Refuse to Invest in the Tang Sect, Starting with Me!

Tang Ya's invitation to join her cause was filled with "anticipation."

It was like dropping a depth charge into a calm lake.

A tidal wave of snarky internal commentary surged through Lin Ciyan's mind.

Though his inner monologue was running rampant, Lin Ciyan's expression remained only slightly startled before reverting to that lazy, somewhat detached look.

He swallowed his food slowly, wiped the corner of his mouth, and only then raised his eyes to look at Tang Ya, asking in a flat, indifferent tone:

"Tang Sect?" He deliberately drew out the final syllable, infusing it with just the right amount of skepticism.

"Student Tang Ya, in what capacity are you issuing this... well, historically significant invitation to me here in the Shrek Academy cafeteria?"

Tang Ya didn't seem to catch the subtext, or perhaps she chose to ignore it. She maintained that fragile persistence and explained, "I am the current Sect Master of the Tang Sect! Although... although the Tang Sect is currently down to just me, we have a ten-thousand-year legacy and the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record left behind by our ancestor Tang San!"

"You've heard of the glorious deeds of our ancestor, the Sea God Tang San, right? Wouldn't it be wonderful to join the Tang Sect and help restore its former glory?"

"Glorious deeds"? "Restore its former glory"?

Lin Ciyan felt his stomach start to ache again.

That filter of hers was probably thicker than the Sea God's divine armor!

A faint, inscrutable smile touched his lips. His gaze swept over Tang Ya and then flicked toward Bei Bei, who was looking awkward and tense beside her. His tone remained unhurried, yet it carried an invisible pressure:

"Sect Master Tang, first of all, we are both students of Shrek Academy right now. Isn't talking about sects a bit premature?"

"Secondly, setting aside our current status..." He paused, his voice clear and steady.

"I, Lin Ciyan, come from Sea God Island and am a disciple of Mu En."

"To put it more bluntly, I am a core descendant handpicked by Shrek."

He turned his gaze toward Bei Bei and gestured slightly: "Bei Bei is the same as me."

"Our roots are in Shrek, in the Sea God Pavilion."

Sea God Island, Mu En, core descendant!

These words struck Tang Ya's heart like heavy hammers, one after another.

The color drained from her face at a visible rate, leaving her as pale as paper.

Only now did she realize how naive and wishful her previous thinking had been.

Yes, what kind of geniuses were Lin Ciyan and Bei Bei?

The soul power pressure and composed demeanor they exuded unintentionally were far beyond what ordinary students could possess.

Wasn't the reason she was willing to deal with Bei Bei because she valued his potential and background, hoping to use his strength to revive the Tang Sect?

She was just a Blue Silver Grass soul master with mediocre talent who had just suffered the destruction of her sect.

Aside from this decent appearance and that empty title of "Tang Sect Master," what capital did she have to recruit such heaven-gifted prodigies?

She had actually dared to dream of using the future of the Tang Sect and potential romantic interest to bind two core geniuses cultivated by Shrek?

It was like the CEO of a bankrupt small company running into a Fortune 500 annual meeting to invite the heir to abandon his billions and start from scratch with her, all while painting a picture of an "imminent IPO."

It was absurd to the point of insanity!

Lin Ciyan was even internally roasting the original story: Bei Bei was, at the very least, Mu En's great-grandson and a fourth-generation core member of the Sea God Pavilion—a standard "Shrek princeling."

In any normal family, if they discovered their heir was being bewitched by a girl of unknown origin who carried a blood feud and the baggage of a fallen sect, the elders would have intervened long ago!

Would they just watch him join the Tang Sect? This plot logic was clearly a case of lowering intelligence just to force a pairing!

The cruelty of reality, like a bucket of ice water, sobered Tang Ya instantly, leaving her feeling incredibly embarrassed and inferior.

The class gap and the barriers of reality that she had deliberately ignored were casually torn open by Lin Ciyan and laid out before her, raw and bloody.

"I... I'm sorry..." Tang Ya's voice was choked with sobs, and mist quickly filled her bright eyes. She bowed deeply to Lin Ciyan, "It was... it was my presumption. I apologize for the disturbance."

With that, she could no longer bear the embarrassment and shame, turned, and hurried away, her silhouette looking exceptionally thin and panicked.

"Xiao Ya!" Seeing this, Bei Bei felt a pang of heartache and instinctively chased after her.

Watching the two of them leave one after the other, Lin Ciyan calmly picked up a fruit and took a bite.

At the same time, a condensed and precise ripple of soul power silently caught up to Bei Bei, delivering his words directly into the boy's ears:

"This is the perfect opportunity to show your gentleness and consideration, to offer help in a time of need... ah, no, I mean, to be a shoulder to cry on."

"Buddy can only help you this much. The rest depends on your own intuition. Wingman is in position!"

Bei Bei, who was about to chase Tang Ya, stopped abruptly. A flash of shock crossed his face, followed by a complex expression.

He looked back at Lin Ciyan, his eyes a mix of gratitude, resentment, and anxiety, which finally settled into a look of determination. He nodded heavily and accelerated in the direction where Tang Ya had disappeared.

(Bei Bei's internal monologue: Brother Lin, your wingman skills are... I thank you! But about Xiao Ya crying, we are not done yet!)

Lin Ciyan retracted the strand of soul power used for the transmission with satisfaction, giving himself a mental thumbs-up for his precise control.

Hidden merit and fame, just a basic operation.

Bei Bei, oh Bei Bei.

Whether you wake up in time or sink deeper into this Dragon-Binding Rope, that depends on your own fortune.

The "Save the Love-Struck Fool" project is a long and arduous road...

But, what does that have to do with me?

Heaven and earth are vast, but eating is the most important thing!

If you aren't enthusiastic about eating, there's something wrong with your brain.

He refocused his attention on his tray, enjoying the food as if the minor disturbance from just a moment ago had never happened.

After polishing off the last bit of food on his tray, he stretched comfortably.

Hmm, fed and watered, now it's time to consider the grand cause of today's "slacking"... ah, no, "cultivation."

The Outer Court is so big and crowded; where can one go to quietly "slack off" while also "showing off" a little bit, and incidentally harvesting some Slacking Value and influence?

Forget it, I won't think about it; it's too much of a headache.

He decisively abandoned his planning and decided to head back to cuddle with Xiyao to recover some health. Charging for five minutes... well, it probably won't last for two hours, but at least it will put him in a better mood.

Thinking is doing; Lin Ciyan strolled back to Building Jia Room 301.

Closing the door to shut out the noise from outside, he immediately threw himself onto the bed and sank his consciousness into his Sea of Consciousness.

The golden ocean of spirit was warm and peaceful, and Xiyao's figure condensed almost the moment he entered.

Xiyao flew into his arms like a swallow returning to its nest, her cheek rubbing against his chest with reliance.

"Ciyan..." Her voice carried complete trust and a hint of imperceptible worry, "Outside, there are so many people."

"Yeah, school's started. Shrek City is packed like sardines right now; there are people everywhere." Lin Ciyan held her, soaking in that pure sense of peace as he casually explained, "I reckon this Outer Court won't be seeing any quiet from here on out."

Xiyao looked up, her golden eyes gazing at him clearly: "I feel that you don't like that... blue-haired girl." She was referring to Tang Ya, "There is a very strange feeling about her that makes me uncomfortable. Ciyan, you must be careful."

Lin Ciyan's heart stirred. Even Xiyao noticed it?

It seems the "abnormality" about Tang Ya is even more obvious than he imagined.

He patted Xiyao's back soothingly, his tone relaxed:

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Empty promises from a fallen sect won't work on me."

"Your brother Ciyan here is most afraid of trouble; I avoid it whenever I can, so how could I possibly get involved?"

He pinched Xiyao's cool, soft cheek and smiled: "It's more comfortable being with you. No need to use my brain, no need to guard against anyone, and I can even recharge."

Xiyao seemed infected by his smile; she also lifted the corners of her mouth slightly and hugged him tightly: "Mm! Being with Ciyan is the most peaceful." She buried her face in the crook of his neck and added in a low voice, "I will always watch over and protect Ciyan."

Hearing these childish yet incredibly earnest words, Lin Ciyan felt a warmth in his heart and held her even tighter.

Well, it seems life in the Outer Court is destined to be unable to "slack off" in complete peace, with the God King's hidden schemes in front and love-struck brothers behind.

As for these and the rest?

When soldiers come, block them; when water comes... I'll just lie down.