Opening Up

"Do you want to team up with me? Even though you're an assault-type, your soul skills are highly compatible with mine. We would definitely make a great match. Think about it?"

Dai Yueheng looked at Yue Ling, his eyes filled with clear anticipation.

Yue Ling glanced at him, then turned to look at Ma Xiaotao and Gongyang Mo beside him, speaking softly.

"Sorry, I already have a fixed team."

"That's a pity."

Dai Yueheng did not press the issue and immediately turned to look at Gongyang Mo nearby.

"What about you? Gongyang Mo, right? Do you want to join my team?"

Gongyang Mo shook his head, his attitude firm, and he even pointed at Yue Ling and Ma Xiaotao.

"Sorry, Dai Yueheng, my teammates have always been these two."

"Fine."

Dai Yueheng did not linger. He nodded and turned to find other talented students in the class to recruit.

After he left, Ma Xiaotao, who had been standing with her arms crossed, curled her lip and retorted.

"Who agreed to team up with you guys? Don't be so conceited."

Yue Ling watched her awkward demeanor and deliberately humored her.

"Yes, yes, we're begging you, okay? Great Ma Xiaotao, please team up with us. We'll absolutely crush the freshman assessment!"

"What kind of perfunctory attitude is that?" Ma Xiaotao glared at him.

"My attitude is good enough; I'm literally bowing down to beg you. Besides, we're all friends, isn't it normal to team up?" Yue Ling spread his hands.

"You!"

Ma Xiaotao was instantly stifled. Just as she was about to continue bickering with him, Gongyang Mo quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Stop arguing, class is over! Let's go grab something to eat. I heard a new dessert shop opened in Shrek City, and it tastes amazing."

"Sure." Yue Ling agreed, turning to look at Ma Xiaotao, his eyes clearly asking if she would go.

Ma Xiaotao was holding back frustration, but she didn't refuse, spitting out two words stiffly.

"I'll go."

"Then let's go!"

The three walked out together. Yue Ling and Gongyang Mo chatted and laughed along the way, the atmosphere light. Only Ma Xiaotao walked to the side, silent the entire time, like an extra outsider.

After walking for a while, she finally spoke, her voice tinged with awkwardness.

"If you're only being friends with me because of Dean Yan's instructions, there's no need. I don't need anyone's pity. I can explain it to the teacher later myself."

Yue Ling chuckled upon hearing this.

"Alright."

Ma Xiaotao's eyes dimmed instantly, a strange tightness forming in her chest, and she turned to leave.

Just as she lifted her foot, Yue Ling's voice drifted over slowly, his tone earnest and certain.

"We three got to know each other through a fight; I've long considered you a friend. In your eyes, was I just barely tolerating you this whole time?"

"That really hurts my feelings."

"Eh?"

Ma Xiaotao's footsteps faltered, and a glimmer of light sparked in her eyes.

Yue Ling deliberately raised a hand to touch the corner of his eye, feigning a wronged expression.

Gongyang Mo couldn't help but cover his mouth to hide his laughter, quickly chiming in.

"Exactly, Xiaotao, you're really wronging us! If we truly disliked you, even if it were Dean Yan's request, we would have chosen to refuse. Don't you think?"

"That's right."

Yue Ling immediately struck while the iron was hot, looking perfectly serious.

"To punish you for your wild suspicions, you have to treat us to dessert today."

Hearing this, the awkwardness and barriers in Ma Xiaotao's heart completely dissipated. It turned out they weren't approaching her because of the teacher's arrangements; they truly saw her as a friend.

She huffed proudly.

"Fine, eat whatever you want, even if you eat until you're stuffed."

For the rest of the way, the three interacted much more naturally. Ma Xiaotao was no longer silent, occasionally interjecting, though her nature remained stubborn and awkward. She wasn't used to being close to people, but she was gradually learning to open up.

Gongyang Mo was curious and couldn't help but ask.

"Xiaotao, your cultivation speed is too fast! Thirty-second level at twelve years old, isn't that a bit exaggerated?"

Hearing this, Ma Xiaotao's eyes dimmed slightly, and she glanced at Yue Ling with a hint of defiance.

"My martial soul is the Evil Fire Phoenix. It looks powerful, but the cost is immense. The faster I cultivate, the more vicious the backlash of the evil fire in my body becomes, constantly burning my meridians and soul."

"My bad temper is also forced by the evil fire; I really can't control it."

"Furthermore, the teacher has been searching everywhere for cold medicinal herbs and ice-attribute pills to suppress it, but it only provides temporary relief; it can't be cured at all."

She muttered, a hint of unwillingness in her voice.

"Otherwise, my level would have already surpassed yours."

Yue Ling, listening from the side, suddenly had an idea.

He pondered in silence for a moment, an excellent place appearing in his mind—the Sunset Forest, the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

There, the yin and yang were balanced and the ice and fire shared the same origin. It could cleanse the essence of a martial soul, not only helping Ma Xiaotao completely eradicate the evil fire but also significantly increasing the cultivation of all three of them.

He just didn't know if the Sunset Forest and the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well had changed much over the past ten thousand years.

Gongyang Mo saw him lost in thought and reached out to shake him.

"What's wrong? What are you thinking about?"

Yue Ling snapped back to reality and shook his head.

"Nothing, just thought of something."

"So mysterious," Gongyang Mo muttered.

Yue Ling looked at Ma Xiaotao beside him, his tone serious.

"Xiaotao, I might have a way to completely eradicate your evil fire and turn your Evil Fire Phoenix into a true Ultimate Fire Phoenix."

Ma Xiaotao's eyes lit up instantly, full of anticipation, but the next second, her gaze dimmed again.

"Really? Even Dean Yan is helpless. You're only twelve, how could you possibly do it?"

Yue Ling was immediately indignant.

"What do you mean I'm only twelve? Aren't you twelve too? Don't underestimate people!"

He said earnestly, "I am truly confident I can cure it, but the timing isn't right yet, so I can't go into detail."

Ma Xiaotao looked at his serious expression, felt a warmth in her heart, and nodded gently.

"Fine, I believe you. I'll wait and see how you help me fix my martial soul's defect."

Yue Ling watched her half-believing, half-doubting look and chuckled to himself.

Just wait.

Once I find the right immortal herbs and make you beg me for help, I'll finally cure your evil fire!

Yue Ling smirked.

Gongyang Mo noticed this cheeky smile and thought he was up to something bad.

He urged, "Let's go, we'll lose our seats soon!"

Disturbed from his fantasies, Yue Ling quickly shook his head, hiding his thoughts.

"Got it, let's go."

"Yeah!"

The boy and girl then ran quickly toward Shrek City.

Under the shade of a tree not far away, Yan Shaozhe watched the three of them quietly. Seeing Ma Xiaotao gradually opening her heart, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

Confirming that Xiaotao finally had friends her own age and was no longer isolated or paranoid, he turned and left with peace of mind.

Before long, the three arrived at the dessert shop and ate to their hearts' content.

They ate until their mouths were sweet and their stomachs were full, only stopping when they couldn't eat another bite.

Although they had agreed that Ma Xiaotao would pay, Yue Ling snatched the bill at the end, claiming: she could pay next time.

Full and satisfied, the three returned to Shrek Academy together.

After a simple farewell at the school gate, Ma Xiaotao returned to her inner courtyard residence, while Yue Ling and Gongyang Mo returned to the outer courtyard dormitory.

The three-person team for the freshman assessment was, at this point, officially set.