"Lunatic," Shi Yu muttered as he glanced at Xu Sanshi, cursing inwardly.
He had been warned countless times, but what good had it done?If he wanted to be close to Jiang Nannan, he would be. Why should he distance himself just because Xu Sanshi said so?
In fact, that so-called warning only made him want to get closer—just to spite Xu Sanshi.
You told me to stay away? Fine, I'll do the opposite. Why should I listen to you?
Xu Sanshi was so furious he looked like he was about to hit someone, but under Zhang Lexuan's sharp gaze, the fire in his chest was quickly extinguished.
"Just you wait," Xu Sanshi snarled, glaring at Shi Yu. He had added yet another grudge to the list.
Shi Yu and Jiang Nannan sat together, chatting every now and then, laughter rising from time to time.
On one side, Xu Sanshi sulked alone, while Zhang Lexuan stayed on the other, keeping watch over Beibei so he could absorb his soul ring in peace.
During the process, several soul beasts approached, drawn by the scent of blood—but the moment Zhang Lexuan released a bit of her aura, they turned and fled in fear.
As night fell, the Star Dou Great Forest became even more dangerous. The distant howls of wolves and the roars of tigers echoed through the trees, mingling with the occasional screech of unknown beasts.
The group instinctively drew closer to Zhang Lexuan for safety.
Eventually, Beibei completed his soul ring absorption and slowly opened his eyes. The joy in them was unmistakable.
"How do you feel?" The first to speak wasn't his close friend Xu Sanshi—but Zhang Lexuan.
Seeing the concern in her eyes, Beibei seemed a little awkward. He deliberately distanced himself and replied curtly, "It's fine."
Zhang Lexuan's expression dimmed slightly. She could tell Beibei didn't want to be close to her.
Jiang Nannan blinked in surprise at the interaction. There was definitely something going on between the two of them.
But Shi Yu wasn't surprised. He had already figured out their complicated relationship.
Such unfortunate fate… he thought, feeling a twinge of sympathy for Zhang Lexuan.
Although they hadn't spent much time together, he had grown to appreciate her. It wasn't romantic—it was a kind of respectful admiration.
She had a cold aura, but there was warmth under the surface. Her beauty, strength, and talent left a deep impression. She was someone hard not to admire.
Such a remarkable woman, yet tied to an emotionless man because of a childhood promise.Maybe she didn't even truly love Beibei—just clung stubbornly to a vow from the past, willing to be unhappy for the rest of her life just to honor it.
From the outside, it was simply tragic.Sometimes, placing too much value on promises could do more harm than good.
"We need to find another place to rest," Zhang Lexuan said. "The blood here will keep attracting soul beasts. It's not safe to stay overnight."
The group packed up and moved on, eventually finding a safer spot to camp.
Two tents were set up: one for Zhang Lexuan and Jiang Nannan, the other for Shi Yu, Beibei, and Xu Sanshi.
Shi Yu felt a bit awkward. Sharing a tent with those two? He feared they might smother him with a blanket in the middle of the night and give him a beating.
He wasn't strong enough to fight back, and he couldn't exactly complain to Zhang Lexuan either. That would be embarrassing.
"I'll take the night watch," Shi Yu offered quickly. He figured he could survive one night outside—he didn't even have a tent or a blanket anyway.
Zhang Lexuan, noticing his situation, thought for a moment before suggesting,"If Jiang Nannan agrees, you can share her tent. I have higher cultivation; I can meditate outside just fine."
Shi Yu was only a level-20 quasi–Soul Master. Staying up all night might be manageable once, but they didn't know how long they'd be in the forest.If he kept this up for days, his body would collapse.
Still, staying in the same tent as Beibei and Xu Sanshi was a recipe for trouble.Xu Sanshi's jealousy might lead to... unfortunate outcomes.
Jiang Nannan blushed, looked down, and nervously twisted her fingers. She was clearly conflicted.
"No way! Absolutely not! How can they share a tent?" Xu Sanshi exploded.
Shi Yu also felt it was a bit inappropriate. He and Jiang Nannan got along well, but still—sleeping in the same tent?
But... the moment Xu Sanshi objected, he kind of wanted to do it.
It's not like I'll do anything to her, he reasoned.We've always stood close together during the day. Now we're just lying down. Nothing's really changing.
"Sister Nannan, would it be okay if I just made do in your tent?" Shi Yu asked gently. "I promise I won't do anything inappropriate."
"…Okay," Jiang Nannan whispered, her voice like a mosquito's hum. Her face turned red as an apple, and she quickly ducked into the tent.
"Thank you, Sister Nannan." Shi Yu smiled, then turned to give Xu Sanshi a smug grin as he followed.
But Xu Sanshi stepped in front of him, eyes wide and full of fury. "You're not going in. If anyone's going in, it's me! You go sleep with Beibei!"
"Xu Sanshi, if you dare set foot in this tent, I won't be polite!" came Jiang Nannan's angry voice from inside.
"Go back to your tent, Xu Sanshi," Zhang Lexuan said coldly.
"But—" Xu Sanshi opened his mouth, only to be silenced by Zhang Lexuan's icy glare.
"Let it go," Beibei said, pulling Xu Sanshi back. "Even if they share a tent, nothing will happen."
Zhang Lexuan turned to Shi Yu."I allowed this because your cultivation is low and you need proper rest. Don't overstep. The academy punishes male students who harass female students harshly—especially out here. Don't lose your head."
"Don't worry, Senior Sister," Shi Yu nodded. "I may not be a perfect gentleman, but I'm not a beast."
After bidding her goodnight, he entered the tent.
Inside, Jiang Nannan was already lying down with her eyes closed, perfectly still.
Shi Yu could tell she wasn't asleep—just pretending, probably out of embarrassment.
He didn't disturb her. Quietly, he lay down on the far side of the tent, making sure to keep his distance to avoid any awkward encounters.
After more than an hour of lying in silence, Shi Yu still couldn't fall asleep.
It was his first time sleeping in a tent—let alone in the middle of the dangerous Star Dou Forest.Even knowing Zhang Lexuan was outside guarding them didn't help much.
His nerves kept him wide awake.
Unable to stand it anymore, he softly whispered, "Sister Nannan, are you asleep?"
Jiang Nannan hadn't fallen asleep either. She was just as nervous—partly because of the forest, and partly because a boy was lying nearby.
Hearing his voice, her heart raced even faster. She overthought every possible meaning behind his words.
"…Not yet," she finally replied, her voice hesitant.
"I can't sleep," Shi Yu said gently. "I was hoping to chat a bit."
"…What do you want to talk about?" Jiang Nannan asked, trying to stay calm.
"Nothing in particular. Just small talk."
Lying on his back with his hands behind his head, Shi Yu stared at the faint moonlight filtering through the tent fabric.
"…Have you thought about what kind of soul beast you want for your fourth soul ring?" he asked, picking a random topic.