Zhang Lexuan!

Sea God Lake.

As Shrek Academy's most important area, Sea God Lake was enormous, occupying nearly a third of the academy. Its waters were crystal clear, and many Outer Court students gathered along its shores. From time to time, figures flew out from or into the small island at the lake's center, each appearance drawing envious cheers from the students by the shore.

Those were all Inner Court students.

Shrek Academy's Inner Court could be called the place with the most geniuses on the Douluo Continent. Every Outer Court student's ultimate goal was to enter the Inner Court and become a true member of Shrek Academy. However, admission to the Inner Court was undoubtedly very difficult. Under normal circumstances, Outer Court students had to not only meet the graduation standard of a four-ring Soul Ancestor, but also pass a battle. Only by winning could they enter the Inner Court.

However, that was only the normal route. There was another, special route: possessing talent great enough to arouse a Sea God Pavilion Elder's interest in taking them as a disciple. As long as one was accepted as a disciple by one of those elders, they would become an Inner Court student regardless of their cultivation.

Of course, such cases were extremely rare. There might be many geniuses, but there would never be more than a handful of peerless geniuses in the same generation.

Lakeside Path.

The four of them walked beside the lake. Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya walked in front, while Zhu Ziyang and Yu Beibei followed behind them.

The lake breeze was slightly cool, carrying a faintly moist scent as it gently brushed against their skin like a mother's tender caress, making them feel exceptionally comfortable.

"Ah! This is so relaxing!" Tang Ya lazily stretched her graceful body and called out languidly.

"It is. This is my first time seeing such beautiful scenery." A faint smile rested on Jiang Nannan's pretty face. Her autumn-water eyes reflected the ripples on the lake as she spoke softly.

Zhu Ziyang and Yu Beibei walked behind them, quietly watching the two girls ahead. Their moods were quite pleasant as well.

"Beibei?"

When the four reached the middle of Lakeside Path, someone suddenly called out to them from behind—or rather, called out to Yu Beibei.

They could not help turning around. A woman around twenty was walking toward them. Her black hair fell to her waist, and her exquisite, fair face was flawless. A faint smile rested on her lips, while her gentle and tranquil temperament made her unforgettable at first sight.

She was a very gentle woman.

That was the shared thought of Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, and Tang Ya. Yet after this woman appeared, Yu Beibei became noticeably awkward. Although he tried to hide it, Zhu Ziyang, with his keen powers of observation, and Tang Ya, who knew Yu Beibei extremely well, both noticed.

Beibei knew this woman!

They realized it.

"Sister Lexuan!" Yu Beibei's reaction confirmed their thoughts. His voice was full of delight and surprise, and a rare trace of filial affection flashed across his handsome face.

Tang Ya's expression changed at once, because Beibei had never mentioned this Sister Lexuan to her. Although Tang Ya was confident in her looks, facing Zhang Lexuan, this mature and gentle older sister who clearly shared a close relationship with Yu Beibei, she still felt a sense of crisis.

When Zhu Ziyang heard Yu Beibei's form of address, his heart stirred as well, and a name surfaced in his mind.

Senior Sister Zhang Lexuan!

Among the few fragments of The Unrivaled Tang Sect from his past-life memories, there was one in which Zhang Lexuan's name had appeared. She was the Senior Sister of Shrek Academy's Inner Court.

This woman before them should be the Zhang Lexuan mentioned in the book, right? It seemed there was a story between her and Yu Beibei!

Zhu Ziyang could not help revealing an amused smile.

"When did you arrive?" Sister Lexuan walked up to them, glanced at Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, and Tang Ya, then spoke to Yu Beibei. Her tone was gentle, like an elder sister caring for her younger brother, yet it faintly carried the concern of a wife for her husband.

"I arrived yesterday." Yu Beibei looked at Sister Lexuan happily and answered, "Sister Lexuan, why did you have time to come to the Outer Court?"

"I came out to take care of something. Are they your classmates?" Sister Lexuan answered vaguely. Naturally, she could not say that she had come specifically to find him. Yet her eyes shifted toward Zhu Ziyang and the other two, lingering for a moment on Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan. "Hello, I'm Beibei's sister."

When Yu Beibei heard Sister Lexuan taking an interest in Tang Ya and the others, he smiled and said, "Yes, Sister Lexuan. This is Zhu Ziyang, and this is Jiang Nannan, Zhu Ziyang's childhood sweetheart. And this is Tang Ya—I think you've probably heard of her. Everyone, this is my sister, Zhang Lexuan. She's an Inner Court student of Shrek Academy! Sister Lexuan raised me from when I was little."

Yu Beibei sounded a little shy when introducing Tang Ya, while his final sentence was clearly meant for Tang Ya's benefit. Yu Beibei's instincts were still quite sharp.

Listening to Yu Beibei's introductions, Zhang Lexuan smiled and nodded to Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan. "Hello."

"Hello," Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan said in unison.

Zhu Ziyang calmly studied her, his thoughts churning within, while Jiang Nannan's gaze toward Zhang Lexuan carried an inexplicable hint of closeness that even she herself could not understand.

When Zhang Lexuan looked at Tang Ya, a ripple finally appeared in her calm, waterlike gaze. "You must be Xiaoya. Hello."

"Hello!" Tang Ya replied. Looking at this gentle-tempered woman, she felt a trace of unease. It was still for the same reason—Beibei had never told her that he had an older sister! Moreover, she could clearly sense that this sister's attitude toward Beibei seemed somewhat strange. It was a woman's intuition!

"Beibei, catch up with your sister first. Nannan and I will go take a look ahead." Tang Ya felt somewhat uncomfortable and spoke up. Then she pulled Jiang Nannan away with her.

Jiang Nannan was suddenly dragged off and felt rather baffled, so she could only look toward Zhu Ziyang. Naturally, Zhu Ziyang was not going to stay here, so he followed the two girls.

"Xiaoya?" Seeing Tang Ya suddenly leave, Yu Beibei was immediately confused. He no longer cared to speak with Zhang Lexuan, leaving only, "Sister Lexuan, I'll come find you when I have time. Bye for now!" before hurriedly chasing after Tang Ya.

Zhang Lexuan stood there blankly. Watching Yu Beibei catch up to Tang Ya with a nervous expression, she did not know why, but her heart became a mess. There was pain, joy, confusion, and countless indescribable sorrows. Before she realized it, a cool tear slid down her smooth cheek.

When Zhu Ziyang happened to look back, he found that Zhang Lexuan had already disappeared.

After that interruption, Tang Ya no longer had any interest in wandering around. She took Jiang Nannan back to the Dormitory. Although Jiang Nannan wanted to continue strolling by the lake with Zhu Ziyang, seeing Tang Ya's low spirits made her unable to bear it. After all, Tang Ya was the first female friend her age that she had met, so she could only say goodbye to Zhu Ziyang.

Naturally, Zhu Ziyang did not object. Jiang Nannan was not his possession. As a living person with emotions, she needed one or two friends her own age. In Anyang City, because her talent had been too outstanding, girls her age had been unwilling to approach Jiang Nannan, leaving Zhu Ziyang as the only peer she knew. Now that they had arrived at Shrek Academy, Zhu Ziyang naturally hoped she could make one or two close friends. Tang Ya, as her roommate, was a very suitable choice, whether because of her identity or some of Zhu Ziyang's own considerations.

The girls soon left. Zhu Ziyang and Beibei, two grown men, naturally had no interest in touring the lake hand in hand, so they returned to the Dormitory as well.

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