Xiao Wu met Lin Yi's gaze and said with an innocent expression, "What's wrong, Lin Yi? You don't look so good."
"It's nothing." Lin Yi withdrew his gaze. "I just feel a little hungry. Let's eat something before we continue."
Forget it. There's no point thinking so much about it. There'll be plenty of chances along the way. I refuse to believe I can't shake them off.
He took out some rations and shared them with the two girls. After the three of them ate a simple breakfast, they packed up camp and continued on their way.
Over the next few days, Lin Yi was almost constantly thinking of ways to get rid of these two nuisances.
On the first day, he deliberately walked very quickly, intending to use the complicated terrain to make them back off.
Instead, Xiao Wu acted as though nothing was wrong and said with a grin, "Lin Yi, why are you walking so fast? Rushing off to reincarnate?"
Zhu Zhuqing said nothing, but her expression clearly said, Is that all?
Lin Yi was utterly speechless.
Impressive. Truly impressive.
He secretly glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, quietly gauging her strength. In the original story, was she level twenty-seven or twenty-eight when she first appeared? Either way, she wasn't far from level thirty. More importantly, her martial soul is the Hell Spirit Cat, one of the best agility-attack martial souls around.
No wonder she handled complicated terrain so effortlessly. Forget it. If this method doesn't work, I'll try another.
On the second day, while the two girls were not paying attention, Lin Yi quietly turned onto a side path.
He crouched in the bushes for half an hour, thinking that he should have shaken them off this time.
Just as he was about to stand up, he heard Xiao Wu's voice from above. "Lin Yi, what are you squatting there for? Picking mushrooms?"
Lin Yi looked up and saw Xiao Wu crouching in a tree, smiling at him.
Zhu Zhuqing stood on another branch, expressionless, though her catlike eyes clearly held a trace of amusement.
Lin Yi: "..."
Are you two dogs or something? You can find me even like this?
He gave an awkward laugh. "I just wanted to see whether there were any medicinal herbs around here. You go on ahead. I'll catch up soon."
Xiao Wu jumped down from the tree and dusted off her hands. "Then we'll help you look."
Zhu Zhuqing silently followed as well.
Lin Yi gave up completely.
Fine. You win. I refuse to believe you can keep watching me forever.
For the rest of the journey, Lin Yi simply stopped struggling and honestly traveled together with the two girls.
Although he was still plotting all kinds of plans in his heart, he had outwardly returned to his usual lazy demeanor.
There was plenty of time ahead. He would find an opportunity eventually.
At noon three days later, the three of them left the outer region of the Star Dou Forest and arrived at a small town.
The town was not large. There were no towering city walls, only a ring of half-rotted wooden fencing and shallow trenches barely marking its boundaries.
Perhaps because it was noon, there were few pedestrians at the moment, only small groups of Soul Masters.
"What place is this?" Xiao Wu asked curiously, looking around.
Lin Yi thought for a moment. "It should be Soul Hunting Town."
The original story mentioned this place. It's the closest supply point to the Star Dou Forest. Many Soul Masters come here to hunt Soul Rings and stay in this town.
He swept his gaze over the people on the street and suddenly noticed a group gathered not far away.
They wore matching uniforms. At the front stood several girls around their age, gathered together and discussing something.
Following his gaze, Xiao Wu asked, "Who are they?"
Lin Yi narrowed his eyes.
Those uniforms... look familiar. Wait, aren't those Skywater Academy uniforms? Could these be Skywater Academy students here to hunt Soul Rings?
He carefully examined the girls.
At the front was a girl who looked fifteen or sixteen. Her long ice-blue hair was especially striking, and she possessed a cool, aloof temperament and exquisite features. Simply standing there, she radiated an aura that kept strangers away.
Several other girls of similar age stood beside her, each with her own distinctive charm.
Lin Yi stared at the group of girls, and his heart gave a sudden jolt.
Holy shit, Shui Bing'er? That blue-haired girl is Shui Bing'er, captain of Skywater Academy. Her martial soul is the Ice Phoenix, a top-tier ice-element beast martial soul...
The one beside her should be her younger sister, Shui Yue'er. And there's Xue Wu, Yu Hairou, Shen Liuyu... Aren't these Skywater Academy's main team members? Why are they here?
Lost in his thoughts, he completely failed to notice the strange looks from the people around him.
Most of them were merely startled for a moment before paying no further attention.
After all, so many people came and went here that hearing a few voices was perfectly normal.
Only the people from Skywater Academy looked around, then all turned their gazes toward Lin Yi.
Shui Bing'er frowned slightly, unable to make sense of it.
What exactly had those voices been just now?
Then, at that moment, Lin Yi's Heart Voice rang out again.
According to the timeline, they should be preparing for the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. They probably came here to hunt suitable Soul Rings for their team members.
Shui Bing'er should have just broken through to level thirty. Her Third Soul Ring... if I remember correctly, in the original story, it seemed to be a Thousand-Year Ice Crystal Bird?
But then again, Skywater Academy only accepts female students, and every single one of them is beautiful. They were also a very popular team in the original story.
Heh. If I could stuff Little Rabbit and Zhu Zhuqing into Skywater Academy, wouldn't I finally be free?
The instant that thought surfaced, Lin Yi's eyes lit up.
That was right!
Skywater Academy only accepted female students. If Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing could get in, he could openly part ways with them.
Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
Lin Yi happily made his plans, completely failing to notice that the expressions of the girls across from him had become subtly strange.
Shui Bing'er's brow furrowed even deeper.
What had she just heard?
That boy she had never met before... knew they were from Skywater Academy?
He even knew that they had come to hunt Soul Rings?
He even knew her martial soul and their future plans?
How was that possible?
She looked at her teammates.
A flash of surprise crossed Xue Wu's eyes. She had clearly heard those voices as well.
Yu Hairou covered her mouth, looking utterly incredulous.
Shui Yue'er directly tugged at her sister's sleeve and lowered her voice. "Sis, that person..."
"I heard it." Shui Bing'er cut her off, her gaze fixed tightly on Lin Yi.
That boy looked about the same age as them. He had delicate features and a gentle temperament. Other than being somewhat handsome, there was nothing particularly special about him.
But those Heart Voices...
What was going on?
Shui Bing'er took a deep breath and decided not to act rashly.
She wanted to see what other information this boy would reveal.
Meanwhile, Lin Yi had no idea that he was already being watched.
He was still happily calculating things in his heart.
If they can get into Skywater Academy, that would be great. Skywater Academy has good cultivation resources and capable teachers. Most importantly, it only accepts female students, so I can't go there.
Then I'll be left alone. I can go wherever I want and never have to put up with them following me again.
And most importantly, Skywater Academy's strongest people are only Soul Douluo and Spirit Saint-level Soul Masters. There's no need to worry about Little Rabbit.
Before you continue