First Meeting with Tang San! A Grudge is Formed!

The hallmark of Tang San's hidden weapons was their treachery; they were unexpected, lethal in a single strike.

Seeing that Wen Ruan had no time to react, Lin Yan did not hesitate for a second, instantly completing his Martial Soul Possession.

BOOM!

Relying on the amplification his Martial Soul provided to every aspect of his physical capabilities...

Before the hidden weapons could strike Wen Ruan, Lin Yan descended from the sky, wreathed in purple-red flames, and pulled the young girl into his arms to shield her.

The next instant, a series of crisp clinking sounds erupted across the scene.

Those were the sounds of the hidden weapons striking Lin Yan's back.

As the noise faded, the air fell into a brief, heavy silence.

Everyone present was dumbfounded, especially Tang San!

Hiss—what just happened? How did he appear? And how could he withstand those hidden weapons with his bare body?

"Who is that? Is he a teacher at the academy?"

"Damn! That save was way too cool!"

"What were those things Tang San threw? There wasn't even a warning! Was that a soul skill?"

Ning Rongrong and the others whispered among themselves, beginning to speculate.

At this moment, Lin Yan spoke to the girl in his arms.

"Are you alright, little senior?"

Upon seeing the fair-skinned face before her, Wen Ruan's expression went blank for a fleeting moment.

"Lin... Lin Yan?"

"How did you come back?"

Clearly, Wen Ruan still hadn't realized that if she had been struck by those hidden weapons just now, she likely would have lost her life on the spot.

This was not her fault; after all, the locals of Douluo Continent had never seen hidden weapons, nor did they understand their lethality.

Wen Ruan only saw that the items Tang San threw had been completely blocked by Lin Yan's physical body.

She did not know that if not for the External Soul Bone on Lin Yan's back and the fact that he had consumed a celestial herb like the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, he would not have been able to withstand Tang San's attack either.

"Who are you? Why are you intruding on our entrance examination?"

Tang San's voice came from behind them.

Lin Yan frowned, anger rising in his heart.

He turned to look at Tang San, his inner killing intent boiling.

This guy—his attack was so ruthless; had he never considered that someone might lose their life?

"You! Why did you use such things to launch a sneak attack?"

"Have you ever thought that if I hadn't appeared, the little senior might have died because of you!"

Lin Yan's gaze was icy, his fists clenched tight.

If he didn't know that Tang Hao was watching this battle from the shadows, he would have already moved to crush Tang San to death.

Tang San felt a bit guilty under his gaze. Recalling the scene just now, he stammered, "I..."

"This is an entrance examination; naturally, I must give it my all."

"If she lacks the skill, she shouldn't be an examiner!"

"Lacks the skill?" Lin Yan sneered.

"Can't you tell she was holding back the entire time?"

"Teacher Zhao! Is this your so-called protection of the little senior?"

Lin Yan knew full well that he couldn't touch Tang San today regardless, so he stopped bickering with him and turned his attention to Zhao Wuji instead.

Zhao Wuji looked embarrassed.

"This..."

"Lin Yan, let it go."

Wen Ruan spoke up at the right moment from within Lin Yan's embrace.

"Teacher Zhao has looked after me quite well over the years."

With Wen Ruan interceding for him, the awkward expression on Zhao Wuji's face eased slightly.

Times had changed.

Six years ago, Lin Yan was just a level 10 soul master who had barely entered the path.

But six years had passed, and Lin Yan was now a personal guard to the Crown Prince, a level 49 Soul Ancestor!

Over these years, Shrek Academy had received no small amount of financial support from Lin Yan.

Perhaps there was some lingering gratitude for that thousand-year soul ring from years ago, but no one here was a fool; they knew that, more than anything, this was the support Lin Yan provided for Wen Ruan's sake.

Now that Wen Ruan had nearly been gravely injured, or even killed, he, as the vice-dean, certainly could not shirk the responsibility.

"I am taking her with me!"

Since he could not touch Tang San today, Lin Yan simply stopped entangling himself with him.

"Heh."

"We've crossed paths on the very first day of school, Tang San! I look forward to seeing what kind of waves you can make once you no longer have Tang Hao's protection."

A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years.

Lin Yan could not expose his true strength, or even move to finish off Tang San, right under Tang Hao's nose.

But once he returned to Heaven Dou City at the end of this month...

"Who is he? Is he also a student at this academy?"

Watching as Lin Yan carried Wen Ruan in his arms and gradually walked out of the training grounds, Ning Rongrong asked Dai Mubai with curiosity.

"That guy is named Lin Yan. It's said he was once a student at Shrek Academy, but later enrolled in the Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

"He's only returned a few times over the years, and I'm not familiar with him."

"Lin Yan!" Ning Rongrong murmured.

"That name sounds so familiar..."

Dai Mubai turned his head to look at the young girl.

"Familiar? Is your network of connections that wide? You're even linked to the Heaven Dou royal family..."

"Oh, right!"

Remembering the other party's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul, Dai Mubai swallowed the rest of his words.

The field fell silent for a moment.

Before long.

"Hiss~"

"I remember now."

Ning Rongrong gasped, her expression one of utter shock.

"This guy is the Crown Prince's man!"

As the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and with Xue Qinghe being Ning Fengzhi's student, the two often crossed paths.

Years ago, Ning Rongrong had even briefly met Lin Yan once.

However, Ning Rongrong had been too playful at the time, and with Xue Qinghe intentionally hiding Lin Yan's true strength, the two had not interacted much.

But Ning Rongrong had heard Ning Fengzhi speak of him—that this Lin Yan was exceptionally gifted, possessed outstanding strength, and might even become her future husband and a protector of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

She never expected that they would meet again in such a manner today.

Moreover, the man already had a girlfriend.

"Wait, no!"

"He is already a Soul Ancestor this year and a favorite of the Crown Prince. If his girlfriend nearly lost her life, why..."

"Why did he let Tang San off so easily?"

In Ning Rongrong's view, all those in high positions shared one common trait.

That was, when faced with an offense from a subordinate, they would never show a shred of sympathy.

This Lin Yan...

Or perhaps this Tang San—what exactly was so special about them?

It had to be said that as a daughter personally groomed by Ning Fengzhi, Ning Rongrong's way of thinking already surpassed all her peers, and even most adults.

Based solely on Lin Yan's few words and his attitude just now, she had sensed something unusual between Lin Yan and Tang San.

Coupled with the strange attack methods Tang San had displayed earlier, and his Blue Silver Grass martial soul that could actually be cultivated, Ning Rongrong became even more curious.

At this moment, Dai Mubai suddenly spoke up.

"..."

"Perhaps Lin Yan is just a kind person."

These words cut right through Ning Rongrong's train of thought.

The girl looked at Dai Mubai, who wore a look of earnest conviction, as if he were an idiot.

"Why are you looking at me with that expression?"

Dai Mubai did not realize the problem and simply looked back at her, puzzled.

"It's nothing."

Ning Rongrong brushed it off casually, then immediately turned her gaze toward Zhao Wuji.

"Teacher Zhao, how does this assessment count then?"

Zhao Wuji waved his hand impatiently.

"It counts as passed!"

"Mu Bai, take them to the dorms and help them get familiar with the academy grounds."

On the other side.

Lin Yan had carried Wen Ruan all the way to his private dormitory.

This was a space Flender had specially constructed to thank him for his contributions to the academy, and usually, only Wen Ruan lived there.

"Little Senior Sister, why does it feel like you've put on some weight lately?"

"I have not... Don't start spouting nonsense the moment you get back."

"..."

Lin Yan did not tell Wen Ruan how dangerous the situation just now had been; with him around in the future, Wen Ruan would never have to face such things.

It was better this way—letting her live securely under his "wings" would save her from unnecessary worry.