Jiang Nannan's Gratitude

Because it was the period for recruiting new students, the freshman teaching building was exceptionally lively, with many who had already passed the entrance examination registering and reporting in.

When Yang Jian and his group arrived at the freshman teaching building, the area outside was already packed with people.

"The annual tuition for the outer courtyard of our Shrek Academy is ten Gold Soul Coin, excluding meal expenses. If you fail to pass the assessments and drop out halfway, the tuition is non-refundable. Of course, for students from commoner backgrounds, the academy will provide some work opportunities for them to participate in work-study programs."

While speaking, Bei Bei had already led the group toward the freshman registration area.

Tuition payments, dormitory key collection, school uniforms, and freshman badges were all handled here.

Yang Jian cast a casual glance, and the striking figure of Jiang Nannan immediately caught his eye.

At this moment, Jiang Nannan was standing at the registration desk looking deeply embarrassed, her fair hands clutching a worn-out handbag tightly. She bit her lip with her pearly teeth, looking completely at a loss.

In order to enter Shrek Academy and gain access to better resources and education, she had lived frugally, and by taking on odd jobs with her mother, she had finally saved up ten Gold Soul Coin. She had only obtained the main city recommendation letter after repeatedly demonstrating her talent to a city lord who was willing to invest in her.

However, it wasn't until she arrived at Shrek Academy that she learned the academy required ten Gold Soul Coin for the application fee alone, and another ten for the annual tuition.

Forget ten Gold Soul Coin; she couldn't even scrape together a single one right now. She was already having to scrimp on her meals, so how was she supposed to pay this fee?

Having come this far, was she really just going to give up?

The thought that even if she chose to give up, the ten Gold Soul Coin application fee would not be refunded only made Jiang Nannan's mood sink further.

"Qingyuan, go ahead."

Yang Jian fished thirty Gold Soul Coin out of his storage Soul Tool and placed them into Ye Qingyuan's hand.

Although he didn't know how Jiang Nannan had managed to enroll in the original story, or who had solved this trouble for her, since he had seen it, he would choose to help if he could.

As for any form of repayment... he hadn't even considered it.

It was only ten Gold Soul Coin.

The single bottle of Xuanqing Pill that Ye Qingyuan had taken out earlier to feed Little White was worth over one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coin.

Ye Qingyuan glanced at Jiang Nannan's striking appearance, then looked back at Yang Jian, blinking as she wondered about something, before walking toward Jiang Nannan.

"I didn't expect you to be such a kind person. Handsome, and with such a good heart."

Tang Ya couldn't help but pat Yang Jian on the shoulder, expressing her approval.

If someone else had taken ten Gold Soul Coin to help the girl out of a bind, Tang Ya might have suspected they were eyeing Jiang Nannan's beauty, looking to leverage a favor for ulterior motives.

But Yang Jian hadn't gone to help her himself; he had sent the girl by his side to do it.

This gesture alone was enough to make her feel favorably toward Yang Jian.

Standing some distance away, Xu Sanshi saw this scene and shook his head with a touch of regret.

He had also noticed the girl who looked like she couldn't afford her tuition.

To be precise, he had noticed her at a glance.

Striking appearance, humble background.

He had intended to wait a little longer, until the girl felt truly desperate, before appearing before her like a ray of light to pay her tuition.

Heroes saving beauties was a tale as old as time; even if he couldn't make her pledge her life to him, it would at least give him a head start in winning her heart.

He hadn't expected someone to beat him to it.

However...

Xu Sanshi's gaze fell upon Yang Jian.

He had noticed this guy during registration, first because of his outstanding looks, and second because of the puppy he was holding.

When traveling, he always kept the advice of his sect elders in mind—if you see a Soul Master who looks strange at first glance, don't rush to mock them; they might just be a formidable character.

In Xu Sanshi's eyes, Yang Jian was undoubtedly a strange-looking Soul Master.

Especially since this guy had reached level 30 soul power during the test.

"Second Brother, it's all paid, including that girl's share."

Ye Qingyuan returned to Yang Jian's side with a light step, gesturing toward Jiang Nannan, who was currently collecting her school uniform.

Yang Jian nodded, but when he turned his head, he noticed Bei Bei frowning slightly as he looked at a notice on a nearby bulletin board.

"I didn't expect your homeroom teacher to be her?"

Bei Bei's exclamation immediately drew Yang Jian's attention. He stepped forward and took a brief look, realizing it was a list of homeroom teachers for the freshman classes.

On the notice, the position for Class One's homeroom teacher clearly bore the name Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi?

Yang Jian carefully searched his memory, only then recalling that before Zhou Yi became Huo Yuhao's homeroom teacher, she had actually been a third-year teacher.

Because she was overly strict in her teaching, only one-tenth of the students in her class had advanced to the fourth year. After the students collectively reported her to the academy, she was demoted to the freshman level, where she became Huo Yuhao's homeroom teacher.

So...

He and Ye Qingyuan were members of this unlucky class where only one-tenth of the students would make it to the fourth year?

"This teacher can be considered the strictest in the entire outer courtyard. The advancement rate of the classes she leads is consistently at the bottom. But with the strength of you two, you shouldn't need to worry about that."

Bei Bei had just finished explaining when Tang Ya pulled on his sleeve and shook it: "What about us? How is our homeroom teacher? Are they strict?"

Tang Ya knew her own situation best; with her Blue Silver Grass martial soul, her talent was not particularly outstanding. In a place like Shrek Academy where geniuses were as common as clouds, she could only be considered below average. If her teachers were too strict, there was a high chance she wouldn't be able to successfully advance to the next grade.

As the dignified Sect Master of the Tang Sect, it would be a massive embarrassment if she couldn't even graduate from the outer courtyard.

Tang Ya's focus and attention were entirely consumed by whether she could graduate smoothly, so she didn't notice that she was tugging on Bei Bei's sleeve. This very action caused Bei Bei's face to turn beet red.

"Ahem... our teachers aren't that strict, at least they're much more lenient than the head teacher of Class One."

Watching Tang Ya's actions, Yang Jian inexplicably felt like laughing.

This overly familiar personality and her casual gestures had Bei Bei completely wrapped around her finger. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before Bei Bei was completely won over by Tang Ya.

"Um... it was you who helped me, right?"

Jiang Nannan's slightly soft voice rang out from behind them. Her face held a hint of nervousness, and her gaze was locked firmly onto Yang Jian.

When Yang Jian turned around, Jiang Nannan's expression went blank for a moment, her small mouth slightly agape.

She never expected that the person who paid her tuition would be so handsome.

Compared to him, the equally refined and handsome youth beside him seemed to lose much of his luster.

However, Jiang Nannan quickly regained her composure. Lowering her head slightly, she offered her sincere thanks: "Thank you for your help. Consider these ten Gold Soul Coins a loan; I... I will pay you back as soon as possible."