Xiao Xiao

As soon as they left the school gates, Ning Tian suggested taking the entire class to Seven Treasure Restaurant for a team-building dinner, but Mu Jin rejected the proposal as soon as it was made.

As their teacher, she naturally could not take advantage of her students.

But she also could not afford to treat such a large group at Seven Treasure Restaurant.

Still, Mu Jin was not a stingy person. She chose a restaurant with more moderate prices for the meal, then took everyone to entertainment venues around Shrek City to have fun for quite a while.

Not wanting to spoil their enjoyment, Mu Jin merely kept an eye on the students while drinking by herself off to the side, joining neither the celebration nor the games.

By the time Mu Jin had led Ling Feng and the others through a thoroughly enjoyable outing, the sky had long since gone dark.

After bidding farewell to each of the Class Nine students, Ling Feng finally dragged his somewhat exhausted body toward the inner courtyard.

"Ah, this kind of socializing is the most tiring. No matter what, I'm never doing this again."

Ling Feng might have looked like a twelve-year-old child on the surface, but in essence, he was an adult.

Compared to playing childish games with a group of children, Ling Feng would rather fight or even meditate and cultivate.

At least those did not drain much of his energy.

Right now, all he wanted was to hurry back, throw himself onto his bed, and get a good night's sleep.

"Waa..."

As Ling Feng reached Sea God Lake, a soft sobbing sound drifted over, immediately putting him on guard.

In the dead of night, there was not a soul around.

Other than the faint sound of the wind, there was only that crying.

"Who's there?!"

Ling Feng was a firm materialist.

He absolutely did not believe in ghosts or monsters.

Right, he did not believe!

Ling Feng reached out with his left hand and took a bell from his storage Soul Tool, while his right hand slowly condensed an ice sword.

Next time, I definitely need to keep a peachwood sword, glutinous rice, and talisman paper in my Soul Tool...

Ling Feng carefully walked forward, and the sobbing gradually grew louder.

Only after passing through the small path did Ling Feng see a little girl sitting on a wooden bench beside Sea God Lake.

The little girl was delicate and lovely, the kind whose beauty grew on one the more one looked at her. Dressed in green, she sat obediently there, her two short legs dangling and swinging from the bench. Under the moonlight, her two fair little hands could be seen constantly wiping away her tears.

"Uh... Xiao Xiao?"

Ling Feng's voice made Xiao Xiao stiffen. She hurriedly wiped her face several times, then turned to look at him.

"L-Ling Feng, Senior?"

Looking at the adorable girl before him, who seemed a little silly, Ling Feng smiled and shook his head.

"Just call me Ling Feng. We're in the same year, so there's no need to be so polite."

Xiao Xiao nodded, then looked at the sword and bell in Ling Feng's hands.

"Ling Feng, what are those...?"

"Nothing, nothing... I was just messing around."

Somewhat embarrassed, Ling Feng dispersed the ice sword and put the bell back into his storage Soul Tool before walking over to sit beside Xiao Xiao.

"What are you doing out here?"

"I'm not doing anything. I just couldn't sleep tonight, so I came to the lake to get some air."

"Oh, I see..."

Ling Feng turned to look at Xiao Xiao. The tear stains on her face had not yet been wiped clean, and the corners of her eyes were slightly red and swollen. She had clearly been crying for quite some time.

But since Xiao Xiao did not bring it up herself, Ling Feng naturally would not awkwardly mention it.

"I didn't expect you to be so strong and still remember me."

After the two fell silent for a moment, while Ling Feng was still struggling to find a topic, Xiao Xiao spoke first.

"What are you talking about?"

"Who says making friends depends on who's stronger or weaker?"

"The important thing is that you're not weak either!"

"You really gave me a fright today. If I hadn't reacted quickly enough, I might have suffered at your hands."

Ling Feng smiled and took the opportunity to praise Xiao Xiao.

"Huh?"

Xiao Xiao clearly had not expected Ling Feng to compliment her. She abruptly turned toward him, her large eyes filled with hope.

"Y-You really mean that?"

"Of course I do!"

Ling Feng wore a serious expression as he carefully analyzed the battle from earlier that day with Xiao Xiao.

"At the time, I thought there were no strong opponents left in your class, so I underestimated you."

"But then you suddenly rushed at me. Your timing was excellent—if I'd been any weaker, I might not have reacted in time!"

"I've fought plenty of times in the outer courtyard. Even some four-ring Soul Masters aren't as good as you at seizing opportunities!"

"And that soul skill was released at a crucial moment. It's just a pity you had no teammates left to coordinate with afterward."

"Otherwise, I might have been directly hit by your soul skill and defeated!"

Xiao Xiao was left a little dazed by Ling Feng's words, yet she could not find anything wrong with them.

"Really? Am I that strong?"

Even Xiao Xiao herself was doubtful. She suspected Ling Feng was merely trying to comfort her.

But that made no sense!

This was only their first meeting today. Why would Ling Feng encourage her?

"Yes, you're strong. You just haven't realized it yourself."

Ling Feng looked at Xiao Xiao, who had no confidence in herself, with utmost seriousness.

"In today's battle, I won because of many factors."

"Martial souls, Soul Power, momentum... these external conditions were all important."

"I had every advantage in timing, terrain, and support, so my victory was inevitable."

"Yet even under those circumstances, you were still able to threaten me."

"Doesn't that mean you're impressive?"

By this point, Xiao Xiao's heart had already begun to waver.

"Maybe... I really am strong? I just never noticed it..."

"There's one more thing. Do you know where you lost?"

Hearing Ling Feng's words, Xiao Xiao hurriedly asked.

"I... don't know. Could you tell me?"

Ling Feng smiled faintly.

"Your martial soul seems to have mutated? But that isn't important."

"What matters is that, in terms of strength, your martial soul isn't weaker than mine."

"But the difference is that I clearly know what path I want to take, while you don't."

"Your timing was excellent, but you never clearly saw where your own advantages lay."

"That is the difference between us."

With just that first sentence, Xiao Xiao was already almost ready to trust Ling Feng unconditionally.

The Three Lives Soul-Calming Cauldron really was a mutated martial soul. But aside from Ling Feng, there was no second person who could see through it at a glance.

"Then... what is my path?"

Xiao Xiao was somewhat lost as she continued questioning Ling Feng.

However, Ling Feng did not give her an answer. He merely shook his head slowly.

"Your path is something you need to explore for yourself."

"If I tell you and you follow it afterward, then are you walking your own path, or mine?"

Ling Feng's words once again plunged Xiao Xiao into thought.

"Alright, little girl. It's late. You should head back and get some sleep."

Ling Feng stood up. After bidding Xiao Xiao farewell, he prepared to leave.

"Wait!"

Seeing that Ling Feng was about to go, Xiao Xiao still had many questions she wanted to ask. She hurriedly rose to her feet.

But the instant her feet touched the ground, her legs suddenly went weak beyond her control, and she crashed straight down.

Ling Feng had been watching Xiao Xiao all along. Seeing that she was about to fall, he quickly reached out to catch her.

At once, Xiao Xiao, who had thought she was about to hit the ground, suddenly felt herself fall into a warm embrace.

When she raised her head, Ling Feng's flawless, handsome face was right before her!