By the moonlight, Xiao Yi could make out the figure before him. Her black hair was still tied in that lively high ponytail, though it was somewhat messy now, as if she had hastily tied it up.
A faint blush colored her pretty face. He couldn't tell whether it was from embarrassment or some other reason.
Tang Ya glanced down a couple of times, looking a little guilty, as if checking something.
What was Tang Ya up to?
Xiao Yi folded his arms and watched Tang Ya's guilty-as-a-thief expression with open curiosity. He was terribly curious.
Only after making sure she hadn't disturbed Bei Bei did Tang Ya let out a sigh of relief. She patted her already-developing chest, then looked up and met Xiao Yi's amused gaze. She lowered her head again, feeling guilty.
She took several deep breaths, then straightened her chest and looked at Xiao Yi with a determined expression.
"Xiao Yi, I know the Tang Sect has nothing right now, and nothing to attract you, but I really need someone to help me revive the Tang Sect."
Xiao Yi glanced down.
"Isn't Senior Bei Bei there? With Yu Tong too, reviving the Tang Sect shouldn't be a problem."
Xiao Yi was a little puzzled. By all rights, she should have given up after he refused. This seemed to be another situation that differed from the original story.
At his words, Tang Ya lowered her head, looking despondent and a little sad. She was hurt by realizing she was dispensable, and by discovering that Bei Bei had approached her with an ulterior motive.
"Bei Bei's situation is complicated. He was sent by his elders, so he can't really be considered one of us. Yu Tong's potential is limited. Her First Soul Ring is only white, so she won't achieve much in the future."
Xiao Yi looked at Tang Ya in surprise. This girl seemed to know more than he had expected. As for her remarks about Huo Yutong, he took them as a joke.
"That's still the same question, Senior Tang Ya. What do I get out of joining the Tang Sect?" More importantly, joining the Tang Sect might draw the attention of Tang San in the Divine Realm. Xiao Yi didn't want to take that risk.
"As long as you join the Tang Sect, I'll do anything you ask. You can even have the position of Tang Sect master." Tang Ya seemed to have worked up a great deal of resolve before saying this. When she finished, she looked at Xiao Yi hopefully.
She thought Xiao Yi was unwilling to join the Tang Sect because he didn't want to take orders from someone else. As long as the Tang Sect could be revived and her parents avenged, what did it matter if she gave away the position of Tang Sect master?
As for the other way to get revenge, Tang Ya didn't want to use it. That power was too dangerous and too easy to lose oneself in. Once she touched it, there would be no turning back.
Xiao Yi was a little taken aback by her words. "I'll do anything" somehow sounded strange.
He wasn't interested in the position of Tang Sect master, of course, but he was very interested in the Tang Sect master.
If Bei Bei and Tang Ya were boyfriend and girlfriend, Xiao Yi wouldn't have given her a second look. But now it seemed things were different from the original story. There was a rift between them, and they weren't together at all.
There was no reason to turn down a meal placed right at your lips. Besides, now that he'd transmigrated, what was the point of cultivation if not pretty girls and showing off?
Xiao Yi took a step closer to Tang Ya, near enough to smell her scent.
It was a fresh, clean fragrance, like the first ray of sunlight at dawn.
When Tang Ya saw Xiao Yi give no answer and suddenly draw closer, looking her up and down before fixing his gaze on her face, she was startled.
His sudden approach made Tang Ya realize the ambiguity in her words. She wanted to explain, but swallowed them instead. She only took an instinctive step back—and then felt empty air beneath her foot.
Tang Ya cried out. Feeling herself plummet, her little face went deathly pale. Soul Masters were physically stronger than ordinary people, but a fall from this height would still leave her injured.
Tang Ya could easily have used Blue Silver Grass to cast Entanglement and keep her balance, but at that moment she closed her eyes, looking ready to give up struggling.
Xiao Yi was helpless, but he couldn't just watch her fall. He could only grab her arm and pull her back up.
Tang Ya felt Xiao Yi hauling her upward and, as if possessed, went along with the momentum and threw herself into his arms.
"So when Senior Tang Ya said 'Tang Sect master,' you didn't mean the position. You meant yourself? You're throwing yourself into my arms already?"
"I..." Tang Ya had wanted to protest. He was the one who had been looking at her like that.
But...
Moonlight filtered through the branches, casting dappled shadows across Xiao Yi's face. His peach-blossom eyes, the kind that could make even a dog feel loved, seemed even gentler and more captivating to Tang Ya.
Looking at his handsome face, Tang Ya froze for a moment.
Maybe... it wasn't a bad deal?
Seeing the watery gleam in Tang Ya's eyes slowly grow distant, Xiao Yi had no idea where her thoughts had wandered off to this time.
He steadied Tang Ya and made sure she wouldn't fall again before nodding.
"Be careful. We're up in a tree."
Only after hearing Xiao Yi's reminder did Tang Ya snap back to her senses. Embarrassed, she quickly looked away, grabbed the Blue Silver Grass she'd used to climb up, and slid down in a flash. She ran toward the tent where they were resting, her ponytail swaying behind her.
Xiao Yi shook his head. He'd moved closer just to indulge a little mischief and distract her, so she would stop thinking only about recruiting him into the Tang Sect. He really hadn't expected what happened afterward.
Tang Ya was exactly his type, but that didn't mean Xiao Yi had fallen in love at first sight.
He didn't dwell on it and went back to considering what Soul Beast he should hunt for his Second Martial Soul.
Tang Ya curled up in the tent and took a long while to calm down. Through the night, she looked toward the figure in the tree, her heart still unsettled.
Thinking back on what she'd just done, and on his remark about her throwing herself into his arms, she couldn't help examining her own feelings.
She naturally knew how Bei Bei felt about her. But when she learned that his elders had arranged for him to approach her, she felt as if her heart had been stabbed. After that, she began keeping her distance from Bei Bei.
So what if she knew he liked her? She needed someone who could help her get revenge, not someone who would stand by and do nothing, like Shrek had before.
Back then, she had endured countless hardships to reach Shrek and ask for help, yet she had received almost none.
Tang Ya took a deep breath and made up her mind.
If Xiao Yi knew what she was thinking, he'd probably have sighed that this really was the Romance Continent. Even in a dating sim, he'd never seen someone get won over this quickly.
A few days later, the four of them finally reached Shrek City. Nothing had happened along the way.
"Little Brother Xiao Yi, let's part ways here, then. See you at the academy."
After they took a detour around the city and reached the entrance to Shrek Academy, Bei Bei said goodbye. They still had to take Huo Yutong to register using the Tang Sect's exam-free admission quota.
Xiao Yi had to register through the regular process. He smiled and nodded, then headed alone toward the new students' registration office.
Tang Ya watched Xiao Yi's departing figure, her thoughts elsewhere.
Bei Bei came over and tried to take Tang Ya's hand, but she quietly dodged him and then, with a smooth motion, linked arms with Huo Yutong.
"Come on, Yu Tong. Your sect master will take you to register."
Bei Bei sighed inwardly, but said nothing. He didn't know when Tang Ya had started growing distant from him. Over the past few days, she'd been acting even stranger.
Before you continue