A Reason I Must

Staring at the letter wrapped in yellow parchment before him, Ning Hao's smile remained unchanged.

His eyes narrowed slightly, his expression unreadable.

"Since this is a letter from Senior Yan, I shall naturally read it with the utmost attention."

As he spoke, he leaned forward, taking the letter from Zhang Lexuan's hands.

At the same time, he kept his peripheral vision fixed on her, preparing to use this opportunity to verify his suspicions.

Sure enough, the moment the envelope left her hands, Ning Hao clearly sensed a subtle change in the person before him.

Her smile was no longer stiff or forced.

Her previously tense shoulders suddenly dropped slightly.

The brow that had been furrowed in subconscious worry began to smooth out.

Judging by her demeanor, it was as if the mere act of handing the letter over to him was enough to make her feel as though her mission had been accomplished.

It seems Shrek is not as monolithic as they claim...

Hmph, some people are born kind; how could they be so easily and completely corrupted.

Having obtained the answer he expected, Ning Hao withdrew his gaze, his fingers subconsciously rubbing the yellow parchment envelope.

Since that is the case, Xiao Huan's previous idea is worth implementing.

Even if nothing is gained in the end, being able to disgust Shrek is good enough.

In an instant, a thousand thoughts raced through his mind.

A plan, like boiling a frog in warm water, began to take shape.

To ensure Zhang Lexuan did not notice anything unusual, he opened the envelope without the slightest hesitation.

He then split his focus, unfolding the letter and reading it in front of everyone.

However, at the very first glance, Ning Hao couldn't help but chuckle aloud.

"Heh..."

"As expected of Dean Yan. Come, Uncle Sword, take a look as well."

Sword Douluo was filled with curiosity at the sight.

He immediately pinched the letter between two fingers and scanned it at a glance.

Sure enough, the content of the letter was not far from what he had anticipated.

Most of it was mere pleasantries, not to be taken seriously.

The remaining content was laced with metaphors and interrogations, every word dripping with hypocritical attempts to draw them closer.

Having read more than half, Sword Douluo was suddenly puzzled.

Could it be that the Sect Master was laughed into a rage?

However, when he saw the four characters "sharing the same breath and branch," the doubt in his heart was finally resolved.

"Sect Master, this phrasing..."

"Mm... truly excellent."

"Hahaha, doesn't it feel like a dream from a thousand years ago~"

Watching Ning Hao laugh heartily, yet seeing not a trace of mirth in his eyes, Sword Douluo subconsciously shivered.

If he remembered correctly, every time the former laughed this happily, it meant someone was about to be unlucky.

Shrek, oh Shrek, must you provoke everyone until they are dissatisfied with you!

Oh, their school motto seems to be [Those who dare not cause trouble are mediocre]...

I suppose they are practicing what they preach.

After a few silent complaints, Sword Douluo glanced at the restless Zhang Lexuan and her companion, sighing inwardly.

Two fine children, how did they end up in the hands of Shrek?

On the other side, the sudden shift in atmosphere also made Zhang Lexuan's expression tense, her delicate hands clenching tightly.

In truth, she did not know what was written in the letter.

She was even more unable to fathom why the latter would laugh so loudly.

But at this moment, she was absolutely certain of one thing.

That letter definitely contained words that the person before her did not want to see, words that might even affect the friendship between the two sides.

Therefore, she knew she had to do something quickly!

Unfortunately...

From beginning to end, she never had the chance.

"Ning..."

"It is getting late. Please, the two of you, rest for the night at Nine Treasures Academy."

As he spoke, Ning Hao wore an expression that brooked no refusal and casually pressed a button on the table.

The next second, four beautiful handmaidens filed in, standing on either side of Zhang Lexuan and her companion.

"Besides, the two of you must give me some time to conceive a reply, right?"

Once these words were spoken, Zhang Lexuan had no room left to object.

Moreover, they were indeed exhausted; staying here to rest was certainly much safer than being outside.

"In that case, we shall impose upon you."

"Mm, rest well, both of you. Tomorrow, Ning will see you off personally."

As his voice fell, Zhang Lexuan took a deep look at Ning Hao, who still wore the same smile.

She then took the hand of the bewildered Han Ruoruo and, guided by the handmaidens, quickly left the reception hall.

Not long after, once there was no more sound in the building, Sword Douluo stepped forward a few paces and said softly:

"Sect Master, will this move by Shrek affect our upcoming plans?"

Ning Hao pondered for a moment upon hearing this, then finally shook his head indifferently.

"At least for the next four years, it will not."

"Four years? Why... does the Sect Master mean the next Soul Fighting Tournament?"

"Mm, this is a hurdle we cannot avoid."

Looking toward the setting sun dipping below the horizon outside the window, his tone suddenly became much more helpless.

"Even if Nine Treasures Glazed Academy has no intention of vying with anyone, Shrek will use all sorts of methods to force us to participate."

"After all, in the eyes of Shrek, that is a stage that belongs exclusively to them."

"Using the outcome of the Soul Fighting Tournament to suppress a newly rising academy is just the right effect."

Sword Douluo's expression turned somewhat unsightly.

He had wanted to suggest hiding their strength and appearing weak.

But in the next instant, he thought of the troublesome genius junior of their own sect.

With Ning Huan's stubborn, mule-like temper—one who yields to soft tactics but resists the hard—it would be a miracle if he could tolerate Shrek!

"Is there no other way to delay it for a few more years?"

"Of course..."

"Sigh, as expected..."

"There is!"

"This old man... eh? There is?!"

Seeing the look of shock on Sword Douluo's aged face, Ning Hao couldn't help but curl his lips, his expression filled with a hint of anticipation.

"Just wait, Xiao Huan will not let us down."

"Some things are better left for the juniors to resolve themselves."

Having said that, he silently added a line in his heart:

Perhaps, we might even see the outcome sooner than expected...

Deep in the night, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse.

Zhang Lexuan leaned against the headboard, repeatedly recalling what she had seen and heard that afternoon, without a shred of sleepiness.

Outside the window, the night grew increasingly hazy, and the confusion that had been forcibly dispelled once again quietly shrouded her heart.

"If the Dean and the others had come today, would the situation have been better?"

"Sigh, what exactly are the Elder Sages thinking?"

"Why am I unable to understand..."

Feeling vexed, a sudden thought occurred to her to wander around.

In any case, she had Ning Hao's consent.

And so, Zhang Lexuan dressed herself once more.

Then, she walked light-footedly out of the luxuriously decorated guest building.

"The night and tranquility suit me better after all."

The moonlight poured down like clear waves, instantly washing away the vexation in the young woman's heart.

Walking along the quiet path scattered with starlight, her footsteps and whispers echoed leisurely together.

Suddenly, a brightly lit five-story building not far away immediately caught her attention.

"Hm? Is that... a library?"

"The academy isn't open yet, so who could be there?"

Driven by curiosity, Zhang Lexuan found herself walking toward the location as if under a spell.

By the time she regained her senses, she had already stepped into the first-floor lobby, surrounded by soft, ambient light.

Click, click, click...

"Who's there!"