Yet what she said next wasn't something he was truly fashioned with. She spoke about the reaction and response of that battle in the entire spirit master community of the academy and kingdom.
News reached far and wide about such victory, and many expressed their happiness and offered support to her clan to clear out the aftermath from such disaster.
However, the old man refused most of such offers. After all, his clan didn't end up in such a bad state as others thought. And that old fox knew what other foxes thought about and eyed.
"Third elder, I want to ask about something…"
"Your reward is with me," William got used to such an impatient attitude of Fang, and also got to know the reason behind it, "but I won't deliver it until we arrive safely to the academy."
"Tsk," William didn't like having his own stuff held by someone else. However, he kept his complaints to himself.
He just wanted to be sure that old man kept his word. Or else he'd turn around, and head back to the clan and not leave there until he'd get what he deserved.
The journey to the academy didn't take that much time or effort. As Berry finished her tales, only Tina kept speaking, complaining about leaving behind her newly acquired friends.
"Can I come back and play?"
"I just miss them, they looked so nice, and I liked them."
"Sister, please take me back again."
"The clan isn't far away so we can go to it frequently, right?"
"Why didn't you leave me behind to play with them?"
More and more words like these came from her while everyone kept their mouth shut during the journey.
William learnt it hard by lesson to not answer her and keep her talk like that. As for her bigger sister, she was used to such an attitude already.
The elder didn't speak up during the entire journey. He just kept himself aloof and didn't say anything. For a reason, William felt his eyes to stick over him during the entire journey, as if he was watching his every move.
The only one who kept talking with Tina was Berry. Berry kept answering all of her questions, and even the two started a play for hide and seek at one point, giving the elder protecting them quite a scare.
When they reached the academy, William couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief. Tina was the perfect example of the talkative energetic kids who kept talking nonstop for a long time without pause or getting tired.
"We are here," William turned to the elder and cupped his hand in courtesy, "thanks senior for the trouble. We are going off now. How about the cores?"
William acted in respect by his salute, but still extended his hand after doing this gesture, asking for his belongings.
"Oh, I have something to do at the Disciple Affairs department. Why don't we go there together?" And yet the elder simply said that, turned around and started moving towards one direction.
'What's wrong with that dude?' William inwardly sighed. He didn't know what to say. Yet if the elder said it and started to move already, he couldn't help but walk after him.
And the three girls just followed Fang alongside.
This department was the one responsible for all the internal affairs related to the disciples. For example, allocating disciples to their residential places, providing monthly support of spirit crystals, giving outfits, and also looking for their attendance in classes, giving grades, assessing exams, and such.
William could guess the intention of the elder and the old man behind him. Even if the old man acted stingy towards him, William was glad he still got conscience and decided to help him in providing a good residence for him.
Yet when William saw what the elder did there, he was at loss for words.
The elder arranged for him to stay just in a place next to Berry. 'Come on old man, isn't this a bit too obvious or what?!'
Even if William and Berry found it weird, the two had nothing to say about this matter.
"I took the liberty and registered you two to your classes," the elder said and William couldn't help expressing his gratitude with words and clasping his hands.
"But for her… I didn't know what to do so I came here to ask," just when William was expecting the elder to extract himself away, he pointed at Lina, making William constrict his pupils in a reflex.
So, the old man didn't even miss his Selvator girl, seemingly planning to rope Lina and Tina in the clan to further bind his movements in the future.
Yet William wasn't out of solutions to such a problem.
"She isn't suitable to learn cultivation," William gave this answer which wasn't entirely true. He knew the main prerequisite for her race to train. All he needed to do was to just tell her and her little sister the trick behind it, help them open that locked door and start cultivating.
However, if he intended to do it, he planned to do it secretly. After all, it was better to have some hidden cards, even from his allies.
"I see… Then she can have the identity of a porter. How about her sister? She isn't old enough to join the academy yet."
William could see the determination in the Long clan's intentions in getting at least one of his two girls to the clan.
Just when the third elder said his words, the all talkative and inattentive Tina cowered behind her big sister, while the latter gave William a serious gaze.
"She can be registered as a porter too," William shrugged before adding, "she is beyond six, and that's above the allowed age to join the academy."
"Isn't it better for her to stay in a far safer place? Play with her newly acquired friends and such?" Fang didn't yield in this easily and showed a rare moment of such an open talk for negotiations.