Companionship

In Yan Shaozhe's view, the third condition Lin Yan had proposed was both easy and difficult to handle.

If Lin Yan had been one of Shrek's own since childhood, or even merely an Inner Courtyard disciple, Yan Shaozhe could have agreed to it on the spot, given his talent.

But the truth was that Lin Yan had only officially enrolled two days ago. He had been with Shrek for far too short a time and had yet to truly devote himself to it!

That was precisely why Yan Shaozhe found it difficult.

Although people of the Douluo Continent generally valued practical combat over theory, and Shrek's true core inheritances, top-secret arts, and Self-Created Soul Skills were all kept in the academy treasury rather than the Library Pavilion.

Even so, the two Library Pavilions of the Inner and Outer Courtyards contained countless ancient texts and rare copies accumulated by Shrek over ten thousand years. Naturally, they could not simply be opened to outsiders.

Even ordinary insiders had to render great service before they could obtain full reading privileges.

However, even when people had rendered great service in the past, few would use their merits to exchange for such "useless" reading privileges. Wouldn't cultivation resources be far better?

After weighing it for a moment, Yan Shaozhe spoke with a helpless, bitter smile. "Little Lin, could you change that condition?"

"I can decide to grant you reading privileges for the Outer Courtyard Library Pavilion, but the Inner Court Library and the Soul Guidance Department's formations are not something I can decide on alone."

Facing Yan Shaozhe's troubled gaze, Lin Yan gently shook his head, his attitude firm. "Dean, I know this isn't something you can decide by yourself."

"I only hope you'll do your best to help me fight for it. If it truly cannot be done, then let the matter drop. With only the first two conditions, I can still promise to help Ma Xiaotao suppress her Evil Fire for three years."

At those words, Yan Shaozhe's expression turned bitter once more. Three years was neither long nor short, but what about after that?

He could hardly make his disciple stop cultivating altogether, could he?

Taking a deep breath, Yan Shaozhe made a sincere promise. "Little Lin, I will do everything in my power to fight for this."

"But if it truly cannot be done in the end, I hope you'll seriously consider changing your condition. As long as it isn't too excessive, I can agree to it!"

Yan Shaozhe might have been rather stingy toward others, but he was genuinely good to Ma Xiaotao, whom he had raised from childhood as though she were his own daughter.

Even so, Lin Yan did not loosen his stance and offer any additional promise.

Human nature was simply like that. Once there was a way out, no one would give their all.

Of course, if the matter truly proved impossible, Lin Yan was not some stubborn fool. When he needed something again in the future, he would bring it out as a bargaining chip.

After receiving Yan Shaozhe's promise, Lin Yan stayed a while longer to settle some details regarding the first two conditions. Then he took his leave.

Oh, right.

Before leaving, Lin Yan casually mentioned his request for "self-study."

Considering the enormous gap between Lin Yan and the new students of his grade, as well as the fact that Lin Yan held his disciple's future in his hands.

Yan Shaozhe readily agreed. As long as Lin Yan could achieve full marks in every future assessment, he would be permitted to study on his own.

That way, he only needed to notify Wang Yan, and from then on, he could skip class with official approval.

After meeting up with Jiang Nannan, the two of them entered bustling Shrek City together.

By then, the setting sun had sunk beyond the horizon, and warm twilight blanketed the entire city.

The long streets teemed with people, while shops on both sides lit their lamps, their warm yellow glows weaving together. The evening breeze swept through the streets, carrying the enticing aromas of roadside food and the laughter of the crowd. Everywhere he looked was filled with the lively warmth of ordinary life.

Holding the hand of the lively and innocent Jiang Nannan, Lin Yan watched as she eagerly introduced which roadside restaurant had delicious food and which shopkeeper was especially fierce...

A sense of satisfaction and accomplishment rose naturally in Lin Yan's heart.

Look! This was the girl he had raised!

Compared to the Jiang Nannan from the original story, who had always been cold and distant, Lin Yan still preferred the current Jiang Nannan—carefree, soft, and sweet!

"Brother, hurry up! Let's try the pastries from that shop. It's my favorite place in Shrek City!"

Holding his hand, Jiang Nannan moved through the bustling crowd like a leaping sprite, leading him into a small but warmly decorated shop.

She picked some out, paid for them, then lifted one with her slender, fair fingers and brought it to Lin Yan's lips, her eyes full of anticipation.

Lin Yan took a bite of the pastry, but in the process, he "accidentally" caught that tender fingertip, delicate as a spring scallion, in his mouth as well.

Warm, moist sensation brushed against her fingertip. A faint blush spread across Jiang Nannan's lovely face, lending her brows and eyes a touch of shy delicacy. Pretending nothing had happened, she gently withdrew her finger, though ripples stirred endlessly in her heart.

Facing Jiang Nannan's sparkling, expectant gaze, Lin Yan felt the soft pastry melt between his lips and teeth. It was sweet and fragrant, light without being cloying. Smiling softly, he nodded.

Seeing that he liked it, Jiang Nannan's smile bloomed like a flower, sweetness spreading through her heart. She immediately clasped his hand again. "Come on! I'll take you to try more delicious things!"

Just as Lin Yan and Jiang Nannan freely enjoyed that leisurely comfort, a familiar name suddenly reached Lin Yan's ears—"Sanshi."

He glanced to the side and saw an elegant, refined woman strolling through the streets hand in hand with a tall man.

Lin Yan withdrew his gaze, his expression unchanged. With his intervention in this life, Jiang Nannan and Xu Sanshi naturally had no entanglements whatsoever.

As for the woman beside Xu Sanshi, she was presumably the one who had helped him complete his Martial Soul Second Awakening in this life. But that had nothing to do with Lin Yan.

Putting aside the fleeting thought, Lin Yan caught up with the light-footed Jiang Nannan and continued to enjoy their gentle evening together.

Time passed, and the evening breeze remained gentle, yet the pleasant hours slipped away with particular haste.

After returning to the academy together, the two wandered on without realizing they had reached the shore of Sea God Lake.

Night spread over the embankment of Sea God Lake. Thick clusters of Blue Silver Grass bloomed with faint blue fluorescence, swaying gently in the darkness.

Ripples stirred across the lake, shattering the glowing light scattered over the ground and turning it into flowing starlight across the water.

Lin Yan sat amid the soft Blue Silver Grass with Jiang Nannan in his arms. Clear moonlight poured down, washing away the earlier noise and bustle.

Jiang Nannan nestled obediently against his chest. Beside her ear was his steady, powerful heartbeat. Her slender arms lightly circled his waist, as though she had found the safest refuge.

She did not speak. Her eyes slowly closed, and her long lashes cast faint shadows beneath the glimmering blue light. The liveliness from before faded away. Now, she was as quiet as a flower blooming beneath the moon, tender and lingering.

Lin Yan remained silent as well, merely tightening the arm around her shoulders.

Lowering his gaze to the tranquil profile of the girl in his arms, his eyes were clear and pure, devoid of even the slightest desire, gentle as water.

Five years had passed in the blink of an eye. That pitiful little girl from back then had grown into a peerless beauty, stunning enough to outshine all others in the Outer Courtyard.

Over those five years, there had been no earth-shaking twists or turns, only countless days of tender companionship, flowing gently onward like this one.

Perhaps that was what made childhood sweethearts truly precious...