Dawn broke along the horizon, and a thin mist draped Shrek Academy like a veil. Dew clung to the leaves, catching the light in tiny glimmers. The academy still lay wrapped in the hush of sleep, broken only by the occasional birdcall.
After the turmoil of the previous day had settled, the people of Shrek had let go of their vigilance. Even Flender and Zhao Wuji no longer brought it up, as if the ambush targeting Tang San had never happened at the academy. The students kept to their usual routines, preparing for morning training, and everything seemed to have returned to normal.
Lin Chen had woken early. Sitting cross-legged on his bed, he was surrounded by the faintest ripple of Soul Power. He wasn't cultivating, but using Star Hidden Grass to merge his aura completely with the surroundings. Even with Dai Mubai, Oscar, and the others beside him in the dormitory, no one could sense anything unusual.
The system panel quietly appeared in his mind. His Stealth skill had reached a new level of proficiency, and Star Hidden Grass's passive concealment had become so potent that no one below the rank of Titled Douluo could see through it with their spiritual sense. A trace of satisfaction flickered in Lin Chen's eyes. Last night's plan had not only removed the sudden variable that was Tang San, but had also further refined his concealment. In the turbulent waters of Douluo Continent, his ability to hide himself now offered another layer of protection.
Nearby, Ma Hongjun yawned and sat up, rubbing his bleary eyes. When he saw Lin Chen already awake, he smiled casually. "Lin Chen, you're up early. Come on, let's head to the training grounds together. Teacher Zhao's bound to put us through another intense session today."
Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes. The depth in his gaze vanished in an instant, replaced by his usual mild, harmless expression. He nodded lightly. "Sure. Give me a moment."
He rose and straightened his clothes, composed and unhurried, never letting the slightest trace of anything amiss show. He was a world apart from the player who had secretly orchestrated everything the night before.
They headed for the training grounds together. Along the way, they passed plenty of Shrek students, exchanging greetings in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Lin Chen blended into the crowd without drawing attention, carrying himself like the level-thirty-six Soul Elder he was supposed to be: neither showy nor conspicuous, perfectly hidden among the others.
His gaze swept over the crowd and soon caught a lively pink figure. Xiao Wu wore her signature long braid and walked alongside Ning Rongrong, bouncing along as cheerfully and charmingly as ever. Yet the instant she looked at Lin Chen, a hint of warmth and dependence flashed through her eyes, gone almost before it appeared.
Since joining Shrek Academy, Lin Chen had quietly protected her more than once. When they had encountered a Soul Beast before, he had secretly stepped in to avert danger, then passed the credit to someone else, never revealing even a fraction of his strength in front of the others. That silent protection had already planted a different kind of feeling in Xiao Wu's heart. But the girl was shy, and she had never spoken of it.
Lin Chen withdrew his gaze without a word, though a faint warmth stirred in his heart. He had always been calculating, planning ahead, and putting his own interests and safety first. Yet Xiao Wu, so pure and guileless, drew something different from him.
On his chessboard, Xiao Wu was an unexpected piece—and the one exception he wanted to quietly keep safe.
Morning training began, with Zhao Wuji personally overseeing exercises that combined physical conditioning and Soul Power. The students gave it their all, sweat soaking through their clothes. Lin Chen performed steadily, his Soul Power flowing at an even pace. He neither slacked off nor tried to stand out, remaining in the middle of the group and perfectly maintaining his disguise as someone of "mediocre talent."
During a break, Xiao Wu used fetching water as an excuse to slip over to Lin Chen. Lowering her voice, she spoke with a hint of playfulness. "Lin Chen, when morning training's over, meet me at our usual spot on the hill behind the academy, okay?"
A faint blush tinged her cheeks. Her bright eyes held a note of expectation, but she kept glancing away, afraid someone might notice.
Lin Chen understood, but his expression remained calm. He nodded slightly and answered in a voice only the two of them could hear. "All right. I know."
The simple reply brought a sweet smile to Xiao Wu's lips. She nodded quickly, then ran back to Ning Rongrong, once again her usual lively self, as if they had only been chatting like ordinary classmates.
Lin Chen quietly veiled their brief exchange with the faintest wisp of Soul Power. To everyone else, it looked like a normal conversation between students; no one noticed anything unusual. He lowered his eyes, a trace of gentleness flickering in them before calm took its place again.
He knew all too well that he was caught in the current of hidden schemes, surrounded by danger. The slightest flaw could invite death. Yet when Xiao Wu asked to meet, he couldn't refuse—and didn't want to.
By the time morning training ended, the sun had climbed high into the sky. The students dispersed to get their meal. Lin Chen made a simple excuse, slipped away from the others, and quietly made his way to the hill behind the academy.
A dense bamboo grove stood there, its tall green stalks and interlacing leaves blocking the outside world's view. Few people ever came by, making it one of the academy's rare secluded spots.
The moment Lin Chen entered the grove, he activated Star Hidden Grass. At the same time, a faint thread of Soul Power shimmered at his fingertips as he laid down a soundproof barrier, sealing off the entire small space. He hid his aura and stood quietly among the bamboo, waiting for Xiao Wu.
Before long, a light-footed figure crept into the grove. Xiao Wu looked around to make sure no one had followed her, then hurried over to Lin Chen. Her long braid swayed gently with her steps, and her face was lit with a sweet smile.
"Lin Chen, you really came." Xiao Wu tipped up her face, her eyes sparkling. Her heart beat a little faster as she looked at the boy before her.
As Lin Chen gazed at the charming girl, the cold, calculating depths of his heart gradually filled with warmth. He stepped closer, subtly shielding Xiao Wu at the center of the barrier. His voice softened, stripped of every disguise. "It's safe here. No one will find us."
After spending so much time together, watching Xiao Wu's innocent exuberance and feeling her trust in him, the heart long accustomed to scheming and lying low had slowly warmed. He could plot for the whole world, yet for this girl before him, he wanted to offer a safe haven, something pure and untouched by the game of schemes.
Xiao Wu saw the tenderness in Lin Chen's eyes, a tenderness meant only for her. Her cheeks grew hotter, and her fingers lightly clutched the hem of her clothes. Gathering her courage, she spoke softly. "Lin Chen, thank you for protecting me all this time. I know you've secretly helped me a lot, haven't you?"
She was perceptive. Though she didn't know Lin Chen's true strength, she could feel the care hidden beneath his calm exterior.
Lin Chen didn't deny it. He reached out and gently ruffled the top of her head, his touch tender. "Protecting you is something I want to do."
A breeze swept through the bamboo, setting the leaves whispering. Sunlight filtered through the branches in dappled patches, falling across them in an atmosphere both quiet and tender.
Xiao Wu looked up and met Lin Chen's deep gaze. His eyes held none of their usual calm detachment, only warmth and earnestness. She could no longer hold back the feelings in her heart. Her voice soft, she spoke with the shyness and resolve unique to a young girl. "Lin Chen, I think... I really like being with you. No matter what happens, as long as you're there, I'm not afraid of anything."
Her feelings spilled out plainly, without holding anything back.
Lin Chen paused. Looking at the blush on her cheeks and the clear light in her eyes, he felt his last hesitation vanish. He had always been decisive, never letting affection interfere with his plans. But at that moment, he wanted only to hold on to this warmth.
He slowly raised his hand and gently took Xiao Wu's cool fingers in his. Their fingertips touched, and both their hearts trembled. Lin Chen gazed at her, his voice earnest and solemn. He made no earth-shaking vow, but every word rang true. "Xiao Wu, I feel the same. From now on, I'll always protect you. Whatever storms come, I won't let you suffer the slightest harm."
There was no public confession, no one else to bear witness—only the secluded bamboo grove, witnessing the feelings quietly taking root between them.
They agreed that in front of everyone, they would remain ordinary classmates and friends, keeping their feelings hidden where no one could discover them. Lin Chen lived in the shadows, and revealing his feelings too soon would only put Xiao Wu in danger. She understood the risks and nodded obediently, her heart full of sweetness.
Side by side in the bamboo grove, they quietly savored this stillness that belonged only to them. There was no outside interference, no plotting—only pure joy and peace of mind.
Lin Chen kept the concealment and soundproof barriers in place, sealing away every trace of their presence. Even a Soul Saint passing by wouldn't sense anything amiss in the grove. As he guarded their secret feelings, his thoughts swiftly turned to what lay ahead.
Tang San had been taken back to Spirit Hall, and the matter would never end there. The Clear Sky Sect would act sooner or later, and Spirit Hall's ambitions would gradually come to light. Shrek Academy would inevitably be swept into an even greater storm.
He had to move his plans forward, grow stronger, and protect Xiao Wu even more carefully.
This secret affection they had quietly shared was a source of warmth on his path of concealment—and a reason for him to grow stronger.
As the sun climbed higher, they worried that staying too long would arouse suspicion, and so they parted reluctantly. Xiao Wu left the grove first, returning to her usual lively self as she bounced back toward the dormitories.
Lin Chen sat quietly among the bamboo for a little while longer, then completely dispersed every trace of Soul Power. He tucked away the tenderness in his eyes and resumed his calm, harmless expression. Taking his time, he left by the other side, making sure to return to the students at a different time from Xiao Wu, without leaving a single flaw.
The people of Shrek gathered again beside the training grounds. No one noticed that the mild, unremarkable boy had already found a secret love in a place unknown to all—and taken on the weighty duty of protecting it.
Sunlight fell on Lin Chen as he blended into the crowd, his expression peaceful. He looked like the same ordinary student, wanting nothing from the world.
But he alone knew that beneath the calm surface lay not only the undercurrents and schemes sweeping across the continent, but also a tender bond hidden in his heart.
His game of chess continued to unfold, step by steady step. This time, though, there was someone on the board he wanted to protect with everything he had.
The undercurrents still raged, and his plans never ceased. But now, beyond the unfathomable schemes in Lin Chen's eyes, there was also the warm tenderness unique to a young man.
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