The moonlight was serene, and the evening breeze gently brushed through the tree-lined paths of Shrek Academy. Shadows of leaves swayed, scattering mottled fragments of light across the ground.
Yan Shaozhe led Li Changqing through them at an unhurried pace, neither speaking a word.
The earlier confrontation had been fraught with undercurrents. Even Yan Shaozhe, steady as he was, had yet to calm the waves in his heart.
The way he looked at the youth beside him had long since lost its initial indifference, replaced by utmost gravity and wariness.
Twin ultimate martial souls, bearing a complete divine inheritance.
Such a monstrous prodigy had never existed in Shrek Academy's ten-thousand-year history.
Before long, the two arrived before an elegant, secluded detached pavilion.
This pavilion differed from the ordinary student dormitories.
Its grounds were paved with blue bricks, its windows fitted with carved latticework.
Clusters of elegant orchids grew in the courtyard. As the night breeze passed through them, it carried a faint fragrance. It was one of the finest residences in the entire inner courtyard.
Yan Shaozhe abruptly stopped and turned sideways toward Li Changqing.
A gentle smile appeared on his face, and the sternness he had displayed at the Sea God Pavilion vanished entirely. "Changqing, this is the residence arranged for you. The surroundings are peaceful, and the spiritual energy is abundant. It is most suitable for cultivation and recuperation. It is late, and the dew is heavy. You have had a tiring journey, so just go inside and rest."
He did not step forward to open the door, nor did he show the slightest intention of accompanying him inside. His manner was polite, yet distant.
Li Changqing nodded slightly, his expression calm as he gave it no further thought.
By now, the night was deep and the moon