CHAPTER 163: CHAPTER 163: WADE’S PUNISHMENT

Axel, as if reading Wade’s thoughts as clearly as the chalk scribbles on the board, turned toward him with a gentle smile that sent Wade’s soul into hiding.

"Once this assignment is over," Axel announced calmly, "you’ll transcribe the class teacher’s entire lecture. Write it word-for-word. Ten copies. Submit them to me directly."

Wade’s jaw dropped so hard it almost hit the floor. "Teacher Axel... why are you so harsh to me?"

His voice cracked like a dying flute.

Richard glanced at Wade, then closed his eyes as if offering a silent prayer.

’Does this idiot still not realize that Professor Axel can literally read minds...?’

Faye stared at Axel’s face with a dreamy expression and thought in her heart, ’Sigh... he is so handsome when he punishes someone!’

Axel’s gaze flicked briefly toward Richard, acknowledging the thought, then shifted to Lana. His expression changed, calm, focused, and inexplicably careful.

"Lana," he said quietly, "I need to discuss something with you. The rest of you may leave if you wish."

Everyone instantly understood.

Axel wanted a private conversation.

Chairs scraped softly. Books were gathered. A faint breeze slipped through the cracked window as classmates filed out one by one.

Faye lingered a moment longer. Her eyes flickered from Axel to Lana, something unreadable flashing across her face before she lowered her head and walked away.

Lana watched Faye’s departing back with a hint of curiosity. ’What is with her today?’

For a brief moment she felt as if... Faye threw a look of dissatisfaction in her direction.

’I must be imagining things.’ Lana shrugged.

She turned back to Axel. "What happened?"

Axel studied her, his gaze sharper than usual.

"From what I sensed," he began, "you’re planning to choose direct consumption of the herbs."

Lana nodded slowly.

She expected him to ask for her reason, which she had already prepared, while she felt Mr. Crow’s claws clamping around her shoulder tightly.

’No! Didn’t you say that you won’t do something stupid? Why do you think of consuming the herbs directly?’ Mr. Crow almost wanted to use his beak to make a hole in Lana’s skull and see if she had a brain or just has machoist tendencies!

’Hm? I am not doing anything stupid! It is just... a instictive reaction? I feel that the hardest path sometimes yield more result!’ Lana explained.

Axel’s expression tightened.

"If that is the case, then you should do so under my supervision."

A frown creased Lana’s forehead.

"Why?"

Her voice was calm, but her thoughts weren’t.

Though it sounded as if she was asking why she needed to be under his supervision, when the reality was far different...

Why is he helping me so much? What does he want? Or... is this pity again?

Indeed, if Axel supervised her, then he was helping her and not doing it for some benefits or as such.

From everyone else’s perspective, Axel appeared strict... nearly overly protective.

But Lana saw something off. The angle of his chin... the softness in his eyes... exactly like the pity-filled gaze Monk Anrao used to wear.

She hated that look. Not the pity... living off someone else using their pity isn’t something she sees beneath her. But... for some reason, she especially felt irked when she saw Axel pitying her.

’Admit it, you only dare to use pity for those whom you feel aren’t good people.’ Mr. Crow stated, and Lana rolled her eyes to point that she almost saw her skull.

Axel seemed to understand anyway. His voice gentled.

"I have a soft spot for hardworking students."

Lana narrowed her eyes.

He meant well, she knew that. But pity was something she had grown allergic to. Why did people always look at her like she was a stray dog they desperately wanted to feed?

She folded her arms.

"I can’t trust anyone that easily... especially not during a vulnerable moment. So I can’t let someone supervise me."

Axel’s expression stilled.

"Is there anyone you do trust?"

His tone softened. "Someone who absolutely wouldn’t take advantage of you... while you’re defenseless?"

Lana’s breath caught.

Lucien’s face appeared in her mind... those calm, steady eyes, the silent way he guarded her in her previous life and how never once had he betrayed her...

Her fists tightened.

"There is someone I trust. But there are things I cannot reveal... even to you or him."

Axel listened silently. Then he smiled faintly.

"If you don’t trust me, that’s fine. But I can take an oath if you wish. Or give you something to use as leverage over me, if that would make you feel safer."

Lana blinked, startled.

Axel rarely offered oaths. It meant he was genuinely worried for her safety.

"But," Axel continued firmly, "you absolutely cannot consume the herbs alone. That is the only thing I cannot compromise on."

The seriousness in his tone froze the air between them.

Lana looked down at her herbs, weighing his words. She thought for a long moment before finally admitting:

"There is indeed someone who can supervise me."

Axel exhaled as if lifting a boulder off his chest.

"Good. Is he a spiritual cultivator or mystic cultivator?"

Lana shook her head. "He’s a spirit summoner."

Axel nodded. "That’s enough. In that case, I won’t supervise you. Let him do it."

Lana felt a strange weight lift off her shoulder. She nodded softly.

But before she could leave, another thought surfaced... a dangerous, sensitive one. She hesitated before speaking.

"Axel... I need an artifact or talisman that can maintain my appearance. Something temporary. Something that won’t be detected by a person with higher cultivation."

Axel paused.

A flicker of shock flashed in his eyes before he masked it under a calm facade.

"I understand," he replied. "I’ll get you a basic shape-maintaining talisman. It should hold up long enough."

A rush of gratitude warmed Lana’s chest, even though she refused to show it openly. Trusting Axel fully was impossible... but compared to others, he was someone she could rely on more safely.

"Thank you..." she whispered.