Tender Dance Accompanies, Clear Eyes Secretly Promise

The news that Tang San had been confined for stealing spirit herbs from the academy's medicinal garden spread throughout Nuoding Academy in a single morning.

Students gossiped in private, casting strange looks toward Yu Xiaogang. The middle-aged man who had always postured as a "master of theory" now had his face of favoritism and corruption fully exposed. Walking through the academy, he felt as though everyone was pointing fingers at him; his face was so dark it could drip water, yet he dared not lash out at anyone.

In the confinement room, Tang San was filled with resentment. Instead of reflecting on his theft, he blamed all his humiliation on me, hating me for exposing him and cutting off his path. The darkness in his heart grew wildly, yet he could only squat in confinement, not even qualified to step outside.

I didn't take any of this to heart. I sat in the corner of the training ground during the break, regulating my breathing as usual. My soul power remained steady and restrained, the aura of my Ink Shadow Cat martial soul so faint it was nearly imperceptible. I showed no arrogance over exposing the master and disciple, maintaining my usual calm and low-profile demeanor.

[Memories suddenly intrude and interrupt]

In the original story, even when Tang San made mistakes, Yu Xiaogang would desperately cover for him, allowing him to escape unscathed every time and even gain a reputation for "correcting his mistakes." In this life, without the protagonist's halo and caught by me in his own flaws, he was publicly nailed for theft and suffered a crushing defeat. Yu Xiaogang's prestige was shattered to pieces. The good days for this master-disciple pair were officially over!

[Thoughts slowly recede]

Just as I finished restraining my soul power, a dainty figure hurried over, bringing with her a warm, lively air. She sat right down next to me—it was Xiao Wu.

She clutched two sweet cakes she had just bought from the cafeteria and shoved them into my hands. Her little face was puffed up, her eyes full of heartache and indignation. "Lin Chen, eat! Tang San getting punished for stealing is exactly what he deserves! Yu Xiaogang actually tried to shield him—it's a good thing you exposed them. Don't let this bother you, and don't be afraid of them targeting you!"

From start to finish, Xiao Wu stood firmly on my side. She didn't think I had done anything wrong at all; instead, she was terrified that I would be resented by Yu Xiaogang or suffer any grievances. Her tone was soft, filled with sincere protection.

I took the cakes and looked into her bright, sparkling eyes, my tone softening. "It's fine. It's just a small matter; I haven't taken it to heart at all. Don't worry yourself over me."

"How can I not worry!" Xiao Wu shook her long scorpion braid and leaned closer to me, whispering, "That Yu Xiaogang is very petty. He will definitely try to find trouble for you in secret. I'll stay with you every day from now on, then he won't dare to touch you!"

Her complete trust was entirely natural. The distance between our hearts had closed significantly without us realizing it, and the awkwardness of our first meeting was long gone. Compared to Tang San's narrow-mindedness, selfishness, and sneakiness, my openness, composure, and low-profile actions had long since captured Xiao Wu's full affection. The bond between us had already diverged completely from the original trajectory.

Xiao Wu chattered about interesting things happening in the academy, deliberately avoiding the topic of Tang San and Yu Xiaogang, wanting only to make me feel relaxed. Sunlight spilled over us, and the atmosphere was exceptionally harmonious.

Deep in the shade not far away, a slender, cold figure stood quietly, silently taking it all in.

It was Zhu Zhuqing.

She had always been a loner. After hearing about the incident at the medicinal garden, she had quietly pieced together the whole story. She saw clearly how I had handled the matter with a low profile, neither humble nor pushy, and how I had exposed Yu Xiaogang's favoritism strictly according to the academy's rules.

In her eyes, I had never provoked Tang San, nor had I acted arrogantly because of my strength. I had simply resolved the matter calmly within the academy's rules, maintaining my bottom line without kicking someone while they were down. My composure and upright conduct far exceeded that of other soul master students of our age.

Conversely, looking at Tang San—narrow-minded, stealing public property, and refusing to repent after making a mistake, instead filled with resentment—the contrast was stark.

In Zhu Zhuqing's cold eyes, the initial gratitude and curiosity gradually transformed into deep approval. The look she gave me now held a hint of imperceptible softness. She was naturally cold-hearted and had a keen eye for people; at this moment, she firmly decided that I was someone worth knowing, and the faint spark of favor in her heart quietly took root.

She did not come forward to disturb us. She watched quietly for a moment before turning to leave, yet in her heart, she firmly remembered this composed, restrained, and upright youth.

I naturally sensed that hidden gaze, but I remained calm, continuing to chat softly with Xiao Wu. I held fast to my bottom line of hiding my true strength; my Twin Martial Souls and my true soul power of level twenty remained tightly concealed, not revealing a single shred.

Tang San's humiliation, Yu Xiaogang's downfall, Xiao Wu's devoted companionship, Zhu Zhuqing's secret approval...

Everything was advancing steadily according to my plan. I remained dormant in Nuoding Academy, patiently waiting for the right moment, slowly devouring all the destiny of this master and disciple until I crushed them completely.