Shrek Academy, Inner Court.
Unlike the outer court, the inner court had no fixed schedule of classes or subjects. After all, those who entered the inner court were already considered strong among soul masters. The foundational knowledge of soul masters? They knew nearly all of it.
Because of this, inner court students enjoyed a great deal of free time.
After Ai Cao revealed the space-time properties of her martial soul, she immediately became a prized target of the inner court teachers, who wanted her to remain at the academy. But Ai Cao's resistance to Shrek Academy was something that could never be erased. After some attempts, the academy gradually abandoned their efforts to recruit her.
As for Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, while their talents were remarkable, they were Jing Hongchen's grandchildren. Thus, although Shrek provided them with normal guidance, they did not focus much attention on them.
Jiang Shengyu, however, became the absolute center of attention for the inner court teachers! Ever since the friendly match ended, for the past two months, he was approached almost daily by inner court teachers seeking him out.
Some wanted to teach him cultivation methods for his martial soul. Others invited him to tour Shrek City. Still others brought him gifts. All in an endless stream, with one goal: to persuade Jiang Shengyu to stay at Shrek Academy.
But truthfully, after Mu En's passing, Shrek Academy's efforts in this regard were clumsy at best—an imitation that turned out worse than failure.
One day, Jiang Shengyu stood by Sea God Lake, eyes closed as he rested. Ling Luochen approached softly and called, "Classmate Jiang?"
Hearing his name, Jiang Shengyu opened his eyes, turned his head toward her, and asked, "Classmate Ling, did you need something?"
Ling Luochen stepped a few paces closer, narrowing the distance between them, and said, "I heard Elder Xuan mention that your second martial soul is pure fire? My martial soul happens to be pure ice element! Though its attribute isn't as fierce as yours, I do have considerable experience with cultivating pure elemental martial souls. Elder Xuan suggested we exchange insights."
At her words, Jiang Shengyu immediately understood her true intent. Wasn't this just another attempt to tether him through beauty?
Jiang Shengyu gave her a thoughtful glance, a faint smile forming on his lips. But before he could speak, Wang Dong'er suddenly appeared behind them and asked, "Senior Ling, what are you doing here?"
Ling Luochen jumped at the unexpected voice. Frowning, she turned back and replied, "I'm an inner court student. This is Sea God Island—why shouldn't I be here? But you, junior, shouldn't you still be in the outer court?"
Wang Dong'er stood her ground. "Elder Mu already permitted me to train on Sea God Island before. Of course I can be here!"
Ling Luochen nodded slightly at this, then said, "In that case, we won't disturb your cultivation here. Classmate Jiang, let's go—let's find a quiet place to discuss the cultivation of elemental martial souls."
Seeing this, Wang Dong'er immediately cut in: "I'm coming too!"
Ling Luochen looked at her in puzzlement. "Classmate Jiang and I both have pure elemental martial souls. What use would you have joining our discussion?"
"I…"
Wang Dong'er blinked, then quickly blurted out a lie: "I was sent by Qing Tong!"
"What?" Jiang Shengyu and Ling Luochen exclaimed at the same time.
Sent by Jiang Qingtong?
Why didn't he know about this?
What trick was this little girl playing now?
Ling Luochen narrowed her brows at Wang Dong'er. "You claim Qingtong sent you. For what purpose?"
"Uh…"
Wang Dong'er was momentarily tongue-tied. But then she quickly recovered and declared, "She told me to check on Brother Shengyu, to see if he's adjusting well to Shrek Academy! And whether he needs my help with anything! After all, we're very close!"
Ling Luochen instantly picked up on the intent behind Wang Dong'er's deliberate emphasis. She said calmly, "Then you can rest assured and go back. With me helping Classmate Jiang adjust, Qingtong needn't worry."
Jiang Shengyu looked on at the sharp exchange between the two, feeling as though he'd been dragged into a love-triangle battlefield. For a fleeting moment, he even had the urge to reenact a classic scene:
Stop fighting—both of you are my wings!
In the end, it was Xiao Hongchen who broke the tense deadlock. He strode directly between them, threw an arm around Jiang Shengyu's shoulder, and dragged him away.
As he pulled him along, he called back over his shoulder to Wang Dong'er and Ling Luochen: "I'm taking him! You two can keep quarreling!"
Watching Jiang Shengyu being hauled off, Ling Luochen shot Wang Dong'er a glare. Wang Dong'er, no less defiant, glared right back.
Seeing this, Ling Luochen smiled faintly. "Junior Dong'er! Everything should follow proper order, shouldn't it? I was the one who invited him first today."
Jiang Shengyu's excellence had already made Ling Luochen shed her cold, aloof mask. What was "an untouchable flower atop the mountain"? That was only because she hadn't yet met someone who stirred her heart!
Her feelings for Jiang Shengyu might not be deep yet, but feelings could always be nurtured.
Wang Dong'er stepped forward. "The pavilion closest to the water gets the moon first! And this moon—I'm determined to pluck it!"
Hearing this bold declaration, Ling Luochen only nodded slightly, unruffled. "Then let's rely on our own abilities, Junior Dong'er."
"Fine! By our own abilities!" Wang Dong'er agreed firmly.
After all, she had a good relationship with Jiang Qingtong. No matter what Ling Luochen did, she couldn't possibly get closer than her. First win over Jiang Qingtong, then use that bond to win Jiang Shengyu—that was Wang Dong'er's strategy now!
Meanwhile, Xiao Hongchen thumped Jiang Shengyu lightly on the chest and said, "Well? Didn't I show up just in time? Pulled you right out from between those two—aren't you going to thank your Brother Hongchen?"
"…Thanks, Brother Hongchen."
Jiang Shengyu replied helplessly, then asked, "But why are you here?"
"I've got to keep an eye on you for my little sister!" Xiao Hongchen patted his shoulder, speaking earnestly: "Compared to my sister's unmatched grace, her noble coolness, her beauty that makes all fall before her—how could Shrek's common rabble of women possibly compare—"
"Enough!"
Jiang Shengyu cut him off, rubbing his forehead in exasperation. "Do you even know who I am? As if I'd be bewitched by the girls of Shrek Academy!"
Xiao Hongchen eyed him and muttered, "Can't say for sure."
"…" Jiang Shengyu was speechless.
Still, with Xiao Hongchen's help, Jiang Shengyu no longer had to face the twin advances of Ling Luochen and Wang Dong'er alone. Every time the two tried to make a move on him, Xiao Hongchen would seize the chance to barge in and disrupt them.
It got to the point that Wang Dong'er went straight to Meng Hongchen, asking if she could do something about her brother's constant interference.
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