A Small Group Takes Shape
[Actually, there's nothing we can do. As the saying goes, women are inherently weak, but become strong when they become mothers.]
Even if Ju Zi herself endured countless hardships, she wouldn't want to see her child harmed; nothing was more important than her son's safety.
Star Dou Forest, at the bottom of the Lake of Life.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion in the cage curled itself into a round, fluffy ball, its golden eyes veiled with a thin layer of moisture.
She didn't understand the intricate power struggles and intrigues of the Sun Moon Empire, nor did she understand what national hatred and imperial ambition meant. With only her purest perception, she understood the tenderness and determination hidden in those words.
This woman named Ju Zi has endured countless hardships and rains her entire life, yet she has given her all, just wanting to create a safe haven for her child.
She clearly held the entire world in her hands, yet in her eyes, the vast empire and supreme power were nothing compared to the simple wish of her child to be safe.
She buried her head in her soft paws, feeling a tightness in her chest, and thought that this older sister she had never met was just too pitiful.
[In the end, she only held onto the title of emperor without real power and longed for her son, dying alone at the pinnacle of power.]
Zhang Lexuan slowly stopped what she was doing, her gentle eyes filled with a hint of melancholy and regret.
Throughout her life, she had witnessed countless people in the Soul Master World fighting tooth and nail for cultivation, power, and status, as well as the emptiness and desolation of those who reached the top only to find themselves alone and dejected.
Ju Zi has traversed a path paved with blood and fire, rising from an orphan girl whose family was destroyed to the pinnacle of power in the Sun Moon Empire, becoming an existence that the entire continent looks up to.
But after a lifetime of pursuit and scheming, all that remained at the end of her life was an empty title of emperor and endless, boundless longing.
The pinnacle of power that everyone envies and desperately wants to climb is never a smooth road full of flowers, but a lonely peak where no one is around and the cold wind blows to the bone.
[The story of Ju Zi is filled with tragedy; hatred blinded her, ambition made her who she was, and her maternal love was both salvation and a prison.]
A complex emotion flashed in Ma Xiaotao's bright eyes.
The girl named Ju Zi in the diary was blinded by hatred over the destruction of her family. With her overwhelming ambition, she climbed step by step to the highest point on the continent. But in the end, what could stop her from falling into the abyss was her maternal love for her child.
What could confine her to loneliness and keep her there until the end of her life was also this same maternal love.
The most touching thing in this world is love, and it is also the most tormenting and the most capable of trapping people.
After using the restroom, Lin Ye wiped himself on a napkin and slowly walked back to the dining table.
When he returned, the people sitting at the table all looked up at him and smiled.
The rest of the meal went exceptionally smoothly. None of the people were shy or awkward, and the atmosphere at the table remained relaxed throughout. The occasional casual conversations were always just right and never made anyone feel uncomfortable.
After finishing their meal, the group strolled around the square before returning to their classrooms to prepare for their morning and afternoon classes.
The afternoon classes passed quickly. The moment the bell rang, the once quiet Teaching Building became lively. Students poured out of the classrooms in twos and threes, and the noise spread throughout the entire college.
Lin Ye walked slowly out of the classroom. As soon as he reached the entrance of the Teaching Building, he saw several people waiting there.
The group exchanged smiles and, with perfect understanding, walked side by side toward the outside of the academy, reuniting once again in an open space not far from the academy gate.
The group chatted and laughed, and after a day together, although they couldn't be considered close friends, they were certainly acquaintances who knew each other well, so there was no awkwardness or restraint in their interactions.
The conversations mostly revolved around interesting stories from the academy or recent happenings in the Soul Master World. Occasionally, they would discuss problems encountered in cultivation, exchange a few words of advice, and each gained something from the conversation.
Lin Ye mostly listened quietly, occasionally interjecting a word or two, always hitting the nail on the head, making people unconsciously stop talking and listen to him.
He actually enjoyed this relaxed atmosphere. There was no scheming or life-or-death struggle; he was just chatting about trivial things with a few friends his age, feeling the unique ease of his teenage years.
After all, in this world where Soul Master are revered, such a relaxed moment is extremely rare.
Xiao Xiao is undoubtedly the atmosphere maker in this small group. She talks the most, her little mouth chattering away without ever stopping.
She was pretty and adorable, with a pair of big, round eyes like two black grapes. When she turned her eyes, she was full of mischievous energy. She was the life of the party in the team, and there was never a dull moment when she was around.
Right now, she was gesturing wildly as she told a joke to a few people, making them all laugh non-stop. As she was talking, she inadvertently looked up and glanced in the direction of the Shrek Academy's main gate.
Her round eyes suddenly paused, then she let out a soft "Eh!" her voice brimming with curiosity.
That soft, questioning exclamation instantly drew the attention of the others.
The group stopped chatting and followed Xiao Xiao's gaze towards the direction of the academy gate.
Immediately afterwards, they saw that a large crowd had gathered in the open space not far from the main gate of the academy, three layers deep, making it impossible to move.
I had no idea what was going on inside; I could only vaguely hear the commotion coming from within, and it looked incredibly lively.
Wang Dong'er raised an eyebrow slightly, glanced in that direction, and asked with a hint of curiosity, "Why are so many people gathered there? Did something happen?"
Ning Tian peeked over and said with a smile, "Judging from the scene, either there's something new or there's a competition going on there, otherwise there wouldn't be so many people gathered around."
Lin Ye looked at the direction where the crowd was completely blocked, his dark eyes flickered slightly, he raised an eyebrow, and a look of interest appeared on his face.
He was never one to stay still, and besides, in this monotonous college life, this little bit of liveliness was a rare treat.
Lin Ye pointed in that direction and called out to the group, "Let's go see what's going on."
The group was already quite curious, so upon hearing Lin Ye's words, they naturally had no objections and responded in unison. They then followed Lin Ye side by side towards the area where the crowd had gathered.
The further you go in that direction, the clearer the smell becomes in the air.
As they approached, they all subconsciously sniffed, and an extremely refreshing fragrance instantly filled their nostrils.