Zhao Linchuan remained perfectly composed, paying no heed to the silent rivalry and covertly exchanged glances between the two women as he calmly enjoyed this rare "service."
After all, being courted by two peerless beauties was a rather pleasant experience.
After the meal, Yan Fei cleared away the dishes and brewed a pot of tea before speaking gently. "Young Master, the Soul Power within me broke through to level eighty on its own today."
"I wonder... when would it be convenient to go hunt for a Soul Ring? Please give me your instructions, Young Master."
Her tone was respectful, but her eyes held a note of anticipation.
"No rush." Zhao Linchuan set down his teacup, giving the same answer he had given Yue Shen.
Then, under Yan Fei's slightly puzzled gaze, he once again exchanged something from the System Mall: a Hundred Thousand Year Self-Adaptive Soul Bone radiating a soft golden light. He casually set it on the table.
"Absorb this Soul Bone first," Zhao Linchuan said evenly. "Once you've gathered a complete set of Soul Bones and tempered your body's foundations to the utmost, there'll still be time to hunt for a Soul Ring."
"By then, you'll be starting from a completely different place."
"This... Th-thank you, Young Master!" Yan Fei first froze, then delight burst from her beautiful eyes.
She had never imagined that she would merely ask about a Soul Ring, and the Young Master would directly bestow such a precious Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone upon her!
This "generous gift" far exceeded her expectations!
The entire scene played out before Yue Shen's eyes.
Yue Shen felt her chest suddenly tighten, as if she'd been struck hard by a sledgehammer!
Her breathing grew difficult in an instant, and fierce bitterness, resentment, and wounded indignation erupted in her heart like a volcano!
Why?
Why?!
She had followed the Young Master around all day, gone to that foul-smelling forest, and even been... treated so frivolously by him, all just to receive a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone!
But what about Yan Fei?
She'd simply stayed at the estate, cooked a meal, and asked a question—and she got one too!
The Young Master had even said exactly the same things to them!
Then what had her "efforts" today, her patience, and all her scheming amounted to?
Could it be that, in the Young Master's eyes, she and Yan Fei were worth exactly the same?
That he could reward them however he pleased, without favoring either of them?
An immense sense of loss and injustice swallowed her.
As she thought about it, her nose stung and her eyes grew hot beyond her control. Two clear tears slid down her fair cheeks without warning and fell onto the table before her.
Zhao Linchuan was raising his teacup when the tear tracks on Yue Shen's face caught the corner of his eye. His hand paused slightly.
Tsk, did I... overdo it? Giving both of them Soul Bones seems to have made Yue Shen feel her "special treatment" was canceled out? Even leaving her feeling wronged?
He considered it for a moment and came to a decision.
Setting down his teacup, he once again exchanged something from the System Mall: an elegantly shaped ring, its band made of mithril and its setting adorned with a smooth, white jade stone.
"Yue Shen," Zhao Linchuan said, his voice calm.
Yue Shen hurriedly lowered her head to wipe away her tears, but he stopped her.
Zhao Linchuan took the hand resting on her lap and, without giving her a chance to refuse, slipped the ring onto the ring finger of her left hand.
The ring adjusted itself to fit perfectly.
"This is for you." Zhao Linchuan released her hand, speaking casually. "A Storage Soul Tool. You've probably read about them in books."
"This ring has an independent storage space measuring 100*100*100, enough for you to store plenty of personal belongings and cultivation resources."
"It'll make things more convenient for you."
Yue Shen stared blankly at the smooth white jade ring on her finger.
The bitterness and hurt that had surged through her moments ago seemed to ease a little under this unexpected gift, which carried a hint of being "just for her."
She pressed her lips together, tears still clinging to her lashes, and murmured, "Th-thank you, Young Master."
Zhao Linchuan stood up. "I should head back to the academy. You two, cultivate properly, absorb your Soul Bones, and stabilize your realms." With that, he headed for the door.
"Young Master, I'll see you out." Yan Fei immediately stood and followed him.
Their figures disappeared at the end of the corridor.
Yue Shen sat alone in the dining room and slowly raised her left hand, carefully examining the Storage Soul Tool on her ring finger in the daylight filtering through the window.
The jade in its setting was smooth and understated, and the mithril patterns were exquisitely crafted.
It wasn't a Soul Bone, but it was an extremely useful and valuable Soul Tool—and the Young Master had put it on her himself...
Her fingertips gently brushed the ring's setting, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved into a small, slightly awkward, faintly haughty smile.
Hmph, a Storage Soul Tool... Did Yan Fei have one?
A moment later, Yan Fei returned. Seeing Yue Shen still sitting there, distractedly touching her ring, a flicker of confusion passed through her eyes. She went to the table and began clearing it, casually asking,
"Yue Shen, why were you... crying just now?"
At that, Yue Shen's brows immediately furrowed. She was about to snap back, but her gaze suddenly fixed on Yan Fei's left hand as she wiped down the table—there, too, was a ring!
It was exactly the same design as hers, except the stone in its setting was a pale red!
Exactly the same! Only the color was different!
In that moment, Yue Shen felt that little bit of comfort and smugness she'd just found shatter completely!
So... it wasn't just for her! It was just "standard issue"!
A powerful sense of betrayal and disappointment surged over her again, worse than before!
She sprang to her feet, both hands clenched into fists, her voice filled with barely restrained agitation and hurt. "Yan Fei! Do you really... have to compete with me over everything?!"
"You even had to get a ring just like mine?!"
Yan Fei froze at her words. She stopped what she was doing, glanced at the ring on her hand, then looked at Yue Shen, baffled.
"What am I competing with you for? The Young Master said as he was leaving that he'd give me one too, so I could store my things more conveniently. He just handed it to me. What's the problem?"
"You!" Seeing how matter-of-fact and oblivious Yan Fei was, Yue Shen grew even angrier, her chest heaving.
She glared at Yan Fei and said each word distinctly, "Fine! Fine! If you won't admit it, then let's each rely on our own abilities! We'll see who truly earns the Young Master's favor!"
With that, she turned away in wounded indignation and hurried toward her room.
Yan Fei stood where she was, watching in the direction Yue Shen had disappeared. She then looked down at the ruby ring on her hand, still utterly confused. "What's gotten into her?"
Night fell over Nuoding City.
The lights in Dorm Seven were already out. Zhao Linchuan felt his way to his conspicuous pink bedding, lifted the covers, and sat down, ready to lie back—only to meet a pair of large, shining eyes in the darkness, brimming with reproach.
Xiao Wu was curled up at the other end of the bed, arms wrapped around her knees and lips pouting so hard they could hang an oil bottle. She stared straight at Zhao Linchuan—and his completely empty hands.
"Where are my carrots..." she asked miserably, her voice full of the hurt of being deceived. "You said you'd bring me some when you came back tonight... I knew you were lying to me. Hmph!"
Then she huffed and turned away, pulling the covers over her head and presenting Zhao Linchuan with a round little mound of a back, making it perfectly clear through her actions that she was "not speaking to him anymore."
Before you continue