Xu Sanshi: Bei Bei, you green-shelled turtle!!!

Shrek City, atop the roof of a pavilion.

Two figures sat side by side on the eaves, overlooking the bustling, traffic-filled streets below, neither saying a word.

A gentle breeze blew, causing the hems of their robes to snap and flutter.

"Sigh—"

Bei Bei leaned against a protruding rafter, clutching a jug of wine in his hand, and let out a deep, heavy sigh.

He tilted his head back and gulped down the liquor, the liquid trailing from the corner of his mouth and soaking his collar.

"Sanshi... tell me, why? Why would Xiao Ya be like this?"

"Have I not been good enough to her? Yes, I am a 'good person'... but I want to be her lover more than anything!"

Bei Bei took another swig, his voice hoarse as he let out a low roar.

Just moments ago, he had used every ounce of courage he possessed to confess to Tang Ya, only to be met with a single sentence: "You are a good person."

How could he be content with that?

He had joined the Tang Sect not only because of the hints from his ancestors, but also because of his feelings for Xiao Ya!

Three years!

When Xiao Ya was thirsty, he brought her water; when Xiao Ya was tired, he offered his back... one could say he had done everything he possibly could.

So why would Xiao Ya reject him?

"I don't understand—"

Bei Bei suddenly stood up abruptly, his emotions surging. He pointed unsteadily toward the Shrek City district, where the lights were just beginning to flicker on.

"Three years ago, Xiao Ya and I met in Shrek City. Everywhere we went, there was nothing but blessings and envy... we truly occupied the perfect timing and opportunity!"

"That vibrant, flourishing vitality is still fresh in my mind! How could it be that after a mere three years, this place has turned into the site of my defeat?"

"No matter how you look at it... the advantage was mine! The advantage was mine!"

He roared at the heavens, his voice echoing across the empty rooftop.

Then, his knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the tiles, his hands pressing against the ground as he trembled, as if questioning the unfairness of the sky.

(Snowflakes drifting~ The north wind whistling~)

"Sigh—Bei Bei, a rejection is just a rejection."

Xu Sanshi patted him on the shoulder and sighed helplessly.

He had been rejected more times than he could count, and he had never seen himself act like his life was over; a man shouldn't be so obsessed with romance.

"No! You don't understand!"

Bei Bei violently shoved Xu Sanshi's hand away and looked up, a glimmer of tears even flashing in his eyes.

"We are different! Jiang Nannan doesn't even look at you... but I could feel that Xiao Ya liked me before, at least a little bit..."

"But ever since he arrived, Xiao Ya has changed... she has become cold, she has become selfish."

Xu Sanshi: ...

He felt as if he had suffered ten thousand points of critical damage, but for the sake of his good brother's heartbreak, he endured it.

However, looking at the devastated Bei Bei, he was also a bit curious about who exactly had managed to pry Tang Ya away.

To be fair, based on his past observations, although Tang Ya was only average in talent and quite calculating, she did have genuine feelings for Bei Bei.

But under these circumstances, he was sensible enough not to press for details. If he caused Bei Bei's mental state to collapse, Elder Mu would surely hang him from the Golden Tree and give him a sound thrashing.

"Bei Bei, didn't you often advise me that there are plenty of fish in the sea, so why pine for just one flower?"

Xu Sanshi stepped forward, stood beside Bei Bei, and draped an arm over his shoulder.

"It's not that I'm saying this to be mean, but Tang Ya really isn't worthy of you! It's good that she's gone! There are several excellent girls among the new students this year..."

"For instance, that one from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—uh, never mind, she's just here to hook a wealthy husband."

He counted on his fingers, introducing the famous beauties of the outer courtyard as if he were an expert.

But Bei Bei remained silent, merely calling out for Xiao Ya over and over, his infatuated appearance both heartbreaking and slightly nauseating to witness.

"I'm truly defeated!"

Xu Sanshi was speechless. He hammered Bei Bei's chest hard, cursing in frustration.

"It's just a woman, how can you be so desperate to—hm?"

His words came to an abrupt halt.

Xu Sanshi's gaze was suddenly pinned to the street below, his entire body frozen as if struck by a binding spell.

It was as if there were some magical force down there, sucking his very soul away.

"What is it? Sanshi?"

Bei Bei snapped out of his sorrow, noticing Xu Sanshi's abnormality.

At this moment, Xu Sanshi looked like a petrified thousand-year-old turtle, frozen in place, staring blankly at the street ahead.

Bei Bei asked him a question, but he didn't answer. Instead, his body rapidly turned red, the flush spreading from his neck all the way to his earlobes, and his entire frame was trembling slightly.

Bei Bei followed his gaze—

And then, he too was stunned.

In the distance, on a street woven with a dense flow of people, a young man and woman were walking hand in hand, strolling leisurely under the sunlight.

The two were chatting and laughing, their posture intimate.

One of them was none other than Jiang Nannan, whom Xu Sanshi had been pursuing for three years; even more coincidentally, the young man beside her was Jiang Yi.

"It's him again..."

Bei Bei took a deep breath, his chest feeling as if it were blocked by something.

He would never forget that guy's appearance, not even in death.

"You know him?"

Xu Sanshi suppressed the surging rage in his heart and looked at Bei Bei, his voice so low it sounded like it was being squeezed through his teeth.

Who was this little punk? Digging into his territory, Xu Sanshi's territory?

This was absolutely outrageous.

"..."

Bei Bei remained silent, but seeing his expression, Xu Sanshi understood everything in an instant.

"Damn it! He's even two-timing! I'm going to kill him!"

Xu Sanshi exploded instantly, rolling up his sleeves as he prepared to charge over.

It was one thing for this bastard to pry into his brother's business, but to pry into his own, and to be doing it to two people at once... The goddess he had been bitterly pursuing was being taken by someone else?

Look at that smile on Nannan's face... he hadn't even seen it a few times after licking her boots for three years!

This was truly unbearable!

Damn it, let's go!

"Wait! Sanshi!"

Bei Bei's expression changed drastically, and he lunged forward to grab Xu Sanshi.

"Let go of me! Bei Bei! I'm going to slaughter that kid!"

Xu Sanshi's face was flushed red, like an enraged bull, struggling desperately to charge forward.

"In all of Shrek, who doesn't know that Nannan is mine?"

"Besides—aren't I helping you get revenge? Why are you stopping me?"

"No, if we hurt him, Xiao Ya will be angry..."

Bei Bei held onto Xu Sanshi with all his might, his mind still occupied by Tang Ya; he couldn't afford to make Xiao Ya angry again.

Otherwise, they wouldn't even be able to remain friends.

Xu Sanshi: "???"

His chest heaved violently from anger, and he pointed a trembling finger at Bei Bei.

"Screw you—Bei Bei! You green-haired turtle! Let go of me!!!"

While the two turtles were bickering, Jiang Yi rubbed his hands together and looked at Jiang Nannan in front of him with a sheepish grin.

"Actually, Sister Nannan, I wanted to tell you, but it was a bit urgent, and I didn't have time to leave a note for Auntie."

At the time, he had a sudden flash of inspiration and wanted to go to Star Luo City to wait for Huo Yutong, so he hadn't returned to the town.

Jiang Nannan's home was also in Zhenxin Town.

According to their lineage, if one traced it back a dozen generations, she might even be Jiang Yi's distant great-aunt.

Of course, this relationship was long past the five degrees of mourning (making it legal and reasonable), and the fact that he hadn't starved to death before was thanks to the relief provided by Mother Jiang.

The area around Zhenxin Town was all territory of the Black Tortoise Sect, with only Zhenxin Town being an enclave of the Body Sect.

It was precisely because of the Body Sect's wide-reaching net that children of commoners like Jiang Nannan had the opportunity to awaken their Martial Souls for free.