Freshman Class One

Gongyang Mo slept soundly, his breathing steady and rhythmic, and before long, a faint snoring sound began to drift through the room.

Yue Ling glanced at him, silently marveling at how easily the man could fall into such a deep slumber. He reached out and pulled a set of pink toiletries from his bedside, tidying them up with simple, practiced movements.

As his fingertips brushed against the soft, pink items, a strange, indescribable feeling lingered in his heart, though he couldn't quite put his finger on why.

Once finished, he sat gingerly on the soft, fragrant pink bed. The delicate, elegant scent of daisies from the windowsill filled the air. He had intended to calm his mind and enter a meditative state to cultivate and regulate his breathing.

As a direct disciple of Elder Xuan, he shouldn't have needed to squeeze into a dormitory in the Outer Courtyard at all; he could have easily remained in his own private courtyard on the back mountain to cultivate in peace.

Yet, Elder Mu had flatly rejected that idea from the start.

The old man's tone had been gentle, but his stance was firm: "You are only twelve, the very prime of your youth. Don't spend all your days buried in cultivation. Interact more with your peers, witness the myriad facets of the world, and experience things that are lively and interesting. Only then can your character truly mature."

Elder Xuan, standing nearby, had chimed in repeatedly to persuade him: "Elder Mu is right. Obsessions and hatred in your heart shouldn't trap your footsteps. Becoming stronger has never been just about closed-door cultivation. Why, back when I was young... I had quite a few girlfriends myself."

Elder Mu shot him a sidelong glance. "Xuanzi, I recall you never left behind any offspring, did you?"

Elder Xuan was instantly rendered speechless, his face flushing with embarrassment. "Uh... what does having descendants have to do with making friends?"

"Hmph." Elder Mu let out a soft snort, his words laced with teasing. "I really should have made you leave behind a seed, so I could rest easy in the future."

"Hey! You...!"

With the image of the two top-tier elders bickering and teasing each other echoing in his mind, Yue Ling felt black lines crawl across his forehead. He couldn't help but shake his head slightly, trying to cast away these chaotic thoughts.

Meditate. Cultivate!

He forced himself to collect his focus, but his scattered thoughts refused to settle.

After several failed attempts, he sighed helplessly, gave up on cultivation entirely, and resigned himself to lying down in the pink bedding that carried a faint, sweet fragrance.

Perhaps it was just the new environment and the new bed; he was having trouble adjusting. A couple more nights of sleep should do the trick.

Beside him, Gongyang Mo continued to sleep, completely unguarded and carefree. Watching his peaceful sleeping face, an impulsive thought bubbled up in Yue Ling's mind—he felt like shaking the man awake just to make him sleep all over again.

But on second thought, he decided against it.

Given Gongyang Mo's temperament, being woken up for no reason would surely send him into a rage. He might even kill him...

The bedding was soft and fluffy, carrying a faint, sweet scent that was exceptionally comfortable.

A wave of heavy drowsiness instantly swept over him. Yue Ling let out a long yawn, his eyelids growing heavy, and before long, he drifted into a deep sleep.

Meanwhile, in Zhang Lexuan's courtyard.

The night was quiet, the moonlight gentle.

Zhang Lexuan looked at the pale orange bedding resting silently inside her soul tool, her brows furrowed in confusion.

These daily necessities were clearly the ones she had prepared in advance, specifically for Yue Ling. Why were they still sitting safely here? Had Yue Ling returned them on purpose?

No, that didn't make sense.

An absurd and embarrassing thought suddenly rushed into her mind.

In an instant, Zhang Lexuan's cheeks turned a deep, burning red, like the sunset clouds on the horizon. She felt so awkward and flustered that she wanted to find a hole to crawl into.

She finally realized—they had mixed up their storage soul tools.

Her soul tool was identical in style to Yue Ling's. Before they met for the start of school the day before, she had bathed and set her soul tool aside. She must have accidentally mixed them up and swapped items then.

The night was deep and silent now; Yue Ling had surely fallen asleep long ago.

At the thought of the young man using and living with her personal belongings all night, Zhang Lexuan's ears burned, and a thin layer of sweat broke out on her forehead. She bit her nails unconsciously, filled with annoyance and helplessness.

She had truly made a fool of herself this time.

She gazed at the bright, full moon outside her window, sighed helplessly, and decided to let it be for now.

Amidst her chaotic thoughts, a strange notion flickered in her heart... she suddenly found herself missing the soup he had made by hand.

The evening breeze brushed gently through the courtyard, the leaves of the plants rustling, and the sweet scent of flowers permeated the entire grounds.

Tonight, the moon was full and its clear radiance spilled down. In the quiet night, there was no telling how many people lay awake, tossing and turning with their own hidden thoughts.

The next morning.

The first rays of dawn pierced through the window, landing on the face of the youth on the bed. The harsh light slowly roused Yue Ling from his slumber.

"Forgot to close the curtains. Damn it."

The small daisies by the window swayed gently in the morning breeze, vibrant and lively, signaling the arrival of a brand-new day.

Yue Ling lazed in bed for a few minutes before finally getting up. He glanced at the time—it was already seven o'clock.

He stretched his body, stood up, and grabbed the still-slumbering Gongyang Mo, hauling him straight up.

Gongyang Mo looked dazed and sleepy, his mind still not fully caught up with reality.

Yue Ling moved with efficiency, quickly finishing his wash, changing into the uniform white freshman robes of Shrek Academy, and once ready, he dragged the still-dazed Gongyang Mo straight to the cafeteria for breakfast before rushing to the teaching building to prepare for the first class of the freshman year.

The moment they stepped into the Freshman Class One classroom, two tall, clean figures immediately drew every eye in the room.

Soft gasps of surprise rose up, one after another.

"Wow! Look at those two boys, they're way too good-looking!"

"They have such great auras. Should we go over and introduce ourselves?"

"I don't dare, I'm a bit shy..."

"Hahaha, even you have moments where you're shy!"

The room was filled with chattering and burning gazes. Yue Ling's expression remained indifferent, his heart completely unmoved.

Gongyang Mo, on the other hand, upon hearing the praise, couldn't help but secretly reach up to brush his hair, a hint of small pride hidden in his eyes.

At twelve, Yue Ling had a tall, well-proportioned build. His orange hair made his skin look clean and fair, his features were handsome, and his temperament was gentle and harmless, making him exceptionally likable.

Yet, beneath his clothes, the firm lines of his body quietly hinted at a rugged physique far beyond his peers.

Gongyang Mo, meanwhile, had delicate skin, a tall and slender frame, and a quiet, soft temperament. His features were refined and gentle; if not for the clear Adam's apple at his throat, he could easily be mistaken for a girl with exquisite features from a distance.

As soon as the two sat down in the empty front-row seats, several girls from the surrounding area took the initiative to gather around, their tones soft.

"Hello, classmates. Can we get to know each other?"

"Is this seat taken? Can I sit here?"

Gentle overtures continued to ring out, which appeared particularly glaring in the eyes of the other boys in the class.

Many of the boys showed jealousy, their tones sour.

"Putting on an act. What's the use of being good-looking? A soul master ultimately relies on strength."

"Exactly. Looking all soft and weak, just like a girl."

These words happened to reach Gongyang Mo's ears. He was immediately displeased and retorted directly.

"You're ugly yourself, and you have the nerve to slander others? You're the most unremarkable and gossipy person in the whole class."

The boy's face stiffened, and he glared at him in a rage. "You!"

"Do you really think everyone is like you? No looks, and a rotten personality to boot. No wonder no one wants to associate with you."