"Sister~"
Shui Yue'er flicked her tongue playfully against her white teeth, a grin spreading across her face.
"Don't even think about it!" Shui Bing'er snapped before Yue'er could say another word. She already knew that mischievous spark in her little sister's eyes meant trouble.
"Sister, I didn't even say anything," Yue'er said innocently, her smile turning sly. Her bright eyes gleamed with mischief.
See? Totally guilty.
"I just chatted with Lu Yuan for a while yesterday," Bing'er said in a deliberately casual tone. "That's all. Nothing else."
Her voice was calm, but her words carried carefully—just loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. She wasn't hiding anything, and she wanted certain gossip-hungry people to know it.
"Fine, fine. Can't I believe you?" Yue'er nodded gravely, face full of exaggerated seriousness.
"You—!" Bing'er clenched her teeth, fury flashing in her blue eyes.
This little brat!
"Sister, why don't you just let Lu Yuan come with us to Shrek Academy?" Yue'er continued, linking her arm through Bing'er's with a teasing grin.
"This is official academy business," Bing'er said firmly. "Lu Yuan has history with Shrek. If he comes, it'll just make things complicated."
"Wow~ So if it were your personal business, you'd ask him for help?" Yue'er sang, the corners of her mouth curling into a wicked smile.
"Bad girl! You're asking for it today!" Bing'er's patience finally snapped.
"Ah—! Sis, don't—ah! It hurts!"
"Then stop running your mouth!"
Their usual bickering echoed through the halls—Yue'er darting away like a mischievous butterfly, Bing'er chasing her around and swearing she'd actually "teach her a lesson this time."
A few meters away, Feng Xiaotian, Huo Wu, and several others were watching, trying their best not to laugh.
"See that? Totally guilty," Huo Wu whispered. "You can tell she's hiding something by how flustered she gets."
"Then why doesn't she just go off with Lu Yuan, huh?"
"You think she doesn't want to?" one muttered. "She's deputy dean of Tianshui now. She can't just run off."
They all exchanged knowing looks but kept quiet, leaving the sisters' chase-and-scold routine to fill the courtyard with noisy laughter.
Shrek Academy – Dean's Office
"These students aren't bad at all!" Zhao Wuji said approvingly, flipping through the stack of new student files in front of him.
Across the desk, Flender leaned closer, eyes shining as he scanned the pages. "That Martial Soul—Rhino kid looks promising! Lots of potential," he said with a rare grin.
For the first time in years, the old owl felt Shrek Academy pulsing with life again.
"Dean, they're good," Ma Hongjun said lazily, lounging in Flender's chair with a cup of tea in hand, "but none of them are as good as me and Boss Dai were in our day."
"You little brat!" Flender barked. "You brag all day but can't even show up to teach! When's the last time you led your students in combat training?"
When Ma Hongjun, Dai Mubai, and Oscar first joined as instructors, Flender had been beyond proud. Only later did he realize they'd also become his biggest headaches.
"Aw, Dean, even heroes need vacation days," Hongjun laughed, waving his hand dismissively. "Oscar's covering theory classes anyway."
"Fatty, you up for a game?" came a familiar voice from outside the office.
"Game?" Hongjun perked up instantly.
Dai Mubai leaned in through the doorway, mouthing silently but clearly: Girls.
Ma Hongjun's face lit up. "Wait for me!"
A knowing smirk passed between them—a code only brothers like them understood—and within seconds, both were gone.
"What on earth are those two up to now?" Zhao Wuji sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"They looked half-dead a minute ago," Flender groaned. "Now they're full of energy."
Zhao Wuji could only shrug. "That's just them."
Flender exhaled and straightened his glasses. His tone turned serious. "Anyway, any news from Xiao Gang?"
Zhao Wuji's expression darkened. "None. We searched Heaven Dou City, even traveled to Soto City. Not a single trace."
The silence hung heavy between them. Neither dared to voice what they both feared.
"I just wish I could tell him…" Flender murmured, staring out the window. "Shrek Academy is finally rising again."
Two dozen new students, full dorms, vibrant classes—the academy finally had its pulse back.
Just then—
Knock, knock, knock.
"Dean," Li Yusong's voice came from outside. "The representatives from the Four Elements Academies are here."
Flender blinked. "The Four Elements?" His brow furrowed. "What could they want now?"
He'd barely begun to enjoy this rare peace—now trouble was probably on the doorstep again.
"Come on, Wuji," he said grimly, striding out. "Let's see what they're here for."
Soul Beast Forest
Tonk… tonk… tonk… ha!
Lu Yuan exhaled sharply and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
What a mess.
Bing'er had stayed behind to handle Tianshui Academy matters. Yan Yan had been taken away by Dugu Bo for exclusive training. And just like that, his once five-person team had dwindled to three.
He sighed internally. "What a pain…"
"Lu Yuan, where are we right now?" Xue Ke asked, her eyes full of curiosity. Growing up in luxury behind palace walls, every tree and every odd sound fascinated her.
"This," he replied, cutting through thick undergrowth with casual sweeps of his soul power, "is the Soul Beast Forest."
"The Soul Beast Forest…?" she repeated in awe. "Didn't you say we were heading toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Then why—"
"This is a shortcut," Zhu Zhuqing said calmly, walking beside Lu Yuan.
"A shortcut?" Xue Ke hurried to keep up, nearly tripping over a root. "You could've warned me first!"
She stumbled again, but curiosity outweighed her fear as she scanned their surroundings with bright eyes.
Because of her, though, their pace slowed considerably. By the time dusk fell, the forest was cloaked in deep shadows.
The night air turned cold, biting through their clothes. Xue Ke shivered and pressed against Lu Yuan's arm. "Lu Yuan, I'm freezing. Hold me."
He chuckled softly. "If you're cold, drink this. It'll warm you up."
He uncorked a small clay jar and handed it to her.
"Not again," she groaned. "You've gotten me drunk three times this week already. I'm starting to forget what being sober feels like!"
"Then stop whining and drink," he teased.
Instead of taking it, she huddled even closer to him, resting her head lightly against his chest. "Just let me stay like this," she murmured.
A faint, helpless smile tugged at his lips—but suddenly, he froze.
His spirit sense sharpened. Faint footsteps. Swift. Approaching from the north.
Someone was coming.
"Lu Yuan, what's wrong?" Zhu Zhuqing asked, already tense. Her usually calm eyes turned alert.
He didn't answer right away. A faint pink glow shimmered through the trees ahead.
Moments later, a familiar silhouette appeared among the shadows.
Lu Yuan's expression shifted into a smile. "Well, well… look what the forest dragged in—the little rabbit herself."
"Uh…" Xiao Wu hesitated, her tone shy yet cheerful. "I came to see Lu Xiaoyu."
She'd tried to stay hidden within the Star Dou Great Forest, but after wandering for years—and after absorbing the rare flower Lu Yuan had given her—she couldn't resist. Her instincts, her heart, had led her back to him.
Lu Yuan blinked. "You came all this way just for that?"
Her eyes dropped to the ground, voice soft as a whisper. "I… I just wanted to see you."
"Xiao Wu?" Zhu Zhuqing's usually composed tone cracked with surprise.
If Lu Yuan hadn't called her "little rabbit," Zhu Zhuqing might not have recognized her at all. Xiao Wu had matured—her figure graceful, her aura stronger, yet her eyes still carried that familiar sweetness.
"Zhuqing! It's been so long!" Xiao Wu's voice was full of warmth as she stepped forward and hugged her.
Zhu Zhuqing hesitated for just a heartbeat before returning the embrace.
Back in their academy days, they'd shared a dorm room. After Zhu Zhuqing left, they'd lost all contact. Meeting again like this felt unreal.
"How did you find us?" Zhu Zhuqing asked once they pulled apart.
Xiao Wu smiled brightly. "Soul beast instinct. As long as you're in the forest, I can sense you anywhere."
There was no fear or hesitation in her voice now—she wasn't hiding who or what she was anymore.
Lu Yuan was about to respond, but his eyes suddenly turned sharp again. The playful warmth vanished from his face.
His focus shifted beyond Xiao Wu—deeper into the forest, where the shadows thickened unnaturally.
Someone else was there.
And unlike Xiao Wu, they weren't walking openly.
They were sneaking.
Lu Yuan's spirit power stirred, swirling faintly around him as a cold, confident smile curved his lips.
"Which bastard," he murmured softly, "thinks they can sneak up on me?"
--
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