Awkwardness and Suspicion

The bustle of the snack street gradually returned to normal after the thugs fled. The onlookers dispersed, the vendors resumed their cries, and the diners continued eating heartily, as though the little disturbance had never happened.

But some people could not calm down so quickly.

Leng Yaozhu, Leng Yulai, and Ya Li naturally gathered together. The three girls chattered away as though they had been friends for ages. Leng Yaozhu had always been outgoing and generous by nature, while Ya Li, though quiet, was not timid. With Leng Yulai occasionally adding a few words from the side, the three quickly became familiar with one another.

"Ya Li, your Martial Soul is so beautiful! Those two pairs of angel wings—are you an angel-type Martial Soul master?" Leng Yaozhu praised sincerely.

"My Martial Soul is the Prayer Angel. It mainly has healing and support abilities, so its combat power isn't very strong." Ya Li smiled somewhat bashfully, then asked curiously, "Sister Yao Zhu, is your Martial Soul the Heavenly Phoenix? I think I saw a phoenix phantom behind you just now."

"That's right! It's the Heavenly Phoenix!" Leng Yaozhu proudly lifted her chin. "It's a super Martial Soul passed down through the Leng Family! Impressive, right?"

"Mhm, very impressive!" Ya Li nodded, her eyes sparkling.

"Hahaha, of course it is!" Leng Yaozhu was delighted by the compliment. "If you want to learn, I can teach you a few moves!"

"Really?" Ya Li's eyes lit up.

"Of course it's true! I, Leng Yaozhu, always keep my word!"

The three girls chatted more and more enthusiastically, as though they had endless topics to discuss.

Meanwhile, Yun Ming, standing nearby, looked rather awkward.

He held the Heaven-Supporting Divine Spear, still maintaining the stance he had assumed when preparing to attack. But Leng Yaozhu had already sent the target flying with a single sword strike, and he had no idea where to thrust his spear now. If he put it away, he would look unnecessary; if he did not, he would look like an idiot standing there.

He coughed and silently put away the Heaven-Supporting Divine Spear.

His teacher, Bei Dexun, had finally given him a day off today. He had planned to treat himself on the snack street, only to run into something like this.

He had originally intended to play the hero and save the beauty, but he had been a step too late. Worse yet, the person who acted before him was from the Spirit Pagoda, his bitter rival. That defeat in the Spirit Ascension Platform half a year ago was still fresh in his mind.

Guan Yue, Zang Xin, Cai Yue'er, Zhuo Shi, and Feng Wuyu had been eliminated. Cao Dezhi and he had been forced to withdraw. They had failed to kill the Burning Sun Heavenly Dragon and instead let someone else reap the reward... That battle had been the most humiliating defeat of Yun Ming's life.

And now, he had once again fallen behind someone from the Spirit Pagoda.

Yun Ming tightened his grip on his spear, feeling rather stifled. It was like saving up painstakingly to buy a figurine he had wanted for ages, only to find someone else had already paid for it the moment he pushed open the shop door.

Still, Yun Ming was not narrow-minded enough to hold a grudge over such a trivial matter. He simply felt frustrated—why did he never come out ahead whenever he encountered Xiao Cheng and Leng Yaozhu?

At that moment, Ya Li noticed the awkward Yun Ming standing nearby. She was kind-hearted and knew that Yun Ming had wanted to help just now, only to be a step too slow. So she walked up to him and said politely, "Thank you as well, sir."

Yun Ming's gaze could not help falling upon the girl with dark green hair.

Ya Li.

He had only heard that name for the first time moments ago, yet it felt as though he had known it for a long time.

Those two pairs of glistening white angel wings, that gentle and warm aura, those clear and tranquil eyes... everything about her filled him with an inexplicable attraction.

It was not as though he had never seen beautiful girls. Shrek Academy had no shortage of female students with outstanding looks. But Ya Li gave him a completely different feeling. It was indescribable, as though she possessed a special quality that made people want to draw close to her and protect her.

What's wrong with me? Yun Ming thought in a panic.

He shook his head, trying to cast those chaotic thoughts from his mind, then hurriedly said, "No need to thank me... I didn't really help with anything."

"I should still thank you." Ya Li spoke earnestly. "Even though Sister Yao Zhu acted first, you wanted to help me too. I'm very grateful for that thoughtfulness."

Looking into Ya Li's clear eyes, Yun Ming suddenly felt an indescribable emotion well up inside him.

"If... if you run into any trouble in the future, you can come find me at Shrek Academy." The words slipped out before he could stop them. "My name is Yun Ming."

The moment he said it, he regretted it a little. Why did that sound like he was trying to curry favor with her?

But Ya Li did not think much of it and merely nodded. "I'll remember that. Thank you, Brother Yun Ming."

It felt as though a pebble had fallen into the lake of Yun Ming's heart, sending ripples across its surface.

Xiao Cheng saw everything clearly from the side. Yun Ming had obviously taken an interest in Ya Li, but without the glow of a heroic rescue, Ya Li only treated Yun Ming's behavior as polite social interaction born of his personality.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded from beyond the crowd.

"Ya Li! Ya Li! Where are you?!"

An anxious female voice rang out. Immediately afterward, the crowd parted as a figure rushed in.

She was a woman who looked to be in her thirties, tall and dressed in neat, practical clothes. Her entire bearing was valiant and heroic. Her features were proper, and her brows carried the firmness and decisiveness unique to a soldier, though they were currently filled with anxiety and worry.

The moment she saw Ya Li, she first heaved a sigh of relief, then rushed over and pulled Ya Li into her arms, burying the girl's face against her ample chest.

"Ya Li! Thank goodness you're all right! You scared me to death!"

"Sister Yu, I'm fine..." Ya Li was nearly unable to breathe from the hug and hurriedly patted her back. "Let go of me first. I can barely breathe..."

Only then did the woman release her. She carefully examined Ya Li from head to toe, and only after confirming that she was truly uninjured did she finally relax completely.

"Sister Yu, how did we get separated? When we came out of the auction house, my mind went blank, and before I knew it, I had come here." Ya Li straightened her disheveled hair and asked.

"I don't know!" The woman's expression darkened. "We came out of the auction, and the moment I turned around, you were gone! I didn't sense anything at all."

As she spoke, her gaze swept across everyone present, a trace of vigilance flashing through her eyes.

Her name was Yu Xinlan. She was a reserve War God of the War God Temple, a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse, and a Three-Word Battle Armor Master. Her primary responsibility was to protect Ya Li's safety while guiding her growth.

Ya Li was the most promising healing-type genius discovered by the Federation Government in recent years. Her Martial Soul was the Prayer Angel, a Martial Soul that had appeared for the first time in history. It was a purely healing- and blessing-type Martial Soul with little offensive capability, but its potential in healing and support was practically heaven-defying.

The Federation Government placed enormous importance on Ya Li. Not only had it provided vast cultivation resources, but it had also arranged for an expert like Yu Xinlan to protect her closely. Ya Li's confidentiality level within the organization was extremely high.

This trip to Shrek City had originally been intended as a chance to let Ya Li tour the continent's greatest city and relax. Under normal circumstances, she should not have been in danger with Yu Xinlan protecting her. Ya Li's information was highly classified, and it was nearly impossible for outsiders to know anything about her, yet something had still gone wrong.

As a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse and a Three-Word Battle Armor Master, Yu Xinlan knew very well that, under normal circumstances, someone with her strength could not possibly lose track of a little girl with only two rings of cultivation. The only explanation was that someone had acted in secret, interfering with her perception and causing her and Ya Li to "get separated."

Her spiritual power had long reached the Spirit Abyss Realm. To silently deceive her senses, the other party's spiritual power had to be at least at the Spirit Domain Realm, and they also needed unique insight into spiritual power. Someone capable of this was at least a Limit Douluo.

Yu Xinlan was certain that someone had set them up. In a place like Shrek City, only three major powers could arrange such a scheme—Shrek Academy, the Spirit Pagoda, and the Tang Sect.

She glanced over the people present, her thoughts racing.

She recognized Leng Yaozhu, Leng Yulai, and Xiao Cheng. They were members of the Spirit Pagoda Seven Luminaries Team, who had risen to fame after defeating Shrek Academy's geniuses in Heaven Dou City a year ago. Yun Ming was Shrek Academy's strongest spear-path genius of this generation and the direct disciple of Bei Dexun, the master of the Sea God Pavilion.

Emotionally, she was more inclined to believe that Shrek Academy had set this up. After all, the relationship between the Federation Government and Shrek Academy had never been particularly harmonious, and their open and covert struggles had not begun yesterday.

Still, although Ya Li's Prayer Angel Martial Soul was extraordinarily precious, and it would be understandable for Shrek Academy to want to recruit her, Yu Xinlan felt that dispatching a Limit Douluo to arrange such a scheme over this alone was making a mountain out of a molehill. Shrek Academy had never lacked geniuses.

Therefore, the Spirit Pagoda could not be fully ruled out either. Although the Spirit Pagoda had a decent relationship with the Federation Government, they merely maintained tacit cooperation when dealing with Shrek Academy.

Of course, there was also an almost negligible chance that Evil Soul Masters were responsible, but Yu Xinlan paid no attention to that possibility.

She had no evidence for any of this, and there was no way she could obtain evidence. Any evidence that even someone of her strength could detect would not be especially reliable. These thoughts merely flashed through her mind, and a smile soon appeared on her face.

Ya Li told Yu Xinlan what had just happened.

"Thank you all for lending a hand." Yu Xinlan cupped her hands toward Xiao Cheng's group and Yun Ming, her tone sincere. "I am Ya Li's guardian, Yu Xinlan. If you had not stepped in today, Ya Li might have suffered. On her behalf, I offer you my thanks."

"You're too polite, Sister Yu." Leng Yaozhu waved her hand. "Drawing a blade when one sees injustice is only right. Besides, Ya Li is so adorable. I couldn't bear to watch those thugs bully her."

"That's right, Sister Yu," Ya Li added from the side. "Sister Yao Zhu saved me, and Brother Xiao Cheng and Sister Yu Lai helped too. Oh, and Brother Yun Ming also wanted to help. He was just a step late."

When Ya Li said the final sentence, there was a trace of playfulness in her voice. She was clearly helping Yun Ming save face.

Yun Ming revealed a grateful smile.

Yu Xinlan naturally noticed Yun Ming as well. She looked at him and said with a smile, "You must be the prized disciple of Heavenly Favor Douluo. I have long heard of your name. Thank you for today as well."

"You flatter me." Yun Ming hurriedly returned the salute. "I didn't really help with anything. I'm ashamed."

"It's the thought that counts." Yu Xinlan smiled, then turned to Leng Yaozhu. "Miss Yao Zhu, the daughter of Spirit Pagoda's vice tower master—I'll remember this favor. If the opportunity arises in the future, I will certainly repay it."

"You're too polite, Sister Yu." Leng Yaozhu smiled. "It was only a small effort."

Yu Xinlan exchanged a few more pleasantries with them before taking Ya Li and bidding farewell.

Before leaving, Ya Li looked back at Leng Yaozhu and said with a smile, "Sister Yao Zhu, I'll come play with you again if I get the chance!"

"Sure!" Leng Yaozhu waved. "You're welcome anytime!"

Yun Ming watched Ya Li's retreating figure, a trace of reluctance flashing through his eyes before he quickly regained his composure.

He did not say anything else. He merely nodded to Xiao Cheng's group before leaving. Their positions were opposed, so they were destined not to walk the same path.

After Yu Xinlan and Ya Li disappeared around the street corner, Leng Yaozhu turned to Xiao Cheng and asked softly, "Xiao Cheng, don't you think what happened today was a little suspicious?"

"Suspicious." Xiao Cheng nodded. "And I suspect someone deliberately set it up."

"Who set it up?" Leng Yulai asked curiously.

Xiao Cheng glanced in the direction Yun Ming had left before saying, "Most likely Shrek Academy."

"Shrek Academy?" Leng Yaozhu frowned. "What do they want? Poach her? Ya Li might be talented, but Shrek Academy has plenty of geniuses. There's no need for them to stoop so low, is there?"

"I don't know." Xiao Cheng rubbed the bridge of his nose. "That's what confuses me too. But in Shrek City, the only ones capable of doing something like this are Shrek Academy, the Tang Sect, or our Spirit Pagoda. I don't think my father or Uncle Leng would do something like this. If the Qiangu Pagoda Master were behind it, we wouldn't be the main characters involved. The remaining two are in league with each other, so it can only be them. Maybe we've overlooked some factor."

"Should we do something, then?" Leng Yaozhu asked.

"No." Xiao Cheng shook his head. "Ya Li belongs to the Federation Government. It won't be easy for Shrek Academy to poach her. Besides, we already ruined their plan today, so they probably won't make any moves in the short term. The Federation Government isn't stupid, but there will never be any concrete evidence in a matter like this. We can rule out the Spirit Pagoda, but the Federation Government can't. It would be troublesome if they pinned the blame on us."

He paused, then smiled. "Come on, let's keep shopping. Those thugs ruined our mood just now, and I'm still not full."

"Right, right, right! Let's keep eating!" Leng Yaozhu immediately threw the matter to the back of her mind. "I saw a grilled skewer shop over there just now—the smell drifted all the way over here! Come on, come on!"

The three once again threw themselves into the embrace of the snack street and continued their culinary journey.

Meanwhile, Yun Ming walked back toward Shrek Academy, but Ya Li's smile kept appearing in his mind.

That smile was like the warm sun of spring, illuminating his heart.

What he did not know was that behind him, a pair of aged and profound eyes watched every one of his movements through layers of night.

Shrek Academy, Sea God Pavilion.

Heavenly Favor Douluo Bei Dexun slowly withdrew his spiritual power, his expression somewhat complicated.

He had not expected the script he had carefully arranged to be hijacked by a few youngsters from the Spirit Pagoda.

"That little girl... caused that thing to stir." Bei Dexun muttered softly, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes. "She may play a key role in becoming a god in the future. She must be brought under Shrek's control. Even if we must use any means necessary..."

At that moment, Bei Dexun, who usually presented a solemn and dignified image, wore an expression that looked somewhat ferocious.

"For Shrek's glory... everything I have done is for Shrek!"

After a long while, he reined in his emotions, summoned an elder of the Sea God Pavilion, and gave a few quiet instructions.

The elder nodded, then silently withdrew from the Sea God Pavilion.

Tonight, some people were destined to disappear forever into the darkness. Shrek Academy had to remain righteous and radiant; no stain could be permitted to exist.