Winter

The dormitories Shrek provided, at least the ones for freshmen, were mostly dated in decor and sparsely furnished.

Based on her past-life experience, Bai Cai knew that whenever new students arrived, upperclassmen always set up stalls to resell odds and ends, including furniture, potted plants, and even exercise equipment.

The civilian Soul Masters at Shrek Academy earned little. Even with the salaries paid by the academy, they wouldn't have much to spare. Along the paths freshmen had to take near Shrek Plaza and the shores of Sea God Lake, there were sure to be upperclassmen selling odds and ends.

Taking advantage of her free time, Bai Cai went for a stroll near Shrek Plaza and picked up a few things from the upperclassmen. She bought an elegant wooden bedside table, several pots of lush wisteria, an ergonomic desk-and-chair set with a built-in bookshelf, and a beautiful senior student's cultivation notes, written in graceful handwriting.

With the new furniture in place and the wisteria arranged in front of the window, the old, shabby freshman dorm seemed to have taken on a new life, filled with the warmth of a home.

The next morning, Bai Cai opened the window to air out the room, stretched, and breathed in the fresh air.

On her first night at Shrek Academy, Bai Cai had finally relaxed enough to sleep in. It felt wonderful to get a normal night's sleep.

The sound of a key entering the lock rang out. The dormitory door creaked open, and a handsome, fair-skinned boy stepped inside.

"Sorry, wrong room." The boy blinked his large, faintly pink-blue eyes and turned to leave Dormitory 106.

Bai Cai said nothing. She waited for the boy to leave, then went over to lock the dormitory door before returning to the window.

The azure sky and drifting white clouds came into view, along with Shrek Academy's beautiful scenery.

The sound of a key entering the lock rang out again. The dormitory door opened. Pink-blue eyes, bright and blinking, and neat, short pink-blue hair.

"Dormitory 106?" the boy asked.

"Yes."

"This dormitory's arranged really well." The boy casually sat on the exquisite desk Bai Cai had bought for forty Silver Soul Coins, crossed his long legs, and said as though it were only natural, "It's mine now."

"What do you mean?"

"I really like how this dormitory's arranged, so I'll let you stay here." The boy spoke casually. "Of course, there are conditions."

"First, you're not allowed to bring anyone back here."

"Second, you're not allowed to be naked."

"Third, you're not allowed to disturb my rest."

"Fourth, you're responsible for cleaning the dormitory."

"Fifth, the bookshelf, desk and chairs, and bedside table are all mine."

The boy raised five fingers in turn, his smile radiant. "If you don't like it, challenge me—or leave."

A pretty, handsome boy, acting like he was above everyone else, and making unreasonable demands. The scene felt strangely familiar.

"What's your name?" Bai Cai asked cautiously.

"Wang Dong." The boy leaned against the bookshelf, unconcerned.

On the soft, verdant grass beside Sea God Lake, Bai Cai gazed up at the deep blue sky and fluffy white clouds.

She'd lost the furniture she'd bought and her place in the dormitory. Her mood sank.

Huo Yuhao was young and naive. His mother had died, and he'd become enemies with his father and brothers. His only purpose was revenge. Even if he knew Wang Dong's background, he probably wouldn't care.

By contrast, Bai Cai's parents were still young, her relatives visited often, and she got along well with her neighbors. She didn't have many friends, but the bonds she shared with them were deep and unbreakable.

The light rippled across Sea God Lake. A gentle breeze passed, easing some of her gloom.

"After classes officially start, I'll apply to change dormitories." Bai Cai raised her hand a little to shield her eyes from the gradually glaring sunlight.

When she returned to the dorm, Wang Dong had already made his bed. A thick fur mattress and soft quilt were laid out, and two metal trunks were stuffed full.

"Sweep the floor." Wang Dong lounged on his bed with his legs crossed. A plain-covered notebook lay carelessly on the bedside table.

The plain-covered notebook was the cultivation journal Bai Cai had bought. It recorded techniques for using Soul Power, the latent effects of Soul Skills, and additional notes from upper-year teachers.

"What is it?" Wang Dong turned onto his side and casually tossed aside a fruit peel and snack wrappers.

"Nothing." Bai Cai put away her own notebook, found the broom in the corner, and swept up the trash.

"Why don't you dare fight?" Wang Dong asked curiously.

"Nothing." Bai Cai finished cleaning and returned to her bed.

She summoned Ralts and began to Calm Mind.

As her Soul Power improved, the meditation method taught at Farnos Junior Soul Master Academy was gradually becoming less effective. At the Soul Master stage, she could barely raise her Soul Power by two levels in a year. Ralts's cultivation speed was also affected by the quality of the meditation method, and it was slowing down.

"What's that?" Wang Dong spotted Ralts and was very curious. "A Soul Beast? A Martial Soul?"

"..."

"Can it talk?"

"..."

"How many Gold Soul Coins? Name your price."

"Shut up!" Bai Cai snapped, her expression icy.

Wang Dong froze in disbelief when Bai Cai scolded him, blinking his large pink-blue eyes.

"What are you snapping at me for?"

Without even snapping back, Wang Dong miserably pulled the quilt over himself and covered his head. The dormitory tyrant, who'd always acted so domineering, sulked to himself.

He shouldn't have said that. He shouldn't have said something like that. Wang Dong regretted it a little.

The new semester's chill passed in an instant. Enrollment was finally complete, and the freshman dormitory grew livelier. Though the dormitories were very Soundproof, Wang Dong could still hear the commotion in the hallway.

His roommate faithfully kept her promises: she didn't bring anyone back, didn't walk around naked, didn't disturb his rest, and cleaned at the appointed time.

Tossing and turning, Wang Dong threw off the quilt.

The bed opposite was empty. His roommate had already left the dorm. With less than an hour until classes officially began, Wang Dong found his autumn uniform and went into the washroom.

Passing Shrek Plaza and the path beside the lake, Wang Dong entered the freshman teaching building and followed the girls in his class to Freshman Class One.

His roommate sat alone at the front of the classroom, by the window on the left. The seat beside her was empty. Wang Dong felt relieved and unhurriedly headed for the front row on the left.

Only outstanding students deserved seats at the front of the classroom—students like him, with twenty-two levels of Soul Power and the Light Goddess Butterfly Martial Soul.

An ordinary-looking boy suddenly ran into the classroom and plopped down in the front row, by the window on the left.

Wang Dong smiled, clenched his fist, and casually sat beside a pretty girl nearby.

The bell rang. An elderly woman in a white robe walked into the classroom, her hair and skin as white as a crane's feathers and chicken skin. Her hair was tied up, she was of average height, and her eyes were exceptionally bright. She looked full of energy.

The elderly woman held herself ramrod straight. She walked to the lectern, radiating authority without anger, and the students who'd been whispering to each other gradually fell silent.

"My name is Zhou Yi. I'm the homeroom teacher of Freshman Class One. Shrek Academy trains monsters, not babies, so my methods may be a little rough. Over the next year, how many of you will pass the tests, and how many will be expelled? You'd all better be ready."