The evening breeze across the training grounds carried the cool scent of grass and trees, dispelling the heat left by their practical training.
Lin Chen withdrew the hand that had been gently stroking Ning Rongrong's hair. He had judged the moment perfectly, showing no excessive intimacy, only the considerate care of a senior for his teammates. He was never one to lose himself in romance. Winning hearts and uniting the team had always meant balancing kindness with authority and treating everyone impartially. He would never neglect the others for the sake of one person.
Seeing him put away his smile and return to his steady self, Ning Rongrong felt a faint pang of disappointment, but her respect for him grew even more. She was beginning to understand that Lin Chen's warmth was never exclusive indulgence. It was the recognition he gave to reliable teammates. That fairness put her more at ease than any favoritism could.
Tang San, who had been hiding nearby, had already left. Lin Chen had cast aside even the faint disturbance caused by that venomous glare.
"Let's head back together. The dormitories are a fair distance away, and the woods aren't safe at night."
Lin Chen set off first, his tone calm. Rather than linger alone with Ning Rongrong, he headed in the direction Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing had gone. Ning Rongrong hurried after him, clutching the Spirit-Calming Stone as she walked briskly at his side. The bashful disarray from earlier was gone; she seemed far more docile and sensible.
As they left the training grounds, they saw Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing waiting at the crossroads. Xiao Wu stood on tiptoe, looking around. The moment she spotted Lin Chen, she waved with a smile, while Zhu Zhuqing stood quietly beside her, a faint hint of expectation in her cool eyes.
"Brother Chen, we're waiting so we can walk back with you!" Xiao Wu skipped over and naturally linked her arm through his, her affection brimming with deep-rooted trust. She had been by Lin Chen's side since childhood, and their closeness was already etched into her bones.
Zhu Zhuqing also walked over at an unhurried pace. Her gaze passed over Lin Chen, then flicked briefly to Ning Rongrong. There was no jealousy in it. She simply said, "Soul Beasts roam the forest at night. It's safer to walk together."
Lin Chen nodded slightly, his gaze passing over the two girls. His tone remained impartial. "During the practical training, both of you showed obvious flaws in close combat. Agility-type Soul Masters need to strike and retreat at once, moving with nimble footwork. I'll teach you both footwork techniques in future training."
He showed no favoritism and favored no one. He treated Xiao Wu's dependence, Zhu Zhuqing's coolness, and Ning Rongrong's sweetness equally, giving each of them due care while maintaining the boundaries expected of a team leader.
At his words, Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. She shook his arm, delighted. "That's wonderful! With Brother Chen teaching me, I'll definitely improve quickly!"
Zhu Zhuqing's cool features softened slightly, and a flicker of emotion passed through her eyes. She nodded gently. "Thank you."
She had borne the weight of her family's expectations since childhood and focused single-mindedly on growing stronger. No one had ever so carefully pointed out the weaknesses in her training and offered to guide her. Lin Chen's strength, steadiness, and fairness had already quietly struck a chord in her heart. But she was reserved by nature and never let her feelings show.
Standing to one side, Ning Rongrong watched Lin Chen give Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing the same care. Far from displeasing her, it only made her respect him more. She was used to seeing people curry favor and show partiality within her sect. Lin Chen's impartiality finally dispelled the last trace of awkwardness in her. She sincerely accepted the companions around her, and her feelings for the young man before her deepened.
The four walked on in silence and soon reached the boundary between the boys' and girls' dormitories.
"Get some rest. We'll train tomorrow morning, and I'll break down the flaws in your moves one by one." Lin Chen stopped and looked at each of the three in turn, his tone earnest. "Whether it's Martial Soul training or self-defense footwork, I'll guide every one of you. I won't leave anyone behind."
"Mm!" the three girls replied in unison, then each turned toward her dormitory.
Xiao Wu looked back every few steps, her eyes full of reluctance. At the entrance, Zhu Zhuqing stole a glance over her shoulder. Seeing Lin Chen still standing there, watching them leave, her cheeks flushed faintly, and she hurried inside. Ning Rongrong gave him a gentle wave, her eyes full of trust and admiration, then obediently entered the dormitory.
Only then did Lin Chen turn and head for the boys' dormitory.
Inside, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar had already been waiting. The moment they saw him return, all three stood up, their manner extremely respectful.
After a night of practical training, their trust in Lin Chen had long since shifted from fear to genuine respect. His strength, judgment, and control were all far beyond theirs. He was a flawless team leader, and they were more than willing to bow to him.
"Lin Chen, we'll follow your lead in tomorrow's training," Dai Mubai said first, his tone respectful. There was none of the swagger of a senior student and leader left in him.
Ma Hongjun and Oscar quickly nodded as well, fully prepared to follow his instructions.
Lin Chen took a seat, his expression calm, and began laying out the next day's training plan. His manner was as businesslike as ever, without a hint of arrogance. "Starting tomorrow, team training will have three stages. We'll work on agility, offense, and support separately, then practice working together. I'll supervise the whole time and correct each person's weaknesses."
"Dai Mubai, work on making your footwork more agile to shore up your weakness as an attacker. Ma Hongjun, I'll teach you how to circulate your Soul Power, suppress your Evil Fire, and improve its purity. Oscar, work on condensing your sausages faster so you can provide supplies instantly."
All three agreed, filled with gratitude. Each had been troubled by his own training difficulties for a long time, yet Lin Chen could easily identify a solution to each. His ability left them completely convinced.
The night passed quietly as everyone rested and recuperated, looking forward to the targeted training the next day.
At dawn, just as the sky began to brighten, all seven members of the Shrek Seven Devils gathered at the training grounds. Not one of them was late.
Lin Chen arrived as promised and began guiding them one by one, showing no favoritism.
He started with Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, personally demonstrating the ultimate footwork of agility-type Soul Masters and breaking down the flaws in the Soft Bone Rabbit and Hell Spirit Cat techniques. He corrected their attack angles and timing for evasion by hand, with professional rigor and not the slightest impropriety. Xiao Wu became all the more reliant on him, while Zhu Zhuqing's heart stirred in secret.
With his guidance, Xiao Wu's movements grew increasingly nimble. From time to time, she would happily dart over to him to show off her progress. Zhu Zhuqing silently memorized every detail. Whenever he corrected her moves, the tips of her ears would turn red, but she always trained earnestly, unwilling to disappoint him.
Next came Ning Rongrong. Lin Chen maintained the same sense of propriety, giving her individual instruction in physical conditioning and precise control of her support Soul Power. He taught her how to maximize her support without compromising herself, while also strengthening her body and improving her ability to protect herself.
He was endlessly patient and spoke gently, but never grew overly familiar. Every piece of advice was precise and practical, rapidly improving Ning Rongrong's support abilities. Her feelings for Lin Chen also deepened, shifting from simple gratitude to admiration and trust in someone strong.
Last came Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar. Lin Chen taught them everything he could, addressing their individual training problems with the same fairness and impartiality throughout.
On the training grounds, all seven had their roles to play. Under Lin Chen's guidance, their training efficiency soared, and their team cohesion grew ever stronger.
Xiao Wu's dependence, Zhu Zhuqing's quiet affection, and Ning Rongrong's secret admiration were all different, yet each had been won over by Lin Chen's strength, fairness, and composure. There was no jealousy or foolish flirtation between them, only tender feelings born of a strong leader's guidance and their sincere respect for him.
Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar had become utterly devoted to him as well, following his lead in all things.
The sun climbed higher, casting its light over the training grounds and making Lin Chen's upright figure shine all the brighter.
He stood at the heart of the team, both its undisputed core, commanding everything, and a dependable leader who gave fair guidance. He had won the team's trust while treating every member equally, earning the admiration of the three girls and the submission of the entire group.
In the woods not far away, a sinister figure appeared once more. Tang San watched Lin Chen, surrounded by admirers and at the head of an increasingly united team. Hatred nearly spilled from his eyes, and his clenched fists creaked. The plan for his counterattack grew ever more deranged.
Lin Chen lifted his eyes and glanced toward the woods, his gaze cold.
He was already prepared. He could crush any counterattack from Tang San with ease, and under his leadership, his Shrek team would only grow stronger and more invincible.
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