Zhang Lexuan's office.
The class assignment activity at Shrek Square had just ended, and there was still some time before classes officially began.
Long Yaochen came to see Zhang Lexuan first.
"Senior Sister, your injuries have mostly healed. Why are you still teaching Outer Court students?"
Long Yaochen unceremoniously dropped himself into Zhang Lexuan's office chair.
Zhang Lexuan did not mind. Instead, she poured Long Yaochen a cup of warm water.
After spending the past few months together, the estrangement between them had long since faded.
Leaning back against the sofa, she said,
"My external injuries are mostly fine, but it is still somewhat difficult to use Soul Power.
Besides, there is nothing much going on in the Inner Court for now. It is better to stay in the Outer Court and teach you all... that is not so bad either."
As she spoke, a trace of melancholy flashed through Zhang Lexuan's eyes.
Although several months had passed, whenever she returned to the Inner Court, she could not help thinking of what had happened that day.
Teaching in the Outer Court, seeing those young and innocent faces, could at least ease the wounds in her heart somewhat.
Besides...
The aura around Long Yaochen truly made her feel more at ease.
Seeing that Zhang Lexuan had begun thinking about that day again, Long Yaochen rose and walked to her side, gently pressing a hand against her shoulder.
"Senior Sister.
The dead are gone. Seeing you like this now, they would not be very happy either.
That Soul Beast has been killed, and Elder Xuan... has also been disciplined by Mu En.
Why keep trapping yourself in the past?"
Zhang Lexuan closed her eyes. After a moment of silence, her voice trembled ever so slightly. "But... whenever I see that red Soul Ring on me, it feels as though I can see their bloodstained faces one by one..."
"I would rather not have this hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring!" Her voice grew heavier.
Long Yaochen's hand paused slightly.
He did not speak at once.
Some wounds could not be smoothed over with a few pretty words.
After a while, he finally said softly, "But Senior Sister, have you ever considered that without this Soul Ring, they might truly have died for nothing?"
Zhang Lexuan's eyelashes trembled lightly.
Long Yaochen continued, "I know that is unpleasant to hear, but facts are facts. Those who survive should not carry only pain, but also the roads they failed to finish walking."
That hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring was not a blood debt they left behind. It was proof that they had risked their lives to make sure she survived.
Zhang Lexuan slowly opened her eyes, the rims faintly reddened.
She said nothing. Yet at some point, the hand hanging at her side had clenched the hem of her skirt.
Long Yaochen walked around to the front of the sofa, crouched before her, and looked up at her.
"Senior Sister, if you truly feel guilty, then become stronger.
Strong enough that when something like this happens again, you will not be left with no choice but to watch.
Strong enough that even if you become dissatisfied with someone, you will not have to force yourself to swallow your grievances.
Strong enough that one day, you can tell them—you did not let them down."
Zhang Lexuan stared blankly at him.
The boy before her was clearly still young, yet at that moment, his gaze was so calm that it scarcely seemed like that of someone his age.
That dazzling radiance no longer burned as fiercely as it had on the Soul Fighting Platform yesterday.
Instead, it was like a ray of winter sunlight falling upon one's palm, bright and warm.
Only after a long while did Zhang Lexuan let out a soft breath and say, "Your way of comforting people really is not gentle at all."
Long Yaochen smiled. "As long as it works."
Zhang Lexuan smiled as well.
In that instant, the haze that had weighed upon her eyes for months seemed to finally disperse a little.
"Let's go." She stood up and straightened her sleeves, her usual gentle and composed expression returning to her face.
"If we do not head back now, you will be late for your new class's first lesson."
Long Yaochen raised a brow. "With Senior Sister personally taking me back, who would dare say I am late?"
"Such a glib tongue."
Zhang Lexuan lightly glared at him, though she did not truly blame him.
The two left the office one after the other and headed toward the first-year teaching building.
By the time they arrived at First-Year Class One, quite a few people were already seated in the classroom.
Wang Dong lay listlessly sprawled across her desk.
Xiao Xiao sat beside her. Her face was still somewhat pale, but she was no longer in serious condition.
After all, Long Yaochen had not struck too heavily. Otherwise, Yan Shaozhe would have intervened directly at the time.
Of course, Huo Yuhao was also in this class, sitting there with a calm expression.
Besides them, there were quite a few familiar faces from the former Freshman Class One.
There were also some freshmen whom they had not fought during the assessment.
For example, Wu Feng and Dai Huabin, who had originally not been in Class One.
One gaze after another instantly turned toward Long Yaochen.
As for Long Yaochen, this towering figure, even Dai Huabin, who normally looked down on everyone, merely sat there with a grim expression and showed no intention of standing out.
However, there was also a gentle and refined-looking middle-aged teacher standing at the podium.
When he saw Long Yaochen and Zhang Lexuan enter, he first nodded to Zhang Lexuan. Then he pushed up his glasses and smiled.
"You are Long Yaochen, correct?
I am Wang Yan.
Starting today, I will serve as the vice homeroom teacher of First-Year Class One, assisting Teacher Zhang with daily instruction."
Wang Yan's voice was not loud, yet it easily made people feel favorably toward him.
Long Yaochen nodded politely.
Compared with most Shrek teachers, this one was already quite capable.
He could neatly make up for Zhang Lexuan's shortcomings in academic details.
After exchanging greetings, he walked straight toward the empty seat beside Wang Dong.
When Wang Dong saw him approach, she immediately raised her head, her eyes darting back and forth between him and Zhang Lexuan with a strange look.
The moment he sat down, Wang Dong lowered her voice and asked, "What did you go off and do with Senior Sister just now?"
"What does it have to do with you?" Long Yaochen glanced at Wang Dong and replied indifferently.
"Of course it has something to do with me!" Wang Dong said righteously. "After going out with you, Senior Sister felt completely different when she came in just now."
"How was she different?" Long Yaochen raised his brows.
He was somewhat surprised that this silly goose had become so perceptive.
Wang Dong frowned and thought for a long time before finally whispering,
"I cannot really explain it, but... she seemed much more relaxed.
She used to smile too, but it always felt somewhat forced.
Just now was completely different. I have never seen Senior Sister smile so brightly before."
As she said that, she gave Long Yaochen another suspicious look. "So, was that your doing?"
Long Yaochen leaned back in his chair and said lazily, "Yes. I told her I was exceptionally gifted and would definitely become a God King in the future. The moment Senior Sister heard that, she was instantly enlightened."
"What nonsense!" Wang Dong rolled her eyes.
She knew it. Nothing that came out of this guy's mouth was ever serious.
Xiao Xiao, sitting beside them, could not help letting out a soft laugh. But as soon as she did, her face turned slightly pale, clearly showing that yesterday's injuries had not fully recovered.
Wang Dong hurriedly supported her and warned, "Do not move around."
Xiao Xiao shook her head and said quietly, "It is fine. I am much better already."
Only then did Wang Dong relax, before fiercely glaring at Long Yaochen again.
"It is all your fault."
Long Yaochen wore an innocent expression. "If you do not take a beating in a match, should I invite you all to dinner instead?"
"You!"
Wang Dong had just begun to retort when Zhang Lexuan at the podium lightly tapped the desk.
Her gaze swept across the young faces below, her voice gentle yet clear.
"Starting today, you are the official students of First-Year Class One."
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