As life-aspected Soul Power continuously washed through her meridians, Xiao Wu's body had long since recovered to its peak condition.
She had simply been unconscious before. Now, even though her injuries had healed, the soothing sensation spreading through her body made her instinctively think she was dreaming.
Lin Yan furrowed his brow slightly. "What's going on? Is a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast's physique really that strong? Even my third Soul Skill can't completely heal her?"
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing clasped each other's hands, their beautiful eyes wide as they watched, not daring to miss a single moment.
Ning Rongrong: "What's the difference between the Life Great Tide and the Life Tide?"
Zhu Zhuqing: "I think that warm current should be thicker."
Tang San held his breath, his gaze fixed on the Blue Silver Grass between the two of them.
"His three Soul Skills all have the exact same effect. How could something so strange happen?"
Everyone present had different thoughts, except Xiao Wu...
Is this a dream?
It must be a dream. I've been so tired lately. Just let me enjoy myself in my dream.
Then...
"Ahhh!"
Her piercing cry rang across the entire training ground, laden with all the pressure she had accumulated in recent days. Everyone instinctively tensed up.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing clasped each other's hands so tightly that they were already hurting one another, yet neither noticed.
Tang San, who had been watching Lin Yan's Blue Silver Grass, abruptly looked up. At once, he saw Xiao Wu curled up and then stretching out...
At dusk.
The setting sun painted the whole earth crimson. Migrating birds flew overhead, a cool breeze brushed by, and everyone enjoyed a brief moment of peace.
Everyone, that is, except for the academy's back hill...
"Brother! Listen to me! I really thought I was dreaming back then..."
"Stop talking! I said stop talking..."
Their argument rang across Shrek Academy. There was no helping it—the whole academy was tiny, and the back hill was only a few dozen meters from the dormitories.
In the girls' dormitory, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged glances. They both saw envy and longing in each other's eyes.
Neither girl said much, but they both understood what the other was thinking.
In the boys' dormitory, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar all turned to look at Lin Yan.
Dai Mubai: "Just look at you. How many people have you hurt without even realizing it? I told you to keep it under control. The life energy in your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul is too overbearing. Who could stand it?"
Ma Hongjun: "Exactly! Tang San's waist is covered in Hidden Weapons. I'd be careful if I were you."
Oscar: "Sigh, who understands us support-type Soul Masters? We can get into trouble just by healing someone. This is a classic case of a patient causing a scene!"
Lin Yan was helpless. "Who knew that little rabbit was pretending to sleep? I thought she hadn't woken up, so I wondered if the treatment wasn't enough—if it wasn't powerful enough."
The four of them sat together, each wearing a different expression.
Over the years, Lin Yan had healed them plenty of times as a healing Soul Master, so all three boys subconsciously felt that he was someone who needed protecting.
Even if Lin Yan had been a little out of line this time, surely they weren't going to side with Tang San, whom they'd only met a day ago.
Besides, Lin Yan hadn't meant any harm! He hadn't done it on purpose. Who could have known it would turn out like this...
Dai Mubai let out a soft sigh. "Lin Yan, don't live by yourself for now. Move in with me and Fatty. I'm worried that kid Tang San will sneak up on you in the middle of the night. If you stay with me, at least we can watch each other's backs."
Ma Hongjun chimed in, trying to persuade him. "Yeah. You're a support-type Soul Master with no combat power, and your Second Martial Soul doesn't have a Soul Ring yet. If that kid catches you, you're going to have a rough time."
Oscar curled his lip. "The way you two are talking, I don't even dare share a room with him. What if he goes crazy in the middle of the night and drags me into it? I'm a support-type Soul Master too."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Dai Mubai shot Oscar an annoyed look.
"Who'd want your lousy sausages? Anyway, you're rooming with Tang San. If he makes a move in the middle of the night, remember to stop him—or at the very least, let us know right away."
Clearly, everyone was on Lin Yan's side after the misunderstanding that day.
Lin Yan was touched. All those years of healing them hadn't been wasted.
He smiled. "Thanks for looking out for me, but I won't back down."
"I only did what a healing Soul Master should do. I refuse to believe there's no justice in this world. If I back down now, it'll mean I admit I was in the wrong."
"But ask yourselves honestly—was I really wrong?"
Lin Yan swept his gaze over the others, speaking with impassioned conviction.
"I have a clear conscience! If Tang San wants revenge, let him come. If I, Lin Yan, show even the slightest fear, I'm no man!"
The moment those words fell, everyone was stunned.
Dai Mubai was completely shaken by Lin Yan's bold declaration!
It reminded him of his own situation. He was the dignified Star Luo Prince, yet he had fled here simply because he lacked the courage to face the future.
But then he reconsidered. He wasn't the one in the wrong. The fault lay with the Royal Family's merciless rules, with this world...
"Lin Yan! I'm with you!"
"I, Dai Mubai, will always stand by your side. If Tang San dares to lay a hand on you, I'll use the power of the Star Luo Royal Family to crush him."
Ma Hongjun and Oscar sucked in a sharp breath, staring at Dai Mubai in disbelief.
"What's going on? Boss Dai, why are you..."
Dai Mubai ignored them. He stood and slapped his chest with his palm, then pointed at Lin Yan.
"Brothers forever, deep in our hearts!"
"Listening to you today was worth ten years of study! From now on, you, Lin Yan, are my sworn brother—I'd lay down my life for you."
Lin Yan looked utterly bewildered, unsure what had suddenly gotten into Dai Mubai.
But things had come this far, and Dai Mubai had shown such warmth that Lin Yan couldn't very well refuse to respond.
Lin Yan stood and grasped Dai Mubai's outstretched hand.
"Brothers forever, deep in our hearts!"
Seeing that the atmosphere had reached such a fever pitch, Ma Hongjun and Oscar stood up too. The four exchanged glances, then clasped their hands tightly together.
"Brothers forever, deep in our hearts!"
The dormitory was dim and shadowy. Dai Mubai's eyes shone with confidence; Ma Hongjun and Oscar were secretly delighted to have latched onto the Royal Family's coattails; Lin Yan, meanwhile, had been swept along with the tide and gladly accepted the goodwill, though he had no idea what it was about.
Evening.
The whole world settled into silence. The arguing on the back hill had stopped, and the dormitory had quieted down.
Lin Yan returned to his little room. He'd paid some villagers nearby to build it himself. Since he sometimes had to take Whale Rubber at night, he'd worried the others might discover his secret, so he'd arranged to live alone.
The room wasn't big, but it was clean and tidy, and it contained many little gadgets he'd made based on memories of his previous life.
For example, an insulated bucket for ice and a hot-water bottle for bathing water...
Moonlight spilled through the window onto the bed. Lin Yan let out a long breath and excitedly brought up the system panel.
"Phew! Finally alone!"
"Soul Rings, Soul Bones! Martial Soul Evolution! Hahaha!"
"Once I claim all the system's rewards, why would I be afraid of some little scumbag's revenge?"
"With both Martial Souls unleashed, what the hell are your few lousy darts going to do?"
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