"I'm afraid that won't be possible. This document was drafted by the school's leadership. I'm only a Vice Leader; I can't agree to your request."
Vice Leader sized Yu Yan up, a strange emotion flickering in his eyes. He couldn't understand how a child could be so shrewd, thinking so far ahead.
He's no ordinary kid!
"I'm sorry, the terms are simply too generous. I need to think them over carefully."
Hearing that the other party couldn't add his promises to the document, Yu Yan refused without hesitation.
So many major powers had come to invite him. If he accepted these terms, the Balak Kingdom could leak a hint to the outside world and slowly tie him to their chariot.
Yu Yan's reply was tactful: he neither accepted nor declined—he said he needed time to consider.
This gave the impression of a clever player holding out for a better offer, discouraging any underhanded moves.
Because he was inside Balak Junior Soul Master Academy, Yu Yan even picked up the document and, pointing to its clauses, asked extremely detailed questions.
The questioning lasted a full half-hour. Only after he thoroughly understood the benefits did he casually chat with Vice Leader about random topics.
Realizing it was time to leave, Vice Leader told Yu Yan to think over Balak Academy's offer and stood up to go.
Throughout the conversation, Vice Leader mentioned only Yu Yan; he never spoke Xiao Wu's name.
Clearly, Xiao Wu's Soft Bones Rabbit and Innate spirit power of level seven-and-a-half merited attention, but not special attention.
"Yu Yan, are you going to accept?"
Seeing how thoroughly Yu Yan had questioned them, Xiao Wu assumed he meant to agree.
"Not at all. I don't intend to accept Balak Academy's conditions. They're less sincere than Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, or Spirit Hall—at least those parties state their goals openly instead of trying to trap me."
Glancing around, Yu Yan quietly shared his analysis with Xiao Wu.
"Hmm?"
Still unfamiliar with such matters, Xiao Wu felt only question marks floating above her head.
"They claim they only want us to compete on behalf of Balak Academy, but in reality they intend to bind us forcibly to the Balak Kingdom's ship."
Having framed the issue, Yu Yan explained the stakes to Xiao Wu in detail.
"Ah—! So that's how it is; they're so underhanded."
After listening, Xiao Wu gaped in shock; she hadn't expected them to be so scheming.
"You're still too green. Read more, think more—many things aren't as simple as they appear."
As Yu Yan chided her, Xiao Wu followed his reasoning and spotted a flaw.
"Hold on—if you won't accept their terms, why did you agree to Teacher Sun Qian's team-reserve plan? Isn't that a contradiction?"
Triumphantly, she watched Yu Yan, eager to prove she wasn't stupid and he wasn't infallible.
"Teacher Sun Qian's offer is reasonable support—many students get it, we'd just get a bit extra. Vice Leader's proposal is to buy us outright. The two carry completely different implications."
"A glance at Douluo Continent's history shows Work-Study Students appeared only after commoner Spirit Masters rose; the academies compromised, not out of kindness. Our treatment is the worst—look closely and you'll see some Work-Study Students bear injuries."
"We hold Spirit Hall's martial soul awakening certificate, and we can claim gold coins distributed by Spirit Hall and the two Empires—also…"
Rolling her eyes, Xiao Wu accepted the explanation. Yu Yan expanded further, hoping she'd view issues from multiple angles.
After hearing him out, Xiao Wu fell into thought… The last power seeking to recruit Yu Yan was Exotic Beast Academy, which appeared the following afternoon. Its late arrival showed it ranked lowest among the factions Yu Yan had met.
Exotic Beast Academy sent a woman dressed in a tight training outfit.
"Yu Yan, Xiao Wu, hello. I'm Gu Yingying, a teacher from Exotic Beast Academy."
Inside the library, Gu Yingying sat opposite them and greeted them softly.
Simply by not shouting in the library she earned Yu Yan's goodwill.
Though he said nothing, Yu Yan disapproved of Vice Leader speaking loudly in a place meant for quiet; to him, silence was basic etiquette. That wasn't common sense on Douluo Continent, but he refused to abandon his principles.
Xiao Wu also liked Gu Yingying; Vice Leader had greeted her perfunctorily then ignored her—no one enjoys feeling invisible.
"Hello, Teacher Gu."
As the other party was a teacher, Yu Yan addressed her as Teacher Gu after brief consideration.
"I already know you turned down Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, and Spirit Hall. Our conditions can't match theirs, but I still wanted to try. Before coming, our faculty discussed many proposals to invite you two…."
At this point Gu Yingying paused, then looked at them and asked, "Well… I'd like to hear what conditions you have—what would we need to do for you to accept Exotic Beast Academy's invitation?"
Her words displayed sincerity and made both Yu Yan and Xiao Wu brighten toward her.
"I don't need anything right now."
Yu Yan shook his head; for the moment he lacked nothing.
"Take your time. If you think of anything, contact me directly and I'll communicate with the academy."
Hearing no outright refusal, Gu Yingying left her address, sensing hope.
She hadn't pressed them and continued showing kindness, so Yu Yan chatted with her for another ten minutes. When the conversation ran dry, she excused herself.
"She seems nice."
Watching Gu Yingying leave, Xiao Wu offered her verdict.
"Indeed."
Yu Yan's gaze fell on the address in his hand—where Gu Yingying stayed, and where Exotic Beast Academy was located.
Northern Hagendas Kingdom, Ice Soul Grassland, Ice Soul City.