Guidance on Balance, Three Women Moved, Team Without Favor

The evening breeze on the training grounds carried the chill of grass and trees, dispersing the lingering heat from the recent combat practice.

Lin Chen withdrew his hand from gently stroking Ning Rongrong's hair. His sense of boundaries was perfectly calibrated; there was no excessive intimacy, only the gentle concern of a senior for a teammate. He was never one to indulge in romantic entanglements. To win hearts and consolidate a team, he always balanced kindness with authority, remaining impartial and never neglecting the rest of the group for the sake of one person.

Watching him retract his smile and return to his composed demeanor, Ning Rongrong felt a faint sense of loss, yet it was outweighed by a growing sense of respect. She gradually understood that Lin Chen's gentleness was never exclusive pampering, but an acknowledgment of reliable partners. This fairness was more reassuring than blind favoritism.

Tang San, lurking in the shadows, had already departed. The subtle ripples caused by that malevolent gaze were completely cast aside by Lin Chen.

"Let's head back together. The path to the dorms is not short, and the woods are not safe at night."

Lin Chen took the lead, his tone indifferent. He did not leave Ning Rongrong behind, but instead walked toward the direction where Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing had departed. Ning Rongrong hurriedly followed, clutching the Spirit-Calming Stone, and walked briskly by his side. Gone was her earlier bashful loss of composure, replaced by a newfound, obedient sensibility.

As the two stepped out of the training grounds, they saw Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing waiting at the intersection. Xiao Wu was standing on her tiptoes, peering out; the moment she saw Lin Chen, she waved with a smile. Zhu Zhuqing stood quietly to the side, her cold, clear eyes holding a trace of hard-to-detect anticipation.

"Brother Chen, we were waiting for you to walk back together!" Xiao Wu hopped over and naturally linked her arm with Lin Chen's. It was an intimacy born of deep-seated reliance; having grown up alongside him, this closeness was already etched into her bones.

Zhu Zhuqing also approached slowly. Her gaze swept over Lin Chen before landing briefly on Ning Rongrong. There was no jealousy, only a soft, quiet voice: "Soul beasts appear in the forest at night; it is safer to walk together."

Lin Chen nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the two women, his tone remaining impartial: "During the recent combat, the flaws in your close-quarters grappling were quite obvious. Agility-type soul masters emphasize striking and retreating, requiring fluid movement. In future training, I will guide you both on your footwork techniques."

There was no favoritism, no partiality. Whether it was Xiao Wu's reliance, Zhu Zhuqing's coldness, or Ning Rongrong's naive charm, he treated them all with the same standard—providing sufficient care while maintaining the boundaries of a team leader.

At these words, Xiao Wu's eyes instantly lit up, and she shook his arm happily: "That's great! With Brother Chen's guidance, I'll definitely improve quickly!"

Zhu Zhuqing's cold brows relaxed slightly, a flicker of emotion crossing her eyes as she gave a gentle nod: "Thank you."

Having carried the weight of her family's expectations since childhood and single-mindedly pursuing strength, no one had ever pointed out her training shortcomings so meticulously or offered guidance so proactively. Lin Chen's strength, composure, and fairness had long since quietly touched her heart, though her introverted nature kept her from ever revealing it easily.

Ning Rongrong stood to the side, watching Lin Chen treat Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing with the same level of care. Far from being displeased, she felt an even greater sense of approval. Having grown up witnessing the sycophancy and favoritism within her sect, Lin Chen's impartial justice allowed her to finally let go of her last bit of awkwardness. She genuinely accepted her companions and felt even more drawn to the young man before her.

The walk was silent, and the four soon reached the boundary between the male and female dormitories.

"Rest early. Tomorrow morning, we will focus on deconstructing the flaws in your techniques." Lin Chen paused, his gaze sweeping over the three of them in turn, his tone earnest: "Whether it is martial soul cultivation or defensive footwork, I will guide you one by one. No one will be left behind."

"Understood!" the three women replied in unison, each turning toward their respective dorms.

Xiao Wu looked back every three steps, her eyes filled with reluctance. Zhu Zhuqing reached her door and quietly turned to look back; seeing Lin Chen still standing there watching them, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly ducked inside. Ning Rongrong waved at him gently, her eyes full of obedience and admiration before she obediently entered the dormitory.

Only then did Lin Chen turn and head toward the male dormitory.

Inside the male dorm, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar were already waiting. Seeing him return, the three immediately stood up, their attitudes filled with profound respect.

After a night of combat training, their belief in Lin Chen had shifted from fear to genuine recognition. Lin Chen's strength, vision, and control were far beyond their own. He was a perfect team leader, and they were willing to submit to his command.

"Lin Chen, we will follow your arrangements for tomorrow's training," Dai Mubai said first, his tone respectful, devoid of any airs of a senior student.

Ma Hongjun and Oscar nodded quickly, fully compliant.

Lin Chen sat down, his expression calm as he began to deploy the training plan for the next day. His attitude remained strictly professional, without a hint of arrogance: "Starting tomorrow, team training will be divided into three parts: agility, power, and support will be polished separately, then integrated for coordination. I will monitor the training throughout and correct your shortcomings one by one."

"Dai Mubai, strengthen your footwork flexibility to compensate for your weaknesses in power-attack. Ma Hongjun, I will teach you the method of soul power circulation to suppress your evil fire and improve the purity of your soul power. Oscar, optimize the speed of your sausage manifestation to achieve instant supply."

The three accepted the instructions one by one, their hearts filled with gratitude. The cultivation hurdles that had plagued them for so long were easily solved by Lin Chen's words. This capability left them completely convinced.

The night passed without sleep as everyone focused on resting, looking forward to the targeted training of the next day.

The next morning, just as the sky began to brighten, the Shrek Seven Devils gathered at the training grounds, with not a single person late.

Lin Chen arrived as promised, and without a shred of favoritism, began his one-on-one guidance.

First were Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing. He personally demonstrated the ultimate footwork for agility-type soul masters, deconstructing the flaws in the Soft Bone Rabbit and Hell Spirit Cat techniques. He corrected their attack angles and evasion timing hand-in-hand. His actions were professional and rigorous, without the slightest impropriety, yet it left Xiao Wu filled with reliance and Zhu Zhuqing secretly moved.

With his guidance, Xiao Wu's techniques became increasingly fluid, and she would occasionally laugh and pounce toward him to claim credit. Zhu Zhuqing silently noted every point, her earlobes turning red whenever he corrected her form, yet she practiced diligently, not wanting to disappoint him.

Next was Ning Rongrong. Lin Chen maintained his boundaries, guiding her individually on physical tempering and the precise control of support soul power. He taught her how to maximize support effects without compromising her own state, while simultaneously tempering her body to improve her self-preservation.

He was patient and his tone was gentle, yet there was never any excessive intimacy. Every piece of advice was precise and practical, causing Ning Rongrong's support capabilities to skyrocket and transforming her infatuation with Lin Chen from simple touch to the admiration and trust one feels for the strong.

Finally, it was the turn of Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar. Lin Chen taught them everything he knew, addressing their specific cultivation problems with complete fairness and equality.

On the training grounds, the seven performed their respective roles. Under Lin Chen's guidance, their training efficiency surged, and the team's cohesion grew increasingly formidable.

Xiao Wu's reliance, Zhu Zhuqing's introverted affection, and Ning Rongrong's quiet admiration—the three women's feelings were all different, yet all were conquered by Lin Chen's strength, justice, and composure. There was no petty jealousy or mindless ambiguity, only delicate emotions based on the guidance of a strong leader and genuine recognition.

Dai Mubai and the others were even more devoted, following Lin Chen's lead in all things.

The sun climbed higher, casting its light upon the training grounds and making Lin Chen's upright figure appear even more dazzling.

Standing at the center of the team, he was both the absolute core in control and the reliable leader offering fair guidance. He firmly held the team's hearts while treating every partner with balance, winning the devotion of the three women and the submission of the entire group.

In the nearby woods, a sinister figure appeared once more. Tang San watched Lin Chen, who was surrounded like the moon among stars, his team growing ever more united. The hatred in his eyes was almost overflowing, his clenched fists creaking, and the plans for retaliation in his heart grew increasingly frantic.

Lin Chen raised his eyes, his peripheral vision sweeping across the woods with a cold, sharp gaze.

He had long been prepared. Any retaliation from Tang San would be easily crushed by him, and his Shrek team would only grow stronger under his leadership, invincible to all.