Heita was Yaolan's first avatar, and Liuying was the third.
Then... who was the second avatar?
Besides my adorable Aisita, who else could it be?
The real show is just about to begin!
---
"I deeply apologize for what just happened. I'm Aisita, the owner of this establishment. Could I please ask all of you to keep what happened just now a secret?"
"We will provide compensation that satisfies everyone."
Aisita's voice reached the ears of the three people. Immediately, the three students turned their eyes toward Wu Zhangkong. After all, he was the only teacher present—the one in charge.
"There's no need for compensation. After all, it was my students who came here first and triggered the whole incident that followed. If anyone was in the wrong, it's us... I'm truly sorry!"
Wu Zhangkong clearly understood the weight of the situation. Even though the owner took the initiative to apologize, it was really just giving them an out. Both sides could back down gracefully and act like nothing happened.
After all, if Wu Zhangkong insisted on compensation and the other side decided to expose what had happened here, both his and his students' reputations would be severely affected.
The destructive power of rumors is terrifying. Wu Zhangkong didn't want his students to suffer from that kind of backlash, so he lowered his head.
"I'm sorry."
Seeing Wu Zhangkong bow his head in apology, Xie Xie and Tang Wulin immediately followed suit. After all, this whole mess had started because of them. If they didn't apologize, that would really be inexcusable.
But ultimately, it had all stemmed from curiosity. The two of them silently took this as a lesson, vowing never to repeat the mistake.
"Sigh… you really are a good teacher!" Aisita couldn't help but sigh in admiration. Wu Zhangkong's actions clearly stemmed from care for his students. "In that case, let's just let the matter drop…"
"Uwaaah… thank you, Teacher Wu!"
Xie Xie was so moved that he hugged Wu Zhangkong's leg on the spot. Even Tang Wulin held great respect for his teacher at that moment.
But just then, a voice spoke up again—it was still Aisita, the owner of the Winterfire Hall.
"Teacher Wu? Could it be… that you're the Wu Zhangkong from Eastsea Academy?" Aisita looked him over curiously, as if trying to confirm his identity.
"Yes, I'm Wu Zhangkong. Is there a problem?" Wu Zhangkong didn't particularly care about his reputation. As a strong cultivator, his name was bound to spread. It wasn't strange that others had heard of him.
But what Aisita said next caused the atmosphere to instantly shift into something strange.
"Oh! So you are Teacher Wu Zhangkong! We were originally planning to deliver the item to you directly. Since you're already here, you might as well take it with you!"
"Item? What item? I don't know anything about this."
If it were something he'd ordered, Wu Zhangkong would definitely remember it. But he had absolutely no recollection of such a thing.
"Oh, it's like this." Aisita began explaining with a smile. "Because of the nature of our shop, we provide home delivery service."
"Not long ago, someone purchased something here, and the name and address provided were exactly: Wu Zhangkong, Eastsea Academy."
"Look, it's this!"
She took something out of a storage soul tool. In that moment, everyone present was dumbfounded.
Xie Xie and Tang Wulin looked at Wu Zhangkong with expressions that changed from admiration to utter disbelief. Liuying covered her mouth, clearly trying not to laugh, but her eyes gave everything away.
Teacher Wu… you already bought one?!
This is really bad!
As for the item Aisita had taken out—it was wrapped in a coarse burlap sack, but anyone could tell from the shape that it was humanoid in form. And it very likely was… one of the dolls sold in this shop!
Most importantly… it had four large words stuck on it:
"Confidential Shipment."
Are you kidding me?
How could this possibly be confidential?!
Even Wu Zhangkong couldn't keep a straight face anymore. He had just finished lecturing his students, and now this massive bombshell dropped on him?
If this thing got delivered straight to Eastsea Academy, how would he continue teaching?
That would be social death!
Might as well leave Douluo Planet altogether and go live on a different star!
"I feel like… I never bought anything like this?"
Wu Zhangkong's lips twitched. He really didn't expect the situation to take such a bizarre turn. Reality truly defied logic!
Still, he had to sort things out—who sent this thing addressed to him?
"Um… I'm not sure either. How about you open it and take a look?"
Aisita's expression showed that she genuinely didn't know the details, so she suggested Wu Zhangkong open it. But before that… the students needed to be sent away!
If they saw something inappropriate, his reputation as a teacher would be completely ruined.
"You three return to the academy first. Classes and training resume as normal tomorrow. I'll come back later…"
Even though his students were already looking at him strangely, Wu Zhangkong maintained his teacherly authority and drove them off.
"Let me see… who pulled such a nasty prank!"
Right now, Wu Zhangkong was filled with fury. Someone dared to mess with him like this?
If he found out who was behind it, he'd definitely teach them a lesson!
However, when the humanoid parcel was finally unwrapped, Wu Zhangkong froze.
Because the figure inside was incredibly familiar—it was as if time had rewound to the past.
A single tear slid from the corner of Wu Zhangkong's eye, and his cold expression completely softened.
"Ice…"
Inside the package was a doll—not just any doll, but a replica of Long Bing, Wu Zhangkong's beloved.
But who was responsible for creating this?
"Huh? What's this?"
In the doll's hand, Wu Zhangkong found a letter. And the handwriting… looked strangely familiar!
---
To Teacher Wu:
Sorry, Teacher Wu. There was a slight mishap in the experiment, so the revival will have to wait until later.
For now, please make do with this substitute.
—Heita.
---
Wu Zhangkong: "…"
So it was you all along!
"Would you still like to keep this doll? If not, we can offer a refund…" Aisita's voice came from the side, snapping Wu Zhangkong back to reality.
"Of course I'll keep it! Why wouldn't I?!"
Now that it was already here, if he sent it back, what if someone else bought it and defiled it? Even if it wasn't the real Long Bing, Wu Zhangkong couldn't let her be mistreated.
"You didn't… do anything extra to it, did you?" Wu Zhangkong's gaze turned sharp. If he found out there were other Long Bing dolls, he'd definitely tear this place apart!
"Don't worry! This doll is a special custom order. There's absolutely no way there's a second one!" Aisita patted her chest in reassurance—Wu Zhangkong really was terrifying right now.
"It better be that way…"
In the end, Wu Zhangkong took the doll with him. But as Aisita watched him leave, the corners of her mouth curled up, and a red glint flickered in her eyes…
"How interesting~"
---
Surpassing the limit—Ninth update today!
But I'm seriously going to sleep now.
There's not enough time left to write another chapter.
Really… good night!