Reminiscing

Outside the Soul Fighting Zone.

Cao Longyan had just stepped out of the back door of the Soul Fighting Arena. To avoid being swarmed by others, he quickly left with Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Bei Bei, Tang Ya, and Jiang Nannan, arriving at an open area near the edge of Sea God Lake.

"Longyan, you were way too fierce! A first-year student easily crushing a fifth-year, a level 38 Soul Grandmaster suppressing a level 42 Soul Ancestor! I still haven't recovered from the shock!"

Wang Dong looked at him with pure admiration, patting Cao Longyan on the shoulder with an excited tone.

Huo Yuhao nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with respect.

"Yeah, even though Wang Dong is exaggerating a bit, Longyan, you really are too strong."

"And thank you for standing up for me."

Bei Bei and Tang Ya exchanged glances, both seeing shock and gratification in each other's eyes.

"Little Brother Longyan, thank you."

Jiang Nannan's cheeks flushed slightly.

"It's nothing."

Cao Longyan replied calmly, yet his tone revealed a hint of gentleness throughout.

Something's not right... there's something going on between those two...

After a moment of silence, Wang Dong took the lead and spoke to Cao Longyan.

"Longyan, Huo Yuhao and I have both joined Rakshasa Street. You should come join us too! With us brothers together, we can achieve great things in Rakshasa Street!"

Huo Yuhao quickly chimed in.

"That's right, with you joining, Rakshasa Street will definitely have an even more brilliant future!"

Before Cao Longyan could even open his mouth, Tang Ya couldn't help but let out a "pfft" of laughter.

For members of Rakshasa Street to invite the founder and master of Rakshasa Street to join their ranks—this misunderstanding was just too hilarious.

Seeing everyone's eyes fixed on her, Tang Ya quickly reined in her smile and found an excuse to smooth things over.

"It's nothing, nothing at all. I just thought the way you guys were inviting Longyan was quite interesting."

However, Bei Bei and Jiang Nannan keenly sensed something amiss.

Tang Ya's reaction was far too deliberate.

Coupled with what Tang Ya had said before—that her parents were merely agents of Rakshasa Street and not the masters of the street...

A bold conjecture rose in both of their minds simultaneously.

Little Brother Yan / Little Brother Longyan... could he be the master behind the scenes at Rakshasa Street?

The two looked at Cao Longyan in unison, their eyes filled with scrutiny.

Cao Longyan smiled faintly and politely declined the invitation from Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong.

"I'm used to my freedom, so I won't be joining. You guys focus on your development, and if you ever need help, just come find me anytime."

Seeing this, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong didn't press the issue further.

As the night deepened, the group prepared to return to the dormitory building together.

Just then, Jiang Nannan stepped forward and, in front of everyone, spoke softly.

"Little Brother Longyan, could I have a word with you alone?"

As her words fell, the entire area went silent.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong exchanged a look, their eyes full of curiosity as they scanned back and forth between Jiang Nannan and Cao Longyan.

Wang Dong even flashed a meaningful smile, the same look he had when he watched Cao Longyan and Xiao Xiao earlier.

Tang Ya suddenly realized something and clapped her hands.

"Nannan, Little Brother Longyan... he wouldn't happen to be that person you've been searching for all these years, would he?"

Jiang Nannan's cheeks turned slightly red, and she nodded gently.

"Holy crap! Major tea!"

Wang Dong's eyes lit up. He pulled two slices of watermelon from who knows where and handed one to Huo Yuhao.

"Yuhao, have a slice, let's watch the show! We get to eat some more of Longyan's drama!"

Huo Yuhao looked helpless, but he took the watermelon anyway.

I have to admit, this melon... is actually quite tasty...

Seeing this, Tang Ya immediately had Bei Bei step forward, grabbing Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong one by one and hauling them away.

"You two, stop making trouble here!"

Tang Ya pouted and gave each of them a knock on the head.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong clutched their heads, looking aggrieved.

Tang Ya, however, turned around and waved at Jiang Nannan and Cao Longyan with a smile.

"Little Brother Longyan, Nannan, we'll head off first. You two take your time talking."

Bei Bei nodded toward Cao Longyan and Jiang Nannan, then grabbed the two "bystanders" and turned to leave.

Shrek Academy Outer Court, by the shores of Sea God Lake.

Jiang Nannan and Cao Longyan strolled side by side, the gentle lake breeze brushing against their cheeks and bringing a faint flush to their faces.

The combination of a handsome man and a beautiful woman formed a picturesque scene that drew many lingering gazes.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Nannan spoke first, her tone filled with gratitude.

"Brother Longyan, thank you. Six years ago, you saved me and my mother. We are doing very well now, and we've even moved to Shrek City to settle down."

Cao Longyan smiled faintly.

"It was just a small favor. As long as you and your mother are doing well, that's all that matters, Sister Nannan."

Jiang Nannan looked up at Cao Longyan's profile. Moonlight spilled over his blue hair, casting a soft glow, and for a moment, she felt dazed.

Brother Longyan has really grown up... He's so handsome...

She shook her head, trying to cast these thoughts from her mind.

Cao Longyan noticed her unusual behavior and felt a flicker of concern, fearing that the Mysterious Underworld Sect had left her with indelible trauma.

If that were the case, as a transmigrator, he would never be able to forgive himself.

Jiang Nannan also realized her behavior was improper and hurriedly shook her head.

"I'm fine, I just felt like a bug had been blown onto my head by the wind."

Cao Longyan could only reluctantly accept this clumsy excuse.

"Alright, Sister Nannan, if anything is bothering you, you can tell me."

Since she didn't want to talk about it, he wouldn't force her.

Jiang Nannan immediately changed the subject.

"Um, Sister Lexuan... is she doing well?"

"Oh, Sister Lexuan? She's leading some inner court disciples on a mission; she won't be back for a few days."

"If you want to see her, I'll take you to her once she returns."

Jiang Nannan felt a warmth in her heart and nodded.

She asked many more questions.

"Where do you live?"

"I remember your martial soul was a fire-attribute staff that could summon two giants, right? But what's going on with this Ice Dragon King martial soul of yours?"

"What have you been through all these years? Why has your appearance changed so much?"

Cao Longyan answered them one by one.

Regarding his martial soul, he simply improvised, claiming he had accidentally awakened an Ultimate Ice martial soul while trapped in a desperate situation.

As Jiang Nannan listened, her heart was filled with shock and heartache.

She could guess that the "desperate situation" Cao Longyan spoke of must have been a hardship beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

Yet, he had emerged from such suffering to become so powerful and so gentle.

When she saw Cao Longyan point toward Sea God Island in the center of Sea God Lake, and learned from Tang Ya that he and Bei Bei were cousins, Jiang Nannan already guessed his true identity.

He was a being far beyond her reach...

How could someone of her humble status ever dare to harbor thoughts of getting closer to him?

Even being able to address each other as siblings felt like an extravagant wish...

The feelings that had just begun to stir were forcibly suppressed and buried deep within her heart.

She knew the gap in their status was too vast.

She could only watch over him in silence.

But when she learned that everything Cao Longyan had endured was at the hands of the Holy Spirit Cult, a blazing fury ignited in Jiang Nannan's eyes.

"Holy Spirit Cult..."

She gritted her teeth, the fire in her eyes threatening to erupt.

"Brother Longyan, I will definitely work harder at my cultivation so I can help you take your revenge sooner!"

Cao Longyan looked at her determined gaze, his heart stirred.

The Jiang Nannan before him was still the same gentle yet resilient girl from all those years ago.

Being with her was comfortable—a different kind of warmth than what he felt with Xiao Xiao or Sister Lexuan.

However, what he didn't know was that behind a bush not far away, a petite, green-haired figure stood quietly, watching them.

It was a girl wearing a first-year uniform.

In her hand, she clutched a medicine bottle tightly.

But when she saw Cao Longyan and Jiang Nannan strolling side by side by the lake, laughing and talking, her heart was inexplicably gripped by a sharp, painful pang.

The pain left her gasping for air.

The medicine bottle slipped from her hand.

Snap—

The bottle shattered against the ground, spilling the medicine everywhere and soaking it into the dirt.

She stood rooted to the spot, her eyes rimmed with red, staring fixedly at the figures walking side by side.

That golden-haired senior seemed to be the commoner goddess of the outer courtyard... Jiang Nannan...

They looked so happy together... What was their relationship?

An unprecedented bitterness welled up in her heart.

She turned around, covered her mouth, and hurried away, her tears finally unable to be held back any longer.

Could it be that she had misunderstood his special treatment of her, and that he was actually the same to everyone?