Too Soon to Have Light in His Eyes

Chapter 30: Light in His Eyes—Too Soon

Although Wang Yan's movements were very subtle.

Chen Ping still keenly noticed the detail of Teacher Wang stroking his Storage Ring.

Chen Ping certainly couldn't be considered particularly smooth in social dealings, but he was still worldly-wise.

With only a glance from the corner of his eye, he knew that Wang Yan was checking whether he had enough money on hand to pay for the meal.

Why?

Because whenever Chen Ping went to buy something, he often anxiously stroked his own Storage Ring in the same way.

Wang Yan was a pure scholar-type Soul Master to begin with. His avenues for making money were narrow, and he wasn't a Soul Engineer either. It was perfectly normal for him to be short on cash.

Other combat-type Soul Masters could take private jobs, while Soul Engineers could sell Soul Tools. Wang Yan, however, really did live solely on his salary.

Still, judging by the date, Chen Ping could guess that these two days were probably when Shrek was disbursing its expenses.

Given Wang Yan's current situation, his salary probably hadn't been paid yet.

Regardless of whether Wang Yan had enough money on hand for a single meal, Chen Ping couldn't possibly let him spend money at a time like this.

"Teacher Wang, I heard that the food in our academy cafeteria is excellent. But there are still two months before next year's enrollment. Could you take me to the cafeteria for a meal first?"

Chen Ping spoke somewhat awkwardly, a hint of yearning in his eyes, as if he held endless admiration for everything related to Shrek.

Even Chen Ping himself wanted to give his performance a ninety-five.

But Bei Bei, Tang Ya, and Wang Yan all wore awkward expressions at the same time.

It had appeared! That familiar look of yearning for everything related to Shrek!

Bei Bei had once had that look in his eyes. Tang Ya had once had it too. Even Wang Yan had once worn it.

"Um, Chen Ping..."

Wang Yan awkwardly reached out and rubbed Chen Ping's head. "You don't need to save money for me. Let's eat somewhere outside. You might not know this, but our academy cafeteria—doesn't have any stools."

The yearning in Chen Ping's eyes instantly froze in mid-air.

It seemed... it seemed there really was such a thing.

Bei Bei sighed at this moment as well and came over to pat Chen Ping on the shoulder.

Disillusioned with Shrek already?

Then you'll have to be disillusioned once more when school starts. After all, Shrek's Dormitory Building was the truly heavyweight part.

Did you like the idea of boys and girls sharing our Shrek dormitory building, with four hundred people on one floor fighting over two toilets, darling?

"Alright, don't worry about whether Teacher Wang has enough money. Our academy has always paid scholars of Teacher Wang's caliber very well."

"The reason Teacher Wang dresses and lives so plainly is merely personal habit. He has little desire for material things and spends his salary on books. Come on."

Chen Ping ultimately left with Wang Yan and the others.

After leaving Shrek Academy, they had walked only a short distance before stopping in front of a restaurant called Hong Yue Restaurant.

Wang Yan had visited this restaurant quite a few times, but most of the time, he had been the one invited to eat. For example, the Grade Director would treat everyone at the end of each semester, or the academy's superiors would reward him after he achieved some result.

This was his first time paying out of his own pocket, and Wang Yan felt it was rather nice. It gave him an inexplicable, refreshing sense of extravagance.

As a restaurant in Shrek City, its prices were definitely not low. Fortunately, it catered to students, so the portions were quite generous.

The four of them sat down at a table. Wang Yan had intended to ask the three of them more about what had happened.

But whether it was Bei Bei and Tang Ya or Chen Ping, their eyes had long since gone straight. They stared at the food on the table without looking away.

Although the three of them had eaten a little on their way back from Star Dou Forest, they had just finished fighting at the time, and with their blood still pumping, they hadn't really felt hungry.

Afterward, they had taken a long detour through the Outer Region of Star Dou Forest before returning to the academy. Combined with the intense physical exertion from their battle against the Touch Dragon King, the hunger of the three soon made their stomachs rumble.

"Alright, alright, eat first. We'll talk after you're full."

Teacher Wang was as gentle as ever. He merely smiled and told the youngsters to pick up their chopsticks.

"Long live Teacher Wang!"

Tang Ya cheered. Bei Bei and Chen Ping didn't hold back either, picking up several slices of beef and stuffing them into their mouths.

The three of them proceeded to wolf down a meal.

Tang Ya was relatively well-mannered and ate more delicately, while Bei Bei and Chen Ping completely let themselves go.

Only after one of them had eaten until his belly was round and another had eaten until he was constantly belching did they finally stop.

Wang Yan secretly nodded. Being able to eat was also a talent for a Soul Master, and even more so for a Power Attack System Soul Master.

Seeing that the three of them had eaten their fill, Wang Yan finally spoke unhurriedly and asked about Chen Ping's situation.

Chen Ping suddenly belched again and was just about to answer when Bei Bei and Tang Ya began chattering away.

That worked out well enough. Chen Ping hurriedly grabbed a teapot and gulped down several cups of tea, finally putting an end to his belching.

"His Martial Soul devoured a Soul Bone and evolved?"

When Wang Yan heard the part about Chen Ping's Martial Soul Evolution from Bei Bei—

Chen Ping even had the illusion that Wang Yan's eyes were glowing.

At that moment, Wang Yan looked at him like a wolf that had been starving on a wasteland, practically emitting green light from its eyes.

After hearing the entire story from Bei Bei and Tang Ya, from the moment they encountered Chen Ping to their return to Shrek together, Wang Yan smacked his lips.

Even he had to admire Chen Ping's courage, while also feeling some heartache for him.

If he hadn't truly been driven into a corner, how many people would dare to raid the Touch Dragon King's lair without even possessing a First Soul Ring?

The reason Chen Ping hadn't come to find him immediately, but had first obtained his First Soul Ring, advanced four levels to reach level fourteen, and only then sought him out was already perfectly clear.

Although Chen Ping had come to him to get through his difficulties, he absolutely had no intention of relying on him.

Only when there was something he could never accomplish through his own efforts—such as obtaining a recommendation for admission to Shrek—would he ask Wang Yan for help.

What a proud and sensible boy.

At this moment, Wang Yan's gaze toward Chen Ping held a few more traces of approval.

As a teacher, nothing was more gratifying than raising several outstanding disciples. But the prerequisite for accomplishing that was finding good seedlings.

The look in Wang Yan's eyes as he gazed at Chen Ping was clearly the look of someone who had found a good seedling.

"There are still more than two months before the New Student enrollment. Chen Ping, how about you stay with me for now?"

Wang Yan spoke after pondering for a moment. "Don't be embarrassed. Land in Shrek City is extremely expensive. A room that costs a few Silver Coins a day outside would require several Gold Soul Coins per day inside Shrek City."

"Although my house is a Faculty Dormitory assigned by the school, fortunately, it has two bedrooms. I can give one to you."

"If you don't mind, you can move in today. As it happens, I'm very curious about your Self-Evolving Willow Staff Martial Soul. I just don't know whether you're willing to let me study it."