25 A Chief's Manipulative Nature

-Yunlan-

"There had been an increase in the numbers of attacks related to the underworld. Just recently, this University was the victim of such an occurrence, which is where we met the Professor. During our investigation that night, we realize the Professor expertise in the underworld lure. He had eagerly investigate the many kind of ghost and demons that have manage to cross the border to our world." Zhao begin explaining to the Dean.

"Ah, yes. Professor Shen is quite good doing research. He had taken on many projects for the University earning the respect of his colleges. His knowledge about ancient history is in fact priceless for us scholars. We were quite lucky he choose to teach in our University. His class attendance is the highest in the whole campus." The Dean praised, making Shen Wei a bit embarrassed.

"I bet it is, which such an outstanding Professor, not to mention kind and caring," and damn handsome, he inwardly added. "You can't expect less, which is the reason our Order is also interested in have Professor Shen collaboration in this time of crisis. I know the Professor was quite sick a few days ago, I myself was the one who report of his sudden health problem to another Professor and he gave me quite the scare back then, but he is doing fine now. As we had a mayor incident in a rural village, we are eagerly looking for the Professor expertise, because we have reasons to believe, the same incident may happen in the coming week at another place. This..." Zhao gave the Dean the official latter made by Zhu with the seal of the Order.

"This is an official request for the Professor assistance, during the next week. We hope to resolve the crisis in the coming days. A new kind of demons is escaping our detection and the Professor research in our private library will gave us the needed insight to fight this new kind of threat. I hope you understand our position as Guardians of the human realm and the Professor absence from his duty to this University is not going to be for a long period, and the Order will be responsible for his safety during that time." The Dean was in an utterly shock.

"But he is only a Professor..." The Dean protested.

"Ah, yes and a very good researcher. You see, not just anyone can have access to our library who even have a special seal, so it will be quite an honor for the Professor to have a look at hour extensive information about the underworld, including of course, information about the Ghost Slayer himself." The Dean widen his eyes in surprise, while Shen Wei slightly hit Zhao in the middle of his leg, making Zhao muffle a yelp, while smiling calmly to the Dean.

"Is it true? Will Professor Shen be able to do research on the Ghost Slayer?" The Dean asked with enthusiasm and Zhao swallow, knowing he will be in trouble later, but if the Dean agree to let go of him for a week or two, it will be worthy.

"Oh but of course. I assure you, he will know more about the Ghost Slayer than anyone else in centuries. However, he won't be able to publish anything related to the underworld hero, for security matters, but answering a few personal questions to fellow colleges is not forbidden." Zhao finish, knowing he had succeeded, as the Dean's eyes shinned like stars.

"That will be such a great opportunity to us scholars... The Ghost Slayer is such a legend, yet no one knows just how much of what is told about him is actually true. Professor Shen, I hope to have a good conversation with you once you come back. I will approve of your absence as a research leave." The Dean said with enthusiasm.

"Thank you. I will resume my duties as soon as possible. I hope not to cause too much inconvenience." Shen Wei said, as he stood, with Zhao following his example.

"Don't worry about that, your students are quite understanding, and being for the sake of humanity, then they will understand even more. Go ahead and do us a good job." The Dean said, slightly tapping Shen's back in affection.

"Of course, then, please excuse us. The Guardians still need to change the wards."

"Yes, yes... we don't want to repeat the same thing that happen at the dorm, the poor guard was scare to death. Make sure the new wards will keep our campus free of these new demons." The Dean said while walking them to the door.

"Oh, I assure you we will be doing our best job yet. No worries." Zhao added, finally leaving the Dean office.

"Good, good. Our staff will be quite pleased to hear that. Please make sure nothing happens to our Professor while in your care, he is unreplaceable." Shen smiled shyly, while Zhao laughed.

"We share the same opinion. He is indeed unreplaceable so I will personally make sure to take good care of him, you can be sure of that." Shen Wei's ears became hot red at Zhao's less than innocent implied suggestion that fortunately went unnoticed to the Dean.

"That's good to hear. I will leave you in good hands then, Professor Shen." Zhao laughed even more, as his beloved went even redder. It was just his luck he was right next to him, so he could actually distinguish his flushed face.

"Good hands indeed. We will be leaving now..." As they go out, still with Shen guiding his lover and met with the rest of the team, Shen wished that the earth could swallow him, because as soon as they saw his red ears, they knew their shameless Chief had indeed manage to embarrass him again.

"Zhao Yunlan, I hope you remember we still have some training to do once we finish with the wards." Zhao stopped smiling immediately, yet he was still in good spirit.

"Nope, I haven't forgotten and honestly, you can take revenge on me all you want, as long as you make it up to me later, when in home." Zhao whisper, as they walked out of the staff building almost hand in hand.

"Seriously Yunlan, have some shame." Shen protested, but Zhao held Wei's arm, which was offered to help him move around without bumping into others, with even more vigor.

"If I were to have any, then it wouldn't be me, babe." Shen smiled.

"Well, that's quite true... alright, my shameless former god, have it your merrily way." Shen whisper back.

"Ah, did you just said my shameless god? Can I kiss you now?" Zhao teased.

"Don't you dare Zhao Yunlan!" Shen said seriously, but his shyness only make Zhao laugh more.

"Sometimes you are just too cute for your own good, which is why you got me so crazy about you." Shen was simply too embarrassed to keep up with him, however, he couldn't deny the fact that he was quite pleased of hearing Zhao said he was crazy about him, because it make all the centuries, years, days, hours, minutes and seconds of waiting very much worthy.

"Yunlan please, the wards, remember?" Shen try to make him focus.

"Okay, I will behave, for now. Hum, guys, we set the wards in four points. Zhu, go north, Lin you go south, Guo and Da Qing," which Guo was actually carrying in his arms, "go west. Shen and I will take the east. This barrier must be our best, so no lacking, you got it?" Zhao asked.

"Yes Chief." His team reply, going on their designated ways.

"Yunlan, I will go with Guo, he is still new at this and to be honest, I would like to add another layer, just to be extra careful. Just don't move from here, I will come back right after the wards are set."

"Go ahead babe, this needs to be done perfectly. Do your best and teach the newbie how is done." Zhao approved and soon Zhao lose sight of him, as his limited vision only could follow for a very short distance.

They replaced the barrier by jointed incantations, which was the normal procedure when warding large spaces, but because they usually did those at night, when both Wang and Sang could join, many students left what they were doing to watch as the multiple set of yellow talismans fly all around the campus to stick themselves where they supposed to, which was from buildings, to trees o poles.

Once the job was properly completed, Shen sensed the barrier all around. It was without doubt a beautiful work, well done, but stronger demons were always unpredictable and he just didn't want anyone to be in danger if it could be prevented, so he did as he intended and added his personal one.

Soon, the Guardians became the talk of the camps, as even the less sensitive could feel the strong energy used and in a way, made most students relax, as they felt safer under the new wards. Some students approached Lin, Zhu and Zhao as they gather together again and Shen had to repress the urge to freeze over a particular girl that dared even to give her cell number to Yunlan, so outrageously.

"Don't worry, Xiao Wei, I don't like girls and I couldn't even see her face well, you can burn the paper right now if you like." Zhao whisper to Shen, as the team tense up after the girl went away, probably expecting his call, which of course will never be made.

"What are you talking about? I'm not jealous..." Shen vaguely said, but not really convincing anyone, as the air did lower a few degrees around him.

"Yeah, right..." Zhao said, placing an arm over his shoulders. "Okay guys, you go back to the office, apparently I need to do some training with the Ghost Slayer in the flesh..." Zhao begin saying.

"Wait, the Ghost Slayer you said? You mean the black clothed Slayer, not just the Professor?" Da Qing dare to ask, momentarily don't minding if a nearby students could hear him.

"Well yes, why?" Zhao asked curiously.

"Because that's something I don't want to miss. Take me with you." The cat said, purring on Shen Wei's feet. The Professor only smiled and took him on his arms.

"Wait you old cat, why the sudden interest?" Zhao asked suspiciously.

"Idiot, what else? He is going to bully you, of course! And that's something I have been waited for ages..." Thus, as pretty much the whole team agree with dear Da Qing, that they were to witness their Chief embracing himself in front of his almighty half god, Shen Wei found himself looking for an empty spot to portal them all to his hidden temple in which Guo's family worked. He was going to show Zhao more than just how to control his power, but also the last of his deepest secrets.

AN: Thanks for the support.