Bei Bei

In the forest, two figures raced toward them at breakneck speed.

One was a boy and the other a girl. The boy looked no older than twelve or thirteen. He was tall, with long, deep-blue hair, handsome and refined features, and an excited smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

The girl looked a little older, around twenty. Her face was delicate and fair, her features flawless, and her long, glossy black hair fell to her waist, smooth as a waterfall.

"Sister Lexuan, there are people here."

Noticing Yang Jian and Ye Qingyuan's tent, the girl called Sister Lexuan slowed slightly. Her gaze fell on Yang Jian, who was standing guard outside the tent, and a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes.

Yang Jian had noticed the two of them long ago. However, the little puppy in his arms hadn't sent him any warning, so he didn't act rashly. He simply raised his guard a little.

"This boy... is no ordinary person."

Zhang Lexuan's eyes narrowed slightly. That was the first impression the boy—who looked even more handsome than Bei Bei—had made on her. She had only felt this way around a few teachers in the Inner Court.

Especially because of the little dog in his arms.

In a place as dangerous as the Star Dou Great Forest, bringing along a pet was abnormal in itself.

Hearing Zhang Lexuan's assessment, Bei Bei was slightly startled.

The other boy looked about his age, yet Sister Lexuan had actually given him such a high appraisal?

"Let's go."

Zhang Lexuan didn't linger. She shifted course slightly, then sped off again in the direction of Shrek. Bei Bei, a step behind, nodded to Yang Jian before chasing after her.

Only then did Ye Qingyuan emerge from the tent, blinking softly.

"Second Brother?"

"It's nothing. Let's go to Shrek City."

Shrek City stood on the Lima Plain, not far from the Star Dou Great Forest. It covered a vast area, and its scale had even surpassed that of some major cities in the territories of the three great empires.

But Yang Jian and Ye Qingyuan had grown up in Star Luo City, so even though Shrek City was prosperous, the two of them weren't about to gape like country bumpkins.

Entering through Shrek City's east gate brought them to the renowned Shrek Academy. In reality, though, most of the people gathered at the gate could only see the academy's Outer Court. It had been established at the request of the three great empires, with far lower admission requirements, and applicants also needed a recommendation letter from a major city of one of those empires.

Only after crossing Sea God Lake and entering the Inner Court could one truly claim to have seen Shrek Academy.

The Outer Court was more like a place where noble youths could earn a credential and gild their reputations. As long as they weren't expelled and graduated successfully, they could return to their families or join other sects with a bit of prestige to their names, making them more sought-after than ordinary Soul Masters.

Of course, plenty of Outer Court students also managed to advance to the Inner Court.

Feeling the admiring gazes of the girls around her, Ye Qingyuan instinctively lifted her chest, outlining its budding curves. But the gesture also drew the attention of quite a few boys.

Yang Jian frowned almost imperceptibly and shifted his body, subtly blocking many of their gazes.

That little gesture only made the smile in Ye Qingyuan's eyes more pronounced.

That guy... the guy they'd met in the Star Dou Great Forest?

Bei Bei, who had also arrived at Shrek City's east gate, looked at the two eye-catching figures, curiosity showing in his eyes.

He hadn't expected Yang Jian to be here to apply to Shrek Academy too.

Bei Bei turned to Zhang Lexuan, who stood beside him with graceful poise, and smiled gently. "Sister Lexuan, you don't need to help me. I can handle the enrollment myself."

At his words, Zhang Lexuan paused.

If they used her connections in the Inner Court, Bei Bei could enroll quickly, which would certainly be easier. But since that was what Bei Bei wanted, Zhang Lexuan didn't interfere. She simply nodded.

"That's fine, too."

As she spoke, Zhang Lexuan reached out to ruffle Bei Bei's hair, as she used to, but her hand froze halfway.

Zhang Lexuan quickly drew back her arm and smiled as though nothing were amiss. "I'm leaving. If anything happens, remember to come find me in the Inner Court."

After watching Zhang Lexuan leave, Bei Bei let out a quiet breath and hurried toward Yang Jian and Ye Qingyuan.

Yang Jian was waiting in line when he turned and found a warm smile looking back at him. He had to admit, that refined and gentle air did make a person easy to like.

"We meet again. What a coincidence."

Bei Bei reached out to Yang Jian with a sunny smile. "My name is Bei Bei."

So he was Bei Bei?

Yang Jian hadn't expected that the boy he'd briefly met in the Star Dou Great Forest was none other than Bei Bei, the great-grandson of Dragon God Douluo Mu En. He didn't refuse Bei Bei's outstretched hand, reaching out to shake it lightly.

"I'm Yang Jian, and this is Ye Qingyuan."

Knowing Ye Qingyuan's habit of not speaking to unfamiliar men, Yang Jian introduced her for her.

Bei Bei didn't take offense. Instead, he smiled, giving off a warm, spring-breeze-like feeling. "From your accent, you're from the Star Luo Empire, right?"

"Yes, we're both from the Star Luo Empire."

Ye Qingyuan listened quietly to their conversation without any intention of joining in. Apart from when she was with Yang Jian and a few people she knew well, she always kept up this cool, aloof front. Besides, Bei Bei wasn't as handsome as Yang Jian—and even if he were, she wouldn't give him so much as a second glance!

Feeling Yang Jian's steady air, Bei Bei grew more certain that he wasn't an ordinary person. After all, Sister Lexuan herself had said he was no ordinary boy...

Perhaps sensing the lively bustle around it, the little puppy nestled in Yang Jian's arms poked its head out. The tuft of fur atop its head brushed lightly against Yang Jian's palm as it gave a faint whimper.

Seeing that, a flicker of surprise crossed Bei Bei's eyes.

"This little dog... is your pet?"

The little puppy didn't look like it could fight at all, but it was awfully cute. It had certainly piqued his curiosity.

"Yes, that's right. Its name is Xiao Bai."

Yang Jian gently rubbed the tuft of fur on Xiao Bai's head. Only when Xiao Bai looked content did he speak again. "Shrek Academy doesn't forbid students from keeping pets, does it?"

Bei Bei shook his head earnestly. "The academy has no rules about that. It's just... Shrek Academy has a Beast Fighting Zone, where they keep a lot of Soul Beasts. I'm afraid this little dog won't be able to handle the scent of the Soul Beasts."

"That's fine. As long as keeping pets isn't forbidden."