Tang Ya: I'm tired, Bei Bei, stop bothering me

The two drew closer and closer, almost pressing against each other...

"Mm... Hurry up and eat. We can't waste so much good food..."

In the end, Tang Ya could not withstand Ye Chen's gaze. Blushing, she turned her head away and hurriedly changed the subject.

Yet her heart was pounding wildly...

"Alright, eat more. That way, Sister Xiaoya can become even stronger~"

Ye Chen said as he placed food onto Tang Ya's plate.

"Mm, you think I'm weak..." Tang Ya shot him a dissatisfied glare and said huffily.

"How could that be? My Sister Xiaoya is the best~" Ye Chen laughed.

"Hmph, that's more like it~"

Only then was Tang Ya satisfied.

Although she knew Ye Chen was deliberately humoring her, she was still very happy.

Unlike that silly fool Bei Bei, who only knew how to tell the truth. He could not even speak sweet words properly, though he was quite skilled at making grand empty promises...

"Xiaoya, where are you... My Xiaoya..."

Late at night, in Shrek City, only scattered figures remained on the once-bustling streets. Most of the vendors had long since closed up shop.

A dazed, utterly dejected figure walked through the empty streets. It was Bei Bei.

Bei Bei had searched every place Tang Ya usually visited, yet he still could not find any trace of her.

Today was their anniversary. Tang Ya had never forgotten it before, so why had she suddenly vanished today...

He was not worried that something had happened to Tang Ya. After all, Shrek City was the safest city in the world; there could not possibly be any evil Soul Masters here.

Tang Ya was also a Soul Elder, and she was wearing Shrek Academy's uniform. No one would dare lay a hand on a Shrek Academy student.

Therefore, the only conclusion was that Tang Ya had left on her own...

But Tang Ya did not even have a home anymore. Where else could she go?

Bei Bei could not make sense of it no matter how hard he thought, nearly racking his brains to pieces...

Suddenly, Bei Bei seemed to have figured something out.

He had been searching all over the city for Tang Ya, but perhaps she had only left earlier because she had something to do and had been waiting for him at the academy all along.

"That's right, I was overthinking it. Maybe Xiaoya is looking for me right now. I need to hurry back—I can't let Xiaoya worry!"

Bei Bei felt that he had found the right direction, and his mood immediately improved considerably. Filled with anticipation, he headed toward the academy, hoping to find Tang Ya there, equally anxious as she waited for his return.

If that were the case, he would be very happy.

Perhaps that was the meaning of meeting each other halfway.

Bei Bei quickened his pace and reached the academy gates shortly afterward.

Just then, Bei Bei's gaze seemed to have activated an aim assist, instantly locking onto a graceful figure beneath the academy gates—Tang Ya!

"Xiaoya!!"

Bei Bei hurriedly called out, his voice trembling uncontrollably with excitement.

"Mm, Bei Bei?"

Tang Ya turned around. Seeing Bei Bei, she looked slightly surprised.

She had not expected Bei Bei to still be out so late...

Fortunately, Ye Chen had left early. Otherwise, if Bei Bei had seen him, someone with Bei Bei's personality might have misunderstood something.

She and Ye Chen were completely innocent. She could not let Bei Bei falsely accuse Ye Chen.

"Xiaoya, where did you go? I searched so hard for you..."

Bei Bei staggered over, opening his arms as he tried to pull Tang Ya fiercely into his embrace.

Unfortunately, Tang Ya instantly dodged him.

"You're a grown man. What are you crying and sniveling for?"

Seeing Bei Bei's disheveled and dejected state, Tang Ya immediately frowned in distaste.

Especially compared to Ye Chen's confidence and composure, Bei Bei looked utterly useless right now.

Nothing had even happened, yet he was already crying and sniveling. Luckily no one else was around, or she would have pretended not to know him.

"No... Xiaoya, I was just too worried about you. Today is our anniversary, and then you suddenly disappeared. Do you know how worried I was..."

Seeing the disgust in Tang Ya's eyes, Bei Bei did not know why, but his heart faintly ached. He even felt somewhat wronged.

"Alright, alright. I'm neither missing nor in danger, so what is there for you to worry about? It's just an anniversary. Is it more important than what I did today?"

Tang Ya shot Bei Bei a somewhat speechless look, then turned and left. Clearly, she could not be bothered to argue with him any longer and ruin her good mood for the day.

The thought of finally avenging her great hatred within three months filled her with joy.

She had been with Bei Bei for so long, yet there had not been even the slightest hope of revenge.

But after recruiting Ye Chen into the Tang Sect, she would be able to complete her revenge within three months.

By comparison, Bei Bei seemed utterly useless.

"What could possibly be more important than our anniversary!?" Bei Bei demanded hoarsely, his emotions seeming slightly out of control.

"Of course, I recruited a talent for our Tang Sect~" At the mention of this, Tang Ya became a little smug.

What use was some anniversary?

Even if they celebrated ten anniversaries, she still might not be able to take revenge.

But today, she had personally recruited a talent like Ye Chen, and her revenge was now within reach.

Wasn't that countless times more important than some damned anniversary?

"Who is it? The Tang Sect has strict rules. Xiao Ya, don't act recklessly. You can't just recruit any bad person into the sect for the sake of reviving it!" Bei Bei immediately grew anxious upon hearing this.

It seemed that Bei Bei cared even more about the Tang Sect's development than Tang Ya did.

And that was indeed the case.

Back then, under Mu En's instructions, Bei Bei's true task had been to save the Tang Sect's sole surviving descendant, rebuild the Tang Sect, and take control of it.

The Tang Sect had been founded by that ancestor, Tang San. If he saved the Tang Sect's only surviving heir, preserved its lineage, and helped it flourish, he might perhaps attract that being's attention and obtain a heaven-defying opportunity.

Reviving the Tang Sect was the task Mu En had given him.

As for falling in love with Tang Ya, that had not been something he expected.

However, dating Tang Ya not only did not hinder the Tang Sect's growth, but also allowed him to prepare better for its revival. Thus, Mu En did not oppose their relationship.

"His name is Ye Chen. He's Yan Shaozhe's disciple, and he's also the Rookie King of this year's freshmen. You should have heard of him." Tang Ya did not hide it, since Bei Bei would learn about it sooner or later anyway.

If she concealed it, Bei Bei might misunderstand and end up having an unpleasant conflict with Ye Chen.

"It's him—the freshman Soul Ancestor!!"

Bei Bei's pupils suddenly contracted!

Naturally, Ye Chen's accomplishments had spread throughout the upper years as well!

After all, a twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor had directly shattered Shrek Academy's historical record since its founding!

Not even the first generation of Shrek Academy had produced such a monstrous talent!

Moreover, not only was his cultivation high, his combat strength was terrifying as well...

He was a Soul Ancestor, while Bei Bei, at fifteen years old, was only a level-thirty-eight Soul Elder...

"Yes, it's him. With Ye Chen joining us, the Tang Sect's revival will definitely speed up. I'm amazing, right~" Tang Ya said smugly.