What Do You Want to Trade?

Night hung over Shrek Academy like a slab of cold black jade.

Even the insects had fallen silent. Only the wind wailed as it passed through the dilapidated wooden dormitory.

Tang San lay in bed, utterly unable to sleep.

He could clearly hear every breath around him.

Xiao Wu slept deeply, her breathing even, like a carefree kitten.

Ning Rongrong's breathing was somewhat hurried, carrying a faint, resentful snort, as though she was still angry even in her dreams.

And Zhu Zhuqing...

Tang San's ears twitched.

He could not hear Zhu Zhuqing breathing.

He quietly opened his eyes and looked toward the bed beside his through the faint moonlight filtering in from the window.

The bed was empty.

His heart suddenly tightened.

The next second, he saw her.

In the open space at the center of the dormitory, Zhu Zhuqing—the girl as cold and serene as the moon—stood with her back to him.

She seemed to be facing Lin Xi's bed.

Then, before Tang San's abruptly constricted pupils, she slowly dropped to one knee.

Her movements were slow, yet resolute.

Like a silent sacrifice.

"Senior Lin Xi."

Her voice rang out in the silent night, crisp as shattering ice.

"Please teach me how to become stronger."

Tang San's heart felt as though an invisible hand had seized it.

He held his breath.

He saw the small figure on Lin Xi's bed move.

She sat up.

Moonlight traced the calm profile of her face, and her eyes shone astonishingly bright in the darkness.

As though she had never been asleep.

Or rather, as though she never needed sleep.

"What do you want to gain from me?"

Lin Xi spoke, and there was not the slightest trace of sleepiness in her voice.

Only her usual coldness.

Zhu Zhuqing knelt on the floor, her body trembling slightly.

It was not fear, but excitement.

She knew she had gambled correctly.

"I want strength."

Her voice remained cold, but it carried a longing she could no longer suppress.

"The strength to control my own fate."

Lin Xi did not speak.

She was waiting for Zhu Zhuqing to continue.

Zhu Zhuqing took a deep breath, as though she were about to cut open all her dignity and secrets and lay them bare before this person.

"My family and Dai Mubai's family have been bound by marriage for generations."

"Each generation selects two heirs to engage in the most brutal competition."

"The winner gets everything."

"The loser..."

She paused, her voice turning somewhat hoarse.

"Dies."

"My sister and I are this generation's competitors."

"Dai Mubai and his brother are as well."

"Our fates were bound together from the moment we were born."

"If Dai Mubai loses to his brother in the final competition..."

"Then my family will ruthlessly erase me."

Tang San listened from his bed, his heart pounding in shock.

He had never imagined that beneath the glamour of the Soul Master world, such bloody and cruel rules were hidden.

What kind of nobility was this?

This was plainly raising venomous insects in a jar!

"Dai Mubai has already given up."

Zhu Zhuqing's voice revealed profound disappointment and desolation.

"He fled here, drowning himself in drink and pleasure, abandoning himself to despair."

"He cannot defeat his brother."

"So I am doomed to die."

She raised her head. There were no tears in those beautiful cat-like eyes, only flames of unwillingness.

"I don't want to die."

"I don't want my fate to be in the hands of a worthless fool."

"That is why I came to you."

"Senior, please give me strength! No matter the price, I am willing to pay it!"

Having said that, she lowered her head deeply.

The dormitory fell into dead silence once more.

After a long time.

Lin Xi's voice sounded again.

"This is between you and him."

"It has nothing to do with me."

Her voice was icy, devoid of any emotion.

Like a blade stabbing into Zhu Zhuqing's last shred of hope.

Zhu Zhuqing's body suddenly stiffened.

She slowly raised her head, and a flash of despair passed through her eyes.

Lin Xi looked at her.

"I am not a kind person."

"I do not make transactions without return."

Zhu Zhuqing froze.

A transaction?

She understood.

"I... I can give you everything!"

She said urgently.

"My loyalty, my martial soul, my life... if you need them, you can take them at any time!"

"From this day forward, I, Zhu Zhuqing, will be your sharpest blade!"

Lin Xi looked into those eyes burning with fire.

At last, she nodded.

"Very well."

"I accept your loyalty."

At her words, an expression of wild joy appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's face.

"However."

Lin Xi was not finished.

"Your martial soul belongs to you."

"Your life belongs to you as well."

"From this day onward, you will no longer be anyone's subordinate."

"You will live only for yourself."

Zhu Zhuqing was completely stunned.

She stared blankly at Lin Xi, unable to understand the meaning behind her words.

"Stand up."

Lin Xi got down from the bed.

She walked to the window and pushed it open.

The first faint light of dawn streamed in, falling over her body as though draping her in a sacred halo.

"Daybreak has come."

She turned around and looked at the people in the dormitory, some genuinely asleep and some merely pretending.

"Everyone, get up."

"The first class begins now."