A Golden Rain of Wisdom Nourishes Withered Wood · Kindness Opens the Road to the Tang Sect's Revival

In the private room, the two chatted on for quite some time.

Drawing on his knowledge of Blue Star and Xu Sanshi's specific predicament, Long Jinyu casually offered a few pointers on the simple principles of "being sincere instead of clinging stubbornly," "showing your worth instead of giving endlessly," and "respecting the other person's boundaries."

To him, these were just common sense. To Xu Sanshi, they were like a sudden burst of enlightenment.

"Senior! You really are... a single sentence that woke me from a dream!"

Xu Sanshi slapped the table in excitement.

"How did I never think of that? You can't rely on brute force and shameless persistence to win a girl over. You need a strategy, and you need to improve yourself! I really was... stupid beyond belief!"

He looked at Long Jinyu with eyes full of admiration.

"Senior, how did your brain get so sharp? You're way too clever! You see right through the heart of the matter, and you speak with such insight! You should start a class! I want to learn more from you!"

Long Jinyu laughed again at his over-the-top reaction and waved a hand. "Haha, you're flattering me, Sanshi. Start a class? No, no. These are just a few insignificant tricks. I wouldn't dare lead anyone astray. For anything more useful, you've got those books I gave you. The right thing to do is study them carefully yourself."

"You're too modest, Senior! If your ideas aren't fit for the public, then the rest of us must be a bunch of blocks of wood!"

"A casual pointer from you gives me enough to ponder for half a year! A single conversation with you is worth ten years of reading!"

Xu Sanshi continued pouring on the praise, practically ready to proclaim Long Jinyu the greatest strategist under heaven.

After they finished eating, Xu Sanshi's enthusiasm was so insistent that he practically forced the ten packed portions of soup on Long Jinyu. Long Jinyu "reluctantly" (eagerly✓) stowed them in his Storage Soul Tool.

The two said their goodbyes outside the shop. Xu Sanshi called him "sis" at every turn, treating him with extraordinary warmth, and promised to handle Tang Ya's matter right away.

Long Jinyu laughed and shook his head, muttering inwardly:

"I haven't even found myself an older sister since I transmigrated, and now I've already become someone else's 'big sis'?"

"Whatever, let it be for now. I can tell him the truth later. Hmm... like with Dong'er? Hehehe~"

Inside the shop, the old manager had been burning with curiosity as he watched his young master fawn over that breathtaking "girl," even calling her "sis." Only after she had left did he cautiously approach and ask, "Young Master, who was that young lady just now...?"

Xu Sanshi immediately put on a stern face and gave a couple of serious coughs. "Ahem! Don't ask what you shouldn't! Remember, not a word about what happened today!"

Then he turned and strode toward the well-known Shrek Tea House, leaving the old manager utterly baffled.

The Shrek Tea House was elegant, filled with the sweet aroma of desserts.

It was afternoon, and new student registration was still underway, so the shop was nearly empty.

Xu Sanshi pushed open the door, and the bell rang out crisply.

Behind the counter, a handsome young man in a server's uniform, with short pale-purple hair, looked up at the sound. When he saw who it was, a warm, faintly teasing smile appeared on his face. "Oh? Sanshi? A rare visitor. What brings you to our little shop? Did you take a wrong turn?"

Beside him, a lively young woman in a maid outfit, her pinkish-brown hair tied in a ponytail, poked her head out and asked in confusion, "Xu Sanshi? What are you doing here? Nannan isn't here, you know."

The two were Tang Ya and Bei Bei, working here in their spare time to raise funds for the Tang Sect's reconstruction, while Bei Bei kept an eye on his girlfriend.

Xu Sanshi rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Bei Bei, Tang Ya, you really are made for each other. You start teasing me the second you open your mouths! I'm not here for Nannan this time. I'm here with good news for you! The best news!"

Bei Bei smiled. "Oh? The best news? Did the sun rise in the west and Jiang Nannan finally fall for you? Are you inviting us to your wedding banquet?"

Tang Ya covered her mouth and giggled. "No way. Nannan avoids you like the plague. Did you use some kind of trick? Confess!"

The two of them, playing off each other, left Xu Sanshi utterly speechless. "Hey, hey, hey! Do you really think I'm just an idiot with Nannan on the brain?"

Tang Ya blinked and nodded without hesitation. "Aren't you?"

Bei Bei piled on with a grin. "Sanshi, why are you insulting yourself?"

"Ahem, ahem, ahem! You two... enough already!" Xu Sanshi nearly choked on his own spit. Forcibly holding back his urge to retort, he lowered his voice, his expression turning serious. "It's not good news for me. It's good news for you! The two of you have hit the jackpot!"

The two exchanged a glance, even more confused.

Tang Ya frowned. "Good news for us? Xu Sanshi, are you okay?"

Seeing that they didn't believe him, Xu Sanshi glanced around, lowered his voice, and grew more serious. "That's right! It's good news for you! Stop working. Let's find somewhere quiet to talk. It's about the Tang Sect. We shouldn't let outsiders hear."

At the words "Tang Sect," Tang Ya's expression immediately turned serious. Bei Bei dropped his teasing manner as well and nodded. "Come with me."

The three went into a small break room in the back. Bei Bei shut the door and folded his arms, looking at Xu Sanshi. "You'd better have something serious to say. Otherwise, I won't let you off."

Tang Ya also asked urgently, "Xu Sanshi, hurry up and tell us. What's this about the Tang Sect?"

Only then did Xu Sanshi take a gold card from his Soul Tool with great ceremony and place it on the table, sliding it toward Tang Ya.

"This. Tang Ya, an inner-court senior asked me to give it to you."

He paused, then revealed the astonishing sum.

"There are... one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins on it. She said the Academy's newly established 'Support Department' had allocated it to the Tang Sect as reconstruction funds."

"One... one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins?!" Tang Ya covered her mouth, her eyes fixed on the card. Unable to believe her ears, she spoke in a trembling voice. "H-how is this possible? Why would the Academy suddenly... Xu Sanshi, you weren't tricked, were you? Or are you making fun of us?"

Bei Bei's pupils contracted at the figure. He instinctively clasped Tang Ya's hand, his face full of doubt. "Sanshi, did you drink too much fake liquor? Never mind the Support Department. This is such an important matter... what kind of blind senior would—cough, cough—ask you to deliver it?"

It wasn't that he looked down on his brother. It was just that Xu Sanshi really was...

Xu Sanshi had expected them to react this way, and quickly said:

"I knew you wouldn't believe me. And Bei Bei, what do you mean by that? How dare you say my sis—my senior is blind?! Am I really that unreliable?"

"That senior said if you didn't believe me, I should give you her name. She said... Bei Bei would understand."

"I would understand?" Bei Bei frowned deeply. "Who is it? Could it be the eldest senior sister?"

"It's not the eldest senior sister." Xu Sanshi shook his head, a hint of pride on his face. "I only met her recently myself. That senior's name is Long Jinyu."

"Long Jinyu?!"

Bei Bei cried out in shock and shot to his feet, his face full of disbelief.

"Bei Bei?" Tang Ya jumped, looking at him with concern. "What's wrong? Do you... know this senior?"

Xu Sanshi was stunned too. "You... really know her?"

Bei Bei took several breaths before he could finally calm the storm inside him.

He had naturally heard that name from Ancestor Xuan, Mu En.

At the time, Ancestor Xuan's tone had brimmed with unprecedented praise and regard. He had only revealed that this person was an unparalleled genius, taken as a direct disciple by "a certain" Sea God Pavilion Elder, and told Bei Bei to be sure to befriend her if he got the chance.

He couldn't reveal Ancestor Xuan's identity, so he quickly gathered his thoughts and slowly sat back down, speaking with absolute certainty.

"Ahem... I know... a little. If it really is her... Xiao Ya, you can accept this card without worry. There's absolutely no problem!"

Looking at the still-bewildered Tang Ya and Xu Sanshi, he chose his words carefully and explained, "I don't know much myself, but I've heard that as soon as Senior Long arrived at the Academy, she was taken as a direct disciple by an elder of... extremely high standing. Her Martial Soul is of the highest quality, and she's been hailed as the greatest genius Shrek has seen in ten thousand years! The support she offered... surely can't be fake."

Bei Bei's words dispelled Tang Ya's last doubts.

One hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins! For the Tang Sect, nearly penniless and struggling to take even a single step forward, this was like snow falling on parched earth—a fortune capable of changing their fate!

Overwhelming joy swept over Tang Ya. Her eyes reddened at once, and her voice caught in her throat. With a trembling hand, she picked up the light yet weighty gold card. "R-really? Bei Bei... we... the Tang Sect is saved?! Senior Long... Senior Long, we're so grateful to her! We don't even know her, and yet she..."

She was so overcome that she could barely get the words out, and tears spilled down her cheeks.

Xu Sanshi watched, happy for his friend. His admiration for his "big sis" rose to yet another level.

Bei Bei gently drew the tearful Tang Ya into his arms and patted her back in comfort, his thoughts roiling.

"Long Jinyu... just who are you? You've given the Tang Sect one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins in support the moment you arrived..."

"Even more frightening, she somehow knew I would know who she was and step up to vouch for her! How much does she know about me—or about Shrek?"

The feeling that everything was in the other person's hands sent a faint chill down his back, even as it stirred a trace of awe...

He looked at Xu Sanshi, who was still basking in the excitement of "my sis is amazing," and spoke with utmost seriousness. "Sanshi, we really owe you this time! We'll remember this favor!"

"I wonder... would you be willing to introduce us to Senior Long? Her kindness to us is too great. We ought to thank her in person, both out of gratitude and out of propriety."

Tang Ya had calmed down a little too. She wiped her tears with her sleeve and nodded emphatically. "Yes, yes! Xu Sanshi, you have to introduce us! I have to thank Senior Long in person! Tang Ya and the Tang Sect will never forget this kindness!"

Seeing how serious they both were, Xu Sanshi thumped his chest and promised, "No problem! Leave it to me! I'll tell Senior Long the next time I see her! She's a wonderful person. I'm sure she'll agree!"

With this major matter settled, Xu Sanshi remembered Long Jinyu's other request. A slightly embarrassed look crossed his face as he said to Tang Ya, "Um... Tang Ya, there's something else I'd like to ask you to help me with. Would that be okay?"

Tang Ya's impression of Xu Sanshi had improved considerably, and she agreed at once. "Of course! You've done the Tang Sect such a huge favor. If it's something I can manage, I'll definitely help!"

Xu Sanshi took a small money pouch containing ten Gold Soul Coins from his Soul Tool and held it out to Tang Ya. His voice was earnest, carrying a hint of reflection he had never shown before. "This. These ten Gold Soul Coins were also given to me by Senior Long in the name of the 'Support Department.' She asked me to pass them to Nannan as a student allowance, so she could improve her living conditions."

He paused, a wry smile appearing on his face, then continued, "But... after hearing Senior Long's advice today, I feel... I'm still not worthy of her, and I haven't figured out how to face her. If I force my way over, I might only make her dislike me more. And Nannan's family must be in urgent need of this money."

His expression turned exceptionally serious. "Tang Ya, you and Nannan are close. If you give it to her and say it's a regular allowance from the Academy, she'll find it easier to accept. So... could I ask you to help me with this?"

Tang Ya took the pouch in surprise. Looking at Xu Sanshi, who seemed to have matured all at once, she said sincerely:

"Xu Sanshi... you really do seem... a little different."

"The old you would have grabbed every chance to get close to Nannan. You'd keep pestering her even when she hated it. Since when did you start... thinking about what's best for her?"

"Don't worry, I'll help. I'll make sure to explain everything to Nannan."

Listening to them, Bei Bei was even more stunned.

"Even this was part of her calculations?!"

"She not only gave the Tang Sect a huge sum, but also arranged for Xu Sanshi to earn some goodwill—and even predicted that his attitude would change, and that he'd pass the allowance to Jiang Nannan through Tang Ya...?"

Everything fit together, precisely addressing each person's needs and state of mind.

The depth of her thoughts, the reach of her schemes—it was downright frightening! Could a girl who had only just enrolled really do all this?

Bei Bei grew even more curious about that "Senior Long."

"Long Jinyu... what kind of person are you?"

"Achoo! Achoo!"

Long Jinyu rubbed his itchy nose and looked around suspiciously.

"Strange... why am I sneezing again?"

"Could Ma Xiaotao and Wu Ming be gossiping about me behind my back? I have a feeling that if those two team up to move house... they'll tear the place down..."

He muttered under his breath, unable to shake the ominous feeling.

He shook his head, temporarily setting aside his worries about those two walking volcanoes, and turned his attention back to the street in front of him.

After leaving Xu Sanshi's shop, he hadn't gone straight back to the Academy. That out-of-place "television" in the Phoenix Perch Pavilion had been stuck in his mind.

Since he was already out, he decided to wander around Shrek City and find out just how far technology had advanced in this world.