Back at Sea God Pavilion, Lin Chen couldn't wait to show off his first Soul Skill. He looked around, then turned to Zhuo Shi with a slight upward curl of his lips. "Uncle Zhuo, a demonstration needs an opponent, right? Could you help me test its power?"
Zhuo Shi's expression grew complicated. "Lin Chen, how about we let Feng Wuyu do it? He's a blacksmith, and he's a lot sturdier than I am."
At Zhuo Shi's words, Feng Wuyu's nose practically lifted into the air. "You're useless. I'll do it." He was about to step forward when a hand blocked his way.
"Don't get carried away just because I praised you a little. Move aside. I'll be the test subject."
"You!" Feng Wuyu realized Zhuo Shi had played him, and the two launched into another round of bickering.
"That's enough, Lin Chen. Come on, let's go to the inner courtyard's Battle Platform." Yali's gentle, refined voice rang out. Seeing the two still arguing, she simply took Lin Chen by the hand and led the way.
Zhuo Shi and Feng Wuyu exchanged a glance, rolled their eyes at each other, and silently followed.
Lin Chen stood off to one side, a hint of mischief hidden in his pale jade eyes. Zhuo Shi stroked his beard across from him, with the nagging feeling that Lin Chen was up to another trick.
Lin Chen tilted his head, a mischievous smile in his voice. "Uncle Zhuo, don't use Soul Power to defend yourself. Otherwise, my Soul Skill will feel like a tickle when it hits you, and we won't get a proper test of its power."
Zhuo Shi's beard bristled as he glared. "You little brat, so this is what you were planning." Even so, he silently dispelled the Soul Power coating his body. How could a Soul Master of only a dozen or so levels really hurt him?
Feng Wuyu crossed his arms and leaned to one side, letting out a scoff. "Don't let Lin Chen knock you flat on your back."
Lin Chen took a deep breath as Soul Power stirred around him. A yellow Soul Ring rose, glowing with a gentle light. Flecks of lightning gathered in his palm.
"Uncle Zhuo, here I come!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he raised his hand and activated his first Soul Skill, Thunderous Might. A streak of Soul Power, blue-green mixed with gold, wrapped in lightning and shot straight toward Zhuo Shi.
Zhuo Shi's pupils narrowed. Though he'd said he wouldn't defend himself, his body still tensed instinctively. The instant the lightning struck him, it exploded with a bang. Paralyzing currents coursed through all his limbs.
Fortunately, it wasn't dangerous. It had only made the two strands of his beard stand on end.
"Not bad, Lin Chen." Zhuo Shi didn't care in the slightest about his beard; all his attention was on Lin Chen's Soul Skill.
Lin Chen went over to Yali and pointed at Zhuo Shi. She followed the direction of his finger and couldn't help laughing.
"You really do take advantage of how much Zhuo Shi indulges you." Ya Li shook her head helplessly and brushed nonexistent dust from his sleeve.
"I'll head back to Sea God Pavilion to find your father. You can spend some time with those two for now."
Lin Chen watched Ya Li's figure disappear in the direction of Sea God Pavilion. He had just turned back when someone gave his shoulder a light tap.
Feng Wuyu leaned in, eyes narrowed as he sized Lin Chen up. There was a teasing note in his voice. "Not bad, little Lin Chen. You've got some real punch behind that Thunderous Might. Anyone with Soul Power close to yours would think twice before taking that hit head-on."
He paused and glanced at Zhuo Shi, who had just noticed something was wrong and was facing a mirror as he smoothed his beard. Lowering his voice, he said, "Next time, make sure you aim your lightning when you zap someone. Don't get carried away trying to look cool. You know, aim for the hair."
Lin Chen fought back a laugh, gave Feng Wuyu a nod, and whispered so only the two of them could hear, "Got it, Uncle Feng. I'll aim properly next time."
Feng Wuyu ruffled Lin Chen's hair, and he turned toward Zhuo Shi, who had just finished smoothing his beard.
"Uncle Zhuo, take me around Shrek City, will you?" Lin Chen blinked his big jade-colored eyes.
Zhuo Shi had just put his mirror away in his Storage Soul Tool. At that, he turned and looked down at the expectant boy, both amused and helpless. "Should I make a call and have my disciple come keep you company?"
Lin Chen's eyes lit up, and he nodded at once. "Sure, sure." As he spoke, he quietly reached out while Zhuo Shi bent his head to handle his Soul Tool communicator, swiftly slipped a Federation Savings Card from his pocket, and tucked it into his own.
Zhuo Shi was about to dial when he caught Lin Chen's little maneuver out of the corner of his eye. He could only shake his head helplessly. "You really do know how to raid my stash."
As soon as the words left his mouth, a woman's voice came from nearby. "Teacher!"
They both turned toward the voice and saw a woman in a Shrek teacher's uniform, with white hair and green eyes much like Lin Chen's. It was Shen Yi.
"You're here. Perfect. Take Lin Chen around Shrek City." Seeing Shen Yi had come looking for him, Zhuo Shi promptly handed Lin Chen over to her.
Shen Yi was just about to speak when she saw her teacher dash away as if the soles of his feet were greased, leaving only his back as he disappeared in the direction of Sea God Pavilion.
She froze for a moment, then rubbed her forehead helplessly. She had wanted to ask Zhuo Shi a few questions. Lowering her gaze, she looked at the boy in front of her.
Lin Chen looked up at her, his jade-colored eyes fixed on her. In the original story, Shen Yi had also been one of the teachers who died in the great explosion at Shrek. It was only later that he learned that the only ones who had survived were Wu Changkong, Long Yeyue, and a few others.
His head had drooped at some point. Shen Yi assumed he was a little sad that his teacher wasn't coming along, so she reached out and patted Lin Chen's head.
Her palm was faintly warm as she gently rubbed the top of his hair. Her voice was kind. "Don't be sad. Teacher has things to do. I'll take you."
That touch of warmth brought Lin Chen back to himself. He looked up into her gentle gaze, and the heaviness in his heart lifted. He smiled at her, swinging the card he'd swiped from Zhuo Shi in his hand.
"Here. Uncle Zhuo's treating us."
Shen Yi took the Savings Card he offered with a helpless smile and gently tapped the tip of his nose. "You really aren't afraid to dig into your teacher's stash."
The two set off, and before long they had reached a snack street in Shrek City. The aroma of street food washed over them as hawkers' cries mingled with the fragrant scent of food.
Before long, they reached a stall. After paying, Lin Chen clutched several skewers of sizzling, glistening beef and ate until grease shone on his mouth. "Sister Shen Yi, this is so good!" he said indistinctly.
As he spoke, he stopped in his tracks, his gaze falling on the shadow in a street corner.
A small silver-haired figure crouched alone by the roadside, her long eyelashes lowered. The bustle around her seemed to be separated from her by an invisible barrier.
Lin Chen swallowed his food, his pupils widening in shock. "Na... Na'er? Wasn't she supposed to appear in Aolai City? How could she be... in Shrek City?" His feet carried him toward her of their own accord.
As he drew closer, he saw that she was wearing tattered clothes. Na'er sensed someone approaching and lifted her eyes to look at Lin Chen. His own eyes were reflected in her beautiful purple ones.
Her purple eyes were clear yet wary. Like a startled young beast, she hunched her shoulders and instinctively shrank back toward the corner.
"Here. You're hungry, right?" Lin Chen held out a skewer of grilled beef to Na'er. Perhaps she was truly starving, or perhaps she sensed that Lin Chen meant no harm. She reached out, took it, and lowered her head to eat.
She finished the skewer quickly, but it barely filled her up. Her purple eyes turned to the remaining skewers in Lin Chen's hand. Following her gaze, Lin Chen looked down and handed all the rest to Na'er.
Shen Yi's footsteps sounded behind him, and her voice held a hint of exasperation. "Lin Chen, why did you walk so fast?"
When she drew closer, she saw a silver-haired, purple-eyed girl crouching in front of Lin Chen. The girl looked to be about his age.
After she finished eating, Na'er simply gazed quietly at Lin Chen. Their eyes reflected one another's, and neither of them knew that, somewhere beyond their sight, two threads of fate had crossed.
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