Phoenix Perch Settled, Peach Shadow Guides the Way

Mu En's gaze swept over Long Jinyu and Ma Xiaotao, the warmth in his eyes laced with an insight that made both of them jump.

His aged fingers tapped lightly against the armrest, as if he were weighing the most prudent arrangement.

"Right, Jinyu."

Mu En's focus settled on Long Jinyu.

"You possess the Nine-Colored Dragon Emperor Martial Soul, a talent unseen throughout the ages. This is Shrek's fortune, and a tremendous opportunity for you yourself. However..."

His tone shifted, carrying the earnest weight of an elder.

"You claim to hail from the secluded 'Nine-Colored Dragon Valley', isolated from the world. Entering society so abruptly, I fear you may be at odds with the current landscape of the Douluo Continent, the soul master system, and even the mundane details of daily life."

"A ten-thousand-foot tower rises from the ground; if the foundation is not firm, even with heaven-reaching power, one can hardly reach the peak."

Long Jinyu understood, replying respectfully, "Your teachings are correct, Teacher. This disciple is indeed lacking in knowledge regarding the affairs of the world."

This was no lie. While he had the knowledge of the original work as a foundation, he truly needed to catch up on the specifics of the Douluo Continent—the various theories, daily life, and the latest developments across the continent.

Mu En nodded in satisfaction, his eyes revealing both appreciation for a "good seedling" and a hint of an "old fox's" calculation:

"Therefore, I believe you should first enter the outer courtyard's freshman class and follow the seven-day basic theory curriculum."

"For one, you can systematically understand the fundamentals of soul masters, the history of the continent, the customs of various nations, and common knowledge regarding Soul Tool, filling the gaps left by your isolation. For another..."

His gaze swept unintentionally over Ma Xiaotao, who was listening with pricked ears.

"You can interact with peers of your age, experience the academy's atmosphere, and learn how to integrate into collective life. This will be of great benefit to the growth of your character."

"Outer courtyard freshman class? Seven days?"

Ma Xiaotao couldn't help but interject, her phoenix eyes widening as she looked at Mu En.

"Mu En, he... does he really need to go to a freshman class with his strength?"

She had witnessed firsthand the terrifying power he displayed when he suppressed her evil fire with a mere wave of his hand. Making him study theory with a bunch of first or second-ring brats? Wasn't that just bullying them?

Mu En's smile was meaningful: "Xiaotao, that is where you are wrong. Theory is the cornerstone and must not be underestimated. Furthermore..."

He looked at Ma Xiaotao, his tone carrying a "you know what I mean" implication.

"Jinyu is a newcomer; he knows nothing of the academy's environment, the course schedule, or even the location of the cafeteria. Someone must... well, guide and look after him. As a senior from the inner courtyard and a fellow disciple, you are duty-bound."

Yan Shaozhe immediately caught on, his face instantly beaming with a look of "Teacher, your foresight is truly profound," and he quickly chimed in:

"Teacher is wise! Theory classes are indeed important! Xiaotao, since you need to recuperate during this period and your evil fire has just been suppressed, it is not suitable for high-intensity cultivation. Why don't you... put in the effort to accompany Jinyu to these classes?"

"For one, you can review the old to learn the new; for another, it will be convenient for you to 'look after' your junior, introducing him to the academy's situation so he doesn't get lost. Don't worry, the course content will surely be easy for you!"

He spoke with high-sounding justifications, yet his eyes darted between Long Jinyu and Ma Xiaotao. The meaning could not have been clearer: he was creating an opportunity for them to spend time together!

Ma Xiaotao was left speechless by the duo's coordinated performance, unable to find a strong reason to refute them.

Mu En's reasoning was legitimate, and Yan Shaozhe's "suggestion" seemed reasonable enough.

She could only glare at Long Jinyu with puffed-out cheeks, as if to say "this is all your fault," before turning her head away in a huff, effectively conceding.

Long Jinyu took in the "exchanging of glances" between Mu En and Yan Shaozhe, feeling a mix of amusement and helplessness: "System, the beads of this abacus are practically hitting me in the face."

[System gloating: Host, accept your fate. It's a Shrek specialty: arranged marriage (strike that) camaraderie. Besides... going to the outer courtyard to study for a few days is fine; it will be convenient for this system to collect more data.] "Is that your only priority?!"

Seeing that Ma Xiaotao did not offer fierce opposition, Mu En struck while the iron was hot and continued his arrangements. As for Long Jinyu's opinion? That was unimportant!

"As for your living quarters..."

He paused, his gaze slowly sweeping over Long Jinyu and Ma Xiaotao once more.

"Jinyu is new to the academy, and the secrets he carries require caution. The outer courtyard has many disciples, and with so many eyes, it may not be the most secure place."

"Moreover, as an inner courtyard disciple, according to the academy's old customs, you should have a quiet residence on Sea God Island. Living in the outer courtyard would be improper."

He turned his gaze to Ma Xiaotao, his tone gentle and filled with concern: "Although the evil fire within you is temporarily suppressed, the stabilization of your origin still requires time to recuperate. You also need an environment that is perfectly still and free from disturbance, so that Jinyu can provide timely protection and care."

Yan Shaozhe immediately jumped in, his smile as bright as if he had won the lottery: "Teacher! The vacant 'Phoenix Perch Pavilion' on Sea God Island would be perfect! The environment is secluded, the soul power is abundant, it's a standalone courtyard, and it even has the nourishment of the Golden Tree's branches! The place is large enough, with upstairs and downstairs, so your cultivation and daily life won't interfere with each other. It's perfect!" He specifically emphasized "won't interfere," but everyone knew the point was "living in the same courtyard."

"Phoenix Perch Pavilion?"

Long Jinyu chewed on the name, subconsciously glancing at Ma Xiaotao.

Upon hearing the name, combined with the earlier arrangements of being in the same class and living together, how could Ma Xiaotao not understand what this master and disciple were plotting? Her earlobes turned bright red, and she whipped her head toward Yan Shaozhe:

"Teacher! You... you all..."

She wanted to protest, but the environment of the Phoenix Perch Pavilion and the nourishment of the Golden Tree were of immense benefit to her, and her evil fire required Long Jinyu to "extinguish" it at any moment. For a time, she couldn't find a reason to refuse and could only stomp her feet in anger.

Mu En nodded with a smile, very satisfied with Yan Shaozhe's arrangement: "Yes, the Phoenix Perch Pavilion is indeed most appropriate. A phoenix will not perch unless it is on a parasol tree, and will not drink unless it is from a sweet spring."

"This pavilion can resonate with Xiaotao's Phoenix Martial Soul, which will be of great benefit to her."

"Jinyu carries the aura of the Dragon Emperor; a dragon coiling and a phoenix perching is an auspicious omen. It is settled."

He once again used high-minded concepts of "Martial Soul cultivation" and "auspicious symbols" to block any possible objections, while conveniently draping the cohabitation arrangement in a sacred cloak.

Mu En's gaze swept over Long Jinyu's handsome, extraordinary face and unique temperament once more.

Thinking of his world-shaking Nine-Colored Dragon Emperor Martial Soul and the gentleness he displayed when saving others...

If he were really placed in an ordinary outer courtyard dormitory, wouldn't it cause a stir among the hearts of all the young girls?

Shrek's academic environment is free, but causing a stir or drawing the attention of certain factions too early would be far from a good thing!

Keeping him on Sea God Island, right under his own nose, and—well, keeping him beside Ma Xiaotao, whose fiery temper is enough to hold down the fort, is the safest bet!

Mu En stroked his beard, hiding his fame and merit deep within.

"Understood, Teacher! This disciple will take them over to get settled right away!" Yan Shaozhe was all smiles, looking even happier than if he had found a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone himself.

"Mm, go ahead."

"Long Jinyu, the subsequent matters will resolve themselves in time. Just settle in with peace of mind, clear your heart, and plan your path slowly," Mu En instructed gently.

Long Jinyu bowed deeply, his posture upright and proper: "I have received my teacher's instruction, and this disciple will keep it firmly in mind. I shall certainly cultivate with focus and not fail the expectations of my mentor."

[Completely boarded the 'pirate ship'~]

"Shut up..."

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west... do not bully a young man because he is poor!"

[6...]

Soon, Yan Shaozhe led the two to the depths of Sea God Island. After bypassing several lush groves, an elegant and exquisite two-story villa appeared before them.

The villa was constructed from warm-toned stone and spiritual wood that emitted a faint fragrance, with a roof covered in blue tiles; the overall style was archaic and grand, yet lacked nothing in elegance.

The courtyard was spacious, planted with exotic flowers and herbs, and a clear stream meandered past. The air was filled with rich and gentle heaven and earth energy, and especially near the villa, one could feel a warm life force originating from the Golden Tree.

Above the main entrance hung an archaic wooden plaque, upon which three characters were carved in vigorous, powerful strokes—"Phoenix Perch Pavilion".

"There, from now on, this place will be your... cough, home!"

Yan Shaozhe took out two keys emitting faint spatial fluctuations and handed them to Long Jinyu and Ma Xiaotao respectively.

"The keys have a small spatial formation on them; once you bind them, only you can open the entrance. All daily necessities are provided inside. If you need anything, just find the logistics department or tell me directly."

He patted Long Jinyu on the shoulder, winked, and lowered his voice: "Little Junior Brother, seize the opportunity! The pavilion closest to the water enjoys the moonlight first! Remember, Ma Xiaotao's temper is a bit quick, but her heart is in the right place! Good luck!"

Long Jinyu: "..."

Then he turned to Ma Xiaotao, looking perfectly serious: "Xiaotao, Jinyu is new here and unfamiliar with everything. Please take care of his daily life, and as for cultivation, you must help each other! Teacher is leaving now; don't be late for class when school starts in a few days!"

Ma Xiaotao: "..."

Having said that, before Ma Xiaotao could erupt, he greased the soles of his feet and slipped away quickly, leaving behind a dashing (fleeing) silhouette.

Ma Xiaotao waved her fist angrily in the direction where Yan Shaozhe had disappeared, then turned and glared fiercely at Long Jinyu, as if she wanted to vent all her frustration on him.

She pushed open the courtyard gate and stomped inside, leaving behind only a cold, warning remark:

"I'm taking the second floor! Without my permission, you are not allowed to step up there! The bottom of the stairs is the red line! If you dare to cross it... I'll let you taste what real Phoenix Flame is!"

It was full of threat...

Unfortunately, her reddened earlobes and slightly flustered footsteps betrayed her lack of confidence.

She ran quickly to the second floor and slammed the door shut with a "bang."

Long Jinyu shook his head helplessly and muttered to himself: "Is that really necessary... I'm not some rampaging beast."

As a model student from 21st-century Blue Star, respecting teachers, following the rules, and respecting others' privacy and personal space were basic qualities. Even if Ma Xiaotao hadn't said anything, he would have consciously observed the boundaries.

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows in the courtyard, making it look exceptionally tranquil.

Long Jinyu took a deep breath of the air filled with life force, feeling that even the exhaustion from his transmigration had dissipated quite a bit.

He walked into the first floor of the villa.

The living room was spacious and bright, with simple and comfortable furniture that exuded a low-key luxury. Functional areas like the kitchen, meditation room, and study were all fully equipped.

He took a quick tour and found that, just as Yan Shaozhe had said, everything needed for daily life was there.

It was just that... after tossing and turning for most of the day—transmigrating, fighting, saving people, and meeting big shots—the consumption was truly significant, and his stomach had already begun to growl unceremoniously.

He looked up at the stairs leading to the second floor, then looked at the sun hanging high in the sky outside the window.

Long Jinyu walked to the bottom of the stairs, cleared his throat, looked up toward the second floor, and called out in a moderate tone, with a hint of a consultative air:

"Senior Sister--!"

The upstairs seemed to go quiet for a moment.

Long Jinyu continued to call out, his tone calm and carrying a touch of seriousness regarding "livelihood issues":

"Um... it's lunchtime. Should we figure something out ourselves here at 'Phoenix Perch Pavilion', or... go to the academy cafeteria?"

"I really know nothing about the location or the rules of the cafeteria, so I'll have to trouble Senior Sister to point the way?"

He deliberately enunciated "know nothing" and "trouble Senior Sister" clearly.

He not only pointed out his status as a "new student" but also kicked the ball into Ma Xiaotao's court.

It seemed to dilute the lingering trace of awkwardness and gunpowder in the air.

Inside the room on the second floor, Ma Xiaotao was leaning against the door, trying to calm her heartbeat, cursing herself for being useless, and thinking about how to face this "cohabiting + classmate" junior.

Suddenly, she was hit head-on by this "lunch problem" full of realistic concern.

She subconsciously rubbed her own equally hollow stomach, the sense of shame and awkwardness suddenly diluted by this incredibly simple question.

"This mysterious junior, the Nine-Colored Dragon Emperor... he doesn't seem... that annoying? At least he knows he needs to eat?"

She pursed her lips at the door panel, struggling to maintain a cold tone, though the volume was noticeably lower than before and carried a hint of petulance:

"...Got it! Stop making such a racket! ...Wait! I'm coming down once I change my clothes!"

She paused, then added another sentence, as if to emphasize who held the authority.

"...We're going to the canteen! I'll show you the way! Lest you starve to death on the island later and I have to collect your corpse!"

Downstairs, Long Jinyu scratched his head, listening to that clearly blustering response, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

"It seems Ma Xiaotao... responds better to soft than hard... er, no, that's not right, she responds to 'food'."

In the gap of waiting, he leaned against the wall, sizing up this "new home" he shared temporarily with Ma Xiaotao, his thoughts drifting toward the inner courtyard environment he was about to step into.

"Phoenix Perch Pavilion... has the cohabitation life begun...?"

"Wait, that's not the point!"

"Mu En arranged for me to go to the freshman class in the outer courtyard... and Yan Shaozhe specifically had Ma Xiaotao accompany me... is this a two-in-one deal of 'accompanying studies' and 'surveillance'?"

"However... going to the outer courtyard is fine. Just like the system said, it's the perfect chance to observe Huo Gua... no, Xiao Yuhao, up close."

"But... I really don't want to study! I just finished the college entrance exam, shouldn't I be relaxing properly?!"

"..."

"Come to think of it, who does Ma Xiaotao hang out with in the inner courtyard... usually?"

Long Jinyu couldn't help but calculate in his heart, combining fragments of memories from his past life.

"With her temper, like a powder keg ready to blow at any moment, and that evil fire flaring up uncontrollably... could she even have friends?"

He recalled the details from the original work:

"Among the Seven Monsters, Ling Luochen, that ice beauty... ice elements against the evil fire phoenix... attributes clashing, they were natural enemies!"

"Xixi seems to have a good relationship with Ling Luochen? Birds of a feather, I guess she keeps her distance from Ma Xiaotao too..."

"The boys? Dai Yueheng and the others, they either oppose her or just respect her strength, so they certainly can't be considered close friends. Besides, they are boys, no matter how good the relationship is..."

He rubbed his chin, continuing to reminisce:

"It seems... that only leaves the senior sister, Zhang Lexuan? Zhang Lexuan has a gentle and magnanimous personality, and as the head of the inner courtyard, she should be able to tolerate her? But there isn't much description of their specific relationship... tsk, what a headache."

"Hiss... calculating it this way, Ma Xiaotao in the inner courtyard... is she perhaps a 'lonely soul'?"

"Top-tier strength, explosive temper, dangerous attributes, plus that 'strangers keep away' aura..."

"No wonder she valued Shrek so much in the original work, treating the academy as her home... because other than the academy, she probably didn't have many interpersonal relationships that could be called 'intimate'..."

"Thinking about it this way... the pain and despair she felt when her evil fire flared up before... seems even more..."

Thinking of this, Long Jinyu felt a strange blockage in his heart. He looked up at the stairwell again, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"System, do you think she's... lonely?" he asked subconsciously.

[...Host, I understand you, hehehe~]

[Booting up--]

[Playing audio--]

It was Long Jinyu's previous chuunibyou declaration--

[...The 'Tragedy of the Phoenix', I shall... rewrite the final chapter!]

Long Jinyu: "???"

"6, I just wanted to help her out, don't let your imagination run so wild..."

[Ah, yes, yes, yes~]

Just then, footsteps sounded on the stairs.

Ma Xiaotao came down.

She had changed into a clean and sharp red martial outfit, her fiery long hair draped loosely, the strands swaying slightly with her movements.

The paleness on her face had faded somewhat, and a bit of color had returned, but the sharp, flamboyant edge in her brows remained undiminished.

Only when she met Long Jinyu's gaze—which was stunned by her beauty—did her eyes flicker. She quickly looked away, lifting her chin slightly, feigning ferocity:

"What are you looking at? Aren't we leaving? Do you want to starve to death?" Her voice was even louder than it had been upstairs, as if she were trying to bolster her own courage.

"We're leaving now, sorry to trouble you, Senior Sister."

Long Jinyu withdrew his gaze, a gentle and harmless smile appearing on his face, as if his previous musings about her being a "lonely soul" had never occurred.

Ma Xiaotao snorted and walked out the door of the Phoenix Perch Pavilion first.

The sunlight spilled onto her fiery red hair, dancing with golden specks.

Long Jinyu followed half a step behind, watching her straight back. The blockage in his heart turned into a faint sigh, along with a trace of... a protective instinct he couldn't quite explain himself?

"Forget it, at least for now, she isn't facing the evil fire alone."

"As for friends or whatever... suit yourself."

"Hey." Ma Xiaotao, walking in front, suddenly spoke without turning her head.

"When we get to the cafeteria later, don't go looking around. Stay close. The Inner Court is huge and it's easy to get lost; I don't want to spend the whole world looking for you."

Her tone remained stiff, but the content... could it barely be considered giving instructions?

"Understood, Senior Sister." Long Jinyu followed her lead readily.

"Also."

Ma Xiaotao's footsteps faltered, her voice dropping a notch.

"...About what I said back at the Phoenix Perch Pavilion... don't you dare overthink it! And definitely don't... spread it around!"

Long Jinyu froze for a moment before realizing she was referring to the "second-floor restricted area" and her threat to "burn you." A hint of a smile flashed in his eyes, and his tone was incredibly sincere:

"Rest assured, Senior Sister. My memory isn't very good. Did something... happen just now? I only remember you promising to take me to the cafeteria to eat."

Ma Xiaotao: "..."

"Smooth talker!"

She abruptly quickened her pace, the faint blush that had just faded from her ears seemingly threatening to make a comeback.

Watching the fiery red figure ahead walking quickly like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Long Jinyu's mood inexplicably improved.

He sped up to catch up. The sun was just right, the breeze was gentle, and campus life in this other world, it seemed... wasn't so bad after all?