"You'll never know if you can handle it unless you try. Don't give up before you've even made the attempt. How can you be so sure you can't face it head-on?"
"Shi Yu is still here," he continued calmly. "If Xu Sanshi dares to insult you, I'll make sure he regrets it. If anyone else says anything about you, I'll be the one to shut them up. I won't let you face this alone."
"Why… why are you so good to me?" Jiang Nannan asked quietly, her eyes glistening as she stared at him without blinking.
"Because you've been good to me as well. Naturally, I can't just stand by and watch you get bullied," Shi Yu replied with a faint chuckle.
"Is that all?" For some reason, Jiang Nannan felt a pang of disappointment. That wasn't the answer she was hoping for.
Shi Yu thought for a moment, then added uncertainly, "…There might also be a little bit of… liking mixed in there."
He wasn't entirely sure of his own feelings — was it more friendship or something deeper? It was hard to say.
Jiang Nannan's disappointment melted into a warm smile, and in that instant, it was as though a flower had bloomed before him — radiant, flawless, breathtaking.
Her beauty needed no introduction; she was already recognized as the number-one beauty of the Outer Courtyard, and even among the Inner Courtyard, she stood among the top. But this smile… this smile was different.
Shi Yu found himself stunned. He had seen her smile many times before, yet none had ever felt quite like this one. His heartbeat quickened, and a faint heat rose within him.
"I've decided not to drop out. I want to stay and face this bravely. If it ever becomes too much, I might have to trouble you for help," Jiang Nannan said, her tone lighter now.
"Of course," Shi Yu replied firmly.
They lingered in the pavilion for a long while, talking about everything except that matter. Jiang Nannan never spoke about what had happened between her and Xu Sanshi, and Shi Yu was tactful enough not to pry.
When they left Sea God Island and headed back toward the Outer Courtyard, their plan was to grab a meal together. But along the way, they were met with countless strange stares.
Word of what had happened between Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, and Shi Yu had spread like wildfire. By now, every student in the Outer Courtyard knew.
Many were impressed by Xu Sanshi — they hadn't expected the self-proclaimed simp to have already been involved with the Outer Courtyard's beauty in private. Envy, jealousy, and resentment brewed in the crowd, and more than a few whispered that a "fresh flower had been stuck into a pile of cow dung."
Some looked at Jiang Nannan differently now. She had always seemed to ignore Xu Sanshi, yet in secret they apparently had that kind of relationship. Even the female students' gazes carried mockery, as if saying, "Didn't you claim to dislike him? So why go that far with him? Hypocrite."
Jiang Nannan heard the whispers, but she masked her discomfort, unwilling to let Shi Yu worry. Shi Yu, however, didn't hesitate to snap at anyone who openly gossiped within earshot, hurling insults without the slightest regard for propriety.
Those who tried to fire back quickly found themselves outmatched in a verbal brawl, retreating with flushed faces. None dared to escalate into a fight — after all, Shi Yu had nearly killed Xu Sanshi. If he could do that to a defense-type Soul Grandmaster, they had little chance.
Soon, Yan Shaozhe himself released an official statement: Xu Sanshi had been rescued and was recovering under the Academy's best healing-type Soul Masters.
Because Xu Sanshi's life was no longer in danger, Shi Yu's punishment was light — merely a verbal warning to "be mindful of his strength" in future conflicts.
The leniency was not lost on the Outer Courtyard. It was obvious the Academy valued Shi Yu highly and had no intention of punishing him severely. In such a climate, few dared to make him an enemy.
As for Xu Sanshi's exact condition, no one knew. Even his closest friend, Bei Bei, was kept in the dark. Xu Sanshi had been transferred to Sea God Island under the guise of receiving better treatment. Bei Bei had wanted to accompany him, but the Academy refused, despite his close ties with Elder Mu.
"The first few days are always the hardest. It'll get better," Shi Yu said reassuringly after they finished eating and reached the dormitory building.
"Mm. I'm fine. You should rest," Jiang Nannan replied with a casual wave before heading upstairs.
Shi Yu watched her vanish around the stairwell before turning toward his own dormitory.
That's when the door of a nearby room opened, and out stepped Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong — running right into him.
They lived on the same floor, so encounters were inevitable. From overheard conversations, Shi Yu had pieced together who they were: Huo Yuhao, the Child of the Plane, and Wang Dong, daughter of Tang San — both with extraordinary backgrounds.
Likewise, they knew exactly who Shi Yu was. After recent events, everyone in the Outer Courtyard did. Their expressions carried a trace of hostility; they were close to Xu Sanshi, and this was the man who had nearly killed him.
Still, they didn't attack. They simply tried to pass by coldly.
"When I fought Xu Sanshi, his reaction speed suddenly spiked midway. That was a clear change from the start of the match," Shi Yu said suddenly, turning to face Huo Yuhao. "Were you helping him?"
He had thought back to Huo Yuhao's Spirit Detection and spiritual sharing abilities — a perfect way to grant someone a god's-eye view in battle. The pieces fit.
Huo Yuhao froze, exchanging a quick, uneasy glance with Wang Dong.
"Are you talking to me?" he asked, feigning confusion, even looking around as if to check for anyone else.
Shi Yu held his gaze silently. That silence made Huo Yuhao's guilt harder to hide, but he managed to keep his composure, shaking his head. "I don't know what you mean."
"It's fine," Shi Yu said at last. "I already have my answer."
He didn't need a confession. Their reactions had told him everything.
Turning away, he left them behind. There was nothing more to say.
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong both frowned, an uneasy tension settling over them.
"Do you think he'll come after us?" Wang Dong whispered as they walked away.
"I can't be sure," Huo Yuhao replied. "But be careful."
When Shi Yu stepped into his own dormitory, Dai Huabin was on his bed, meditating. At the sound of the door, he opened his eyes and studied Shi Yu as though seeing his roommate for the first time.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Shi Yu asked, sitting on his bed.
"I didn't know you were that strong," Dai Huabin admitted.
Shi Yu shrugged. "I just took advantage of Xu Sanshi's flaws. As a defense-type Soul Master, he was naturally countered by my style. He was also overeager to win, which made him sloppy. That's why I beat him."
He knew that against other Soul Grandmasters — especially those with wide-range attacks — he would be in real danger. Victory was never guaranteed.
"Still… you defeated a Soul Grandmaster and nearly killed him. That's something most Soul Grandmasters couldn't even do," Dai Huabin said sincerely.
Though a hint of envy lingered in his eyes, he couldn't deny Shi Yu's ability.