The Old Scholar

With the challenge from the Assistant Sect Leader Moon now out in the air, all eyes were on Leilani on how she would respond, with students from both sides very invested in what was going to be said. 

{!} 

But before Leilani could even reply, the Sect Leader of the Golden Fire Sect, a tall and even more beautiful woman clad in a flowing set of red martial arts robes smacked the Assistant Sect Leader Moon on the back of her head, which made Moon stumble forward slightly, rubbing the back of her head and groaning in confusion as she turned back to her Sect Leader. 

"Everyone. Back to your classrooms...Now!" The Sect Leader commanded as she shifted her gaze back to the students who rapidly dispersed as they could feel the anger in her tone and see it in her expression and none of them wanted to face that 

"Moon Xie, you have 5 seconds to apologize for your actions or I will do something that will make you wish you were not born!" 

"Wait wha-" 

"5" 

"I am eternally sorry for the shame I have brought upon you by openly challenging you to a duel!" Moon immediately stated as she quickly turned back and bowed to Leilani on the dime 

"Uhhh...thank you, and I forgive you" Leilani replied as she nodded her head, her expression still a bit confused by the way everything was going down 

"Good. Moon, get your ass up now" The Sect Leader commanded, with Moon doing exactly that without hesitation, her body posture stiffening as she took a few steps back and stood very still while the Sect Leader approached Leilani

"I am terribly sorry for the way my assistant has treated you. I will reprimand her and have her punished later. But for now, let me introduce myself. I am Sect Leader Sun Xie I am the first disciple of Her Majesty the Crown Princess" Sun began as she bowed her head 

"With the same surname, I am assuming that you are her-" 

"Elder sister. Moon is a very special person to me as she is my only relative left. But she is also a highly talented warrior and she is the one in charge of our combat curriculum, so please excuse her for her actions. She just wishes to experience what type of fighting style she can fight from another continent" Sun added as she bowed again before Leilani 

"I am fine, I understand a thing or two about situations such as these. So do not worry" Leilani replied to her with a smile that made Sun's posture relax 

"I am grateful for your words Professor Leilani, and I am glad to finally meet the woman who runs the academy my master was trained in" The Sect Leader replied with a smile of her own 

"And I'm happy to be here" Leilani replied 

"I would be happy to show you around the nation" 

"Oh you wouldn't need to. I have been around, but thank you for the offer" Leilani finished as she and the Sect Leader stopped shaking hands 

"I understand then, let me show you to the dorms your class will be staying" 

"Very well, lead the way please" 

After their quick conversation, Leilani and the students followed Sect Leader Sun and Moon into the sect proper. Pass the staircase leading up to the academy, the students and teachers were treated to the sight of a massive courtyard with a large tree in the center of it. There was a walkway they were going through that separate them from the courtyard which was also full of students training with one another under the eyes of their teachers, with none of them stopping to wave at the Imperia students wowed by what they were witnessing. 

"This is the main Battle Courtyard. A lot of the younger classes that are below college level are taken here. Our curriculum in fighting and magic emphasizes individual flexibility and overall roundness in whatever situations our students may find themselves in. Although it is not up to the standards of Imperia, we have great fighters in our own ranks" Sun stated as they continued onward

Passing the courtyard, they were approaching a massive pagoda tower in the center of a path that forked in three direction, to the front, the left, and to the right. On the right, there was a massive set of buildings that moved around and downwards on the side of the mountain while the left path led to a building that was embedded into the mountain itself. 

"The building in front of us is one of three Pagoda towers here on campus that houses our magic and other academic classes. We have magical laboratories, libraries, and even classrooms in each tower and there is a set of lifts in the tower to help students get around if they do not wish to walk or fly on an enchanted item to their next classroom" Assistant Sect Leader Moon stated as she turned to the group, doing her best to avoid eye contact with Leilani 

"To our right, we have the student dorms, canteen, and other academic facilities, there are also several teleportation pads that help students get to those floating islands above the sect. Each of those islands has Battle Courtyards on them and they are protected with a magical shield to ensure that students don't just fall off them by accident" Sun added as she gestured to the right and then to the islands in the sky 

"To the left is where you will all be staying. That building is the guest dormitory, each room comes with a bathroom and there is a recreational space on the third floor if you want to rest for the day" Moon finished as they began walking over to the guest's dormitory 

"If you have any more questions. I will be happy to answer them now, but if you have none. I will leave you in the care of the Crown Princess" The Sect Leader stated as they reached the dormitory, with the students being given keys by the caretaker of the dormitory 

The students replied with headshakes at the statement and Sun smiled as she nodded and then turned to her sister with a nod before the two of them turned their gazes back to the visiting group 

"We hope you enjoy your stay here for the week and I hope that our students are able to teach you and you can teach them" Both Sect Leaders stated as they bowed before the group 

"Thank you both, see you both later" Crown Princess Takana stated as nodded at them, with the sisters giving a final nod before they began to walk away 

"Right. Now, everyone. You have about 30 minutes to unpack and unwind inside your assigned rooms. Around 1:30 later today, we are going to be leaving and going to the Jade Library in the capital, so chop chop!" Leilani commanded them as she smacked her hands together, with the students and professors moving our as she finished 

"What will you do Professor?" Takana asked 

"I will be heading into my room, with my roommate Professor Sinclair, what about you Takana?" Leilani asked in return 

"I will be meditating, I will see you soon Your Majesty" The Crown Princess replied with a nod as they parted ways. 

With Takana out of sight, Leilani went up to the second floor of the dormitory and entered the first room on the left of the stairs. Entering it, she saw Martha already on the bed waiting for her, her armor had been removed and it showed her just wearing a white blouse and black shorts, she was in a very seductive pose for Leilani once she entered and The Dean of Imperia licked her lips as she approached her lover. 

"Trying to seduce me now are we?" Leilani asked as she removed her vest and overcoat, placing them on a chair nearby as she leaned onto the bed, her hands next to Martha's face 

"Is it working?" Martha asked with a cute smile that made Leilani sigh as she caressed her cheek 

"It is, I love you" Leilani stated as she snapped her fingers, which set up a soundproof barrier around the room, and locked the door 

"I know" Martha replied as she gasped as Leilani went down on her, starting by lovingly biting her neck 

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After leaving the Imperia students and arriving back inside their office at the top of the 1st Pagoda Tower, Sun sat down behind her desk with her face buried in her hands while Moon sat in a chair in the corner and looked visibly embarrassed and defeated. 

"Why?" Sun asked as she looked up at her sister who could only stare back at her 

"I...I was being stupid again" Moon replied as she had a crack in her voice 

"Yes you were! Even after Master and I told you to zip it! Were our instructions that hard to understand!" Sun shouted at her with an angry growl 

"I...I" Moon could not reply as she let out a defeated sigh and buried her face inside her hands 

"Look sis, I get it right. You want to show how great our school is to the school that trained Master, but calling their DEAN a "Foreign Whore" is not going to help you with that. Hell I am pretty sure that one statement has set the relationship back even further than it should be! I genuinely believe that we are now nothing more than something negative in the minds of their Dean!" Sun added as she just looked down at the floor now 

"I don't know what came over me...I really should stop reading those drama books" 

"Clearly!" The Sect Leader added as she signed and sank into her seat, looking at Moon who was now doing the same in her own chair, there was about a good few minutes of silence as the two of them just stared off into the distance

"How are you going to apologize to her?" Sun asked as she stood from her chair and walked over to her sister 

"I will go there myself later once they return from their first trip. I will apologize wholeheartedly and hope she accepts" Moon answered her 

"Good...good...you know I love you right? That's why I am getting mad at you for stupid mistakes like this...because I care for you" The Sect Leader said as she helped Moon up to her feet

"I know you do sis...I'm sorry" The assistant Sect Leader replied as she gave a weak smile and embraced her beloved older sister who hugged her back, the two of them were silent as they just remained that way for a few good minutes. 

"You do know I will have to punish you right?" 

"I know sis, I know"

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Somewhere in the Golden Fire Sect, standing on one of the islands floating above the mountain and looking down with narrowed eyes was a man, a young man in his 20s who had a well-toned and well-built body hidden under a pair of beige and blue robes that hugged his muscular physique, his sword was holstered by his side and his black hair was tied into a ponytail that fluttered in the wind, that man was named Han Changpu, one of the strongest and brightest in the sect. Han was the president of the 'Order of Fire' which was an extracurricular club that had the strongest and brightest of the sect within its ranks. He was on a floating sword when the students from Imperia arrived and he had been quietly observing everything going down. Needless to say, he was underwhelmed by the students and teachers who arrived, except for one. 

His eyes had the unique ability to see the mana pool and aura of people, and while he was used to being unable to accurately tell the power and mana level of the Sect Leader and Assistant Sect Leader or even the Crown Princess, he was surprised as the woman known as the Dean of Imperia, Leilani, had almost zero power and a mana pool to his eyes, as he could only see a black void whenever he tried to scan her. 

"Interesting...what is her deal" Han muttered as he recalled the sight of Leilani easily catching the dagger without even looking surprised by how fast it was thrown 

"What are you thinking Han?" A woman's voice came from behind him, causing Han to turn and see a group of people standing behind him

This group of people was Han's friend group, his fellow seniors in the Order of Fire who were close to graduating. There were five of them before him, 3 girls and two guys. The first girl and the one who called out to him was a beautiful elf girl dressed in the same robes as him, the young woman was named Liang Caifun who was born in the Jade Empire. She was Han's closest friend and greatest rival. Behind her was a kitsune girl with fluffy white fur on her tail and her ears and a dragonkin girl with red and white scales, these two were Rannia Hitei and Valary Draco respectively. Off to the side of the young women was a buff, tan, young man whose robes were sleeveless, with short black hair that was spiky and a lanky but tall young man with his skin pale and his long hair a mess that covered his face and made him look like a woman from time to time, these were Xin Dai and Will Dai, two brothers who were close but were polar opposites of one another. 

"I am thinking of something interesting" Han replied with a smile as he looked at Liang 

"Oh? How interesting is interesting?" Xin asked as he crossed his arms which were bulging with each movement 

"I was just thinking of our new visitors...and the teachers that have accompanied them" The president began as he looked back down towards the sect 

"Are they strong? Do you want to challenge them?" Rannia asked with a raised eyebrow 

"Hmmm maybe...but they are only 4th year students while we are 6th year students...I don't think it would be fair for me to do so" Han added as the wind fluttered by 

"Yeah, it wouldn't it would make us look like people who can only fight weaker people than us, let the other 4th years handle it" Valary chimed in as she sighed 

"Tell me, did you ever see anyone else besides the Sect Leader and the Crown Princess able to catch the Assitant Sect Leader's  dagger, even I can't without much effort" Han asked them as he turned to his friends 

"Hmmm...no, but now that you mention it. That person they call Dean, Miss Leilani was it? She was able to catch it without even flinching...do you think she is hiding her true power?" Liang asked 

"I think so...I am unsure though, my eyes only see a black void whenever I try...but if she was able to, then that means she is hiding her true strength" The president stated as he was now deep in thought 

"What of it? So what if she is hiding her powers? Our teachers taught us that there are reasons to hide one's power, this Miss Leilani woman must have hers" Will chimed in as he felt that there was something more at play here 

"True...but what if she is hiding her powers for more nefarious purposes? It is our job as graduating students of the Golden Fire Sect to protect our undergraduate schoolmates...the teachers would understand" Han told them as he turned back to them with a small smile 

"So what are you suggesting we do? Challenge her outright? The Sect Leader was pretty angry with the Assistant Sect Leader for that already" Xin replied to him 

"True, but we won't be openly challenging her, but rather she will be forced to challenge us..." 

"Han...you don't mean" 

"I never said anything though...I was merely suggesting that we let our undergrads do the work for us and once she reveals her true colors, we swoop in and stop her and see what true power she has in store, for I believe that if one is strong, they must show it on their sleeve" The president stated as a devious glint and smirk came across his face, a face everyone in the group knew that his mind had been set 

"sigh...I will go along with this plan of yours, but if it ends up with something we will regret, I will personally turn you in for this plan to our teachers" Liang stated as she crossed her arms 

"If she is with you, then me and Valery are also in!" Rannia added with a smile and Valery followed with a nod 

"Count me in too...If she is strong, I want to be the first to fight her" Xin replied as he smashed his fists together 

"I don't like the sound of this, but since everyone else is onboard, I guess I am too" Will finished as he looked at the group 

"Thank you everyone, now...let's start the process" Han stated as his smirk grew bigger