At night, on the top floor of the Spirit Pagoda.
After arranging a room for Yuanen Yehui, Leng Yaozhu was especially attentive and considerate.
"From now on, this is your room. If you need anything, just tell me, or you can ask the Bai Haoze sisters." Leng Yaozhu spoke gently as she casually smoothed Yuanen Yehui's slightly messy bangs.
"Make yourself at home. There's no need to feel constrained."
Yuanen Yehui silently felt the care being shown to her. It was as if a warm stone had been dropped into her icy heart.
Being so carefully looked after was an unfamiliar feeling for her. She gave a quiet "Mm," her voice much softer than usual.
Meanwhile, after returning to his own room, Luo Yang felt inexplicably restless.
He sat cross-legged in cultivation, but Qiangu Zhangting's venomous face kept surfacing in his mind against his will.
"That guy... after taking such a huge loss, with his vindictive personality, will he really let this go?"
Luo Yang furrowed his brows, an ominous premonition stirring in his heart.
Qiangu Dongfeng might have reservations because of the Blood God Legion, but that spoiled fool might not. Who knew what underhanded tricks he might pull...
He shook his head, temporarily setting aside his unease.
When soldiers came, he would send a general to stop them; when water came, he would use earth to block it. For now, the most important thing was to improve his strength as quickly as possible.
He calmed his mind and circulated his Soul Power, while also communicating with the "Calamity Domain." He tried to purify the stored undead imprints left by the fallen soldiers of the Blood God Legion, accumulating Undead Power.
With each one he purified, his spiritual power and Soul Power received a trace of pure energy in return.
Just as he was immersed in cultivation,
"Click."
The sound of the door being gently pushed open.
Luo Yang's eyes snapped open. But when he saw who had come in, he froze.
Leng Yaozhu stood leaning lazily against the doorframe, wearing a light silk nightdress, her bare feet snow-white, her red hair cascading down like a waterfall.
The nightdress wasn't revealing, but it perfectly outlined her mature, graceful curves. Beneath the dim wall lamp, she radiated breathtaking charm.
She seemed to have just finished bathing. A faint fragrance clung to her, and her face was flushed from the hot water. Her gaze was a little hazy; she seemed less imposing than she had during the day, and more gentle and alluring.
Luo Yang was stunned for a moment.
That sight was honestly a bit too much to take in.
"Aunt Leng, it's so late. Why are you..." Luo Yang stammered.
Leng Yaozhu walked in with lazy steps and casually closed the door behind her. She came to Luo Yang's bedside, sat down as naturally as could be, and tilted her head to look at him.
"What's wrong? Didn't we agree? I was worried you wouldn't be used to things here since you just arrived, so I said I'd come sleep with you tonight. There are too many eyes and ears around during the day. Nighttime is perfect."
Luo Yang: "..."
When had he ever agreed to this?!
"Aunt Leng, this doesn't seem quite appropriate. I'm already so grown-up..."
Luo Yang tried to resist.
His body might only be six years old, but his mental age certainly wasn't!
Who could withstand this?!
"Grown-up? In my eyes, you're just a little bean."
Without giving him a chance to argue, Leng Yaozhu lifted the covers and climbed right in.
In an instant, a warm breath, mingling her natural fragrance with the clean scent of her bath, enveloped Luo Yang.
She put an arm around him as naturally as could be, drawing him into her embrace, while her other hand gently patted his back.
"All right, stop fussing and go to sleep. You have special training tomorrow, so you need to save your energy."
Luo Yang's whole body stiffened. He felt like a giant body pillow, pinned down by Leng Yaozhu's absolute "maternal love."
An enticing fragrance lingered beneath his nose, while behind him was the soft, warm rise and fall of her curves.
H-how was he supposed to sleep?!
He tried to struggle a little, only for Leng Yaozhu to tighten her arm around him and let out a sleepy hum.
"Don't move... Be good..."
Luo Yang: "..."
Fine. He gave up resisting.
He closed his eyes and tried to enter a meditative state, ignoring the warm, soft body behind him.
For Luo Yang, that night was the ultimate test of willpower. He slept "terribly," his body stiff and his mind taut.
Early the next morning.
Sunlight spilled into the room through a gap in the curtains.
Leng Yaozhu slowly opened her eyes and stretched lazily, letting out a satisfied hum. She felt more refreshed than ever.
As Vice Pagoda Master of the Spirit Pagoda, she was busy with work all year round and was a notorious workaholic. Her sleep had always been poor; she often woke at the slightest disturbance.
But last night, holding little Luo Yang and breathing in his clean, fresh scent, she hadn't even dreamed. She'd slept straight through until morning!
"Looks like this little one really is my calming treasure..." Leng Yaozhu was in high spirits as she looked down at Luo Yang in her arms.
Luo Yang had two obvious dark circles under his eyes, clearly having slept poorly. At that moment, he was trying to wriggle out of her embrace.
"You're awake? How did you sleep?" Leng Yaozhu asked with a cheerful smile, in a very good mood.
"Pretty well..."
Luo Yang looked at her with utter despair.
Pretty well, my foot!!!
He couldn't take it. He really couldn't take it!
When the two of them had finished getting ready and arrived in the living room, Yuanen Yehui was already waiting there.
She saw Luo Yang looking exhausted and listless from lack of sleep, then glanced at Leng Yaozhu, who was glowing and full of energy.
What exactly had you two done last night??
A strange look flashed through her cool, dark eyes, but she didn't ask anything.
After the three of them had breakfast,
Leng Yaozhu looked at Luo Yang and Yuanen Yehui, cleared her throat, and returned to her usual seriousness and authority.
"All right. Starting today, our special training for the friendly match against Shrek Academy officially begins."
Her gaze swept over Luo Yang and Yuanen Yehui.
"I've decided on the first stage of your special training: combat practice. Your opponents will be Evil Soul Masters."
"Evil Soul Masters?!"
Yuanen Yehui's pupils contracted. Even with her cool temperament, hearing those words instinctively put her on guard.
Luo Yang also perked up, most of his sleepiness gone.
Combat practice against Evil Soul Masters?
"Paper strategies will never teach you true combat ability. Shrek's students usually have much more practical experience than our Spirit Pagoda students, because they get more chances to train in the wild and take on missions to eliminate Evil Soul Masters."
Leng Yaozhu explained, "So we need to make up for that. Only in a fight to the death can you hone your will and combat instincts as quickly as possible."
"I've already received some intelligence."
She went to the wall and activated a soul-guided screen. A map appeared, with a location marked in red.
"About three hundred kilometers northwest of Shrek City, there's a town called Grey Rock Town. Last night, Evil Soul Masters massacred its inhabitants. The entire Soul Master guard stationed there was wiped out, and the civilian casualties were severe."
The screen displayed several images from the scene, spattered with blood and horrifying to look at.
Luo Yang and Yuanen Yehui both grew solemn.
"Based on our assessment, the Evil Soul Masters responsible aren't particularly powerful. They're likely between the Soul Ancestor and Soul Emperor ranks, probably around three in number, and skilled at coordinated attacks and concealment."
Leng Yaozhu analyzed, "They're probably still active in the surrounding area, searching for anyone who might have escaped. This is a suitable target for practical training."
"Your mission is to find them and wipe them out."
Leng Yaozhu looked at Luo Yang and Yuanen Yehui. "I'll accompany you the whole way, but unless your lives are in danger, I won't intervene. The two of you will be the main force in this operation. Understood?"
Luo Yang nodded slightly.
Yuanen Yehui nodded firmly, fighting spirit igniting in her eyes.
"Good. There's no time to waste. We leave at once!"
Leng Yaozhu acted swiftly, leading the two of them straight to the flight platform on the top floor of the Spirit Pagoda.
A sleek, medium-sized high-speed soul-guided mecha was already waiting there.
The mecha stood about eight meters tall. It was a lightweight assault model, built to balance speed and firepower.
Leng Yaozhu took the pilot's seat herself, while Luo Yang and Yuanen Yehui entered the passenger compartment at the rear.
The hatch closed, and the soul-guided engine let out a deep, powerful hum.
"Coordinates: Grey Rock Town. Departing!"
The thrusters on the mecha's back spewed blue-white flames. A tremendous burst of force surged forth, carrying the three of them skyward.