Semester's End

Time flew by like a shuttle.

Eight months was neither long nor short.

For Lin Yaoyang, those eight months had passed rather comfortably.

Ever since that late-night talk with Zhang Lexuan, the academy's attitude toward him seemed to have changed in subtle ways.

First, there was the dormitory. Whether it had been Yan Shaozhe's decision or Mu En's, he had been moved out of that ten-square-meter pigeonhole and into the faculty dormitory area.

Though it was not a detached little building, it was still a proper suite.

One bedroom, one living room, a private bathroom, and a small kitchen. It was fully furnished, bright, and clean.

Compared to the tiny room where he would bump into the bed whenever he turned around, it was like heaven and earth.

Wang Dong had benefited from his good fortune and moved in as well.

They each had their own bedroom and shared the living room and kitchen. It even carried a faint sense of "living together."

Of course, Wang Dong insisted that it was merely "normal mutual assistance between roommates," and Lin Yaoyang neither confirmed nor denied it.

As for the Golden Tree, there had been no news.

He was not in a hurry. It had never been something he absolutely needed. Given his attitude toward Shrek, it was perfectly normal for them not to give it to him. They were not fools; how could they casually open their most vital cultivation resource to a freshman?

But Lin Yaoyang did not care.

He had his own cultivation rhythm.

Over those eight months, his Soul Power had steadily risen from Rank 43 to Rank 45. He was only one step away from Rank 46.

It was not particularly fast, but it was solid.

That was simply the cultivation speed of an Ultimate Attribute. He did not compare himself to anyone else, only to himself.

During those eight months, Zhang Lexuan had come to see him several times.

Sometimes she invited him to eat. The Inner Court's food was far better than the Outer Court's, and Zhang Lexuan would bring some out from Sea God Island. The two would sit by Sea God Lake, eating and chatting.

Sometimes she invited him to spar, though naturally, neither of them went all out.

Their relationship gradually became more familiar over those eight months. The initial probing and wariness turned into friendship, and they could now chat freely.

Lin Yaoyang more or less knew why Zhang Lexuan had approached him. It was nothing more than an arrangement by Mu En or Yan Shaozhe. They wanted him to "feel Shrek's spirit" and "integrate into the Shrek family."

But he did not care.

He could eat the sugar coating and fire the shell back.

He genuinely thought Zhang Lexuan was a good person.

Gentle, intelligent, understanding, and beautiful.

Lin Yaoyang admitted that he truly had little resistance to the charm of mature older women.

And in the eyes of Shrek's higher-ups, things were developing exactly as they had hoped.

Zhang Lexuan and Lin Yaoyang were growing closer and closer, while Lin Yaoyang's attitude toward the academy had become much gentler than when he first arrived.

At the very least, he had not fought with any teachers again, nor had he publicly spoken ill of Shrek.

That was a good thing!

Yan Shaozhe was quite satisfied with this, feeling that his arrangement had worked.

Though Zhang Lexuan had not said so outright, she had not rejected the task either.

Both sides took what they needed. Everyone had a bright future.

As for the truth, perhaps only Lin Yaoyang himself knew.

That morning, dawn had only just begun to break, and a thin layer of mist still shrouded Sea God Lake.

A semester had finally come to an end.

Lin Yaoyang got up early and packed everything in the dormitory that needed packing into his storage Soul Tool.

There was not much to pack, really. Most of his belongings were normally kept in his Soul Tool, and only a few daily necessities remained in the dormitory.

He checked everything once, confirmed that nothing had been left behind, and only then closed the door.

Wang Dong was already waiting in the living room.

She wore casual clothes. Her pink-blue short hair had grown a little longer than at the beginning of the semester, hanging by her ears and making her delicate face seem even softer.

She leaned against the doorframe, looking somewhat distracted.

The two left the dormitory building together.

Zhang Lexuan was already waiting downstairs.

She was not wearing the Inner Court robe today, but a plain long dress instead. Her black hair spilled down her back, the ends curling slightly.

The morning breeze drifted past, making her skirt sway gently. She looked like a white lotus quietly blooming in the morning light.

Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, and Jiang Nannan arrived one after another as well.

Jiang Nannan wore a pale white dress, her golden curls cascading down her back. She looked gentle and refreshing.

The five of them slowly followed the Lakeside Path around Sea God Lake toward the academy gates.

Shrek was very quiet in the early morning.

Mist lingered over Sea God Lake, while the water glimmered with tiny golden ripples beneath the morning light.

Zhang Lexuan escorted the four of them to the academy gates, then stopped.

She turned around, her gaze sweeping across the four faces before finally settling on Lin Yaoyang. She smiled faintly.

"Yaoyang, be careful on the road. See you next semester."

"See you, Senior Sister." Lin Yaoyang nodded. His tone was calm, but there was a slight smile on his lips.

Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, and Jiang Nannan also bade Zhang Lexuan farewell.

Xiao Xiao waved her little hand, her voice sweet. "See you, Senior Sister! I'll come play with you again next semester!"

Zhang Lexuan smiled and nodded.

After leaving the academy gates, the four stood on the main road outside Shrek City's eastern gate.

Xiao Xiao was the first to say goodbye.

She waved at the other three and skipped off in another direction.

After taking a few steps, she turned back and called to Lin Yaoyang, "Class Monitor, see you next semester!"

Then she ran off, her ponytail swishing behind her.

Only Lin Yaoyang, Wang Dong, and Jiang Nannan remained on the road.

Lin Yaoyang turned to Jiang Nannan. "Nannan, let's go too."

Jiang Nannan smiled and nodded.

She held out her small hand and naturally took Lin Yaoyang's. Her movement was gentle, but her grip was tight, as though she were afraid he would run away.

Standing nearby, Wang Dong watched their clasped hands, and that indescribable sourness rose within her again.

She bit her lip, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the corner of her clothes.

"Hey, Brother Lin..."

She spoke, her voice somewhat tight.

Lin Yaoyang turned his head. "What is it?"

Wang Dong took a deep breath as if she were making some major decision.

Her face flushed slightly. Complex emotions churned in those beautiful eyes—nervousness, hesitation, and a faint, indescribable anticipation.

"Brother Lin, next semester... if there's a chance..."

She gritted her teeth. "I... I'll introduce my older sister to you!"

After saying that, she did not even dare look at Lin Yaoyang. She turned and ran.

Her pink-blue short hair fluttered in the morning breeze, and her steps were so quick that she seemed to be fleeing.

Lin Yaoyang watched her retreating figure, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

Jiang Nannan also watched the direction Wang Dong had run off in, a trace of confusion flashing through her eyes.

She tugged Lin Yaoyang's hand and tilted her head. "Her older sister? Why does it look to me like... she likes you?"

She then added, "Yaoyang, you've been living with her this whole time. Be careful. I'm afraid she might..."

She did not finish, but the meaning was obvious.

Lin Yaoyang laughed heartily and continued walking forward while holding her hand.

"Nannan, do you know what Wang Dong's Martial Soul is?"

"The Light Goddess Butterfly."

Jiang Nannan answered matter-of-factly. "Who in the Outer Court doesn't know? Those wings are so beautiful. Every time she reveals them in the Soul Fighting Zone, the entire audience is stunned."

Lin Yaoyang nodded. "Then do you know this Martial Soul's characteristics?"

Jiang Nannan thought for a moment. "Beautiful? Elegant? Balanced in offense and defense?"

"No, no, no." Lin Yaoyang smiled and shook his head. "I mean its gender restriction."

Jiang Nannan's steps paused slightly.

"The Light Goddess Butterfly only appears in women."

Jiang Nannan's beautiful eyes instantly widened, her lips parting slightly. She stood there as though she had been struck by a paralysis spell.

She processed it for two and a half seconds, then abruptly turned toward the direction Wang Dong had disappeared before looking back at Lin Yaoyang. Her voice rose several pitches. "You... you mean... Wang Dong, she... was a girl all along?!"

Lin Yaoyang smiled and nodded.

Jiang Nannan stood where she was, her expression changing from shock to realization, then from realization to something strange, before finally turning into an indescribable resentment.

She turned to Lin Yaoyang, her eyes carrying a reproachful look that said, "You've hidden this from me for so long."

"Fine! You knew all along and never told me! And you even lived with her for an entire semester! Don't tell me you two already slept together?!"

"How could that be?" Lin Yaoyang shook his head, a trace of helplessness in his tone. "If that had happened, she would not have said that just now."

Jiang Nannan considered it and felt that made sense.

If Wang Dong truly had something going on with Lin Yaoyang, she would not have said something like, "I'll introduce my older sister to you."

That tone, that expression—it was clearly a girl too afraid to confess, using an excuse to get close to the person she liked.

"So that means," Jiang Nannan concluded, "Wang Dong still doesn't know that you already know her secret?"

"Mm."