Don't you like it, Senior?

One day.

Shrek Academy, Mimic Forest.

Lu Lin still really liked coming here to cultivate. As a plant-type soul master, his martial soul possessed a faint life attribute.

The environment here greatly benefited his cultivation.

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves.

Normally, Lu Lin came alone, but today was different.

A girl named Xu Yaoyao sat quietly in the distance, holding a book and flipping through it with lowered eyes, not cultivating.

Occasionally, she brushed aside a stray strand of hair from her ear, glanced in Lu Lin's direction, and then gently shifted her gaze away.

The girl's features were picturesque, exuding a sense of tranquil beauty.

It had to be said, this scene was quite pleasing to the eye.

But Lu Lin felt like he was going crazy!

Why was this Xu Yaoyao like a stubborn stain, impossible to get rid of!

Logically speaking, after so many days, Xu Yaoyao should know his true identity and know that he was just a newly enrolled freshman.

Xu Yaoyao, as a princess of the Star Luo Empire, was being coaxed into calling a freshman, who was a year younger than her, "senior."

According to normal logic.

If Xu Yaoyao wasn't enraged, she should at least feel disgusted towards Lu Lin for being toyed with, and at the very least, absolutely not want to interact with him anymore.

But Xu Yaoyao acted as if she knew nothing about it.

Ever since they met that day, whenever Lu Lin came to the Mimic Forest, Xu Yaoyao would definitely appear here.

Like an NPC!

Not only that, every time Lu Lin went to the cafeteria to eat, Xu Yaoyao would also come over and sit with him.

Thanks to Xu Yaoyao.

Lu Lin's reputation in the outer court was growing larger and larger—before this, no one had ever heard of Xu Yaoyao being so close to any boy.

But Lu Lin just wanted to cultivate in peace!

And what was a soul master with a Star Crown Martial Soul doing in the Mimic Forest anyway??

Lu Lin truly couldn't understand what kind of little pill Xu Yaoyao was brewing in her gourd.

As Lu Lin was grumbling to himself, he saw Xu Yaoyao close her book and gracefully walk towards him.

"Senior, how was your cultivation progress today?"

Lu Lin's mouth twitched, and he said helplessly, "Princess Yaoyao, what exactly do you want?"

Xu Yaoyao tilted her head, her beautiful autumn-water eyes flickering:

"I don't want anything. Is there something Senior wants to do to Yaoyao?"

"..."

This drama queen.

Lu Lin gritted his teeth. He didn't believe Xu Yaoyao couldn't find out that he was just a freshman.

"Oh right, didn't Xiao Lingchen challenge you to a soul duel, Senior? Aren't you planning to go?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Lin retorted:

"Just because he challenged me, does that mean I have to go? The academy doesn't have such a rule."

Xiao Lingchen was the student in his second year who wanted to duel Lu Lin.

From Qin He, he learned that this Xiao Lingchen was one of Xu Yaoyao's simps.

After these few days of being so close to Xu Yaoyao, it was certain that her pursuers would be unhappy, but Lu Lin naturally didn't care.

The problem, however, was that his life, which had been as calm as stagnant water, had been disrupted.

Lu Lin's imagined scenario was that Xu Yaoyao, feeling teased by him, would arrange for her simp to teach him a lesson to vent her anger.

It was just a soul duel anyway, no one would die.

At worst, Lu Lin would just pretend to lose.

As long as Xu Yaoyao stayed far away from him, Lu Lin felt this sacrifice was a minor issue.

But the current situation was that Xiao Lingchen came to find him entirely on his own initiative, and had nothing to do with Xu Yaoyao!

The difference here was huge.

Xu Yaoyao hadn't expected Lu Lin to say that. She blinked and said, "If Senior doesn't accept the challenge, won't people gossip that..."

Lu Lin said helplessly:

"Princess Yaoyao, I'm wondering, is it possible that you have something to do with the cause of all this?"

"What does that have to do with Yaoyao?"

The young girl blinked, her expression utterly innocent.

"Xiao Lingchen said that if I lost to him, I would have to disappear from Princess Yaoyao's sight."

Lu Lin smiled as he looked at Xu Yaoyao, speaking word by word.

Upon hearing this, the young girl's eyes curved into crescents, and she flashed a toothy smile, "Is that so? Then Senior can't lose."

Lu Lin sighed, "Princess Yaoyao, it was wrong of me to deceive you earlier. I apologize.

So, from now on... can you not get so close to me?"

"Otherwise, a situation like Xiao Lingchen's will surely never end."

"Huh? What did Senior deceive me about?"

Lu Lin's mouth twitched. For some reason, hearing Xu Yaoyao call him 'Senior' now made him feel creeped out.

He had truly brought this upon himself.

But with Xu Yaoyao clinging to him like this, he had no choice.

Was he going to stop cultivating in the Mimic Forest from now on?

Seeing Lu Lin remain silent, Xu Yaoyao smiled slightly:

"Doesn't Senior really like hearing Yaoyao call him that?"

"Mm, Senior, don't lose to Xiao Lingchen. Yaoyao is really looking forward to Senior's performance."

After saying this, Xu Yaoyao turned around and left.

Lu Lin, helpless, also took a step and followed.

Outside the Mimic Forest.

Qin He, wearing the outer academy uniform and with a handsome appearance, was waiting for Lu Lin.

But Lu Lin was taking too long to come out, and Qin He was pacing back and forth like an ant on a hot pan, anxious.

This was because Xiao Lingchen was already waiting for Lu Lin in the academy's Soul Fighting Arena area.

Yet, Lu Lin, the protagonist, wasn't in a hurry and even had the leisure to cultivate in the Mimic Forest?

Qin He was speechless.

Not long after, he saw Lu Lin, dressed in a green robe, walking out of the main gate at a leisurely pace.

His eyes lit up, and just as he was about to walk over, his steps uncontrollably halted.

His face was filled with immense surprise, because behind Lu Lin was none other than Xu Yaoyao.

Xu Yaoyao came out behind Lu Lin and naturally saw Qin He.

But she didn't say anything, cast a faint glance at Qin He, and left directly.

After Xu Yaoyao had walked far away, Qin He then approached Lu Lin:

"Ahem, that, Lu Lin, do you think Xu Yaoyao is interested in you?"

Lu Lin shot Qin He a glare and said irritably:

"No way."

Qin He scratched his head, his expression somewhat meaningful.

I see you don't understand at all.

Qin He slapped his head, remembering the main business:

"Let's not talk about this for now. Is Xiao Lingchen already waiting for you in the Soul Fighting area?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Lin became even more annoyed: "I didn't even agree. Why is he waiting for me there?"

Yesterday, after Lu Lin had read the challenge letter sent by Xiao Lingchen, he had simply thrown it away.

Because the content of the challenge letter was very formal, and it was almost a 'loser eats dirt' situation, where the losing party would disappear from Xu Yaoyao's sight.

This was clearly the act of a sycophant, not someone coming to vent Xu Yaoyao's anger.

Lu Lin was naturally not interested and hadn't even replied to Xiao Lingchen.

As a result, Xiao He told him that Xiao Lingchen was already waiting for him in the Soul Fighting area.

What kind of nonsense is this, Lu Lin looked up at the sky speechlessly.

"Then let's go. Help me lead the way."

Lu Lin said weakly, looking at Qin He.

Qin He patted his chest, grabbed Lu Lin, and started walking, not forgetting to relay the information he had gathered to Lu Lin:

"Lu Lin, that Xiao Lingchen is a two-ring Soul Grand Master. His Martial Soul is a Tool Martial Soul called the Azure Rainbow Sword, considered an assault-type. He's in the same class as Xu Yaoyao and has been pursuing her for some time."

But Xu Yaoyao didn't even spare him a glance.

Honestly, Lu Lin had some admiration for Qin He.

In such a short time, Qin He had already figured out the other person's martial soul and level.

But... only a Rank 2?

Lu Lin fell into thought.