Catching Up

Outside the Soul Fighting Zone

Cao Longyan had just come out through the back door of the Soul Fighting Arena. To avoid being mobbed by the others, he quickly left with Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Bei Bei, Tang Ya, and Jiang Nannan, heading for an open area near the shore of Sea God Lake.

"Longyan, you were way too awesome! A first-year student easily crushed a fifth-year, and a level-38 Soul Elder beat a level-42 Soul Ancestor! I still haven't gotten over it!"

Wang Dong looked at Cao Longyan with adoration, patting his shoulder as she spoke excitedly.

Huo Yuhao nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of admiration.

"Yeah, Wang Dong's exaggerating a little, but Longyan, you really are incredible."

"And thank you for standing up for me."

Bei Bei and Tang Ya exchanged a glance, both seeing shock and relief in the other's eyes.

"Thank you, little brother Longyan."

Jiang Nannan's cheeks were a little flushed.

"It was nothing."

Cao Longyan replied calmly, yet every word carried warmth.

Something's off... There's something going on between those two...

After a brief silence, Wang Dong was the first to speak to Cao Longyan.

"Longyan, Huo Yuhao and I have both joined Rakshasa Street. You should join too! We brothers can make a name for ourselves there!"

Huo Yuhao hurriedly chimed in.

"Yeah! With you on board, Rakshasa Street is sure to have an even brighter future!"

Before Cao Longyan could answer, Tang Ya couldn't help letting out a snort of laughter.

A member of Rakshasa Street inviting the founder and leader of Rakshasa Street to join was such a ridiculous mix-up that it was hard not to laugh.

Seeing everyone's eyes turn to her, Tang Ya quickly stifled her laughter and came up with an excuse.

"It's nothing, it's nothing. I just thought the way you invited Longyan was pretty funny."

But Bei Bei and Jiang Nannan keenly sensed that something was amiss.

Tang Ya's reaction had been far too deliberate.

And when they recalled that Tang Ya had said earlier that her parents were only acting leaders of Rakshasa Street, not its actual leader...

A bold guess surfaced in both their minds at once.

Little Yan... Could Longyan really be the mysterious leader of Rakshasa Street?

They both looked at Cao Longyan at the same time, their eyes full of curiosity.

Cao Longyan smiled faintly and politely declined Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong's invitation.

"I'm used to being free, so I'll pass. You two do your best to build it up. If you ever need help, just come to me."

Seeing that, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong didn't press him.

As night deepened, everyone prepared to head back to the dorms together.

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

"Little brother Longyan, could I talk with you alone?"

The instant she finished speaking, the entire group fell silent.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong exchanged a glance, curiosity written all over their faces as their gazes shifted between Jiang Nannan and Cao Longyan.

Wang Dong wore an especially knowing smile, the very same look she'd given Cao Longyan and Xiao Xiao earlier.

Tang Ya suddenly understood and clapped her hands.

"Nannan, could little brother Longyan be the person you've been looking for all these years?"

Jiang Nannan's cheeks flushed, and she nodded gently.

"Whoa! Now that's juicy!"

Wang Dong's eyes lit up. Somehow, she produced two slices of watermelon and handed one to Huo Yuhao.

"Yuhao, have some. Let's watch the show! We get to hear more about Longyan again!"

Huo Yuhao looked helpless, but still took the watermelon.

He had to admit, it was pretty sweet...

Seeing that, Tang Ya had Bei Bei step forward and haul Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong away, one in each hand.

"You two, quit causing trouble here!"

Tang Ya pouted and punched each of them on the head.

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

Tang Ya turned around and waved cheerfully at Jiang Nannan and Cao Longyan.

"Little brother Longyan, Nannan, we'll be off, then. Take your time talking."

Bei Bei nodded to Cao Longyan and Jiang Nannan as well, then turned and left with the two "spectators" in tow.

Shrek Outer Court, by Sea God Lake

Jiang Nannan and Cao Longyan walked side by side. A gentle breeze off the lake brushed their cheeks, bringing a faint flush to them both.

The handsome young man and beautiful young woman made a striking picture against the scenery, drawing plenty of glances.

After a brief silence, Jiang Nannan spoke first, her voice full of gratitude.

"Little brother Longyan, thank you for saving my mother and me six years ago. We're both doing well now, and we've settled in Shrek City."

Cao Longyan smiled faintly.

"It was nothing. I'm just glad you and your mother are doing well, Sister Nannan."

Jiang Nannan looked up at Cao Longyan's profile. Moonlight fell on his blue hair, giving it a soft glow, and for a moment she drifted off.

Little brother Longyan had really grown up... He was so handsome...

She shook her head, trying to drive the thoughts from her mind.

Cao Longyan watched her strange gesture with concern, afraid that the Mysterious Underworld Sect had left her with scars that would never heal.

If that were the case, then as someone who had transmigrated, he would never forgive himself.

Jiang Nannan realized that her behavior had been odd and quickly shook her head.

"I'm fine. It just felt like a bug had blown onto my head."

Cao Longyan could only just accept Jiang Nannan's awkward excuse.

"All right. Sister Nannan, you can tell me if something's wrong."

If she didn't want to say, he wouldn't force her.

Jiang Nannan immediately changed the subject.

"Um, how is Sister Lexuan...?"

"Oh, Sister Lexuan. She took some Inner Court disciples on a mission. She won't be back for a few days."

"If you want to see her, Sister Nannan, I'll take you to her when she gets back."

Warmth filled Jiang Nannan's heart, and she nodded.

She asked him many more questions.

"Where are you living?"

"I remember your Martial Soul was a fire-attribute staff that could summon two giants, wasn't it? What happened to that? How did you get this Ice Dragon King Martial Soul?"

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

Cao Longyan answered each question.

As for his Martial Soul, he only gave her a brief, altered version of the story, saying that he had unexpectedly awakened an Ultimate Ice Martial Soul in a desperate situation.

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

She could guess that the desperate situation Cao Longyan spoke of must have involved hardships beyond anything an ordinary person could imagine.

And yet he had emerged from such suffering, becoming so powerful and so gentle.

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

He was someone far beyond her reach...

How could someone as lowly as her dare to hope to get any closer to him...

Even being able to call each other brother and sister like this felt like a dream...

She forcibly buried the feelings that had just begun to bloom, hiding them deep in her heart.

She knew the gap between their statuses was too great.

All she could do was protect him from afar.

When she learned that everything Cao Longyan had gone through was the work of the Holy Spirit Cult, fury blazed in Jiang Nannan's eyes.

"The Holy Spirit Cult..."

She gritted her teeth, rage practically spilling from her eyes.

"Little brother Longyan, I'll work even harder to cultivate. I'll help you get revenge as soon as I can!"

Cao Longyan looked at the determination in her eyes, his heart stirring.

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

Being with her was comfortable, a different kind of warmth from what he felt with Xiao Xiao and Sister Lexuan.

But what he didn't know was that, behind a nearby thicket, a petite figure in green stood silently watching them.

She was a green-haired girl wearing a first-year uniform.

In her hand, she clutched a medicine bottle tightly.

But when she saw Cao Longyan and Jiang Nannan walking side by side along the shore of Sea God Lake, chatting and laughing, her heart clenched painfully for some reason.

The pain stole her breath.

The medicine bottle slipped from her hand.

"Crash—"

The bottle shattered on the ground, and the medicine spilled everywhere, soaking into the soil.

She stood motionless, eyes reddening as she stared fixedly at their figures walking side by side.

That golden-haired senior seemed to be the commoner goddess of the Outer Court... Jiang Nannan...

They looked so happy together... What were they to each other?

An ache unlike anything she'd ever felt welled up inside her.

She turned, covered her mouth, and hurried away, tears finally spilling down her cheeks.

Could she have mistaken his special treatment of her for something more, when he was actually like that with everyone...?