The next morning, Su Mu was woken from her slumber not by gentle sunlight, but by the sudden clamor emanating from downstairs.
Blinking away the remnants of sleep, the unfamiliar yet comfortable surroundings momentarily disoriented her .
As reality set in, she remembered she was not in her family manor in Silver Moon, but here in Monster City, at her uncle Ye Fan's house.
Curiosity piqued by the ongoing sounds, she rose from her bed, the events of the previous night and her intense meditation session feeling both distant and vividly real.
Su Mu stretched languidly, arching her back and extending her arms overhead.
She paused, noticing again the effortless grace and surprising flexibility of this new body – a constant, subtle reminder of the life she now inhabited.
The feeling was still novel, a blend of wonder and lingering unfamiliarity.
Drawn by the commotion, she quietly approached her door and peered out, then made her way towards the top of the stairs.
Downstairs, she saw her Uncle Ye Fan engaged in conversation – or rather, receiving what looked distinctly like a scolding – from a woman in her mid-twenties.
The woman possessed a striking, magnetic allure, the kind that commanded attention effortlessly.
Her sleek, jet-black hair cascaded around her shoulders, framing a face with sharp, captivating features and eyes that sparkled with fiery intelligence.
Her attire accentuated a figure that was both athletic and voluptuous, a truly attractive and seductive combination.
A snug black jacket was worn open over a tight white top that clung faithfully to her ample curves, emphasizing a narrow waist and generous bust, leaving no doubt about her bold and assertive demeanor.
Below, a gracefully flowing blue skirt swirled around her legs as she gestured emphatically, the fabric contrasting pleasingly with the sharp lines of her jacket.
Matching silver accessories—a delicate necklace resting against her collarbone and dangling earrings—added a touch of refined elegance to her otherwise imposing presence.
Observing the interaction from the stairs with a blend of curiosity and surprise, Su Mu couldn't help but speculate, "Could she be the aunt Uncle Ye mentioned?"
Su Mu's quiet arrival on the landing seemed to put an abrupt pause on the quarrel downstairs.
Both Uncle Ye Fan, who looked slightly beleaguered, and the woman, previously engrossed in her spirited lecture, shifted their attention upward toward Su Mu.
The tense atmosphere dissipated instantly, replaced by an air of surprise.
The woman's expression transformed, her assertive edge melting away into a pleasant, radiant smile as she gracefully approached the bottom of the staircase, looking up at Su Mu.
"Haa, Mu'er, you're awake! And you're even more beautiful than your uncle described," she exclaimed warmly, her voice musical and inviting.
"I'm your uncle's wife, Yang Shi," she introduced herself, tilting her head slightly. "Honestly, I'm not much older than you, maybe just a few years."
She gave a playful wink. "So, please don't call me 'aunt' and make me sound old! Just call me Sister Shi, okay?"
Su Mu, still processing the sudden shift from argument to warm welcome, managed a polite smile and stepped down the stairs.
"Hello, Sister Shi. It's very nice to meet you," she replied, her voice soft.
"I didn't expect such a... lively welcome this morning." The air seemed lighter now, but Su Mu's curiosity about the earlier scene remained.
Sister Shi's chuckle was rich and warm, filling the spacious entryway.
"Ah, your uncle and I just have our little discussions sometimes. It's nothing serious." She cast a playful, sideways glance at Ye Fan.
"I told him specifically to look after you properly before I left on my trip, but it seems he took it as a chance to go off and have fun – drinking and gambling again, I bet."
Her words carried a light-hearted teasing tone, though the underlying annoyance was clear.
Su Mu couldn't help but smile, glancing at her uncle, who indeed looked somewhat sheepish under Sister Shi's playful gaze.
"Uncle Ye always did have a penchant for enjoying himself," Su Mu remarked diplomatically, recalling faint childhood impressions.
Sister Shi grinned, stepping closer and linking an arm companionably through Su Mu's.
"Well, Mu'er, now that you're here, maybe the two of us can make sure he behaves himself!"
"I've heard so much about you, you know. Your father speaks very highly of his talented daughter."
Touched by the compliment and the unexpectedly warm reception, Su Mu felt herself relaxing.
"Thank you, Sister Shi. I'm happy to be here, and I'm eager to learn more about... well, everything. And of course," she added, playing along, "I'll do my best to assist in keeping Uncle Ye out of trouble."
The trio shared a light laugh, the earlier tension completely dissolved, setting a surprisingly comfortable tone for the morning.
"It's fine; I've already warned him properly. He won't be doing it again anytime soon. Isn't that right, honey?" Sister Shi interjected, turning her gaze back to Ye Fan, her tone sweet but carrying an unmistakable undercurrent of playful warning.
Uncle Ye, caught between the amused look from his niece and the pointed stare from his wife, threw up his hands in mock surrender, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.
"Yes, yes, my dear. Absolutely. No more unauthorized drinking and gambling," he conceded, his attempt at seriousness undermined by the returning twinkle in his eye.
Sister Shi chuckled, shaking her head with fond exasperation.
"You see, Mu'er? Dealing with this one," she nudged Ye Fan playfully, "requires a firm hand." Another ripple of laughter went through the group.
"Alright then," Sister Shi announced, her tone shifting from playful banter to practical matters. "Let's get you some breakfast, Mu'er, and we can discuss the details about your college."
Su Mu nodded in agreement, only then realizing she was still standing there in her soft sleeping pajamas .
The casual attire inadvertently highlighted the graceful curves and well-proportioned figure of her new body, drawing a brief, appreciative flicker in her uncle's eyes before he quickly looked away, regaining his composure.
Su Mu didn't find the momentary glance particularly unusual given their relationship but felt a slight warmth rise in her cheeks nonetheless.
"Oh! Please excuse me, I'll just go get ready," she said quickly, turning back towards her room.
Shortly after, she returned, having changed into the simple yet elegant outfit.
She joined Ye Fan and Sister Shi at a small dining table where a simple but appetizing breakfast was laid out.
Ye Fan was the first to speak once they were settled.
"Alright, Mu'er, your classes at Monster Academy start next Monday. That gives you five more days to get settled and prepare."
"I've already handled the main admission process thanks to your father's arrangements, but you'll still need to complete a few placement assignments before they allocate you to specific tutors."
"Different tutors?" Su Mu inquired, tilting her head slightly.
Yang Shi, seated beside her, chimed in smoothly, "Yes, dear. With so many new students each year, the academy assigns freshmen to tutor groups for more personalized guidance during the initial stages."
"The allocation often depends on your performance in these preliminary assignments and your awakened potential."
"Do you have any idea how many students they admit each year?" Ye Fan added, taking a sip of his tea.
"Our Monster Academy welcomes well over two thousand freshmen annually, from all sorts of backgrounds – human families, demon clans , beast-kin tribes... it's quite the melting pot."
"Over two thousand people..." Su Mu repeated, truly taken aback. The sheer scale of the student body was hard to comprehend.
"That's right," Ye Fan confirmed, leaning back slightly. "Monster Academy enrolls over 2,000 new students each year."
He elaborated, "Across all four grades, the total student population is usually somewhere between eight and nine thousand."
"And the faculty is just as substantial," he continued. "There are over two thousand teachers in total."
"The majority, nearly two thousand, are Rank D awakeners," Ye Fan explained the breakdown.
"Then you have over three hundred C-rank awakeners," he added.
"And more than twenty are powerful Rank B awakeners" .
"As for the truly elite, those at A-rank..." Ye Fan paused for emphasis. "There are only four in the entire academy."
"If you exclude the administrative and support staff," he went on, "most teaching faculty oversee small groups, typically five to ten students, regardless of their grade level."
"Before the official start of the school year, the Academy uses a 'pre-selection' assignment," Ye Fan clarified. "This assessment is based on the various strengths and qualifications demonstrated by the incoming students."
"Teachers get a ranking based on these pre-selection results," he explained. "The higher their rank in this process, the higher their priority when it comes to choosing which students they want to mentor."
"So, what determines that pre-selection assignment ranking right now?" Su Mu asked, still trying to grasp the system.
Before Ye Fan could answer, Yang Shi interjected smoothly, placing a reassuring hand on Su Mu's arm. "Naturally, it's based on evaluating innate talent and potential! It's how they gauge where you'll fit best."
She then leaned in with a conspiratorial smile. "But honestly, Mu'er, you don't need to worry too much about that initial assignment."
"I've already had a little chat with my old teacher," Yang Shi revealed brightly.
"And she has already agreed to take you on as her student."
"Isn't that great?" she beamed. "My teacher is a Rank B awakener . So, in simple terms, you've basically qualified for a top-tier mentor in advance!"