The night after the ambush.
Xue Ke stood frozen as Lucien raged in shadowflame, sword driven into the cobblestones, black fire consuming him like a demon losing reason. She could only cry out desperately, afraid to come near.
For half an hour, heat roared off him. Then, slowly, the flames dimmed.
"Lucien… are you alright?" she whispered, trembling as she reached to touch his shoulder.
A calloused hand caught her wrist. Dark eyes glared out, voids dragging her into an abyss.
Her soul quaked. "Y‑you're hurting me…"
Then the black eyes softened—recognition surfacing.
"Little beauty… it's you."
Yuexuan – late night.
"Yuehua Aunt, please open!" Xue Ke's voice was sharp with fear as she half-carried Lucien inside.
The door slid open. Tang Yuehua, hair loose in silk pajamas, blinked in surprise.
"Lucien?" Her graceful composure faltered briefly.
"He was… burning, out of control," Xue Ke explained, still rattled. She had not seen Shi Nian's corpse, only Lucien aflame, terrifying enough to sear nightmares in her own memory.
Tang Yuehua led them in. Then, with a solemn breath, her own gift unfurled.
Realm · Ring of Nobility.
Softness and elegance spread like a veil of moonlight. The black mist shrouding Lucien hissed, melted away, and ice settled where chaos once burned.
Lucien's eyes cleared slowly, breath steadying. He sagged against her aura, chest rising fluidly.
So this explains it… Why Yuexuan always felt different. Why her presence dissolved my fury. It's her Realm. Her nobility suppresses my violence.
Tang Yuehua too understood now. From the first day he stepped into Yuexuan, my aura reacted instinctively. His blade, his devilish spirit… it yields only to this talent realm.
"Rest here tonight," she said softly.
Lucien grinned faintly. "Big Sis, you sleep here too then."
"Idiot. I'll take the second room," she huffed, cheeks faintly red.
As she left, Lucien turned toward Xue Ke.
"You—"
She bolted, scarlet-faced. "I'll… stay with Yuehua Aunt instead!"
"Boring," Lucien yawned and sprawled onto the soft bed.
That night he dreamed again: the furnace from Shi Nian's nightmare, the swordsmith casting a blade identical to his own—before leaping into the fire himself.
He awoke with the question heavy in his mind. What is this sword? Why did it awaken like when I first triggered Chen Xin's collapse?
Morning.
Tang Yuehua emerged in noble silver court dress. Lucien was already by the window, jug raised.
"The bells, drums, jade—it's all worthless," he muttered, sipping. "All I want is to not wake from my drunken sleep."
"You drank all night?" she asked dryly.
He tipped her a grin. "Big Sis, come with me for real. With you by my side, my rage never scares me again. I'll spoil you forever."
Tang Yuehua froze, noble cheeks blooming pink. She had long steeled herself to a life of solitude… and now this boy, fierce as a storm, drunkenly confessed.
"…Don't speak nonsense," she whispered, retreating.
Xue Ke rushed in then, anxious. "Lucien, are you… stable?"
"Perfectly." He ruffled her hair, laughing again, his madness of last night vanished behind a haze of drink. "Little beauty—bring wine next time."
He winked at Tang Yuehua. "Big Sis, your bed was soft. I'll nap there again someday~."
Shrek Academy.
Two days later, rumors spread: Blue Blaster Academy had re‑painted its gates with five bold characters—Shrek Academy.
At the front gates, Flender folded his arms, proud. The humiliation at Tiandou Royal could be forgotten. A new chapter began.
"Ha? Why so messy. Can't even hang a proper plaque?"
A familiar drunken voice drifted as Lucien staggered inside.
He had come because Zhu Zhuqing's letter said: I'm in Shrek now.
But the campus twisted in circles, leaving him lost. Then—
A splash of water.
Following it, he found a clear pool, a thatched hut beside it. The water shimmered… and in it, a woman bathed.
Silken black hair poured like a waterfall. Fair skin gleamed. Her proud figure was half-hidden by ripples, waves rising with every motion.
"Who's there!"
Her cold eyes snapped toward him. Swiftly a thin robe wrapped her body, flames already igniting around her fists as she shot from the water like a cannon.
"You dare peek at me—Liu Erlong! I'll peel your skin!"
Lucien blinked, dumbfounded. "Bathing outside—how's it my fault? Upright admiration isn't peeking!"
He lifted his sword as her fist slammed down—sparks spraying.
Her eyes widened, recognizing the rings around him.
"You… Lucien?!"
His grin widened. "Big Sis—you my fan too?"
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