It Was Clearly... Me Who Came First...

The next morning, Lu Shi left Suotuo City early with Zhu Zhuqing. He did not want to run into Tang San and Xiao Wu.

Otherwise, things would become rather awkward.

The two headed south along the road. Vast stretches of farmland lay on both sides of the official highway.

Suotuo City was the most prosperous city in the Balak Kingdom and was also known as the kingdom's granary.

With the Lima Plains at its back, it had an abundance of grain.

By noon, the two spotted a village ahead with roughly a hundred households. A wooden fence surrounded the village, and it was obvious that it had been repaired many times. The stakes varied in color and degree of decay.

The worst of them had turned completely black, with only half a stake still stuck in the ground.

At the village entrance, quite a few people had gathered, all parents with their children.

"Looks like this is Shrek Academy."

Lu Shi remained calm.

But even Zhu Zhuqing, despite her excellent composure, was a little surprised.

This was actually... a school.

A somewhat battered plaque hung above the wooden archway at the village entrance. Five twisted characters were carved into it—

Shrek Academy.

There was also a green head, seemingly the head of some humanoid monster.

A table had been set beneath the plaque. Behind it sat a short old man in his sixties with graying hair and a metal badge on his chest resembling a monster's head.

Li Yusong.

A tall man stood behind him as well. He was handsome, broad-shouldered and broad-backed, with long golden hair draped down his back.

What drew the most attention, however, was his pair of mismatched pupils.

One was ocean blue, while the other was brilliant gold.

Over a hundred people had formed a line before the table. It became disorderly from the tenth person onward, and by the end everyone had bunched together.

Clearly, Zhu Zhuqing was not the only one with doubts. Beside them stood a family of three, and the mother frowned. "This is a Soul Master Academy?"

"The academy that claims its graduates can become imperial viscounts?"

The boy's father sounded uncertain. "That's what the people from Spirit Hall said. It shouldn't be wrong..."

Still, this academy really was far too shabby.

The boy frowned in disdain. "I'm considered a genius even at my junior academy. It would be too embarrassing to study here. Why don't I go to the Suotuo City Intermediate Soul Master Academy instead?"

The admission requirement for an intermediate Soul Master Academy was reaching level ten.

It seemed he was at least a level ten Soul Master, with Innate Soul Power of around rank four.

He truly deserved the title of genius. Such terrifying talent made people suck in a breath.

The boy's father frowned. "We're already here, so let's wait a little longer. Maybe this is some kind of test. The real academy might not be here."

Some academies liked putting on such displays.

It was not just this family. Lu Shi could hear similar discussions throughout the crowd.

Most people wore expressions of deep disappointment.

As they waited, Lu Shi suddenly heard a voice from behind him, filled with surprise.

There was even a trace of grievance in it.

"Lu Shi, why did you come here without waiting for me?"

"..."

Lu Shi's heart skipped a beat, and the corner of his mouth twitched instinctively.

He turned around.

Xiao Wu ran over, her delicate brown scorpion braid swaying behind her. Her pink lips were pursed slightly, and her eyes held a hint of grievance, though she tried to seem unconcerned.

She tried to find something to talk about so she could speak with Lu Shi a little longer. "I looked everywhere for you yesterday. I didn't expect you to leave so quickly."

She did not understand why Lu Shi always avoided her.

He was always so polite and distant.

Their beds had clearly been right beside each other.

Back when he had saved her, he had even angrily poked her forehead with his finger and scolded her.

Why had things changed?

Had she done something wrong?

Xiao Wu did not know where she had gone wrong. She had thought about it for a long time but still could not understand.

It was fine. As long as she persevered, one day Lu Shi would understand how she felt.

"After you left yesterday, I went back to that shop. There were so many things I'd never seen before. Could you tell me about the good things there..."

"Okay..."

"..."

Xiao Wu's smile froze on her face, and her eyelashes trembled.

Her world abruptly stopped at that moment.

Everything seemed to have nothing to do with her anymore. The crowd remained noisy, yet every sound seemed to have been stripped away. The sunlight was still glaring, and though the dampness on her forehead had not yet faded, she could not feel even a trace of warmth.

Only those two tightly clasped hands remained in her field of vision.

Both hands were very fair, perfectly suited to each other. The large, warm hand that could be depended upon protected the slender, soft little hand.

It was as natural as breathing.

The entire world suddenly pressed in on her, as though someone had gripped her heart. A dull pain spread through her chest.

Bitterness rose in her throat, impossible to swallow no matter how hard she tried.

She stood frozen where she was.

She had thought the person beside Lu Shi was only that vixen, Xiao San.

Why... why...

It was clearly... me who came first...

Her large watery eyes reddened slightly as mist gathered in them. She forced herself not to let the tears fall.

"Xiao Wu... uh, this is Zhu Qing,"

Lu Shi's fingers twitched as he hesitated before saying, "Zhu Qing, this is Xiao Wu. We were both from Notting Academy."

There was really nothing else to say.

Tang San ran over from behind. "Xiao Wu, why didn't you wait for—"

In an instant, his gaze was left with only those two tightly clasped hands.

Could it be... Lu Shi...

He was overjoyed. If he had not reacted quickly enough, he would definitely have laughed aloud.

With just one look, Tang San understood what had happened.

Great! Now no one would compete with him for Xiao Wu!

Xiao Wu, I know you like Lu Shi, but it's fine. He doesn't like you anyway.

Only I can treat you best.

Come back!

Zhu Zhuqing was incredibly intelligent, so naturally she understood what was happening as well.

The girl before her, whose figure and appearance were no worse than her own, liked her boyfriend—but someone else had gotten there first.

She should have asserted her claim right now, but when Zhu Zhuqing saw the grievance and desolation in Xiao Wu's eyes, her heart suddenly ached for her.

She looked far too familiar.

Just like Zhu Zhuqing had once been.

Wanting to embrace her older sister, only to always be pushed away and rebuked.

The same helplessness, the same grievance.

She released Lu Shi's hand, and an inexplicable sense of guilt welled up in her heart.

As though she had done something wrong.

Her aloofness toward strangers had only been a disguise since childhood. The real Zhu Zhuqing was actually very pure, kind, and considerate.

Just as the four fell silent, an incomparably powerful aura suddenly descended upon the entire scene.

It made everyone except Lu Shi feel suffocated.

They looked over.

A dense red glow erupted from Li Yusong's body, and a long staff covered in countless fine patterns appeared in his right hand.

White, yellow, purple, purple, purple, black—six Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet.

He was actually a Soul Emperor!

Everyone was so frightened that they did not dare make a sound.

The long staff struck the ground, and a deep muffled boom spread outward.

The invisible pressure forced everyone to stagger.

"Next."

Li Yusong waved at the stunned family of three before him, withdrew his Martial Soul and Soul Rings, and returned to his previous lazy appearance.

As if he had not been the one to release a Soul Emperor's aura moments ago.

The entire place fell silent.

Amid the silence, parents gradually left with their children, leaving behind only sighs and regret.

Reaching level twenty Soul Power by the age of twelve was something only true monsters could achieve.

And their children were not among them.

Some were unwilling to leave and moved to the sides, wanting to see who could possibly meet the requirement.

In the blink of an eye, the original queue of over a hundred people had dwindled to just over thirty.

Only around ten of them were actually lining up.

Lu Shi and the others stood at the back of the line, waiting quietly. None of the three spoke. Only Tang San could not suppress the joy on his face.