~
The images from the memory replay stopped there. After a brief moment of dizziness, Ming Yue set down the pen he had been using to take notes.
"I knew you'd be holed up in here again. You definitely haven't had lunch, have you? Silly A-Yue, you never listen."
The girl's reproachful voice came with a waft of fragrance. Ming Yue looked up and saw Leng Yulai pouting adorably.
"Here, hurry up and eat, you big dummy." She didn't wait for Ming Yue to say anything.
Leng Yulai quickly took an insulated lunchbox out of her Space Soul Tool.
Thoughtfully, she opened it and began setting out the dishes on a small table she took out next.
"Sister Yulai." Ming Yue's heart skipped a beat. He murmured her name.
"What is it?" The emotion in his voice made Leng Yulai pause.
After taking out a pair of chopsticks, she saw Ming Yue staring blankly at her and arched her delicate brows.
"Do you want your big sister to feed you? Honestly, A-Yue, you're hopeless~"
With that, she picked up a delicate morsel of food. "Ah~" She brought it to Ming Yue's lips.
"..." Fragrance wafted beneath his nose. Under Leng Yulai's gentle gaze, Ming Yue blushed a little, but obediently ate the food.
"Such a good boy~" Seeing this, Leng Yulai felt her maternal instincts swell with satisfaction.
With her free hand, she swiftly pulled a camera from her Space Soul Tool and snapped a photo of Ming Yue's blushing face.
Then she contentedly continued feeding him.
After lunch, their meal finished in a warm atmosphere, Ming Yue finally asked,
"Didn't Sister Yaozhu come? Sister Yulai, what brings you here so suddenly today? Is something urgent?"
Usually, when the Leng Sisters came to see him, they came together and let him know in advance with a Communication Soul Tool.
But today, not only had they failed to send word ahead, Sister Yulai had come alone.
"Hmm—A-Yue, you didn't know?"
She blinked in confusion. A contest between the younger generation of the Spirit Pagoda and Shrek Academy was a major event.
Not just the higher-ups—even the lower-ranking Spirit Masters knew about it and had gone to watch.
Ming Yue was the youngest child in the Qiangu Family. Even if he wasn't particularly gifted, surely they should have told him about something like this.
"...Looks like I've been forgotten."
Seeing Leng Yulai's expression, Ming Yue understood at once. Without changing his own, he made a self-deprecating remark.
"...This afternoon, the younger generation of the Spirit Pagoda and Shrek Academy are competing. Sister Yaozhu will represent the Spirit Pagoda. Sorry, A-Yue. I thought you'd know about it too."
Leng Yulai took Ming Yue's hand and looked at him with heartache.
Her tenderness for him grew, and her dislike of those snobs—and the Qiangu Family—grew stronger still.
"I see... I'm fine, Sister Yulai. After all, it's only natural for people to forget a Soul Master who still hasn't broken through to the first ring at twelve."
He gave a soft laugh and clasped her jade-like hand in return. Then he changed the subject. "No wonder Sister Yaozhu didn't come today."
"Let's go cheer her on together!"
Warmth flowed from her hand into his heart. Seeing that Ming Yue seemed fine, Leng Yulai nodded.
"Hehe! I came to ask you to go cheer Sister Yaozhu on with me in the first place! Looks like A-Yue knows what's what after all~"
Her adorable expression returned, and she simply took his hand and led him out of the laboratory.
The contest was being held at a famous Soul Fighting Arena within the Spirit Pagoda.
By the time they arrived, the stands were already packed, the crowd's voices filling the air.
"Hmm—there are so many people. We probably won't find a good seat now. A-Yue, come with me."
After looking around, Leng Yulai decided to take Ming Yue to her private viewing box.
Ming Yue had no objections. Under her guidance, the two of them made their way to the private viewing area.
It was called a private viewing area, but it was really a shared box for the children of the Spirit Pagoda's higher-ups.
So when the two of them opened the door and entered, everyone in the box naturally turned to look.
"The contest's about to begin. Miss Yulai has finally arrived."
"Haha, I told you Miss Yulai must've been delayed by something."
"..."
A few children of the higher-ups laughed and greeted her, pointedly ignoring Ming Yue at her side.
After all, they mostly admired and envied Leng Yulai and Leng Yaozhu.
That showed just how much momentum Qiangu Dieting had given Leng Yulai during the Martial Soul Awakening ceremony all those years ago.
Now, thanks to her own hard work, that momentum had become quite a reputation.
But Leng Yulai didn't change her expression in response to their flattery. She merely nodded politely.
Then she led Ming Yue straight to her sofa.
"Hmph! Who said you could come here?"
The moment they sat down, a cool voice rang out from a sofa near the front.
As soon as it sounded, the lively box fell silent.
"You're not even a Soul Master. A useless Martial Soul and pitiful Soul Power—haven't you brought the Qiangu Family enough shame already?"
His words turned icy, and a wave of Soul Power pressed down on them. Ming Yue's body trembled.
"Though I failed to live up to your expectations, talent isn't something I can choose."
"As for bringing shame, I don't think the Soul Guidance Technology I've contributed to the Spirit Pagoda over the years is all that poor."
The young man's clear voice was cool. Feeling Leng Yulai's Soul Power support him, Ming Yue suddenly thought that strength might be closely tied to the main storyline in this Simulation!
"A-Yue came with me, Young Master Qiangu. If you have a problem, take it up with me!"
At that moment, Leng Yulai was like a fluffy kitten bristling as she protected her cub. Her Soul Spirit appeared, and she stood up coldly, shouting.
"...Hmph! This contest isn't for you. Go back and get on with your research."
Qiangu Qingfeng didn't answer Leng Yulai. After a brief silence, he left those words behind, withdrew the pressure of his Soul Power, and said no more.
"Hmph!" Leng Yulai withdrew her Soul Spirit as well, then turned to comfort Ming Yue with concern.
The children of the Spirit Pagoda behind them watched this scene and secretly swallowed.
They said that although the youngest son of the Qiangu Family had no talent for becoming a Soul Master, his relationship with the Leng Sisters and his own intelligence were exceptional.
Now it seemed that wasn't just a rumor. It was the truth!
"...I'm fine, Sister Yulai. Instead, why don't you tell me about the people who'll be competing against Sister Yao Mo?"
"After all, Shrek Academy is known as the greatest academy on the continent."
Ming Yue gently squeezed Leng Yulai's hand. Seeing that the contest was about to begin, he smiled and pointed toward the group dressed in shit-green clothes.
Before you continue