll take you, happy now?"

"Yay!" Qiao Shiyu instantly beamed, hugged Shen Qingqiu, and kissed her cheek. "Auntie is the best!"

Bai Lulu watched from the side, filled with envy.

She also wanted to become a Disciple of Shen Qingqiu.

But she wasn't part of the Qiao Family, and she had no personal ties to Shen Qingqiu, so why would she be allowed?

Being able to watch from the sidelines was already thanks to Qiao Shiyu.

She didn't dare to hope for more.

Just as she was feeling dejected, Shen Qingqiu's gaze suddenly turned to her.

"Bai Lulu."

Bai Lulu was stunned and quickly stood up straight: "Yes!"

Shen Qingqiu looked at her, her tone still calm but with a hint of scrutiny:

"What about you? Do you want to be my Disciple?"

Bai Lulu was dumbfounded.

She suspected she had misheard.

Disciple?

Disciple of whom?

To become a Disciple of Shen Qingqiu?!

She stared blankly at Shen Qingqiu, unable to react for a long time.

Luo Xiangdong laughed from the side:

"Little Bai, Director Shen is asking you a question! Are you willing to take her as your Revered Master?"

Bai Lulu finally snapped out of it, her heart pounding, and she blurted out almost instinctively:

"Yes! I am willing!"

She immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply and respectfully, her voice clear and solemn:

"Student Bai Lulu pays respects to Revered Master!"

Shen Qingqiu nodded slightly, accepting the gesture.

Bai Lulu straightened up, her face still filled with disbelief and joy.

She had become a Disciple of Shen Qingqiu?

She had really become a Disciple of Shen Qingqiu?!

Qiao Shiyu, however, was unhappy, her lips pouting so much that an oil bottle could hang from them:

"Auntie! Why did you take her too!"

Shen Qingqiu glanced at her and said indifferently: "What, is there a problem?"

"Of course there is!" Qiao Shiyu said indignantly. "She is my mortal enemy! If you take her as a student, won't that just let her oppose me every day?"

Shen Qingqiu reached out and flicked her forehead again.

"Ouch!" Qiao Shiyu covered her forehead again, looking aggrieved.

Shen Qingqiu looked at her with a hint of teasing amusement in her eyes:

"If I don't find you an opponent, will you actually work hard?"

Qiao Shiyu pursed her lips, feeling extremely wronged.

But thinking about it carefully, it seemed... that actually made sense?

She usually Cultivated half-heartedly, and if it weren't for Bai Lulu, her mortal enemy, constantly provoking her, she might have given up long ago.

Bai Lulu stood to the side, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly, uncharacteristically refraining from making any sarcastic remarks.

Watching Qiao Shiyu's aggrieved expression, she felt a warmth in her heart.

Shen Qingqiu taking her in wasn't just because she cherished her talent.

It was also giving her an opportunity.

An opportunity to grow alongside Lin Yun and Qiao Shiyu.

She snuck a glance at Lin Yun and found that Lin Yun was also looking at her, with a hint of a smile on his lips.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly looked away.

Teacher Zhou Qi watched this scene and said with a smile:

"Director Shen, you've broken your own rule; this is the first time in decades you've taken on Disciples."

"And you took on three at once, all of whom are freshmen with exceptional talent. You're going to be busy from now on."

Luo Xiangdong also laughed and chimed in:

"Indeed, student Lin Yun has Heaven-Defying talent, and Qiao Shiyu and Bai Lulu are also top-tier freshmen."

"With you personally guiding them, these three children will surely become the pride of Tianshui Martial Arts University in the future, and perhaps even pillars of the entire Tianshui Prefecture!"

Shen Qingqiu looked at the three Disciples before her, a gratified smile appearing on her face, her eyes filled with anticipation:

"I believe in them, and I will guide them well."

"Lin Yun, Shiyu, Lulu, from now on, I am your Instructor. If you have any questions regarding your Cultivation, you can come to me at any time."

"I will do my best to help you improve your cultivation and gain insights into the Dao."

"Thank you, Revered Master!"

Lin Yun, Qiao Shiyu, and Bai Lulu bowed in unison.

Lin Yun looked at Shen Qingqiu before him, a flash of anticipation in his eyes.

With this mature Instructor, not only could he improve his martial arts strength, but he could also have close contact and unlock new System rewards.

His path of martial arts was destined to be smoother, and his path to a "harem" also had one more glimmer of hope.

...

The apprenticeship ceremony concluded, and the atmosphere relaxed.

Shen Qingqiu sat back in her main seat and tapped a few times on the virtual light screen on her desk.

A huge holographic projection screen instantly unfolded before everyone.

"Let's take a look at your results."

On the screen, two leaderboards were presented side by side—on the left was the "freshman leaderboard," and on the right was the "Genius Ranking."

On the freshman leaderboard, hundreds of names were densely listed, with total scores and credits following each one.

At the top of the list, the large characters 【Lin Yun — Total Score 10.05, Credits 1005】 shone brightly.

In second place, 【Zhao Wuji — Total Score 2.98, Credits 298】—the gap was astonishing.

...

Tenth place, 【Qiao Shiyu — Total Score 2.5, Credits 250】

Tenth place, 【Bai Lulu — Total Score 2.5, Credits 250】

Twelfth place...

...

Qiao Shiyu: "Brother Lin Yun is truly amazing; he's more than three times higher than the second place."