"Just this little bit of schoolwork?"
"That's not enough."
"Add mecha design and manufacturing to your studies as well, and don't forget to bring in your weekly academic results next time you come to the shop."
"..."
Outside the forge.
Yuanen Yehui left with a tearful face. She had arrived relaxed, but when she left, every step felt heavy as if she was carrying a mountain.
Isn't this a bit too much?
She was just making a battle armor—why did it end up costing her so much personally?
Meanwhile, Su Wen sat leisurely on a bench, watching the girl gradually disappear into the distance.
Nurturing type, huh?
That's not too bad. It's just a shame she's a bit dumb, not very perceptive… But her martial soul's talent is decent. She's worth cultivating a bit...
"Tsk, Er Ming actually left blood descendants in the human world. Now, that's a rare thing."
A graceful figure emerged from the shadows beside him, crossing her arms and looking towards Yuanen Yehui's retreating silhouette with interest. She stretched out a slender, fair finger and gently lifted Su Wen's chin. Her inviting red lips exhaled softly by his ear:
"So, my lord, do you want to eat dinner first—or eat me first?"
"Sleep…"
Su Wen covered his face with a newspaper, pretending to be dead to avoid her.
But the beauty mercilessly pulled the newspaper away and pressed herself onto him.
Smooth pale palms cupped his chin.
"Someone's coming."
Su Wen pointed helplessly at the pedestrians passing by on the street.
"No worries, I've used divine power to shield us." Gu Yuena's stunning face showed a playful smile. "Inside this barrier, we can see and hear the outside world, but no one outside can see what's inside~"
"You shouldn't resist. Compared to that lunatic Qian Renxue, I'm already holding back a lot." Gu Yuena tilted her head, her upper body leaning closely, brilliant color in her eyes—full of excitement as if a 'battle' was about to start.
"Hiss…" Su Wen sucked in a sharp breath.
...
"Huh? What are you two doing?"
Na'er strolled over, sipping bubble tea she'd just bought from the shop next door. She eyed Gu Yuena, whose cheeks were flushed and looked vibrant, then looked at Su Wen beside her, whose face had gone pale and whose eyes were dull.
"Hmph!" Gu Yuena snorted coldly, her gaze unfriendly.
At that moment, Gu Yue also walked over, drinking the same beverage. Her straw had unconsciously been bitten flat, and with one hand in her pocket, she looked coldly at the two.
"Taking advantage of us being at school, you're sneaking snacks again!"
"What do you mean by sneaking snacks…" Gu Yuena smiled cheerfully, lifted her coat lightly over her shoulders, and couldn't help herself: she bent down and pecked Su Wen on the lips.
"And—call me Mom." Turning to the half-head-shorter Gu Yue, she gently pinched the girl's cheek.
Ever since she obtained the Dragon God core, she felt on top of the world, and her days had been a delight.
From shouldering the heavy burden of saving the soul beasts, to now seeing everything solved by the man almost drained by her side…
Now, she only needed to be the 'muscle', and with no need to think, could get everything done with ease.
"Tch." Gu Yue looked annoyed, "You're younger than me by ten thousand years! Why should I call you Mom?"
Doing all the tough, dirty work (Dragon Valley, burying dragon bones), enduring the struggles of school life, and now coming home just to have these two stuff 'dog food' (PDA) in her face… Annoying!
"Because I saved you. If not for me, you might have made a royal mess of the soul beasts." Gu Yuena pinched her cheek, smiling innocently.
"As if it was you who did it!" Gu Yue's face was full of indignation.
"You couldn't have gotten this far if it weren't for him!" Gu Yuena gestured at Su Wen, prideful.
"Well, that's just because I chose the right man. My luck's better than yours!" Gu Yuena declared smugly.
"Aaaaah!"
While the two Gu Yuenas bickered, Na'er trotted over to Su Wen, wringing a damp towel and wiping his face, then massaging his shoulders with her small hands, face full of worry: "Daddy, you're not dying, are you?"
"Pfft."
"Na'er's the sweetest…" Su Wen couldn't hold back a laugh, sighing. He signaled Azure Lluan to cast a healing spell on him, instantly reviving him.
It wasn't that he was weak—
It was just that Gu Yuena, ever since experiencing 'accelerated mode,' had been clamoring for more, and with the Dragon God core acquired, her physical limits skyrocketed. But those extra bonuses didn't benefit her 'host'… namely, Su Wen.
So when facing Gu Yuena, it was no better than dealing with Qian Renxue. It might look like just a few hours had passed on the clock, but in reality, it felt like days…
Meanwhile, both young ladies were wearing red and black uniforms.
Ever since Su Wen had ordered Shrek Academy to stop admitting new students, the academy switched to a "defensive mode," carefully nurturing only its inner court disciples, while the outer court was left to fend for themselves.
Meanwhile, the Federation headquarters also considered intervening in Shrek City. At the same time, the local Spirit Pagoda, now with soul spirits out of business, was struggling to find a new way to support its vast enterprise.
The two sides quickly partnered up: the well-funded Spirit Pagoda provided land and resources, while the Federation supplied faculty. In just days, they established a Federation Branch Academy in Shrek City.
The education resources were best-in-class, featuring top-level masters in mecha design, manufacturing, repairs, and soul tool crafting.
The red-and-black uniform worn by Na'er and Gu Yue was that of the Federation Transmission Academy.
The school was, naturally, packed.
Shrek's dominance was on the brink—
Many outer court students quietly used their family's influence to transfer their enrollment to the Federation's Transmission Academy.
"Since you chose to become human, there is no way back," Su Wen smiled at Gu Yue. "Learn mecha making, battle armor, and blend into human society completely."
"Anyway, it was your choice, 'idol'."
"So unfair…" Gu Yue pouted in frustration.
Class was exhausting. It wasn't fun at all!
...
Tang Wulin left the Shrek Forging Association, looking back one last time. Having won the favor of Feng Wuyu, he was promoted to a level five forgemaster after joining Shrek.
It was only after an explanation from Old Tang and the Golden Tree that he finally understood his background—
It turned out he was the son of a god fallen to the mortal world.
No wonder his progress had skyrocketed recently, especially as he unlocked the Golden Dragon King's seals faster and faster, with all of Shrek's resources tilting toward him. Everything suddenly made sense, since he was to become a god after all...
First step, though, was to surpass that huge mountain.
Tang Wulin sighed softly. Just then, Yue Zhengyu came running, panting:
"I called you several times. Why didn't you answer?"
"I was thinking," Tang Wulin replied, a little embarrassed.
"Come on, let's eat together," Yue Zhengyu grinned.
He had considered transferring out as well, but his grandfather (the Southern Legion commander) heard whispers about Tang Wulin's mysterious identity. Realizing their good relationship, he decided to stay for now.
If Tang Wulin really soared in the future, he'd be on the winner's side from the start.
....