Under Yan Shaozhe's deliberate arrangements, the matter between Mu Tianyi and Zhou Yi was quietly dropped.
When Fan Yu returned from his business trip and heard about it, his expression remained ugly for several days.
He went to find Qian Duoduo, the dean of the Soul Guidance Department. Qian Duoduo did not say much, only leaving him with one sentence:
"You can't afford to provoke that person. Don't ask."
Fan Yu remained silent for a long time and said nothing more.
Stories about Mu Tianyi spread like wildfire throughout the Outer Court.
Things like "Teacher Zhou was defeated in one move," "a four-ring Soul Master fighting a five-ring one was as easy as playing around," and "Bright Sacred Dragon martial soul" grew more and more exaggerated with every retelling.
With both looks and strength, along with his record in front of the dormitory building on the first day of school, Mu Tianyi was privately dubbed the "Freshman King" by the new students.
People pointed at him wherever he went. Gongyang Mo also basked in his glory, with people greeting him on the road.
Mu Tianyi himself did not care in the slightest.
Weekend.
Inner Court residence.
The parasol tree leaves had begun to yellow. Afternoon sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, casting mottled patterns across the living room floor.
Mu Tianyi leaned back on the sofa, flipping through the intelligence files Yan Shaozhe had sent over.
They concerned Gongyang Mo, Ling Luochen, Chen Zifeng, Xixi, and Yao Haoxuan.
The files detailed the five people's martial souls, Soul Power Levels, family backgrounds, and personality traits.
He already had some plans in mind.
"Still reading?"
Zhang Lexuan emerged from the kitchen, carrying a plate of freshly cut fruit.
She set the fruit plate on the coffee table, tilted her head to glance at the stack of papers in Mu Tianyi's hand, and did not ask further.
Mu Tianyi looked up, casually set the documents aside, then wrapped an arm around Zhang Lexuan's waist and pulled her down to sit beside him.
Zhang Lexuan did not dodge. She leaned into him with his pull, her shoulder against his, and plucked a grape from the plate before holding it to his lips.
"Open up."
Mu Tianyi bit the grape, brushing his lips against her fingertips while he did so.
The tips of Zhang Lexuan's ears reddened. She withdrew her hand and pretended to look at the parasol trees outside the courtyard window.
The two of them had long since ceased to be as unfamiliar with each other as they had been three years ago.
At their current age, on Douluo Continent, it was precisely the time when such feelings began to stir.
Holding hands, draping an arm around each other's shoulders, and occasionally hugging had all become perfectly natural.
Sometimes, when Mu Tianyi was tired from cultivating, he would simply lie on her lap for an afternoon nap. When Zhang Lexuan cooked, he would wrap his arms around her waist from behind, rest his chin on her shoulder, and watch her chop vegetables.
Neither of them felt there was anything inappropriate about it.
"Is it sweet?" Zhang Lexuan asked.
"Sweet," Mu Tianyi replied vaguely as he chewed the grape.
"I meant the grape."
"So did I."
Zhang Lexuan could not stop herself from laughing. She lightly smacked his arm.
"Bad guy. Did you do that on purpose?"
Mu Tianyi did not deny it. A smile rested on his lips as he simply looked at her.
Zhang Lexuan grew a little uncomfortable under his gaze. She lowered her lashes, her fingers unconsciously rubbing at the edge of the fruit plate.
Afternoon sunlight slanted in through the window and fell over her profile, making the faint flush on her face look like a peach that had just ripened.
She had not tied up her hair today. Her black hair spilled over her shoulders, accentuating her fair neck, its lines soft beyond belief.
As Mu Tianyi watched her, he suddenly felt something in his heart stir.
He reached out, gently pinched her chin, and turned her face toward him.
Zhang Lexuan's gaze drifted, her lashes trembling slightly. It was as though she sensed what was about to happen, yet she did not move away.
Mu Tianyi lowered his head and kissed her.
It was not a fleeting brush like a dragonfly touching water, but a firm, solid kiss.
The moment their lips touched, both of their breathing paused.
The girl's lips were soft, carrying a faint fruity sweetness. Like cherries freshly picked from a branch, they were plump and warm.
Mu Tianyi applied a little pressure. Her body trembled lightly, and her fingers instinctively clenched his sleeve.
The feeling was strange and wonderful.
It was like someone tucking a brazier into your arms on a winter night, warmth spreading from your chest all the way to your fingertips.
It was also like standing by Sea God Lake in the wind. Though the breeze was chilly, his heart burned hot.
Mu Tianyi closed his eyes and kissed her more deeply.
Zhang Lexuan's breathing became hurried. Her fingers tightened further around his sleeve, her knuckles turning white.
She did not push him away. She even tilted her face up slightly, as if responding, or as if she had completely given up resisting.
A muffled murmur escaped between their lips, so soft it was like wind passing over the lake's surface.
Mu Tianyi did not catch what she said, but his sister's voice made his heart beat even faster.
After a long while, Mu Tianyi released Zhang Lexuan.
Zhang Lexuan's eyes were half-closed, her lashes still trembling faintly, as if she had just been shaken awake from a dream and had not fully regained her senses.
A light blush colored her cheeks. Her lips were redder than before and slightly parted, as though she was catching her breath, or had something to say but could not get it out.
She unconsciously lifted a hand to touch her lips, then quickly lowered it and pretended to tidy the loose strands of hair by her ear.
That attempt at concealment made her look even lovelier than before.
The corners of Mu Tianyi's lips lifted slightly, though his tone was utterly serious. "I need to get to work."
Zhang Lexuan pouted faintly. Clearly dissatisfied with Mu Tianyi's act, she quickly smoothed her expression.
She sat up straight, adjusted her collar, tucked away that bit of girlish emotion, and looked toward the documents by Mu Tianyi's side.
"Who has the best chance?" she asked first, her voice already restored to its usual composure.
Mu Tianyi opened the files and pointed to the pages one by one as he spoke.
"The first target is definitely my roommate, Gongyang Mo, the son of a wealthy merchant from the Heaven Dou Empire."
"He is the easiest to recruit. As a support-type Soul Master, he naturally depends on others. He is also the second son of his family, and it seems the family business has already been entirely handed over to his elder brother. Besides, he himself has shown signs of wanting to draw closer to me."
"Ling Luochen is from the Star Luo Empire. Her martial soul is ice. She comes from an ordinary family with no real background, so recruiting her should not be difficult."
"Chen Zifeng is from the Dou Ling Empire and comes from an ordinary family. Xixi is from the Heaven Dou Empire, and her family is ordinary as well."
Mu Tianyi closed the files and paused.
"Other than Yao Haoxuan, the other four all have ordinary backgrounds. As for Yao Haoxuan, I won't consider him for now."
Zhang Lexuan nodded, looking as though she understood perfectly.
Mu Tianyi had introduced Gongyang Mo to her before. Though he was male, his features were feminine, and if he dressed up, he would definitely look more exquisite than most girls.
Zhang Lexuan had seen him once at the start of school and had been deeply impressed.
She also remembered Ling Luochen. Mu Tianyi had grown close to her recently, and they could already be considered friends.
As for Chen Zifeng and Xixi, they were from New Student Class 2 and Class 3 respectively. Mu Tianyi had only met them once and had not gotten to know them well.
As Zhang Lexuan thought it over, she suddenly realized a problem.
Gongyang Mo was male, but that face of his... counted as half, at least.
Ling Luochen was a girl. Xixi was also a girl. And then there was herself...
She tilted her head and glanced at Mu Tianyi.
Damn it, were there not a few too many women around this guy?
Zhang Lexuan pursed her lips, an indescribable sourness rising in her heart.
She knew it was unreasonable. Gongyang Mo was male, while Ling Luochen and Xixi were merely ordinary classmates, but she still felt uncomfortable.
Mu Tianyi was lowering his head over the files, pondering his next move, when he suddenly felt a chill at the back of his head.
He looked up and met Zhang Lexuan's smiling yet not-smiling eyes.
Her gaze was still gentle, but beneath that gentleness hid a little blade, carving into him again and again.
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