"Sister Xiaotao!" Zhu Ziyang was both surprised and delighted. He had not expected to meet Ma Xiaotao right at the academy gates. With a joyful smile, he said, "You're back!"
"Ziyang!" Ma Xiaotao was equally astonished. She had just been thinking of settling Huan'er in and then going to find Zhu Ziyang. Who would have thought they would run into each other here? Overcome with joy, Ma Xiaotao rushed forward and threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly.
Faced with such a gesture, Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but return the embrace. The warmth of her body against his stirred familiar emotions that came flooding back, as though the three years apart had never been.
Watching them cling to each other so intimately right in front of her, Jiang Nannan pouted in obvious displeasure. Still, she held herself back. Because of Qian Lingyi, her tolerance had grown greatly. After all, she was his first.
The girl named Huan'er, meanwhile, observed the scene with curiosity. Having traveled the continent with Ma Xiaotao for so long, it was her first time seeing her behave this way.
After a long while, they finally parted, reluctant though they were. Xiaotao's cheeks flushed slightly. Then, noticing Jiang Nannan's frown, she couldn't help but feel awkward despite her usual carefree nature. "Nannan, it's been a long time!" she greeted.
"Yes. Long time indeed, Sister Xiaotao," Jiang Nannan replied with a stiff smile, her voice cold.
"Why are you suddenly back at the academy, Sister Xiaotao?" Zhu Ziyang quickly interjected to break the tension between them.
"Well, isn't the Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament just around the corner? I came back to cheer you on!" Ma Xiaotao said with a playful smile, her eyes sparkling with warmth and concern.
"I see. Then I must thank you, Sister Xiaotao," Zhu Ziyang said with a laugh. But as his eyes swept across her face, they froze on her brow.
There, a golden flame-shaped sigil shimmered faintly. From it radiated a familiar aura—divinity!
Ma Xiaotao had inherited a god position!
"Sister Xiaotao, you—" Zhu Ziyang blurted out in shock.
"What about me?" Xiaotao asked with a knowing smile, as if she had already expected his reaction.
"It's nothing," Zhu Ziyang said quickly, regaining his composure. "Can we talk properly tonight? I'm very curious about your experiences over these past years."
"Of course!" Xiaotao agreed at once. "Even if you didn't ask, I was planning to find you anyway."
"You two aren't even bothering to avoid me anymore, are you?" Jiang Nannan was about to explode. Zhu Ziyang had just arranged a romantic evening with Xiaotao right in front of her! Did he think nothing of her feelings? Her eyes watered with grievance.
"Nannan!" Zhu Ziyang hurriedly comforted her. Taking her hand, he drew her close and whispered in her ear, "Look at Xiaotao's brow!"
Still fuming, Nannan followed his gaze despite herself. And there she saw it—the flame sigil that only another god's inheritor could perceive. She froze in surprise.
At the same time, Xiaotao noticed the osmanthus sigil glowing faintly on Jiang Nannan's brow. She too was stunned. She had learned during her divine trial that Zhu Ziyang had inherited a god position, but she had never expected Jiang Nannan to be one as well.
Both women stared at each other in shock, leaving the group in silence—until the young girl Huan'er finally broke it.
"Sister Xiaotao, weren't you going to handle my admission? How did it go?" she asked softly, tugging at Xiaotao's sleeve.
"Ah! Right, I almost forgot!" Xiaotao said with a start. "It's all done. From today onward, Huan'er, you are a member of Shrek Academy's inner court!"
"Really? Thank you, Sister Xiaotao!" Huan'er exclaimed, though to Zhu Ziyang her eyes didn't match the excitement in her voice.
"And this is…?" Zhu Ziyang asked, curiosity deepening.
"She's my sworn younger sister, Diwu Huan'er. Just call her Huan'er," Ma Xiaotao explained with a smile. Then she turned to the girl and said, "Huan'er, this is the Zhu Ziyang I told you about. He's a few months older than you, so you can call him Brother Ziyang. And this is Jiang Nannan, also older than you. You can call her Sister Nannan. She won't mind if you drop the honorifics either."
"Hello, Huan'er," Zhu Ziyang greeted with a warm smile.
"Hello, little sister Huan'er," Jiang Nannan added, emphasizing the word sister. Whether it was directed at Huan'er or Xiaotao, only she knew.
"Hello, Brother Ziyang, Nannan," Huan'er replied sweetly. As expected of someone Xiaotao had chosen as her sworn sister, her soft voice carried a surprising firmness beneath it.
Jiang Nannan bit her lip lightly, feeling provoked, and shot a glance at Ma Xiaotao.
But Xiaotao paid it no mind. This time, she had returned to the academy with a clear goal: to win Zhu Ziyang. In the past, she had never intended to fight Jiang Nannan for him. But now things were different. With the prospect of godhood before her, she refused to face eternity alone. Zhu Ziyang—she would have him.
"Let's head inside," Xiaotao said casually. "I still need to arrange a room for Huan'er on Sea God Island."
"There's no Sea God Island anymore," Jiang Nannan corrected her coldly. "Now there's only Tianyuan Island and Tianyuan Pavilion."
"What?" Xiaotao froze in shock, utterly confused.
"I'll explain on the way," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile.
And so, as they returned to Tianyuan Island, he told her everything that had happened in her absence. Her reaction was intense—clearly, she had truly known nothing of these events.
When they reached the Golden Ancient Tree, Xiaotao was already in tears. She had been Mu En's grand-disciple, sharing a close bond with him, and her grief at having missed his final moments tore at her heart.
Zhu Ziyang could not find the words to comfort her. In the end, it was Yan Shaozhe—who had also failed to be present at Mu En's passing—who consoled her. Perhaps it was shared sorrow, but Shaozhe's words soon calmed her down.
"Sorry, Ziyang, for letting you see me like this," Xiaotao said at last, her eyes still red.
"It's alright, Sister Xiaotao," Zhu Ziyang said gently. "Teacher wouldn't want to hear your cries. So don't dwell in sadness."
"Mm." Xiaotao nodded firmly, then called to Huan'er, "Come, I'll show you your room."
At that moment, Huan'er was gazing absentmindedly at the Golden Tree. Startled by Xiaotao's call, she flinched before replying, "O-oh! I'm coming!"
With that, Xiaotao led her sworn sister away, leaving Jiang Nannan alone with Zhu Ziyang at last.
She wasted no time. Pouting, she threw herself into his arms.
"Brother, you owe me!" she said in a spoiled tone.
"Alright, what kind of compensation do you want?" Zhu Ziyang asked helplessly, holding her close.
"I don't know!" Nannan raised her head, her beautiful eyes clouded with uncertainty. "I want you to stay away from Sister Xiaotao, but I know you can't. So… I don't know what to ask for."
"..." Zhu Ziyang fell silent, guilt flashing across his face as he looked at her flawless beauty. "I'm sorry, Nannan."
"Hmph! You playboy!" Nannan huffed, pressing her cheek against his chest. "Don't think I'll give in so easily!"
Then, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, she bit lightly at his shoulder. Her mock ferocity only made her appear all the more alluring.
Though it couldn't harm his body, the act struck straight at Zhu Ziyang's heart. Without another word, he scooped her up and vanished from the spot in an instant.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are 40 early chapters available on Patreo
[email protected]/facficmax10