Back at the academy, after saying goodbye to Ning Tian and Wu Feng, it was already deep into the night.
Lin Feng carefully pushed open the dormitory door and tentatively called in a low voice, "Sister Xiaotao?"
Smack—
The Soul Guidance Lamp on the ceiling suddenly lit up. Ma Xiaotao stood leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. A small leather belt and several coils of rope sat on the table, and her eyes held a teasing glint.
"Decided to come back, did you? Had fun fooling around with those two little vixens from Class Nine?"
"What do you mean, fooling around? I was out on a training exercise, helping them get their Soul Rings!" Lin Feng tried to keep his composure as he defended himself.
"Go on. I'm listening," Ma Xiaotao said, raising an eyebrow.
Lin Feng had a sudden inspiration. He pulled an exquisite paper bag from his Storage Soul Tool. "I brought you a present! A few new nightgowns... You haven't been sleeping well lately, so I thought maybe your old ones didn't fit..."
"That's more like it..." Ma Xiaotao's expression visibly softened. She took the bag and gave a soft hum. "I'll let you off this time. Don't let it happen again."
With that, she turned and headed for the bathroom.
Before long, the sound of running water faded. Ma Xiaotao came out wrapped in her new nightgown.
The sheer black lace made her skin look even fairer. The curves that showed beneath the hem made Lin Feng hold his breath.
"It fits pretty well, doesn't it?" She deliberately twirled, droplets still clinging to the ends of her hair. "Strange. How do you know my measurements so well?"
"I, I'm pretty observant..." Lin Feng's ears burned as he hurriedly looked away.
Ma Xiaotao chuckled. "Our Junior Disciple Brother is so thoughtful. I'll have to give you a proper reward."
That night, Lin Feng soaked in the bathroom's hot spring and felt wonderfully relaxed, even if the water wasn't as warm as the water in Sea God Lake.
He slept more soundly than ever and didn't wake until the following evening.
Ma Xiaotao had already gone out, and the breakfast she'd left him on the table had long since gone cold and stale.
Lin Feng rubbed his eyes and decided to grab something to eat in the cafeteria.
The moment he stepped through the cafeteria doors, he heard a clear voice call out, "Lin Feng!"
Ning Tian and Wu Feng were walking out.
"You startled me." Lin Feng patted his chest.
"The cafeteria's out of food at this hour," Ning Tian said with a smile. "Want to go get some barbecue at the east gate? I heard Senior Sister Tang Ya has a stall there, and she's a great cook."
The moment he heard the name "Tang Ya," Lin Feng agreed without a second thought. "Let's go!"
The night market at the academy's east gate was bustling. Lights flickered at all sorts of little stalls, and the hawkers' cries blended into a constant din.
Lin Feng barely glanced around. His eyes swept urgently through the crowd, searching for that familiar figure.
Seeing how intent he was, Ning Tian couldn't help pouting. An inexplicable pang of bitterness rose in her heart.
"Junior, grilled fish is five copper coins each—"
At the clear voice, Lin Feng's whole body jolted.
It was Tang Ya!
He immediately ran toward the sound.
Ning Tian stamped her foot in frustration where she stood, regretting that she'd mentioned Tang Ya at all.
In front of the stall, a cocky student was banging on the table and shouting, "Your fish aren't even fresh! Two copper coins, take it or leave it!"
"I'll take all the grilled fish," Lin Feng said, striding forward, anger in his voice.
"Who the hell are you?" The student glared at him in annoyance.
Tang Ya kept her head lowered, focused on turning the fish on the grill. Firelight illuminated her downcast profile. In a soft voice, she said, "I'm not selling anymore. I'm sorry, classmate. I'll give you your money back..."
"Two silver coins." Lin Feng set the money on the stall, his voice cold. "Take it and get lost."
The student knew better than to push his luck. He quickly picked up the silver coins, then turned and disappeared into the crowd.
"Xiao Feng...?" Tang Ya looked up, her eyes glimmering with tears.
"Xiao Ya, you've worked hard." Lin Feng's voice softened. "Let's go back to the Tang Sect."
"Mm." She nodded gently. "Let's go back to the Tang Sect."
Lin Feng took Tang Ya's hand, and they walked through the noisy night market.
By the time Ning Tian and Wu Feng arrived, the fire beneath the grill was still burning, but the two of them were already gone.
By Sea God Lake.
Moonlight spilled like water across the lake. Tonight, the water was unusually still, reflecting the faint light of scattered stars.
Two solitary figures wandered along the shore, their footsteps so quiet they were almost inaudible.
"Why... didn't you come looking for me?" Lin Feng's voice broke the silence.
Tang Ya lowered her head and spoke softly. "You're already Dean Yan's personal disciple. The Tang Sect—the Tang Sect really can't offer you anything..."
"Don't be ridiculous," Lin Feng interrupted, his voice a little urgent. "I've never cared about the Tang Sect's techniques. What I care about is you."
Only after he'd said it did he realize how blunt it sounded.
Tang Ya didn't answer. She only lowered her head further.
"I mean... I admire your determination and your perseverance." He tried to recover, his voice gentler now. "You're much stronger than I am."
Tang Ya remained silent, but in the moonlight, a faint glimmer shone at the corner of her eye.
"Sea God Island was built to commemorate the Tang Sect's ancestors. As long as the island still stands, the Tang Sect will have a chance to rise again."
"But I... I've never even set foot on Sea God Island." Her voice was as soft as a sigh.
As it turned out, Shrek Inner Court was located on Sea God Island. Every Outer Court disciple took pride in setting foot on the island. Being able to reach it meant having a chance to become an Inner Court disciple.
Tang Ya's aptitude in the Outer Court was average, which meant she had no hope of reaching the island, let alone becoming an Inner Court disciple.
"I'll take you up there."
Lin Feng couldn't fly, but his second Soul Skill could freeze water into ice.
He gently took Tang Ya's hand and stepped forward, one step at a time.
With each step, the lake water beneath his feet froze into a glistening ice path that wound toward Sea God Island.
Moonlight fell across the ice, illuminating their figures leaning against each other, beautiful as a painting.
"Wildfire cannot burn it out; the spring breeze brings it back to life..."
A sigh, ancient and resonant, drifted on the wind. It carried an invisible authority, seeming to come from the depths of the clouds—or perhaps from the whispering of an ancient tree.
Lin Feng and Tang Ya, lying in a sea of Blue Silver Grass, jolted awake.
Lin Feng's heart shuddered. Sea God Island was the very heart of Shrek Academy. Anyone who could speak with such a voice here was no ordinary person.
He immediately rose and bowed deeply toward the Golden Ancient Tree, where the voice had come from. "This junior is Lin Feng. My friend Tang Ya and I disturbed your meditation by accident. Please forgive us. We'll leave at once."
"Think nothing of it." The voice grew gentler. "Shaozhe certainly took on a fine disciple."
Lin Feng was even more astonished. The other party had addressed his teacher by name. He hurriedly replied with respect, "This junior is indeed Teacher Yan's personal disciple. May I ask your esteemed name...?"
"It's windy outside. Come in and talk."
Before the words had even faded, a gentle golden Soul Power enveloped them both.
In the blink of an eye, the scenery around them changed. They found themselves standing before a towering pavilion.
"Sea God Pavilion!"
Lin Feng looked up at the three gilded characters on the plaque and sucked in a breath.
Built around the main trunk of the Golden Ancient Tree, this pavilion was hidden in dense clouds all year round.
It was the central forbidden ground of Sea God Island and indeed of all Shrek Academy.
Lin Feng's mentor, Yan Shaozhe, was not only the dean of the Martial Soul Department but also an important member of the Sea God Pavilion, Shrek's highest decision-making body.
Even as Yan Shaozhe's personal disciple, Lin Feng had no right to set foot in the Sea God Pavilion without his permission.
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