"I was so stupid, really. I clearly knew he was a Soul Elder, yet I foolishly challenged him to a fight—"
After waking up, Wu Feng leaned against Ning Tian with a lifeless expression, muttering to herself like Xianglin Sao.
Ning Tian had only provided support throughout and had not experienced the battle herself, so her Soul Power had merely been somewhat depleted. During the time Wu Feng had been unconscious, Ning Tian had already recovered her spirits.
Supporting Wu Feng and patting her shoulder, Ning Tian comforted her softly. "It's all right, Feng. Look on the bright side. You took so many beatings, but you gained a lot from them too—"
"What did I gain?" Wu Feng stared at Ning Tian resentfully.
"For example, for example—"
After fumbling for examples for half the day, Ning Tian could not keep making them up. Throughout the entire ordeal, Lu Yuan had eaten and drunk his fill, Ning Tian had discovered Lu Yuan's talent through Wu Feng, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had successfully made contact with a genius. Only Wu Feng had either been getting beaten or on her way to get beaten.
"It's all right, Feng. From now on, aside from Lu Yuan's meals, I'll cover your food expenses too!"
"Wuwuwu, Young Master, you're so good to me!"
Honestly speaking, Wu Feng had indeed gained something. This fight with Lu Yuan not only allowed her to glimpse his more advanced combat methods and combat mindset, letting her learn from them, but also tempered her arrogant edge and helped her straighten out her attitude.
Still, meeting a super genius like Lu Yuan through Wu Feng's battle had truly been an unexpected delight. Ning Tian used all her strength to suppress the corners of her rising lips, trying her best to console Wu Feng as though she deeply sympathized with her.
All one could say was that people's joys and sorrows were never shared.
But it was fine. Let Feng suffer a little; I'll bear the blame!
Meanwhile, Lu Yuan, who had won a whole school year's worth of free meals, hummed a tune as he left the Soul Arena and headed toward a snack street outside Shrek City's eastern gate, right beside Shrek Outer Court.
Today was the first day Huo Yuhao planned to set up Little Huo Grilled Fish. Lu Yuan had also arranged with Sister Nannan, Tang Ya, Beibei, and their other familiar friends to support Huo Yuhao and draw a crowd.
"Xiao Yuan! Xiao Yuan! Over here!"
Before he even arrived, Lu Yuan heard Tang Ya's enthusiastic voice. She had linked arms with Jiang Nannan and was waiting at an intersection.
"We were just waiting for you, Xiao Yuan. Beibei and Yuhao went to the snack street early to claim a spot. Nannan and I were told to wait here for a while!"
Having finally seen Lu Yuan, Tang Ya wasted no words. With great energy, she dragged Lu Yuan and Jiang Nannan toward Huo Yuhao's stall.
After briefly introducing Jiang Nannan to Huo Yuhao, they chatted while waiting for the fish to cook.
"How strange. Yuhao's grilled fish smells so good. Why hasn't anyone come to buy it?" Tang Ya muttered quietly as she looked at the deserted stall.
"Don't worry, Xiaoya. It's probably Yuhao's first day setting up his stall, and people don't know him yet, so they're hesitant." Beibei smiled as he reassured Tang Ya.
"Hey, don't worry. I've got an idea!" As the saying went, whenever three people gathered, an idea man would mysteriously emerge. This time, that idea man happened to be Lu Yuan.
Pulling everyone into a corner, Lu Yuan whispered his plan. As Tang Ya struggled not to laugh, Lu Yuan gave Jiang Nannan and Beibei encouraging pats on the shoulders. After giving a few instructions to Huo Yuhao, who was grilling the fish, they scattered.
At that moment, quite a few Outer Court students had gathered before Huo Yuhao's stall, drawn in by the aroma. However, since Huo Yuhao was an unfamiliar face whom none of them had seen on the snack street before, many hesitated over whether to try his grilled fish.
At that moment, a beautiful girl in purple stepped out from the crowd. She had long, wavy golden hair, a jade-like face, and sparkling eyes. What drew the most attention, though, was her pair of extraordinarily long legs.
Then she stopped in front of Huo Yuhao's stall, seemingly examining the grilled fish on the rack.
At that moment, Lu Yuan suddenly shouted from within the crowd, "Look! It's Senior Jiang Nannan, the number one beauty of the Outer Court! Does she like grilled fish too?!"
Lu Yuan's shout attracted the attention of many passersby. Combined with the many students already lingering in front of Huo Yuhao's stall, more and more eyes turned in their direction.
The title of Outer Court's number one beauty was famous throughout Shrek Outer Court, especially among its many male students. Her exquisite looks, coupled with her aloof personality, had earned her the title of "Outer Court's number one beauty" from countless gossipmongers.
Normally, Jiang Nannan could remain calm whenever she heard that so-called title. But now, with Lu Yuan calling it out so openly in the middle of the street before so many passersby, she was so embarrassed that she wanted to find a crack in the ground and crawl into it.
Still, remembering Lu Yuan's earlier instructions, she forced herself to endure the embarrassment. Under everyone's gaze, she began reciting the lines they had prepared in advance with Huo Yuhao.
"J-Junior, your grilled fish smells so good. How much is one skewer?"
Perhaps Lu Yuan's earlier reassurance—If you're not embarrassed, then the embarrassed ones will be everyone else—had worked. Though Jiang Nannan stumbled at first, she eventually finished her lines smoothly. However, the faint flush on the girl's earlobes revealed how she truly felt.
"S-Senior, my grilled fish is five Copper Soul Coins per skewer..." Honest Huo Yuhao was experiencing a scene like this for the first time as well. But remembering Brother Yuan's instructions, he dutifully finished the sales pitch and lines Brother Yuan had given him.
Simply put, he lavishly praised his own grilled fish.
"Mmm?! This is really delicious!"
After paying and accepting the grilled fish Huo Yuhao handed her, Jiang Nannan opened her small mouth and took a light bite. She had intended to continue reciting the lines Lu Yuan had given her, but she was utterly conquered by the grilled fish's flavor instead—
A faint sheen of oil ran over the golden-brown herring, while a rich fragrance constantly burst from its belly. When her teeth met the grilled fish, there was even a faint crackling sound. The fish skin had been grilled completely crisp, yet there was not the slightest hint of burning. Beneath that crispy skin was tender, juicy fish meat thoroughly infused with flavor.
Her beautiful eyes widened as she gave the most direct and natural praise possible.
"Mm, the overall quality was pretty good. There were some traces of acting, but it was already quite good!" Watching Jiang Nannan, who had finished the script and begun enjoying her grilled fish in the distance, Lu Yuan nodded in satisfaction. Then he turned to Beibei and Tang Ya beside him. "Now it's Brother Beibei and Sister Xiaoya's turn to perform."
"Okay, okay, hahaha! Beibei, go for it!" Tang Ya, who had long been struggling not to laugh, hurriedly shoved Beibei forward and sent him out of the crowd.
Before you continue