The Little Hand Isn't Clean

After returning to the academy, Tang San and Oscar lay on their beds, reflecting on the day's events. They felt an inexplicable sense of unease, though they couldn't pinpoint the cause. Just as the two were tossing and turning, unable to sleep, a knock suddenly came at the door.

"Who is it?"

Tang San sat up and asked.

"It's me, Lie."

"Lie? It's so late, is something the matter?"

Tang San opened the door in confusion, only to find Feng Xinglie holding a large wooden barrel about a meter high in each hand, filled with steaming hot water.

"It was my fault for being too heavy-handed with our classmates today. I reflected on it after returning, and I decided to do what I could to make amends. I don't have many skills, so I thought I'd start by preparing some bathwater for everyone to help relieve the fatigue."

"Xiao Lie, look at you, you're being far too polite!"

Hearing that there was a hot bath to be had, Oscar immediately bounced off his bed and ran to the door.

"Come, come, don't just stand outside. Just put the barrels here!"

After a whole day of turmoil, both of them were physically and mentally exhausted. Now, lying comfortably in the hot water, they felt as if their entire bodies were melting, and the previous sense of irritability vanished along with the steam. Just as the two were enjoying themselves, a savory aroma suddenly drifted into their noses.

"The training pressure at Shrek Academy is high, and the food is relatively simple. Everyone is tired today, so have some late-night snacks to replenish your strength."

Feng Xinglie walked in carrying two bags of delicacies and thoughtfully placed a table between their wash barrels so they could easily reach the food.

"The towels are here, and I've folded your clothes as well. Get some good rest tonight, and let's make a fresh start to our campus life tomorrow."

"Brother! What are you saying? That little matter is long past. From now on, anyone who dares to bring it up again is going against me, Oscar!"

Swallowing a mouthful of grilled skewers, Oscar patted his chest in assurance. Even Tang San nodded in agreement.

"That's right. Since you have sincerely repented, let's consider this matter closed. There is a long time ahead of us at the academy, and you deserve a second chance."

Smiling and waving at the two, Feng Xinglie offered a few simple words before leaving their room, closing the door behind him on his way out. The moment the door was fully shut, the smile on his face faded like spring snow, and he reached out to gently stroke his Storage Soul Tool.

"The items are in hand; it was even easier than expected."

Inside, two letters lay quietly, both stolen from the Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlight Night while he was helping Tang San organize his clothes. One was from Yu Xiaogang, containing nothing more than teaching materials. The other was a handwritten letter from Tang Hao, which Tang San had received when he first returned to Holy Soul Village on holiday after attending the junior Soul Master Academy—the letter where Tang Hao informed him of his departure.

"Heh, I really look forward to what the future holds..."

Replaying the plan in his mind, a smile returned to Feng Xinglie's face. He strode off toward his own room.

The next day, the group gathered on the playground as usual, though Dai Mubai was missing. Because he had been severely injured by Feng Xinglie's strike, he still needed to rest and recover despite having received treatment.

"Dean, I've broken through to level thirty!"

As soon as class began, Oscar, who had been responsible for looking after Dai Mubai, came running over excitedly. The clouds that had been hanging over Flender's face instantly gave way to a smile.

"Well done, Oscar! You are worthy of being my student; I congratulate you on behalf of the academy!"

After some congratulations from the group, Flender immediately decided that everyone should return to prepare, and tomorrow, Zhao Wuji would lead the team to the Star Dou Forest to hunt for a soul ring. However, the subsequent desensitization training with Oscar's Great Sausage hit a snag. Faced with the scene of Oscar staring intently at the three beauties and reciting, "I have a Great Sausage, I have a Small Sausage!" with a lecherous expression, Zhuqing had already eaten one due to Feng Xinglie's influence, so she consumed it quite easily. But Ning Rongrong, also influenced by Feng Xinglie, had not suffered much of a blow to her self-esteem. Now that her young lady's temper had flared, she stubbornly refused to eat the sausage created by Oscar's lecherous incantation.

"Ning Rongrong! If you refuse to accept my training, then leave Shrek!"

Faced with the fuming Flender, Ning Rongrong merely glanced at him with disdain.

"I must say, you keep repeating the same lines. Do you have no other methods besides expulsion?"

The same trick rarely works a second time. Especially since Ning Rongrong had discovered that Flender couldn't bear to lose a direct descendant of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she simply adopted an attitude of complete indifference.

"Fine, fine, fine! Since you don't hold me, your principal, in any regard... Feng Xinglie, go and throw Ning Rongrong's luggage outside the academy!"

Not daring to actually lay a hand on Ning Rongrong, Flender simply shifted the trouble onto Feng Xinglie, treating it as a way to exact a bit of interest for the injured Dai Mubai. To his surprise, Feng Xinglie smiled and made a gesture of invitation toward Ning Rongrong.

"Let's go, Rongrong, I'll help you pack your luggage."

"Alright. And once you're done, you can bring me back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect while you're at it. I'll introduce you to my father and my two grandfathers."

Seeing the two of them walking toward the dormitory chatting and laughing, Flender's mouth hung open wide enough to fit a durian. Wait, since when did you two get so close? After hesitating for a long time and touching the letter from Ning Fengzhi in his pocket, Flender ultimately couldn't bear to let go of such a promising talent. After all, if they wanted to participate in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament in the future, it would be extremely difficult without a top-tier support martial soul like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

Taking a deep breath and steeling his nerves, Flender followed them with heavy steps. After much persuasion and exhausting every argument he could think of, he finally managed to keep this "great deity" Ning Rongrong at the academy. As he left, he shot a resentful glare at Feng Xinglie; not only did the little guy not help him, but he had actually been ready to send her away without a second thought.

"Hehe, you're something else! How did you know Flender would definitely keep me?"

Once Flender was out of earshot, Ning Rongrong immediately dropped her angry act and asked with excitement and curiosity.

"It's nothing, I was just certain. Someone as outstanding as Rongrong—let alone Flender, no one would be willing to give you up."

"Hmph! That goes without saying!"

Ning Rongrong thoroughly enjoyed the flattery, lifted her little nose, and patted her chest.

"Like I said, I remember everything you've done for me. If anyone dares to bully you in the future, just use the name of my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"Alright, I was just annoyed by Flender's arrogant attitude; I'm not really after anything from you."

Compared to feigning a desire for nothing, having a common person to dislike was clearly more effective at building rapport with a girl. Upon hearing that Feng Xinglie was also annoyed with Flender, Ning Rongrong immediately began chatting excitedly, and Feng Xinglie listened patiently, adding a word or two from time to time. It wasn't until a long time had passed and Ning Rongrong's throat had grown dry that Feng Xinglie sensibly suggested he needed to prepare supplies for the trip to the Star Dou Forest and left the dormitory.