Tang San, Your Head Is A Little Green

But thinking of Tang San, thinking of Ning Rongrong, thinking of Zhu Zhuqing, and thinking of the looks in those people's eyes—

"Master."

The voice was tiny, so small it was almost inaudible.

Like the buzzing of a mosquito.

Ji Ye looked at her, saying nothing.

Xiao Wu took a deep breath, her voice growing a little louder.

"Master."

Ji Ye smiled, a look of great satisfaction on his face.

"Good girl."

He reached out and ruffled Xiao Wu's hair again.

Xiao Wu bit her lip, not pulling away.

"Go back," Ji Ye said.

"Starting tomorrow, you know what you need to do."

Xiao Wu nodded, turned, and walked toward Shrek Academy.

After a few steps, she stopped and looked back at Ji Ye.

"Will you... will you..."

"Will I what?"

"Will you tell anyone else?"

Ji Ye watched her, the smile at the corners of his mouth fading slightly, his eyes turning a shade more serious.

"As long as you are obedient, I won't tell a soul."

Xiao Wu looked into his eyes for several seconds.

There was no deception in those eyes, no mockery, only an indescribable sincerity.

She lowered her head, whispered a "thank you," and then ran off barefoot.

Ji Ye stood beneath the old locust tree, watching her silhouette disappear into the gates of Shrek Academy.

Thank you?

The smile on Ji Ye's face slowly vanished, his gaze turning calm.

"Oh, Xiao Wu, Xiao Wu," he muttered to himself, his voice so low only he could hear.

"Don't blame me."

"This world has never been fair to spirit beasts."

Early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, everyone arrived at the training grounds.

Tang San was the first to arrive, standing in the center of the field.

Xiao Wu stood beside him, looking dejected.

"What's wrong, Xiao Wu? Didn't you sleep well last night?" Tang San asked with concern; it was the first time he had seen Xiao Wu like this.

Xiao Wu shook her head.

"I'm fine."

After she spoke, Dai Mubai and the others also arrived at the grounds.

"Morning, Mubai." Tang San greeted him.

But Dai Mubai ignored him, leaning against the old locust tree on his own with his arms crossed, his expression looking rather grim.

Tang San was truly at a loss.

What was wrong with everyone today?

"Morning, Tang San."

Ning Rongrong skipped over. She had changed into a new cyan dress and restyled her hair, looking much more refined than she had yesterday.

"Morning, Rongrong." Tang San responded with a smile.

That was more like it.

Ma Hongjun, Zhu Zhuqing, and Oscar arrived as well.

They exchanged greetings with one another.

Just then, Ji Ye walked over.

He had changed his gray cloth garment for a blue one.

He looked even more handsome.

His pace was steady, a faint smile on his face, and he looked almost ridiculously dashing.

Ning Rongrong was left completely dumbfounded.

Zhu Zhuqing's lips curled slightly before she quickly returned to her calm expression.

Dai Mubai turned his face away, refusing to look at Ji Ye, and muttered a few words under his breath.

Still unconvinced.

Oscar's gaze shifted back and forth between Ning Rongrong and Ji Ye, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Ji Ye walked to the front of the group and stood still.

His gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu kept her head lowered, not daring to look at him.

Ji Ye's expression shifted.

It carried a hint of a threat.

Xiao Wu's body trembled slightly; she bit her lip and began to slowly shuffle to the side.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

She moved away from Tang San and stood still beside Ji Ye.

Tang San was stunned.

He turned his head to look at Xiao Wu, his eyes filled with confusion.

"Xiao Wu?"

Xiao Wu did not look at him; she kept her head down, her hands twisted in front of her, her fingers knotted together like a braid.

Tang San called out again.

"Xiao Wu?"

Xiao Wu's shoulders shuddered, but she still did not look up or respond.

Ma Hongjun leaned in from the side, nudging Tang San with his elbow in a sleazy manner, lowering his voice to a volume just loud enough for everyone around to hear.

"Tang San, it looks like your girl just ran off with someone else."

Tang San's expression changed.

He found it hard to believe.

He had known Xiao Wu for six years, from the age of six to twelve; they had gone to school together, eaten together, cultivated together, and traveled from Notting City all the way to Soto City.

He had never imagined that Xiao Wu would ever walk away from his side.

"Xiao Wu, what's wrong?" Tang San's voice remained relatively calm, but his clenched fists betrayed his emotions.

Xiao Wu still did not answer.

Her lips were trembling slightly, and her eyes were a bit red, but she fought back the tears.

She dared not look at Tang San.

She was afraid that Ji Ye would reveal to everyone that she was a hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast.

If that happened, everyone would ostracize her and Xiao San.

She could not let that happen.

Ji Ye's lips curled upward slightly.

He reached out and ruffled Xiao Wu's hair in front of everyone.

His fingers ran through her light brown hair with a natural motion, so natural it seemed like he was doing something perfectly ordinary.

Everyone was stunned.

Ning Rongrong's eyes went wide, her mouth slightly agape; the expression on her face shifted from surprise to confusion, and then from confusion to jealousy.

She stomped her foot hard.

Zhu Zhuqing let out a huff and stopped looking at Ji Ye.

But the rise and fall of her chest showed that her heart was not at peace.

Leaning against a tree, Dai Mubai saw this scene and, instead, the corner of his mouth twitched.

He didn't know why, but seeing Ji Ye touch another girl's head gave him an inexplicable sense of relief.

Ma Hongjun's mouth hung open in an "O" shape, then he gave a sleazy laugh and nudged Tang San with his elbow again.

"Tang San, it looks like your head is turning a bit green."

Tang San ignored him.

He stared fixedly at Ji Ye's hand, watching it ruffle Xiao Wu's hair again and again.

His fists clenched with a cracking sound, his knuckles turning white, and the veins on the back of his hands bulging one by one.

But he did not lash out.

Deep down, he felt that Xiao Wu must have her reasons for doing this!

Tang San took a deep breath, suppressing the rage surging in his chest, yet his clenched fists remained tight.

With Ji Ye ruffling her hair, Xiao Wu's body stiffened like a block of wood.

She could feel Tang San's gaze fixed upon her, piercing her like two blades and causing her sharp pain.

She wanted to cry, but she held it back.

Over and over, she told herself in her heart.

For the sake of Xiao San and everyone else, she could not let them know she was a soul beast.

Ji Ye withdrew his hand, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepening.

He glanced at Xiao Wu; she kept her head lowered, avoiding his eyes, but gave a slight nod.

Ji Ye shifted his gaze away, satisfied.

The training ground fell silent for a few seconds.

Then, the sound of heavy footsteps approached from the direction of the dean's office.

Everyone turned their heads.

Zhao Wuji walked over.

He reached the front of the line, stood still, and scanned everyone.

His gaze lingered on Ji Ye for a second longer before moving on.

"Today's training task—"

Before Zhao Wuji could finish his sentence, a hand went up.

It was Oscar.

Zhao Wuji frowned.

"Oscar, what is it?"

Oscar swallowed hard, his expression complex.

There was excitement, nervousness, and a hint of embarrassment.

"Teacher Zhao, I've broken through to level thirty."