Moving into a Dilapidated Dormitory, Poisoned Water Source

"Tan San, come out."

Zhao Wuji's footsteps stopped outside the door. He shoved the wooden door open with one hand, sending it crashing into the wall as dust drifted down in showers.

Xiao Wu immediately stepped in front of the bed, hands on her hips as she glared at him. "What do you want now? You said we passed. You can't go back on your word!"

Zhao Wuji's eye sockets were bruised and swollen, and his face was frighteningly dark.

Flender followed behind him. When he saw Tang San lying on the bed, he first shot Zhao Wuji a glance, barely managing to suppress the curl of his lips.

"Old Zhao, you attacked new students and still got beaten up like this. It really wouldn't sound good if word got out."

Zhao Wuji turned around and roared, "Flender, cut the sarcasm!"

Oscar poked his head in while pushing a cart, just about to join the excitement when Zhao Wuji's glare sent him retreating.

"You get lost too."

Oscar immediately pulled his head back and muttered, "I just wanted to ask whether anyone needed a Recovery Sausage."

Ning Rongrong stood in the corner of the room, brushing the dust off her skirt with distaste.

"Are all the teachers at this academy this fierce? Coming to settle scores with students right after their exam?"

Zhao Wuji looked at her and snorted through his nose.

"You little girl from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, don't try that act of yours in front of me."

Ning Rongrong's expression changed, and just as she was about to retort, Zhu Zhuqing rose from where she stood against the wall and coldly looked toward the doorway.

Dai Mubai quickly stepped between them.

"Teacher Zhao, Tang San really can't hold on anymore. If you want to ask about the hidden weapons, wait until he wakes up."

Tang San had wanted to sit up, but the moment he moved, an empty sensation spread through his chest.

Ji Yuan gently drew back at the edge of Tang San's meridians, siphoning away most of the Mysterious Heaven Skill inner power Tang San had just gathered, leaving him with nothing but the appearance of weakness.

Tang San coughed, his face turning even paler.

Xiao Wu panicked and turned to press down on his shoulder.

"Lie down! Don't force yourself!"

Seeing Tang San in that state, Zhao Wuji's anger caught in his throat.

Winning had cost him his dignity, losing would have been even more humiliating, and now even questioning him made Zhao Wuji look like he was bullying an injured kid.

Flender adjusted his glasses and finally spoke.

"Old Zhao, if you really want to know what happened with those hidden weapons, ask tomorrow."

Zhao Wuji gritted his teeth and extended his hand toward Tang San.

Several extracted Dragon Beard Needles lay in his palm.

"Give me an explanation for these things tomorrow."

Tang San nodded, his voice hoarse.

"Alright."

Zhao Wuji stared at him for a while, then suddenly frowned.

"Why is the Soul Power in your body such a mess? Did you use something you shouldn't have just now?"

Tang San's heart tightened slightly.

Ji Yuan was hidden in the compartment beneath his shoe sole, his roots still in the soil and no longer burrowing toward the well.

That underground detection array was still operating. If he moved now, a Soul Sage like Zhao Wuji might not be able to trace the source, but with Flender present as well, the risk was doubled.

Xiao Wu spoke first.

"You've got the nerve to ask? A Soul Sage fighting several Soul Grandmasters—of course he'd overdraw himself!"

Ning Rongrong also snorted coldly.

"If we hadn't held on, would you be saying our bones weren't hard enough?"

Zhao Wuji's face twitched as the two young girls shot back at him.

"Fine, fine. Every one of you has a sharp tongue."

But Flender looked toward Tang San's feet.

Ji Yuan immediately withdrew the fine roots he had extended back into the crack in the shoe sole, while his outer aura withered into ordinary bits of dried grass.

Flender's gaze lingered there only briefly before moving away.

"Mubai, arrange for them to rest first. Have food sent to the dormitory."

Dai Mubai nodded.

"Got it."

Zhao Wuji turned to leave, but before stepping out, he looked back and glared at Tang San once more.

"Kid, if you can't explain it clearly tomorrow, I'll personally spar with you."

Xiao Wu immediately blocked his line of sight.

"We'll talk about tomorrow's matters tomorrow."

Zhao Wuji was so angry that he laughed.

"Rabbit girl, don't hide either. You're coming too tomorrow."

Xiao Wu choked, then turned to look at Tang San.

Tang San forced a smile.

"It's fine."

Only after Zhao Wuji and Flender left did the oppressive atmosphere in the room finally dissipate.

Ning Rongrong immediately sat on the edge of the wooden bed, then frowned at how hard it was and stood back up.

"How are you supposed to sleep on this bed?"

Zhu Zhuqing had already closed her eyes to meditate and regulate her breathing.

"Lie down and sleep."

Ning Rongrong glanced at her and could not help asking, "Aren't you bothered by how dirty it is?"

Zhu Zhuqing opened her eyes, her tone cold and stiff.

"There's nothing I can do even if I am."

Ning Rongrong was left speechless. She turned to Dai Mubai.

"This is all there is for the girls' dormitory?"

Dai Mubai spread his hands.

"These are Shrek Academy's conditions. If you're dissatisfied, you can return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Ning Rongrong's expression darkened.

"Since I came here, I won't leave."

Xiao Wu was in no mood to listen to them argue. She merely lowered her head to look at Tang San.

"Where exactly do you feel unwell? Do you want to eat one of those sausages?"

Tang San shook his head.

"I'll be fine after meditating for a while."

Oscar heard the word "sausage" from outside and poked his head in again while pushing his cart.

"Little Sister Xiao Wu, I'm not bragging—my sausages are top-notch for recovery. If Tang San eats one now, I guarantee he'll feel better."

Xiao Wu remembered his chant, and her face turned green.

"If you dare recite it, I'll flip your cart over."

Oscar looked at Dai Mubai in grievance.

"Boss Dai, do something."

Dai Mubai patted his shoulder.

"Go make dinner first. They can't stand you right now."

Oscar sighed and pushed his cart away.

Ji Yuan's senses followed him for some distance.

Food-type Soul Power and life-restoring energy were indeed worth nurturing.

But not yet.

He first needed to turn all of Shrek Academy into his territory.

Once night fell, the dormitory finally became quiet.

Tang San lay on the bed as the Mysterious Heaven Skill circulated on its own, trying to mend the injuries he had suffered that day.

Ji Yuan did not rush to drain him.

He first released a trace of gentle wood-element Soul Power, guiding it through Tang San's meridians once to soothe his superficial injuries and let Tang San sleep more deeply.

Then, roots extended from a crack in the sole of his shoe, slipping along the bedpost and burrowing into the soil.

The detection formation underground was still there, but after Zhao Wuji and Flender had left during the day, the fluctuations in its formation patterns had already weakened.

Ji Yuan did not force his way through.

He split the roots into several strands. One pressed close to the damp layer of soil, another skirted around the area with the densest Soul Power, and a third deliberately brushed against the edge of the formation patterns.

The formation patterns lit up faintly.

Tang San frowned in his sleep.

Ji Yuan immediately drew away the inner force that had just formed within him, fabricating a reaction of pain in his meridians.

Tang San turned over and murmured, "Don't..."

Xiao Wu slept in the other bed. Hearing the movement, she lifted her head.

"Tang San?"

Tang San did not wake.

Xiao Wu got up to check and found that he was merely sleeping restlessly. Only then did she lie back down.

Ji Yuan waited until her breathing steadied before continuing his actions.

The formation markings had just been concealed by the fluctuations in Tang San's meridians.

Very good.

If anything happened in the future, he could pin it all on Tang San.

The roots skirted the detection array and burrowed toward the well at the center of the academy.

The bottom of the well was cold and rich with moisture.

After Ji Yuan's roots entered a crack in the well wall, the demon vine's main body opened its dark red pores and released a large number of latent spores into the water.

These spores were colorless and odorless. They dispersed upon contact with water, and their Soul Power fluctuations were so low as to be nearly nonexistent.

Those who drank them would not immediately grow weak.

They would not feel pain.

They would not become suspicious.

They would only be marked by him.

Ji Yuan did not get greedy. Once the spores had been released, he immediately severed the roots, leaving behind only a distant sensory line.

As dawn approached, Dai Mubai was the first to arrive at the well to wash up.

He had felt weak again last night and had intended to draw some water to wake himself up.

"Strange. Why have I been so drained lately?"

He scooped up a ladleful of well water and tipped his head back to drink it.

The waterborne spores entered his stomach and immediately connected with the White Tiger spores in his ankle.

The ladle in Dai Mubai's hand swayed, and he frowned.

"Again?"

He circulated his Soul Power to examine himself, but only felt a slight heat in his White Tiger meridians, as if yesterday's injuries had yet to heal.

Inside the dormitory, Ji Yuan silently tightened his roots.

White Tiger node, reinforcement successful.

Soon after, the kitchen fires were lit, and well water was poured into the pots.

Oscar passed by the well with a yawn and casually took a drink.

Ning Rongrong approached with a teacup in hand.

Zhu Zhuqing stopped by the well carrying a kettle.

Xiao Wu rubbed her eyes as she called out, "Is Tang San awake yet? I'm going to get him some water."

Ji Yuan's sensory web lit up bit by bit.

The water veins of the entire academy had become his throat.

And the next mouthful of water was being brought to the lips of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's little princess.