Is Dean Yan Trying to Shield an Evil Soul Master?

Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath and turned around.

Lin Yaoyang was still in his Martial Soul Possession state.

Crimson and silver-white armor covered his entire body, its edges sharp and angular. The golden core on his chest resembled a miniature sun, while two pairs of Gilded Fire Wings slowly beat behind him.

He held the unconscious Wang Dong in one arm and gripped the Corona Sword in the other, its tip pointed straight at the master and disciple.

He looked every bit like a righteous hero eliminating evil for the people.

Yan Shaozhe's mouth twitched.

Did this brat really not know who Ma Xiaotao was, or was he doing this on purpose?

He looked at Wang Dong in Lin Yaoyang's arms, then at the students watching from nearby.

"Student Lin," Yan Shaozhe said, trying to make his voice sound as gentle as possible, "this isn't what you think it is."

Lin Yaoyang snorted coldly, the sword tip utterly unmoving. "If it isn't, then what is it? All I know is that an Evil Soul Master broke into Shrek Academy and injured my roommate!"

Yan Shaozhe's mouth twitched again.

Why did this brat keep calling her an Evil Soul Master?

He drew a deep breath and decided to clear out the onlookers first.

He gave the few teachers still peeking around in the distance a meaningful look.

The teachers immediately got the message and began dispersing the students who had gathered to watch.

"Everyone, move along! There's nothing to see!"

"Get back to class! Stop hanging around here!"

"Go on, get moving! Keep dawdling, and we'll mark you absent!"

Though the students were unwilling, they did not dare defy their teachers. They could only leave while constantly looking back.

Some muttered as they walked, "Who exactly is that freshman? He's way too fierce, isn't he?"

"No idea, but I think he's about to become famous."

The murmurs gradually faded away.

Only after confirming that there were no unrelated people around did Yan Shaozhe turn back to Lin Yaoyang, pasting a kindly smile onto his face.

"Student Lin, you've misunderstood. She isn't an Evil Soul Master. She's your senior."

"A senior?" Lin Yaoyang finally lowered his sword tip slightly, but the vigilance on his face did not diminish in the slightest.

"Yes," Yan Shaozhe explained patiently. "Her name is Ma Xiaotao, and she's a student of the Inner Court. Her Martial Soul is the Evil Fire Phoenix. During cultivation, her Evil Fire can become uncontrollable, and sometimes... well, she loses control of her emotions. That was what happened today. She did not mean to hurt anyone."

Lin Yaoyang fell silent for a moment.

Then he gave a cold snort. "Once an Evil Soul Master, always an Evil Soul Master!"

Yan Shaozhe: "..."

"Is Dean Yan trying to shield an Evil Soul Master?"

Yan Shaozhe was already cursing internally.

Did this brat genuinely not understand, or was he pretending not to?

Luckily, he had dismissed the students first.

Otherwise, if this brat shouted something like that, the entire academy would be thrown into an uproar.

If word got out that "Shrek Academy shields Evil Soul Masters," he would never be able to clear his name!

"Student Lin,"

Yan Shaozhe said earnestly, a trace of helplessness in his voice, "this truly is a misunderstanding. Your senior really isn't an Evil Soul Master. It's simply the unique nature of her Martial Soul that makes her prone to losing control while cultivating. This isn't uncommon in the Inner Court, and we have specialized methods to deal with it..."

"I don't care."

Lin Yaoyang cut him off, his tone utterly resolute.

"All I know is that she hurt my roommate, my classmate, my friend."

"She is my beloved friend and sworn brother!!"

He lowered his head and glanced at Wang Dong in his arms. Her pale face made his expression harden further.

Yan Shaozhe's temples began throbbing again.

Looking at Lin Yaoyang's stance of give me an explanation or I'm not leaving, then at the unconscious Wang Dong in his arms, Yan Shaozhe suddenly felt a headache coming on.

He knew Wang Dong's identity.

The young sect master of the Clear Sky Sect, the renowned inheritor of the Clear Sky Hammer.

If her family learned that she had been injured by an "Evil Soul Master" at Shrek...

Yan Shaozhe shuddered and did not dare think any further.

Damn it, if you wanted compensation, just say so!

He took a deep breath and forced out an even kinder smile than before.

"Student Lin, don't worry about that. Take Student Wang Dong back to recover first. The academy will send compensation to your dormitory shortly."

Lin Yaoyang was silent for several seconds.

Then he put away the Corona Sword and released his Martial Soul Possession.

The golden light faded, and he returned to being that handsome young man in a white academy uniform.

His orange-red short hair glimmered faintly in the morning sunlight, and his righteous expression became calm and mild.

"Very well, then. Thank you, Dean Yan."

He nodded, turned around with Wang Dong in his arms, and left.

After walking a few steps, he turned back and added, "Dean Yan, please hurry. My roommate's condition isn't very stable."

Yan Shaozhe watched his retreating back, his mouth twitching.

This brat... changed his face faster than turning a page.

He watched Lin Yaoyang carry Wang Dong down the tree-lined path until they disappeared from sight. After a long silence, he picked up Ma Xiaotao, and with a flash, vanished from the lakeside.

Inside the dormitory.

Lin Yaoyang placed Wang Dong on her bed and tucked her beneath the blanket.

She was still unconscious, her brows faintly furrowed as though she were having an unpleasant dream.

Her pink-blue short hair spread across the pillow, making her face appear even fairer.

Lin Yaoyang stood by the bed for a while. Only after confirming that she was in no serious danger did he return to his desk and sit down.

He took out his book on Soul Tool theory and opened it, but he could not focus on the words.

He had deliberately made a big deal out of what happened today.

When Ma Xiaotao had charged over in an uncontrolled state, he could have carried Wang Dong away and dodged. With his speed and reactions, avoiding an out-of-control Soul Emperor would not have been difficult. But he had not.

He had chosen to stay and fight her.

In front of so many students, he had made the commotion as big as possible.

He had firmly pinned the label of "Evil Soul Master" onto her.

Lin Yaoyang withdrew his thoughts and was about to continue reading when a soft snort sounded behind him.

He turned his head.

Wang Dong turned over and mumbled something before falling still again.

Lin Yaoyang watched her for a moment. Only after confirming that she had not woken up did he turn back and continue reading.

The dormitory was quiet, filled only with the sound of pages turning and Wang Dong's even breathing.

Before long, someone knocked on the door.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Three measured knocks.

Lin Yaoyang put down his book, rose to his feet, and opened the door.

A middle-aged male teacher stood outside. He wore Shrek's standard green teacher's robe, with a silver badge pinned to his chest, and held an exquisite wooden box in his hands.

A professional smile covered his face, but before entering, his eyes had already swept across the dormitory. It was a habit developed from handling "aftermath matters" for many years.

"Hello, Student Lin," the teacher said with a perfectly measured smile. "I'm here to deliver your compensation."

He offered the wooden box with both hands, his posture exceedingly humble. "What happened this morning was purely an accident. The academy deeply apologizes. This is your compensation. Please accept it, Student Lin."

Lin Yaoyang took the wooden box and opened it one-handed.

Two gold cards lay inside, side by side on black velvet.

He picked one up and turned it over for a look.

Lin Yaoyang closed the box, raised his head, and said calmly, "Is Shrek Academy so poor that all it has left is money?"

The teacher's smile stiffened for an instant.

He gave a dry cough, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, but he quickly resumed his amiable expression. "That... is naturally not the case."

Internally, he had already cursed Lin Yaoyang out.

What kind of attitude was this? Even if you were an unparalleled genius, you could not be this arrogant, could you? Did you not understand the meaning of humility?

But he could not say it aloud.

Dean Yan Shaozhe had personally instructed him that Lin Yaoyang was to receive "special treatment." As for what kind of special treatment, he had not said, but the meaning was obvious: do not offend him.

The teacher changed the subject and looked past Lin Yaoyang toward Wang Dong lying on the bed inside.

"How is Student Wang Dong?"

Lin Yaoyang stored the wooden box in his storage Soul Tool, his tone as calm as if he were discussing the weather.

"Don't worry. She isn't dead."

The teacher's mouth twitched again.

That way of speaking... was really not likable at all.

He took a deep breath, suppressed the trace of displeasure in his heart, and forced a smile back onto his face. "That's good, that's good. Please take good care of her, Student Lin. I still have matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."

"Take care. I won't see you out."

Lin Yaoyang shut the door, his movements clean and decisive. He did not even bother with empty pleasantries.

The teacher stood outside, staring at the tightly shut door. The smile on his face finally collapsed. He shook his head, turned, and walked away, muttering as he went, "Young people these days..."