But, I Refuse

"Is that so?" Bai Cai remained noncommittal, clutching Ralts tighter. "Would you be willing to hear a story from me?"

"Go ahead." Lin Yun deactivated Martial Soul Possession and sat cross-legged. The silver-white fur, icy sharp claws, and wolf tail that resembled a steel whip vanished without a trace.

"A boy awakened twin martial souls; his left hand held a hammer, his right hand held grass. His father instructed the boy to use the hammer in his left hand to protect the grass in his right, and the boy agreed."

"The boy met a girl, and they fell in love."

"Later, the girl died—she died to protect the boy..."

"For the sake of those who love me, and those I love. Although the future you describe is quite beautiful,"

Bai Cai slowly combed through Ralts' blue bangs, "I refuse."

The weather was clear, and the Sea God Lake shimmered with ripples.

Leaving the assessment area, he passed along the lakeside path and entered a vast, rectangular plaza. On the south side of the plaza, the white-painted Freshman Teaching Building reflected the scorching sunlight.

The entrance to the Freshman Teaching Building was exceptionally lively, with freshmen who had passed the assessment lining up to register.

After submitting the proof of age and soul power issued by the assessment area and paying ten Gold Soul Coins, Bai Cai successfully received his stylish spring and autumn school uniforms, a white metallic freshman badge, and a dormitory key with a room number.

"Little Yuhao, the dormitory is behind the teaching building, the largest structure in the entire academy. The new school year officially begins in three days; you can walk around and get familiar with the environment in the meantime."

"We've already paid your tuition, so you'll have to rely on yourself from now on. The academy organizes various competitions, and the prize money is quite substantial."

"Finally, once a soul master registers at Shrek Academy, they receive a monthly stipend from the three great empires. Use it sparingly, and it should be enough for meals."

The well-proportioned, ordinary-looking boy of eleven or twelve thanked them sincerely, while Tang Ya and Bei Bei waved their hands repeatedly.

"Eh, Little Brother Bai?" Tang Ya caught sight of Bai Cai, who was about to leave the Freshman Teaching Building, and exclaimed, "Over here, over here, Little Brother Bai!"

"Little Brother Bai, let me introduce you. This is Huo Yuhao, a child Bei Bei and I met in the Star Dou Great Forest." Tang Ya seemed to have grabbed a life-saving straw, constantly winking at Bei Bei.

Bei Bei took the initiative to pick up the conversation, "Yuhao, this is the child we met afterward. Come to think of it, if not for Xiao Ya's keen senses, I would have had a hard time finding Little Brother Bai's shelter."

"Indeed, Little Brother Bai's wilderness survival experience is extremely rich. I still don't know how Little Brother Bai managed to build and design that shelter in the Star Dou Great Forest, where soul beasts roam."

"Bai... are you also a freshman at Shrek Academy?" Huo Yuhao asked.

"Uniform, badge, key. Little Brother Bai is naturally a Shrek freshman." Tang Ya looked Bai Cai over carefully, looking smug. "I knew it, Little Brother Bai would definitely join Shrek."

Bei Bei felt slightly bored and, glancing unintentionally at the notice posted on the nearby bulletin board, frowned slightly. "Xiao Ya, the homeroom teacher for Freshman Class One is Zhou Yi..."

"Zhou Yi..." Tang Ya whispered in surprise.

Bai Cai, realizing it only then, fished out his freshman badge. On the metallic white badge, the four characters "Freshman Class One" were engraved in the bottom right corner.

After offering a few perfunctory words, Bai Cai made an excuse to leave.

If he weren't in the same class as Huo Yuhao, where they would see each other every day, Bai Cai wouldn't even have bothered to humor Bei Bei and Tang Ya.

Bai Cai was a total stranger to Bei Bei and Tang Ya. Furthermore, since they had trespassed into his shelter without permission, Bai Cai's favorability toward them had dropped to nearly zero.

The freshman cafeteria.

There was a row of sinks and a row of service windows. There were no tables, chairs, or drink shops; the cafeteria was empty, with only a few students present.

Bai Cai felt his coin purse; after paying the ten Gold Soul Coin tuition, the purse had shrunk by more than half.

Food, clothing, and daily expenses all cost money. The subsidies from the special enrollment program wouldn't be issued to him until the official start of the term.

He poured out the remaining Gold Soul Coins and Silver Soul Coins from his purse, noting the complete absence of Copper Soul Coins. Copper coins were low in value and heavy, making them unsuitable for long-distance travel.

"Three Gold Soul Coins, forty-one Silver Soul Coins."

Bai Cai walked to the middle window to purchase a meal. There were eight windows for purchasing food in the freshman cafeteria, arranged from left to right; the windows on the left were the most expensive, and those on the right were the cheapest.

The meal from the middle window cost eighteen Silver Soul Coins; the portion was generous, fresh, and delicious. Food from the freshman cafeteria was not allowed to be taken out, so Bai Cai finished quickly and headed toward the dormitory building.

Shrek Academy's dormitory building was located behind the teaching building. It was a single structure, but it occupied a vast area and stood six stories tall. The color scheme of the dormitory matched the teaching buildings, divided into white, yellow, purple, and black, corresponding to the living areas for students of different grades.

At the entrance of the white freshman dormitory building, Bai Cai looked up; a few dormitories already had laundry hanging out. According to Shrek Academy's class assignment rules, the students reporting now belonged to Class One.

At the entrance to the dormitory, an elderly man with gray hair and a beard rested in a recliner. The old man's weather-beaten face was etched with deep lines, and his eyes were dim, appearing listless.

"Are you the dormitory manager?" Bai Cai asked.

"Freshman?" The gray-haired old man extended a trembling right hand. "Badge and key, let me see them."

Bai Cai handed over the metallic white badge and the numbered key. The old man held them up, shook them before his eyes, and then returned them to Bai Cai.

"Dormitory 106, the first room on the left on the first floor. Also, the fourth floor and above are female dormitories; males are forbidden from entering. The academy's rules are quite strict; if caught, you will be expelled on the spot."

"Thank you." Bai Cai took back his badge and key and turned to enter the building.

Following the old man's directions, Bai Cai quickly found his room. The student dormitory was a corridor-style building with rows of doors lining a long hallway, each with a number plate.

The exterior walls were mottled, and the interior facilities were somewhat aged, as if they had been in use for many years. At both ends of the hallway were a public bathhouse and a public restroom.

As he unlocked the door, a wave of turbid, stuffy air rushed out. Caught off guard, Bai Cai nearly stopped breathing.

"Ralts." Bai Cai covered his nose and mouth and summoned Ralts.

The little one with blue hair sat on Bai Cai's shoulder, unleashing her psychic power, which swept through the entire dormitory.

"Materialization of spiritual power." The drowsy old man in gray suddenly opened his eyes, lifting his head slightly.

"A monster." The old man in gray withdrew his gaze, a look of gratification appearing on his face.

Two separate beds, two sturdy tin cabinets, a rectangular table, and a single lamp.

"Ten Gold Soul Coins, for this?" Bai Cai remained expressionless, clutching Ralts.

The stinginess of the founding dean had been carried forward and magnified by the current Shrek Academy. Flender was stingy because he truly had no money, yet, the current Shrek Academy...