"Lin Yan, I want to go back to the sect."
On the road to Suotuo City, as they ran, Ning Rongrong's delicate face was full of frustration. She complained to Lin Yan, "There are no cultivation resources here, no professional teachers. I don't want to waste any more time in this lousy place. Will you come back to the sect with me?"
"I'll have Sword Grandpa and Bone Grandpa teach you personally."
Lin Yan shook his head. "Let's talk about it later."
Ning Rongrong thought Lin Yan was still concerned about Zhu Zhuqing's situation, so she turned to the girl beside her.
"Zhuqing."
"Let's go back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect together. Or we could go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy. They even provide a Mimicry Training Ground for talented students."
"With our talent, we'd definitely get the best treatment there."
Zhu Zhuqing didn't answer right away. Instead, she looked at Lin Yan. "Lin Yan, what do you think?"
"Let's talk about it later. I'll leave when the time is right."
Lin Yan gave the same answer. He had his own plans.
There was indeed no reason to keep staying at Shrek, but at the very least, he had to wait until he'd completely won Xiao Wu over and could take her with him.
Otherwise, if Tang Hao really hammered Xiao Wu into a Soul Ring later on, wouldn't that amount to helping the enemy?
Besides, after successfully winning her over, he'd receive at least one God-Given Soul Ring.
So no matter what, he couldn't leave Xiao Wu to Tang San.
As he thought this, Xiao Wu suddenly looked at Lin Yan. "Lin Yan, Third Brother, he..."
She didn't finish, but everyone understood what she meant.
Lin Yan explained, "There may still be miracles in this world, but I don't think he has any hope left."
He was telling the truth, not deliberately deceiving Xiao Wu. He'd seen Tang San's condition. It wasn't like an injury; Tang San was missing the relevant tissue below the waist. No ordinary treatment could make flesh grow out of nothing.
Lin Yan couldn't think of any way to fix it.
Xiao Wu got her answer. Though she'd been prepared for it, she still couldn't help feeling a pang of disappointment.
Just then, Tang San caught up from behind.
"Xiao Wu!"
He began calling her name from far away.
Only after reaching her side did he manage to say, panting, "The teacher said everyone's rocks could be carried by their teammates. Are your rocks heavy? Do you want me to carry some for you?"
Xiao Wu's gaze was complicated, filled with both reluctance and avoidance.
That was only natural. What girl could face Tang San's situation without feeling awkward?
Looking at the earnestness in Tang San's eyes, Xiao Wu finally steeled herself and turned her head away.
"It's fine. You don't have to."
As she spoke, she sped up, putting more distance between herself and Tang San.
"Xiao Wu!"
Tang San called after her, but the burst of speed he'd used earlier had left him temporarily unable to sprint. With the pain below his waist, he could only watch Xiao Wu's back grow smaller and smaller.
Lin Yan then looked at the two girls.
"Give me your rocks. This much weight is nothing to me."
"Hehe, you're the best!"
Ning Rongrong didn't hold back at all. She was delighted by Lin Yan's manly charm.
Zhu Zhuqing lowered her gaze slightly. "I'll pass. If we run into Dai Mubai later, it could lead to a misunderstanding."
"Then give me some of them, at least. That way, they won't be so heavy."
Lin Yan smiled gently, making Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks flush bright red.
"Okay."
With that, the three of them stopped and began swapping rocks between their bamboo baskets.
Watching this warm scene behind him, Tang San's eyes brimmed with envy and jealousy. Before he knew it, his chest began to ache faintly.
"Xiao Wu, why are you treating me like this? Is it because I..."
"But I'm your big brother!"
Time passed quickly, from early morning until noon.
Lin Yan carried nearly all the rocks for the two girls and Dai Mubai in turn. At last, he ran the full ten laps alongside everyone else.
Looking at the bamboo basket on Lin Yan's back, Yu Xiaogang's eyelid twitched. He hadn't expected Lin Yan's physical strength to be so formidable.
In his original plan, everyone was supposed to be exhausted into unconsciousness, but Lin Yan alone had ruined it.
How was he supposed to carry out his teaching plan and establish his authority now?
But what was done was done. All he could do was increase Lin Yan's load in future training. For now, he still needed to win some favor with these little monsters.
"Ahem."
"I prepared a medicinal bath for you. While there's still time, go..."
"Whatever."
Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes, then turned to Lin Yan and hugged him. "My sweet boyfriend, hurry up and heal me."
Lin Yan chuckled. Without hesitation, he summoned the Blue Silver Emperor and wrapped it around Ning Rongrong's waist to heal her.
[First Soul Skill: Life Tide.]
As Soul Power with life attributes flowed into her, Ning Rongrong, who had been panting heavily, recovered all her strength in just a few breaths.
Lin Yan then looked at the others. "You can all come over too."
As he spoke, several strands of Blue Silver Emperor quickly grew and reached out to them.
Dai Mubai was the first to grab a blade of grass. The healing effect took hold immediately.
"Whew! That feels amazing!"
"Lin Yan! Has your Soul Skill gotten even stronger?"
Ma Hongjun sat sprawled on the ground, panting heavily as he spoke to Lin Yan.
"Haha! I've gained a few levels, haven't I?"
Tang San also took hold of one of the blades of grass Lin Yan had grown.
His pupils shook violently, and his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Why do I feel like I want to submit to his Blue Silver Grass?"
"Could it be because of the Soul Skill's effect..."
"Lin Yan, you're disrupting my teaching."
While everyone was being treated and recovering their strength, Yu Xiaogang flew into a rage, as though Lin Yan had committed some unforgivable offense.
He pointed at Lin Yan and the Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul.
"The medicinal bath is meant to improve your physical strength. Now you've restored all of theirs. So what was the point of this run?"
Lin Yan looked up. "It didn't have any point in the first place. Didn't you say this was a punishment?"
"Silence! What nonsense are you talking about?"
"A Soul Master's physical strength is extremely important. At the same level, if you're physically stronger than your opponent, you hold an absolute advantage. Don't you even understand such a simple principle?"
Yu Xiaogang's tone was forceful, and he spoke as if he were completely in the right.
Lin Yan merely curled his lips in contempt.
"You're absolutely right."
"But we spent the whole morning running ten laps. If we add the medicinal bath you mentioned, that'll take the whole afternoon. The entire day will be gone."
"If we spent that day cultivating Soul Power or training our combat skills, I think we'd get a lot more out of it."
At that, Yu Xiaogang froze on the spot.
Damn, I actually forgot to factor in the cost of time...
Before you continue