Yan Shaozhe: I Have a Plan!

Xuan Zi bit into a chicken leg and laughed indistinctly. "Shaozhe, maybe he thinks your rank is too low and doesn't think much of you. Haha, if I made a move, that brat would definitely bow his head and beg to become my disciple!"

Yan Shaozhe's face darkened.

What did he mean, his rank was too low?

Was rank ninety-five low? Was rank ninety-eight really so impressive?

He took a deep breath and did not respond.

Mu En, lying in his reclining chair, slowly spoke.

"I have observed this student as well."

Everyone's gaze turned toward the seat of honor.

"He possesses exceptional talent. It is understandable that he is proud. This child has only just entered Shrek and does not yet understand the academy or the significance of protecting its glory of ten thousand years. So I believe that as long as we treat him sincerely, we will eventually move him."

Yan Shaozhe was slightly stunned. "Teacher, you know him too?"

Mu En smiled softly, the wrinkles on his face bunching together like a withered chrysanthemum.

"This old man sits at the dormitory entrance every day. How could I not know?"

Yan Shaozhe smiled as well.

He continued, "When I proposed taking him as my disciple, I offered him quite a few conditions. Among them were a Hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring and a Hundred-thousand-year Soul Bone. But that brat would not budge. He said his family also had a Titled Douluo who would prepare them for him."

"His family has a Titled Douluo too?"

The elders present exchanged glances.

A family capable of raising a twelve-year-old four-ring Soul Ancestor with three purple rings and one black ring would never have been an ordinary family to begin with.

But the information that "his family has a Titled Douluo" made everyone reassess Lin Yaoyang's background.

One elder spoke. "Should we investigate his background first?"

Yan Shaozhe shook his head. "I tried. The information we could find was very limited. He was recommended by Lingxue City of the Heaven Dou Empire, his parents are unknown, and his origins are unclear. Either someone deliberately concealed his identity for him, or..."

He did not continue.

But everyone understood what he meant.

Or his background was so great that even Shrek could not uncover it.

Yan Shaozhe swept his gaze over the elders' expressions, then changed the subject.

"Actually, I have an immature idea."

Xuan Zi casually tossed the chicken bone onto the floor and wiped his greasy fingers on his clothes. "What idea? Shaozhe, let's hear it."

Yan Shaozhe paused, as though choosing his words carefully.

"From what I have observed, this child... is very sentimental."

He glanced at everyone's reactions before continuing. "He has only been at the academy for a few months, yet several girls are already gathered around him, and they are all among the most beautiful girls in the Outer Court."

"So... I was thinking, could we make use of this?"

The meeting hall fell silent for a moment.

Bang!

With a loud crash, Xian Lin'er slammed her palm onto the table and stood up. Her face was livid, her short gray-white hair nearly standing on end, and her eyes gouged into Yan Shaozhe like two blades.

"Yan Shaozhe, stop coming up with such rotten ideas!"

Her voice was high and sharp, echoing through the silent meeting hall.

"I will never allow our female students to be used by you like this!"

Her slam startled several elders. The teacups bounced on the table, and tea splashed out.

Elder Lin, seated at the head of the right side, furrowed her brows slightly and said in a deep voice, "Lin'er, this is a Sea God Pavilion Meeting. Watch your attitude."

Xian Lin'er's chest heaved violently, but she still took a deep breath and sat back down.

Yet the anger on her cold, stern face did not diminish in the slightest.

Elder Lin turned to Yan Shaozhe, her tone softening somewhat. "What Shaozhe said is not without reason."

She spoke leisurely. "If a female student from the Inner Court can truly be with Lin Yaoyang, that would also be a good thing. Their future descendants would be highly likely to become geniuses with ultimate attributes as well."

A shrewd glint flashed through her eyes.

"Perhaps we could even draw in the force behind Lin Yaoyang and make them an ally of Shrek."

One arrow, two targets. One stone, two birds. One move, two gains...

Xian Lin'er snorted coldly and turned her head away, saying nothing further.

She disagreed, but she also knew that at a Sea God Pavilion Meeting, her opposition was useless.

Seeing that the atmosphere had eased, Yan Shaozhe continued, "Next, we can find a time to hold a selection competition in the name of choosing reserve team members. Have this student participate as well, and those selected will enter the Inner Court directly to study."

The corners of his mouth rose slightly.

"Once he reaches the Inner Court, we will have more opportunities to let him experience the inheritance of Shrek's glory of ten thousand years. We can plant a seed of Shrek's glory in his heart."

The elders present nodded one after another.

This method was feasible.

He would not agree to become a disciple directly, so they would change their approach.

First, they would place him in the Inner Court, let him come into contact with Shrek's core, and let him experience Shrek's foundations.

Given enough time, subtle influence would eventually take effect.

Mu En lay in his reclining chair, quietly listening to everyone's remarks.

"If no one has any objections, then we shall proceed this way."

His voice was not loud, but every word carried unquestionable weight.

"Shaozhe, do not appear before that child again for the time being. Do not provoke him and make things backfire."

Yan Shaozhe nodded. "Yes, Teacher."

Mu En softly uttered an acknowledgment and closed his eyes.

"Alright, everyone, disperse."

The elders rose one after another and filed out. The scraping of chairs, footsteps, and low conversations intertwined, gradually fading away.

Yan Shaozhe did not leave.

He remained seated until everyone else had gone, then rose and walked to Mu En's reclining chair.

"Teacher..."

Mu En did not open his eyes.

"Is there another problem?"

His voice was calm.

"You are considering whom to send to approach Lin Yaoyang, aren't you?"

Given Mu En's understanding of Yan Shaozhe, he could tell what Yan Shaozhe was about to do the moment he so much as shifted in his seat.

Yan Shaozhe nodded.

Mu En was silent for a moment.

"Who do you want to send?"

"Lexuan..."

Mu En remained silent even longer.

"What about Xiaotao?" he asked. "The two of them should... have common topics to talk about, right?"

Yan Shaozhe hesitated for a moment, but he still briefly recounted what had happened by Sea God Lake that day.

Ma Xiaotao lost control, rushed to the lakeside, and accidentally injured Wang Dong.

Lin Yaoyang had fought her on the spot, calling her an "Evil Soul Master" again and again, making an enormous commotion. By the time Yan Shaozhe arrived, the situation had nearly spiraled out of control.

After hearing everything, Mu En remained silent for a long time.

"I understand," he finally said. "Go back first."

"Yes, Teacher."

Yan Shaozhe turned and left, his footsteps gradually fading into the distance.

Only Mu En remained in the meeting hall.

He lay in his reclining chair with his eyes closed, completely motionless.

After a long time, he slowly opened his eyes, stared at the ceiling, and let out a long sigh.

That sigh carried weariness, helplessness, and a trace of indescribable concern.