If You Come in Winter, Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen Enter the Inner Court, Shrek Seven Devils Confirmed

The next day.

Sea God Island, Shrek Academy's Inner Court.

The first time Gongyang Mo set foot on Sea God Island, his eyes never stopped moving.

Wutong Avenue, Lakeside Villa, the faintly visible upturned eaves of Sea God Pavilion in the distance—every sight made him want to look twice.

He came from a wealthy merchant family in the Heaven Dou Empire and considered himself well-traveled, but upon arriving here, he still felt like a country bumpkin entering a grand estate.

"So this is the Inner Court..." Gongyang Mo murmured, turning to Mu Tianyi. "Brother Tianyi, is this where you stayed during breaks?"

Mu Tianyi gave a soft "Mm" and led the way, strolling as casually as if he were taking a walk through his own backyard.

Ling Luochen followed behind. Her expression did not change as noticeably as Gongyang Mo's, but her pale blue eyes were likewise taking in the surroundings.

She came from an ordinary village. Being admitted to Shrek Academy's Outer Court had already been more than she ever dared dream of.

Now that she stood on the grounds of the Inner Court, the turmoil in her heart was far greater than what showed on her face.

As they walked, Mu Tianyi said, "Since you're not going home for the break, staying in the Outer Court is still just staying there, so I applied for green cards for you."

"You can enter the Inner Court to cultivate in the afternoons during the break. How you spend your mornings is up to you."

At this point, someone was bound to ask.

Streamer, streamer, wasn't there a rule that Outer Court students weren't allowed onto Sea God Island?

Mu Tianyi's answer to that was:

Well said. Your reward is a position as a close-range observer for a Level Nine Soul Tool shell.

He paused and glanced at the two of them.

"You'll understand the difference between the cultivation environments of the Inner Court and Outer Court once you experience it yourselves."

"Since you chose to join Shrek Academy and become my comrades, I won't shortchange you on any benefits worth fighting for."

Gongyang Mo said nothing, but his steps became noticeably lighter.

Ling Luochen lowered her lashes, and the corner of her lips twitched faintly. She said nothing either.

Some things did not need to be spoken aloud. It was enough that they remembered them in their hearts.

The three crossed Wutong Avenue and soon saw the outline of Sea God Pavilion in the distance.

"Oh, right. There's another reason I brought you in today." Mu Tianyi slowed his pace. "Dean Yan wants to see you. He said he has something important to discuss."

Gongyang Mo stopped short. "Dean Yan? The Dean Yan from the Martial Soul Department?"

"Mm."

Gongyang Mo took a deep breath and instinctively straightened his collar.

Ling Luochen's fingers also tightened slightly around her sleeve.

This was a joke, right? This was the dean of Shrek Academy. Was someone of their standing even supposed to be able to meet him?

Mu Tianyi glanced at them and smiled, his tone calm. "No need to be nervous. Since Old Yan invited you here, it definitely isn't bad news. There might even be something good in it."

"Old... Old Yan?"

Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen exchanged a glance, and both saw the shock in the other's eyes.

As far as they knew, Mu Tianyi was the only person who dared address the dean of Shrek Academy that way.

Good heavens.

Just who was this man?

Could he be Sea God Island's young master or something?

Mu Tianyi ignored their silent exchange and led them through a bamboo grove toward Sea God Pavilion.

Yan Shaozhe's office in the Inner Court was not in Sea God Pavilion's main building, but on the third floor of the adjacent annex.

The place was not large, but the view was excellent. Open the window, and the entire Sea God Lake lay in sight.

Mu Tianyi knocked on the door. When he heard a voice inside say, "Come in," he pushed it open and entered.

Yan Shaozhe was sitting beside a tea table, brewing tea. Steam rose from the spout of a purple clay teapot, and the fragrance filled the room.

Seeing the three enter, he looked up and greeted them with a genial smile. "You're here? Sit."

Mu Tianyi answered with a smile, then glanced back at Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen. "I brought them."

After saying that, he found himself a seat first and casually picked up the teacup before him, as relaxed as if he were in his own home. "Sit down, both of you. Don't just stand there."

Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen exchanged looks. Neither of them dared move.

This was Yan Shaozhe.

The dean of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department, a Rank Ninety-Five Super Douluo.

To them, someone of that stature was a figure high above the clouds, yet now he was sitting face-to-face with them and telling them to "sit wherever"...

Gongyang Mo felt as though his backside had grown nails. No matter how he sat, it felt wrong.

Ling Luochen was calmer than him, but not by much.

Yan Shaozhe set down the teapot, personally poured each of them a cup of tea, and slid the cups toward them with a smile.

"Don't be so restrained. I didn't call you here today in my capacity as dean. Just think of it as friends having a chat."

Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen quickly inclined their heads in thanks and picked up their teacups. Their posture finally relaxed somewhat.

Yan Shaozhe leaned back in his chair, his gaze passing over their faces. His tone was as gentle as that of a friendly uncle next door.

"First, let me thank you for being willing to join Shrek and become part of the academy."

Gongyang Mo hurriedly set down his teacup. "Dean Yan, you're too kind. Being able to join Shrek is our honor."

Yan Shaozhe waved a hand and continued.

He spoke of Shrek's history and the academy's future, of resource allocation and cultivation plans. Every word was filled with sincerity.

Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen were so flattered they could barely sit still. Their ears had turned red as they repeatedly responded with humility, though their hearts felt sweet as honey.

Mu Tianyi sat beside them with a teacup in hand. Watching Yan Shaozhe's performance, the corner of his mouth curled slightly.

Whatever else could be said about Old Yan, he really knew how to win people over.

After a round of mutual flattery.

Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen truly could not sit still any longer.

The two rose almost at the same time, their backs ramrod straight as their startled, flattered expressions turned solemn.

"Dean Yan, rest assured." Gongyang Mo drew a deep breath, light from the window reflecting in his multicolored eyes. "For ourselves, and for Shrek, we will give it everything we have."

Ling Luochen said nothing and merely nodded firmly.

Yan Shaozhe was amused by their overly serious expressions. He waved them back into their seats, genuine approval in his voice.

"All right, all right, don't make it sound like you're taking an oath. As long as you have that resolve, I'm at ease."

He set down his teacup, took out a palm-sized wooden box from his storage Soul Tool, placed it on the tea table, and pushed it toward them.

Mu Tianyi held his teacup as his gaze swept over the box, the corner of his lips shifting slightly.

Here it came.

This should be the real reason Yan Shaozhe had called them here today.

He set down his cup, leaned back in his chair, and watched quietly.

Yan Shaozhe opened the box, took out two badges, and casually tossed them over.

Gongyang Mo reacted quickly and caught one in a single grab, while Ling Luochen also reached out and caught the one meant for her.

They lowered their heads to inspect them. The badges were entirely red, with Shrek Academy's signature monster emblem engraved on the front.

The little red Shrek monster gleamed warmly under the light, exquisitely crafted to the point that it did not look mass-produced.