On the way back.
The two were silent.
Jiang Nannan seemed lost in thought, head lowered. Her beautiful eyes were a bit swollen—traces left from crying.
"I still don't know your name…"
Only when they reached Madam Jiang's place did Jiang Nannan look at Su Wen. A hint of confusion flashed in her eyes, for when she searched her memory, she found no such junior…
"Su Wen." He smiled.
"Thank you, Junior Su Wen…" Jiang Nannan bowed, her eyes full of gratitude.
Having just stepped out of the devil's den, and then learning from Dean Yan that her mother was not in danger, her mood couldn't be described as merely joyful. She hadn't realized Yang He had never reported to the academy leadership—or rather… she hadn't imagined she mattered this much.
It was a weight lifted.
"You're welcome." Su Wen smiled again.
He and Jiang Nannan were complete strangers. If he rushed in with a barrage of comforting words like an old friend, she might not think much of it in the immediate aftermath of leaving danger, but later she'd find it increasingly odd—or take him for some hidden simp in the shadows…
Keep some distance. Appropriate is best.
"Hoo…"
Jiang Nannan took a deep breath.
She pushed the door open.
Madam Jiang lay on the sickbed, her face haggard. Seeing her daughter, however, a look of bliss appeared unconsciously. She beckoned softly, "What took you so long? Your dean and your good friend have been waiting for ages."
"Good friend?" Jiang Nannan froze.
She glanced at Su Wen unintentionally.
His expression was unchanged.
Jiang Nannan didn't think much of it. She stepped forward and threw herself into her mother's arms, sobbing softly. In this moment, her mother's embrace was the warmest harbor.
"Ah, this girl—already so big and still like a little child. You'll make your friend laugh…" Madam Jiang said in surprise, then hugged her daughter with a smile and offered Su Wen an apologetic look.
"…"
Su Wen shook his head.
Watching this warm scene, he felt a bit envious.
"Hehe, this child looks only eleven or twelve, right? Xiao Wen, is your mother a soul master too?" Madam Jiang shifted the topic and started chatting.
"I don't know," Su Wen shook his head. "Maybe…"
Jiang Nannan and Madam Jiang exchanged a startled look. It seemed they understood something. When they looked at Su Wen again, there was a touch more pity and gentleness in their eyes, and they spoke a little more carefully.
…
Bang!
Yan Shaozhe slammed the table and stabbed a finger at the richly dressed middle-aged man across from him. "Xu Jiangliu, am I giving you too much face? What makes you think Shrek Academy is easy to bully!"
With a bang, the fragrant dragonwood table shattered under his palm, splinters flying.
Xu Jiangliu shuddered all over.
He was merely a Titled Douluo. Facing one of the highest-standing figures on the continent (in the original work, Yan Shaozhe's status is indeed very high—basically the face of Shrek. Elder Mu is from the previous generation and most people think he's dead, while the other elders usually retire in the Sea God Pavilion and rarely appear publicly), even as the sect master of Xuanming, he didn't dare act rashly. But having painstakingly cultivated a daughter-in-law, and now that it was finally time to pluck the peach, Shrek Academy had cut in sideways. After nearly ten years of effort, he was truly unwilling to let it go!
"Then I ought to thank your academy for giving me the chance," he said through a dark face, unable to hold back a jab at Yan Shaozhe. "If Yang He hadn't rejected her, Xuanming Sect wouldn't have had the opportunity to exploit the gap."
"How do you know about that?" Yan Shaozhe's eyes narrowed suddenly, fixing on Xu Jiangliu.
"I—I guessed…" Xu Jiangliu's throat bobbed. He realized his temper had exposed a flaw. If Yan Shaozhe learned he'd bribed Yang He, the consequences would be unimaginable. Xuanming Sect couldn't withstand Shrek Academy's wrath.
"…"
Yan Shaozhe slowly sat, his fingers tapping the armrest, suspicion in his expression.
If he wasn't mistaken, the matter of Yang He rejecting Jiang Nannan should have been known only to those involved. Moreover, it was Shrek's internal affair. Yet Xu Jiangliu knew it clearly.
Whether Xuanming Sect had extended its hand into Shrek's interior or had bribed Yang He—neither was something he could tolerate. They'd made a move right under his nose…
The atmosphere turned strange.
Cold sweat streamed down Xu Jiangliu's back. After several minutes—
"I'm taking the girl."
Yan Shaozhe stood, hands clasped behind him, and walked to the door.
He glanced at Xu Jiangliu. "But I'll investigate this thoroughly. If it really ties back to your Xuanming Sect… hmph!"
Before the words fell, his figure had vanished from the room.
"Huff… huff…" Xu Jiangliu panted, face pale.
The pressure Yan Shaozhe exerted on him was simply too great.
A Super Douluo could crush him with a single finger. Though someone of Yan's status probably wouldn't actually make a move, the feeling of that sword hanging over his head was like stepping through the gates of hell and back.
"Attend me!"
Xu Jiangliu rasped, "Call Chen Wen here!"
"Yes!" Seeing Xu Jiangliu's expression, the servant didn't waste words and hurried off.
A few minutes later.
Chen Wen appeared, face beaming.
"Master, everything is ready. We're just waiting for the Second Young Master to consummate—"
"Shut up!" Xu Jiangliu snapped. "From this moment, Jiang Nannan has nothing whatsoever to do with my Xu family. As for what you've done, clean it up yourself. Don't leave a single trace! Now—go, at once!"
"Ah…" Chen Wen stared blankly, then scrambled out of the room in a panic.
Once Chen Wen left, Xu Jiangliu's eyes narrowed.
A shadow appeared at his side, bending slightly like a death guard awaiting orders.
"Go. Follow him. See if he cleans up properly. If not, help him finish the job. When everything is done, deal with him as well." Xu Jiangliu said softly.
"Yes!"
A shade slipped away silently, trailing after Chen Wen.
"…"
Xu Jiangliu's breathing gradually steadied.
He wasn't worried that Yan Shaozhe had not actually left and was secretly watching Chen Wen. After all, in his eyes, those so-called pieces of evidence were unimportant; Yan Shaozhe likely knew in his heart already, and he'd even admitted as much.
The key was Yang He.
If Yan Shaozhe discovered his dealings with Yang He—that would be the real disaster.
Shrek is called an academy—that's the funniest joke on the continent.
Fortunately, he had left no substantive evidence, and the pawns who had contacted Yang He had long been erased.
"Coming out to pick the peaches now!"
Xu Jiangliu thought it over and found no holes. Only then did he slam the tea set and curse.
Xuanming Sect would often gather commoner children to help them awaken their martial souls.
If any had talent, they were absorbed into the sect's outer hall and given resources to cultivate.
That was how Jiang Nannan had come under his eye.
At six, when she awakened her martial soul, her innate soul power was level eight, stunning everyone—a true golden phoenix born in a thatched nest. And she was a girl who relied on a single mother, and she happened to be about the same age as Xu Sanshi, who awakened his martial soul the same year.
A leverage point (the mother) that was easy to control, outstanding talent and beauty.
Even the City Lord's letter of introduction had been arranged by him behind the scenes.
But after that girl entered Shrek Academy, she seemed disinclined to play along—independent and strong-willed. Coaxing her into helping his son undergo a second martial soul awakening would be difficult. So he took Chen Wen's advice and resorted to this last-ditch, despicable plan…
<><><>>><><><><><><><>
Advanced chapter here: p-atreon.com/Sajaboyzzz
<><><><><>><>>><><><><>
Keep the Chapters coming - Support with Power Stones!
Every 200 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter!