Inner Courtyard Canteen

The Sea God Pavilion meeting continued for over half an hour.

Once every issue had been resolved, the meeting finally adjourned. As Elder Song passed Yan Jingzhe, she smiled, nodded, and quietly said, "Now is your era."

Then she slowly made her way out of the Sea God Pavilion, clearly in an excellent mood.

After greeting Cai Meier, Yan Shaozhe left as well. Xian Lin'er and Feng Ling waited for him by the door for a while, but seeing that he was still talking with Mu En, they headed downstairs first.

Only Yan Jingzhe and Mu En remained in the meeting room.

Mu En sat in the seat of honor, holding the cup of tea that had long gone cold, his gaze resting on Sea God Lake beyond the window. He did not look at Yan Jingzhe, but when he spoke, his voice carried a peculiar gentleness. "How certain are you about the Soul Spirit Method you mentioned?"

"Teacher, even if I told you I was more than ninety percent certain, you probably wouldn't believe me, would you?" Yan Jingzhe said with a bitter smile.

Was he supposed to tell his teacher that a Demigod from another world—the Necromancer Electrolux—resided within his Sea of Spirit, and that the Soul Spirit Method could absolutely be developed?

"I believe you, Jing Zhe. You've never been one to make jokes." Mu En set down his teacup, his expression solemn. "I know you may have plans unknown to others. I only want to tell you this: no matter what happens, Shrek Academy and I will stand firmly behind you."

"Teacher, I..." Yan Jingzhe froze for a moment, then rose to his feet and solemnly bowed to his teacher. "Teacher, I do have certain plans. I never meant to hide them from you."

"It's fine. Everyone has their own secrets." Mu En waved it off indifferently and smiled. "All right, go on. Lin'er and Feng Ling are still waiting for you. You're already this old, yet you still don't know to give me a disciple-grandchild to look after."

"Uh... then I'll be going, Teacher." Yan Jingzhe smiled awkwardly and turned toward the door. There was something he did not say. It was not that he did not want children. If his plan succeeded, becoming a god would at minimum make him a First-Level God. Yet the God Realm had rules: a First-Level God or God King could only bring two immediate family members to the God Realm. Those two would certainly be Xian Lin'er and Feng Ling. If he had a child, what would happen to the child? That was why he did not want one.

After leaving, Yan Jingzhe stood on the steps.

The sky outside the Sea God Pavilion had already darkened considerably. The wind over Sea God Lake carried the distinctive chill before nightfall, and it refreshed him as it brushed against his face.

He descended the steps and followed the bluestone path outward. After only a few steps, he spotted two figures approaching from afar.

Xian Lin'er walked in front, her long golden hair glowing softly beneath the streetlamps. Her hands were tucked into her pockets, and her steps were unhurried, as though she had been waiting for quite some time.

Feng Ling followed half a step behind her. Her long, straight black hair fell over her shoulders, and she stood as quietly as a tree planted by the roadside. But the instant she saw Yan Jingzhe emerge, her gaze shifted slightly.

"Why are you still waiting here?" Yan Jingzhe asked with a smile as he walked over. "Didn't I tell you to go back first?"

"It was hard enough for the three of us to get together. Why would we go back?" Xian Lin'er tilted her head and said playfully. "If we hadn't waited outside for you, Teacher would definitely have kept you behind for tea."

"That's not true. I only exchanged a few words with Teacher," Yan Jingzhe said helplessly.

"Who knows?" Xian Lin'er chuckled, walked over, and naturally linked her arm through his right arm. "Let's go. The Inner Courtyard Canteen is still open. Let's eat together."

Pulled forward by her, Yan Jingzhe turned his head to glance at Feng Ling on his other side.

Feng Ling said nothing, but she had already caught up. Walking to his left, she gently took his arm. She kept neither too close nor too far away, just near enough for him to sense the crisp, cool aura around her.

The three of them followed the road along Sea God Lake toward the Inner Courtyard Canteen.

Looking at the two women—one passionate as fire, the other cool as water—Yan Jingzhe could not help murmuring, "It's wonderful having you two."

Both Xian Lin'er and Feng Ling heard him, but neither replied. Their lips merely curved faintly, the motion slight yet visible in the moonlight.

After passing through the trees, Yan Jingzhe and the others saw an elegant, spacious complex of buildings. That was Shrek Academy's Inner Courtyard Canteen. After entering, they did not stop but headed straight toward its depths, where there was a dining area reserved specifically for Sea God Pavilion elders, a place ordinary disciples had no chance of entering.

The head chef was a peak Soul Douluo food-system Soul Master. His culinary skills in food-based nourishment were unmatched throughout the academy, and dishes personally prepared by him were twice as effective. Even Inner Court disciples found it exceedingly difficult to reserve a custom dish.

But the food had already been prepared, waiting for the elders to arrive.

The three chose a table beside the window and sat down.

They were served millennium Soul Beast meat, Ice Crystal Deer stew, Thunderbird eggs, charcoal-grilled millennium lion meat, and ten-thousand-year Fish Dragon soup—all top-grade ingredients rarely seen in the outside world.

Yan Jingzhe picked up a piece of fish and put it into his mouth. It was indeed fresh. Beside him, Xian Lin'er ladled a spoonful of soup into his bowl, while Feng Ling pushed a plate toward him. Neither said anything as they did so, their movements as natural as though they had repeated them countless times.

Halfway through the meal, Xian Lin'er set down her chopsticks and asked, "What did Teacher keep you behind to say?"

"Teacher just asked how confident I was in the Soul Spirit Method," Yan Jingzhe answered.

Xian Lin'er nodded to show that she understood.

Feng Ling listened quietly for a while before suddenly asking, "Once the Soul Spirit matter succeeds, what do you plan to do?"

After thinking for a moment, Yan Jingzhe said, "I may negotiate with the Soul Beast Clan and establish an entirely new force to promote peace between humans and Soul Beasts."

Xian Lin'er and Feng Ling exchanged a glance but said nothing more, quietly continuing their meal.

When they left after dinner, the moonlight had grown brighter, illuminating the surface of Sea God Lake as though it were covered in white frost.

The three followed the same path back. Upon reaching the small two-story building, Xian Lin'er pushed open the courtyard gate.

After entering, Xian Lin'er went to the kitchen to boil water and make tea, while Feng Ling sat on the living room sofa, took off her coat, and draped it over the armrest.

Yan Jingzhe stood at the foot of the stairs and glanced toward the second-floor cultivation room. After thinking for a moment, he had yet to take a step.

Then Xian Lin'er's voice drifted out from the kitchen doorway. "What? Thinking of going upstairs to enter seclusion again?"

Yan Jingzhe halted.

Feng Ling leaned against the back of the sofa, slowly twirling a strand of fallen black hair between her fingers. Her gaze rested on his back. She said nothing, but that look said everything.

Xian Lin'er emerged from the kitchen holding two cups of tea. She stuffed one into Yan Jingzhe's hand and placed the other on the coffee table before Feng Ling.

She stood before Yan Jingzhe with her hands on her hips, a bright, unmistakable smile in her amber eyes.