Seeing Mo Yuan's expression, the curiosity on Han Ruoruo's face instantly turned to amusement. "Haha, I was just teasing you, junior."
That was a great joke. Please don't tell it again...
Looking at Mo Yuan in front of her, Han Ruoruo said with a bright smile, "Since you were originally heading to the cafeteria, junior, I happen to know a good noodle shop in Shrek City. Would you be willing to accompany me there?"
"Hmm?"
Something was off. Very, very off.
Mo Yuan was certain he had never had the slightest interaction with Han Ruoruo before this. So why was she suddenly approaching him?
It couldn't be because she thought he was handsome, could it? That was ridiculous. His peerless talent made him seem like a succubus who could attract every faction, but he wasn't an actual succubus...
"Could you tell me why, senior?"
"Why?"
Han Ruoruo put on a thoughtful expression. Although Mo Yuan hadn't specified what he wanted a reason for, she could surely guess.
"It's simple. Who wouldn't be curious about a genius boy who's an eleven-year-old Soul Ancestor at level forty, with a thousand-year second ring and a ten-thousand-year fourth ring, who can overpower junior Xiaotao at the Soul Emperor level, and whose elemental Body Martial Soul is an innate one?"
Mo Yuan paused, his expression suddenly turning rather strange. Looking at Han Ruoruo's beaming face, he said in a faint voice,
"So you saw last night's fight, senior?"
"Of course. I wasn't the only one who saw it. Almost everyone in the Inner Court did."
"Then why didn't any of you lend a hand? You just watched me fight junior Xiaotao while she was out of control? A Soul Ancestor fighting a Soul Emperor—is that reasonable? Weren't you worried someone might get killed?"
"Not at all. Lexuan, Wu Ming, and I were already preparing to step in, but Dean Yan stopped us. He said he wanted to see just how strong you really were."
A strange smile suddenly appeared on Mo Yuan's face. He slowly turned his head, his gaze passing over one building after another before settling on the distant edge of Sea God Lake, barely visible in the distance.
"Fine, fine, fine... Dean Yan, looks like I still didn't charge you enough. Next time I give you a taste of 'so satisfying,' you'll behave..."
"What are you talking about, junior? What do you mean by 'so satisfying'?"
"Nothing." Mo Yuan shook his head, considering whether he should agree to Han Ruoruo's request. After a while, he looked up at her as she quietly waited for him to decide.
"No problem. Since it's your request, senior, I have no reason to refuse."
This was Shrek Academy, and Han Ruoruo wasn't a bad person in the Original Work. On top of that, she was exceptionally beautiful. Mo Yuan had no reason to refuse her.
Seeing that Mo Yuan had agreed, Han Ruoruo's face lit up with a captivating smile.
"Let's go! Your senior's treating you to dinner!"
Watching the beautiful figure walking ahead of him, Mo Yuan smiled and shook his head slightly before following her. Who would've thought Han Ruoruo was so lively...
The two walked side by side along the Academy's road toward Shrek City. Their looks and bearing,
as well as the red uniform that marked Han Ruoruo as an Inner Court student, made Outer Court students passing by stop and give them a long, earnest look.
The students couldn't help wondering what kind of relationship Mo Yuan, wearing a first-year student's uniform, had with Han Ruoruo.
Shrek Outer Court wasn't far from Shrek City. After Mo Yuan and Han Ruoruo walked the same route he had taken the day before, the city came into view.
In terms of prosperity, Shrek City was among the very best across the Douluo Continent. Shrek Academy had independent governing authority over the city
and paid no taxes to any country. That alone was enough to make countless shops flock there.
By then, night had completely fallen. A brilliant canopy of stars filled the sky, and as the city's lights came on, the ancient city of Shrek, which had stood for ten thousand years, was illuminated.
At night, the city streets teemed with vendors selling all sorts of goods. The dazzling array of wares drew a surging crowd.
"Steamed buns! Four for one silver coin!"
"Fragrant Wing Rice! Tender chicken and plump grains of rice! Shrek students all love it!"
"Tianhai Soy Sauce—delicious and savory! Sun-dried for a full 180 days!"
The streets rang with hawkers calling out their wares. Many Outer Court students in uniforms of various colors also wandered about. The Academy didn't restrict students' freedom to come and go, so they could head out after class.
Unlike his first trip to Shrek City the day before, when Mo Yuan had needed to use Dragon's Might to clear a path, the students and passersby crowding around them all moved aside of their own accord when they saw Han Ruoruo's Inner Court uniform.
At Shrek Academy and throughout Shrek City, the Inner Court represented the pinnacle of status—and the pinnacle of strength.
Han Ruoruo wasn't arrogant, and she responded with a smile to every tentative greeting from an Outer Court student.
Her humble, friendly manner left them flattered and honored. They secretly vowed to do everything they could to get into the Inner Court.
With the students making way for them, Han Ruoruo and Mo Yuan didn't have to waste time clearing a path. Before long, she led him to a simply decorated noodle shop.
"Junior, this is the noodle shop I recommended. The decor's a little plain, but the food is definitely good."
"A Nuo Noodle Shop?" Mo Yuan looked at the sign above the entrance, and a question suddenly occurred to him.
Did the owner of this noodle shop have a pointy head?
Still wondering about that, Mo Yuan followed Han Ruoruo inside.
The shop was small but very clean. Through the glass kitchen door, they could see an old man in an apron busily cooking noodles.
There were four square tables inside, with enough seating for a little over ten people. Three tables were occupied by Outer Court students, leaving one empty.
Mo Yuan and Han Ruoruo sat at the empty table. Mo Yuan took a careful look at the old man's head in the kitchen, but alas, it wasn't pointy.
"Ruoruo, you're here! Beef noodles as usual?"
Hearing them come in, the old man hurried out of the kitchen. When he saw Han Ruoruo, his face immediately turned kind and warm. Judging by the look of things, he had known her for a long time.
"Grandpa Hu, the usual," Han Ruoruo replied with a smile and a nod.
"Good, good. I'll get right to it," the old man said with a kind smile. Only then did he notice Mo Yuan sitting across from Han Ruoruo.
The old man clearly froze when he saw Mo Yuan, then asked in surprise, "A boy? Ruoruo, have you got yourself a boyfriend?"
At that, Mo Yuan and Han Ruoruo looked at each other.
But Han Ruoruo was still an innocent young woman who had never been in love. A shy blush rose on her pretty face as she tried to sound composed.
"No, Grandpa Hu. He's a junior of mine."
"Right, just an ordinary junior," Mo Yuan chimed in.
"Hehe, yes, yes, just an ordinary junior." Seeing the blush on Han Ruoruo's face, the old man chuckled heartily, clearly misunderstanding something.
Mo Yuan couldn't be bothered to explain. He lived for himself, not for other people. As long as a misunderstanding didn't affect him, he wouldn't concern himself with it.
Unfortunately, Mo Yuan didn't realize that his failure to explain further gave the old man and Han Ruoruo very different ideas.
Before you continue