Half a month flew by in the blink of an eye.
Beside the fence, Xiao Yi leaned lazily against the railing, looking utterly listless. He turned to Yan Shaozhe beside him, his tone tinged with helplessness and perfunctory resignation. "Senior Brother Yan, do I really still need to take the second-year examination?"
Ever since returning to Shrek, his days had been especially peaceful and carefree.
Aside from helping the girls shape their futures every day, Xiao Yi spent most of his remaining time teaching in the Alchemy Department. Watching students with no prior experience master alchemy step by step under his guidance and successfully condense pills always filled him with a deep sense of accomplishment. It felt wonderfully grounding.
Huo Yutong, in particular—say what you would, she truly lived up to her reputation as a child of fortune. Her comprehension and cultivation talent far surpassed ordinary people's, placing her among the very best. Xiao Yi only had to explain the key points once or demonstrate the entire alchemy process in person, and the quick-witted girl could draw inferences from a single example, rapidly grasp every technique, and get the hang of it at once. He never had to spend extra breath guiding her.
Yan Shaozhe gave Xiao Yi, who looked like he had given up on everything, a sidelong glance. A mocking disdain glimmered in his eyes as he said with certainty, "What do you mean, there's no need? I think you're just too low-key. You pioneered the art of alchemy, yet you rarely show off your own fighting ability. People who don't know any better might think the dean of Shrek's Alchemy Department is just a pretty face who specializes in pills and has no combat ability at all."
He knew Xiao Yi's temperament too well. A knowing smile