Walking through the streets of Suotuo City, Lin Yang observed his surroundings. The city looked almost unchanged from a few years ago.
A city wasn't something that changed just because a few people came and went.
"Nya!"
Aura jumped out of the magic pouch and lazily stretched.
Seeing this, Lin Yang's lips curled. "All you do is eat and sleep. Look at you — you've gotten so fat you can't even fight anymore, can you?"
Nya~
Refusing to admit defeat, Aura sharpened its claws, leaving several scratch marks on the originally smooth stone pavement.
The two of them walked along the street, drawing the attention of many people.
However, most people only saw Aura as a muscular orange cat.
Lin Yang took Aura to several familiar places, replenished supplies, bought fresh fruits and vegetables, and prepared to head home.
But on the way back, Lin Yang suddenly stopped and turned around. A figure stood behind him.
It was a girl about 1.6 meters tall.
Wearing a simple white dress with neatly trimmed short hair, she exuded a noble and mysterious aura — clearly a woman of extraordinary status.
The moment Lin Yang saw the girl, he had already guessed her identity.
"So you followed me all the way here. Do you need something, Miss Ning?"
Ning Rongrong's heart skipped a beat. "You know who I am?"
Lin Yang raised a finger and pointed at her chest.
Ning Rongrong hurriedly covered her small chest and looked at Lin Yang as if he were a pervert.
Lin Yang's eyes widened.
"If you want to hide your identity, you shouldn't openly wear the badge of a direct disciple of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect on your chest."
Ning Rongrong lowered her hands and smiled awkwardly.
"As a weak woman traveling alone in a foreign land, I have to maintain a status that makes people wary."
Traveling alone?
Lin Yang chuckled inwardly, a meaningful smile appearing on his face.
At least five Soul Sage-level auras were hidden around her.
And she called herself alone?
Ning Rongrong extended her hand, a gentle smile on her face.
"Hello, I'm Ning Rongrong!"
Lin Yang glanced at it, gently shook her soft, boneless hand, then let go.
"Lin Yang!"
"I know you!"
Ning Rongrong looked Lin Yang up and down, a faint look of admiration in her eyes.
"I watched your match. You were amazing — defeating the entire Spirit Hall team by yourself. My father also said you're an unparalleled genius."
"You flatter me, Sect Master Ning," Lin Yang said calmly.
"So, can you tell me now why you were following me?"
"Uh…"
Ning Rongrong lightly tapped her finger, a slightly embarrassed expression on her face.
"I ran away from home for various reasons. Later, I heard about Shrek Academy, which only accepts monsters, and wanted to apply."
As she spoke, her face turned slightly red.
"After arriving here, I couldn't find Shrek Academy, and then I happened to meet you."
Lin Yang frowned. "Didn't you have a map? How did you get here?"
"I just asked for directions!"
Ning Rongrong said matter-of-factly. "When you don't know the way, you just ask for directions, and eventually you'll find it."
Lin Yang's lips twitched.
You traveled over a thousand kilometers by asking for directions?
Don't you think something's wrong with that?
From Heaven Dou City to Suotuo City, to make your journey this smooth, Sect Master Ning must have specially arranged everything — practically rolling out a red carpet for you.
This was a classic story of a pampered young lady experiencing hardship!
Lin Yang barely suppressed the urge to roll his eyes and took out a map from his storage bracelet, handing it to her.
"Shrek Academy isn't in Suotuo City. Follow the route marked on the map."
"I won't disturb your studies any longer. Goodbye!"
With that, Lin Yang waved and walked away.
After a few steps, the figure appeared dozens of meters ahead.
Ning Rongrong stared blankly at the map in her hand for a long moment. When she came to her senses, her face turned pale with anger, and she stomped her foot furiously.
"Damn it!"
This was completely different from what she had imagined.
She thought that since Lin Yang had met such a beautiful girl — and she was his little fan — he would personally take her to Shrek Academy.
After all that performance, all she got was a broken map?
He didn't say another word.
"Guys like you who are so straightforward deserve to use their hands for the rest of their lives!"
Ning Rongrong's extremely fierce tone instantly drew the attention of everyone around.
She glared straight back.
"What are you looking at? Have you never seen such a beautiful woman before?!"
After speaking, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda appeared in her hand. A beam of light descended upon her, and she instantly vanished down the street.
Instead of heading straight to Shrek Academy, she decided to eat a good meal to vent her frustration.
After Lin Yang left, he quickly put the matter out of his mind. Worrying about the young lady of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was clearly none of his business.
The next day, Lin Yang slowly drove the carriage out of Suotuo City, heading toward Shrek Academy.
The carriage grew increasingly lost, and the roadside became increasingly desolate.
Dugu Yan glanced at the scenery outside the window, then looked at Xiao Wu sitting opposite her with a strange expression — a trace of inexplicable sympathy in her eyes.
This rundown place is your school?
What kind of life did you live before?
Xiao Wu frowned irritably. "What kind of expression is that?"
Dugu Yan shook her head and turned away without a word.
Xiao Wu snorted coldly and couldn't be bothered to ask further. She simply turned her face the other way and stared at the scenery outside the carriage.
Soon after, the carriage stopped.
They had arrived at Shrek Academy!
A large crowd had gathered outside the academy gates. Most were parents with children, apparently going through the enrollment process.
Dugu Yan got out of the carriage and looked up at the dilapidated academy gate. The signboard hanging above looked like it might fall at any moment in a gust of wind.
She felt like she had come to the wrong place.
Did this stupid rabbit really graduate from such a terrible school?
Although she and that foolish rabbit couldn't stand each other and argued every time they met, she genuinely acknowledged the rabbit's talent.
That foolish rabbit's talent was truly extraordinary. Among everyone she had met, only Lin Yang could always surpass her.
Considering that her martial soul hadn't evolved even once and she hadn't learned any breathing techniques, she would have been left far behind by that foolish rabbit long ago.
Could a golden phoenix really fly out of a straw nest?
Xiao Wu didn't react much. Rather, she had already anticipated Dugu Yan's reaction.
After muttering to herself for a while, she ignored Dugu Yan and walked forward.
Lin Yang and Dugu Yan followed behind her.
Meanwhile, a golden-haired man lounging lazily on a nearby tree casually glanced at the crowd below.
Then his gaze —
His gaze swept over Lin Yang, then stopped on Dugu Yan and Xiao Wu. His eyes lit up slightly.
A thorny rose — proud and arrogant.
Her steps were light and quick, as agile as a neighborhood girl.
He hadn't encountered such high-quality beauties in a long time.