Xiao Wu Refuses to Go to Shrek Academy

Hearing these inner thoughts, Xiao Wu's lips curled up slightly, but she quickly smoothed them back into a neutral expression.

For five years, she had learned how to respond to Lin Yi's inner voice without changing her expression, and how to extract information from him to alter the trajectory of her own fate without raising his suspicions.

"Still haven't decided?" Xiao Wu tilted her head, putting on an innocent and naive look. "How about I give you a suggestion?"

"What suggestion?"

"Let's go to Heaven Dou City together." Xiao Wu pretended to ponder, then her eyes lit up. "I heard it's huge there, with lots of fun places and many powerful Soul Master Academies. With our strength, we should be able to get in."

Lin Yi felt a stir in his heart upon hearing this.

Does this little rabbit want to go to Heaven Dou City too?

But if we go there, I can't guarantee your safety.

How about... I ditch her somewhere while we pass by the Star Dou Forest?

Hmm, that's a good decision.

"Heaven Dou City is indeed nice." Lin Yi weighed his words. "But with my support-type martial soul, which academy would even want me?"

"How could they not?" Xiao Wu immediately retorted. "You are... you are my, Xiao Wu's, good friend. Who would dare not accept you if you're with me?"

She had originally wanted to say, 'You are a Twin Martial Soul user, who would dare not accept you?'

Fortunately, she reacted quickly and changed it just in time.

Lin Yi didn't notice anything amiss, only looking at her with a bit of confusion.

He couldn't see anything out of the ordinary, so he just rolled his eyes. "You make it sound like you're so powerful."

"Of course I'm powerful!" Xiao Wu lifted her chin, showing a proud little expression. "I'm a level 29 Soul Grand Master, second in the whole academy... well, third!"

She had intended to say second, but remembering that Lin Yi was hiding his strength and possessed that terrifying second martial soul, he was undoubtedly first.

And Tang San was also level 29, and his actual combat ability was indeed a sliver stronger than hers, so she reluctantly changed her words.

Lin Yi looked at her like this, his heart feeling somewhat complicated.

It's been five years, and she's still like this, as if she's completely forgotten she's a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form.

But sometimes, in the dead of night, she sits alone on the roof, staring blankly in the direction of the Star Dou Forest...

Does she actually know everything?

Knowing her identity is a hidden danger, knowing how dangerous it is to follow a human soul master, knowing the future might be full of thorns.

Yet she still chooses to follow me.

Forget it, I'll find an opportunity to send her back to the Star Dou Forest.

Lin Yi sighed. "We'll see. Maybe there will be other, better places to go by then."

Xiao Wu stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly leaned in, lowering her voice with a hint of imperceptible tension: "Hey, you aren't planning on ditching me and running off alone, are you?"

Lin Yi's heart skipped a beat, and he touched his own face.

How did she know?

Am I being that obvious?

"How could I?" Lin Yi laughed dryly. "Where could I even run to?"

"You'd better not." Xiao Wu sat up straight, her tone suddenly becoming serious. "Lin Yi, don't even think about ditching me. Wherever you go, I go."

As she said this, her eyes were fixed directly on Lin Yi, without any joking or coquetry, only a kind of stubborn determination.

Lin Yi felt uncomfortable under her gaze and looked away. "Suit yourself."

At the same time, on the podium, Director Su had finished announcing the list of recommendation letter assignments.

The students who received the letters were beaming with joy, while those who didn't, though disappointed, had long been mentally prepared.

After all, Notting Academy was only a primary academy, and the number of recommendation letters was limited, always given to the most outstanding batch.

"Alright, students." Director Su clapped his hands. "That's all for today. Those who received a recommendation letter, please follow the instructions on the letter to report to the corresponding intermediate academy. For those without, I wish you a bright future."

The students stood up one after another, leaving the classroom in twos and threes.

Lin Yi packed his things, and just as he stood up, Xiao Wu leaned in and naturally hooked her arm through his. "Let's go, back to the dormitory to pack."

She had been doing this for five years; it was as natural as breathing.

But today, someone couldn't stand it.

"Xiao Wu."

Tang San stood at the classroom door, his expression complex as his gaze landed on Xiao Wu's arm hooked through Lin Yi's.

Xiao Wu paused, but still didn't let go. "Is something the matter, Tang San?"

Starting from the third grade, Xiao Wu had changed her address from 'Little San' to 'Tang San'.

Although Tang San was used to it by now, his heart still felt like it had been pricked by something, aching just a little.

However, having lived two lifetimes, he quickly adjusted his emotions and spoke in a gentle tone: "Can we talk alone? About where you're going after graduation."

Xiao Wu glanced at Lin Yi.

Lin Yi tactfully stepped back half a pace: "You two talk, I'll head back to the dorm first."

Finally, it's here—the invitation from the original work.

According to the plot, Tang San should invite Xiao Wu to go to Shrek Academy together, and Xiao Wu would readily agree.

But now... the plot has long since veered off into the middle of nowhere.

Fine, let them talk alone; perhaps it can get back on track.

Thinking this to himself, Lin Yi turned to leave.

"Wait." Xiao Wu called out to him, then looked at Tang San, her tone calm: "If you have something to say, say it here. Lin Yi is not an outsider."

Uh...

Does Xiao Wu mean that Tang San is the outsider?

Tsk tsk, the protagonist has become the outsider; is this even the Tang Clan Continent anymore?

Lin Yi grumbled internally, while Tang San's expression stiffened for a moment.

Lin Yi is not an outsider?

Then who is the outsider?

He took a deep breath, suppressing the displeasure in his heart, and tried to make his voice sound as peaceful as possible: "I plan to go to an academy called Shrek, recommended by my teacher. Although the conditions there are average, they only accept monsters, and their teaching methods are very unique. I want to... invite you to go with me."

As he spoke, his eyes remained fixed on Xiao Wu, anticipating her reaction.

Based on his understanding of Xiao Wu, she liked fresh and interesting things, and Shrek Academy's motto of "only accepting monsters" should be able to attract her.

More importantly, although he had been busy with cultivation over these five years, he had never given up on winning back Xiao Wu's heart.

He believed that as long as they could enter a new academy together and spend their days side by side, their relationship would surely return to how it once was.

Xiao Wu was silent for a few seconds.

But these few seconds felt incredibly long to Tang San.

Then, she spoke, her voice crisp and decisive: "I'm not going."

Three words, clean and sharp.

Tang San was stunned: "Why? It's very suitable for geniuses like us; my teacher said..."

"I have my own plans." Xiao Wu interrupted him, her tone polite but beyond questioning: "Thank you for the invitation, but I have already decided."

"Decided? Decided what?" Tang San pressed, his gaze involuntarily darting toward Lin Yi: "To go to an ordinary Soul Master Academy with him?"

Xiao Wu did not deny it: "Perhaps. We haven't finalized it yet."

This answer caused Tang San's heart to sink to the bottom of the abyss.

"Why?" Tang San's voice rose involuntarily: "He is just an auxiliary-type Soul Master with an Innate Soul Power of only level three, and he's only at level nineteen now. His future achievements will be limited!"

"Xiao Wu, you are a genius. You should go to a better place and grow alongside stronger people!"