News of hell training spread across Shrek grounds quickly. Students boasted scars, retold roars of beasts. Most voices praised Dai Mubai's power, Tang San's control. Yet in quiet corners, whispers grew too: "It was frost slowing them… frost cooled flames when Hongjun nearly fainted… frost kept pace possible."
Leng Xue heard those words by accident, hidden behind walls. He did not step forward to claim credit. He never did. But hearing some finally acknowledge even small part tugged at heart. In first life, entire existence was ridicule until last years. Here, still overshadowed, but at least not invisible.
Another trial came sooner than expected. Flender arranged exhibition spar groups to measure synergy. This time Leng Xue was placed deliberately with Tang San, Rongrong, and Oscar against a group of students eager to prove dominance. The match began violently—opponents unleashing thunder, blades, fire. Tang San's control responded brilliant, Rongrong boosted, Oscar threw sausage. But again surprise charge nearly broke formation. Frost surged like flowing mist, ground slick, enemies stumbling at critical instant.
Tang San capitalized instantly, grass snaring two while Dai Mubai (spectating proudly) muttered, "Good timing." Match ended with allies barely scraped. Rongrong turned to Xue afterwards, short of breath. For once pride shifted to respect. "Without frost buying me seconds, I couldn't boost," she admitted quietly. Oscar agreed with mouth full of bread, "Saved my tail."
Gradually, something shifted. Where sneers once stung ears, students now muttered less insult, more grudged respect. It was not glory—they still fawned at Tang San's grace, Mubai's might. But shadows gained weight. Teachers knew, students whispered, frost had place.
Leng Xue simply bowed faint to Tang San privately after match, saying, "Grass roots grow faster when soil cooled." Tang San returned smile small, eyes glinting acknowledgment again. Bonded silence built more than speeches ever could.
That night he copied new passages into Frost Codex under candlelight: Southern forests require wide field frost patterns, maintain calm under mixed abilities, synergy above ego. He sealed it carefully, imagining generations after reading lines, never knowing ancestor wrote them here in Shrek dorm by dim flame.