Trying to Trick Me? No Way!

June in Shrek City.

It felt like a massive, ignited gunpowder barrel; passion and clamor surged straight into the clouds.

The annual opening of the Outer Court was not just a grand event for the academy, but a carnival for the entire city.

Young soul masters from the three great empires and even the Sun Moon Empire, clutching their dreams and letters of recommendation, poured in like a hundred rivers returning to the sea.

The city was a bustle of carriages and horses, the crowds were like woven fabric, and the inns were packed to capacity.

Business was so good for the shopkeepers that their smiles stretched from ear to ear.

Even some Soul Tools initially applied to civilian fields, such as lamps and megaphones, had become rare curiosities that stopped tourists in their tracks, lending this ancient academy city a unique vitality.

Compared to the scorching heat outside, the Jia Building 301 dormitory where Lin Ciyan resided was a sanctuary of peace.

As for the dormitory conditions... let's just say they were very "Shrek."

Two hard wooden beds, two small wardrobes, one desk, and a bathroom balcony with only cold water.

The verdict: reminiscent of the 996 employee dorms from his past life, focusing primarily on "remembering bitterness to appreciate sweetness."

However, Lin Ciyan accepted this well.

He tidied up a little and threw the windows wide open, letting the breeze—damp with the scent of Sea God Lake—and the sunlight pour in.

Then, he expertly sprawled himself out on the bed by the window, adjusted to the most comfortable position, and began his "first lesson of enrollment"—deep meditation (napping).

The environment was a bit crude, but it had the advantage of being quiet.

As long as your heart is "laid back" enough, anywhere is a Golden Tree Hammock.

He didn't know how much time had passed before the sound of the dormitory door being gently pushed open startled him from that mysterious, half-asleep state.

"Who is it?" Lin Ciyan lazily opened one eye.

At the doorway, Bei Bei was carrying his luggage, looking at him with a bewildered expression before glancing down at his key and the room number.

"234... that's right!" Bei Bei scratched his head, a look of pleasant surprise breaking across his face.

"Brother Lin! I didn't expect us to be so fated, to actually be assigned to the same dorm!"

Lin Ciyan yawned and sat up slowly: "Coincidence? Two inner court connections, assigned to the best dormitory area, and we just happen to be in the same room... think about it, think about it carefully."

Bei Bei paused, then suddenly realized, chuckling to himself without saying more as he began to unpack his things.

But his movements were clearly distracted.

A suspicious blush and a silly grin flashed across his face from time to time.

Lin Ciyan's eyelids twitched, and he couldn't help but speak up: "Hey, I'm telling you, Bei Bei, with that lovesick look on your face, did you find money on the road or did you meet your true love?"

Bei Bei's movements stiffened, and he looked at Lin Ciyan with some embarrassment: "You... you already know?"

"Nonsense, with such a big girl by your side, I'm not blind." Lin Ciyan rolled his eyes.

"Isn't it just Tang Ya? Look at how pathetic you are, spending the whole day busy with her, and only now coming to unpack your dorm."

Having his secret exposed, Bei Bei actually relaxed, his tone filled with longing: "Brother Lin, you don't understand! Xiao Ya, she... she is truly special!"

"I feel like she's glowing all over, attracting me every single moment! She might just be my destiny!"

Yue~

Lin Ciyan forcibly suppressed his rising stomach acid, maintaining a plastic-brotherhood smile on his face: "Ah, yes, yes, yes, true love is invincible, I believe in your taste! (Not really)."

He really couldn't stand this sour, rotting scent of romance and decided to slip away.

"You take your time unpacking for your destiny, I'm going to go handle dinner." Lin Ciyan stood up, patted his backside, and walked out.

"Eh? Brother Lin, aren't you going to wait for me?" Bei Bei called out from behind.

"Not waiting, if I keep listening to you ramble, I'm afraid I won't be able to eat dinner." Lin Ciyan waved his hand without looking back, letting go of the urge to help others and respecting their fate!

Watching Lin Ciyan's retreating back, Bei Bei didn't mind, happily continuing to unpack, his mind already starting to calculate when he would go find Tang Ya later.

The cafeteria of the Shrek Outer Court was massive, large enough to accommodate thousands of people dining at once.

It used a self-service model, with a rich variety of food ranging from ordinary ingredients to delicacies rich in soul power; naturally, the prices were also "quite something."

Long dining tables were neatly arranged in the hall; there were no individual chairs, and students stood to quickly finish their meals, full of the academy's efficiency-first style.

Lin Ciyan grabbed a portion of soul beast steak that looked decent and a few fresh fruits.

Just as he found a spot and prepared to dig in, he looked up and saw the "scenery" he least wanted to see at that moment.

He saw Bei Bei and Tang Ya had also just finished getting their food and were looking for a seat while chatting.

Bei Bei's face was brimming with an enthusiastic smile, while Tang Ya kept her head slightly lowered, responding occasionally, appearing delicate and quiet.

Great, there was no way to eat this meal in peace.

Lin Ciyan complained internally, though his face remained expressionless.

Bei Bei had sharp eyes and saw him immediately, waving happily: "Brother Lin! Over here!"

Helpless, Lin Ciyan could only watch as the two walked over with their trays. The three converged and found a spot by the window to stand.

"Tang Ya, this is the best brother I've mentioned to you, Lin Ciyan," Bei Bei introduced enthusiastically.

"Brother Lin, this is Tang Ya."

"Hello." Lin Ciyan nodded at Tang Ya, his tone indifferent—neither overly warm nor lacking in courtesy.

Tang Ya looked up, stealing a quick glance at Lin Ciyan, her voice as soft as a mosquito's hum: "H-hello, classmate Lin." She seemed somewhat shy, yet carried a hint of curiosity.

During the meal, Bei Bei was naturally the center of the conversation.

He kept recounting amusing anecdotes from his and Lin Ciyan's childhood (mostly about how he was "crushed" by Lin Ciyan).

He also spoke of Lin Ciyan's outrageous "slacker-style cultivation" and his formidable strength.

Tang Ya listened quietly, occasionally chiming in, though her gaze drifted toward Lin Ciyan from time to time, the curiosity in her eyes growing ever more intense.

Finally, when Bei Bei mentioned once again how astonishing Lin Ciyan's talent was, Tang Ya seemed to make up her mind.

She set down her utensils, took a deep breath, and looked at Lin Ciyan, her eyes filled with an inexplicable expectation and... a trace of imperceptible urgency.

"C-classmate Lin," she raised her voice slightly, her eyes showing determination, "Since you are so powerful, would you be interested in... joining our Tang Sect?"

"Pfft—cough, cough, cough!" Lin Ciyan nearly spat out his juice; the result of forcing it down was a fit of choking coughs.

He widened his eyes, staring at Tang Ya, who was extending a "sincere" invitation, while ten thousand alpacas stampeded through his mind, flooding his thoughts:

Join the Tang Sect?!

Did I hear that wrong, or has your Tang Sect not finished its bankruptcy proceedings yet?

Including you, isn't your Tang Sect just a one-man show right now?

Inviting me to join? To be a free high-level thug, or to be a dog for that God King you serve?

I can't handle this sky-high fortune (trouble)!

Bei Bei, hurry up and control your "fated" love-struck brain! This thing is contagious!

He finally caught his breath, looking at the "hopeful" gaze of Tang Ya and the expression on Bei Bei's face—which clearly said, "Brother, hurry and agree, this is a great opportunity"—and felt a massive headache coming on.

It seemed that life in the Shrek outer courtyard was destined to be anything but a peaceful "slacker" experience.

To think I'd encounter a prerequisite quest for the ultimate dungeon right at the start!