You May Not Have Ma Xiaotao Anymore, but You Still Have Me

Jiang Chen coughed awkwardly.

What kind of situation was this?

He and Ling Luochen had originally had nothing to do with each other. But a year ago, while carrying out a mission near his family's home, she had been ambushed by an Evil Soul Master. He had personally brought her back to his family for treatment, and that was how they had grown close.

That was also why Ling Luochen had taken such good care of him since he arrived at the academy.

Compared to Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochen was a much better person.

With that thought, Jiang Chen got up and opened the door. There stood Ling Luochen, returning with a bag of late-night snacks.

She had long white hair and a soft, fair face. Her snow-white clothes traced the curves of her figure. She was more reserved than Ma Xiaotao, and prettier too.

If Shrek Academy had an ice-cold beauty, it was Ling Luochen.

Ling Luochen handed him the food, her eyes curving into crescents. "You haven't had a late-night snack yet, have you? I went out to eat and brought some back for you and your roommates."

Jiang Chen looked at the food, warmth stirring in his chest.

It was the stir-fried crab he liked.

He quietly took it. "Thank you."

Ling Luochen smiled gently. "What are you thanking me for? It's only right. I picked up things you and your roommates like. Eat while they're hot."

Beside him, Xie Huanyue and the others hadn't expected anything for themselves.

Now they felt downright conflicted.

What senior? She was practically their sister-in-law.

They could only feel sorry that Ma Xiaotao had broken up with Jiang Chen. But if he stopped seeing Ling Luochen, they would want to put a knife to his throat.

So Xie Huanyue and the others loudly thanked her, then told her how Ma Xiaotao had dumped Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen tried to stop them, but couldn't. He could only sigh.

These guys sure know how to repay a kindness. One meal from Ling Luochen bought them over, and now they can't keep their mouths shut.

Sure enough, Ling Luochen's brows shot up as she listened, and her hands curled into fists.

That bastard Ma Xiaotao. How could she treat him like that?

Did she really think I was a fool?

This was all about that Evil Fire, wasn't it? And she'd said such disgusting things to Jiang Chen.

Back when Ling Luochen had refused to help Ma Xiaotao suppress the Evil Fire, Ma Xiaotao had shown that same ugly side of herself. After all these years, she hadn't changed one bit. Now she'd treated Jiang Chen that way too.

Ling Luochen spoke at once. "Ma Xiaotao went too far. I'm going to confront her."

But Jiang Chen caught her wrist and shook his head. "There's no need. We parted on good terms. Dragging this out would only make things worse. Besides, I don't like Ma Xiaotao anyway. Let's leave it here."

Ling Luochen pressed her lips together, feeling deeply unsettled.

Ma Xiaotao was just asking for trouble!

It was good they'd broken up. At least that detestable woman wouldn't keep showing up in front of him.

Ling Luochen took Jiang Chen's hand and comforted him softly. "Don't dwell on it. Ma Xiaotao is the sort of woman who goes looking for trouble. She's just like her teacher."

"You may not have Ma Xiaotao anymore, but you still have me."

"If you ever want to come to the Inner Court, just find me. I'll pull some strings and get you in."

Warmth rose in Jiang Chen's heart. "I know. But don't say things like 'pull some strings' again. Someone might get the wrong idea."

Ling Luochen's pretty face turned as red as an apple.

She realized how that had sounded. She really hadn't thought before speaking, but now that she looked back on it, she was mortified.

She'd said something even students head over heels in love wouldn't dare say.

I'm done for!

My reputation is ruined.

Ling Luochen turned and left without stopping.

She'd delivered the snacks. She couldn't keep talking.

What if something else like that slipped out?

Xie Huanyue and the others watched her white-clad figure depart, envy in their eyes.

Now there was a good match for Jiang Chen.

Ling Luochen was so kind. She even got shy...

Then they all turned toward Jiang Chen and the food in his hands.

Their stares made Jiang Chen's scalp prickle. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"She bought those snacks for us," Xie Huanyue said, pointing at Jiang Chen's hands.

The others nodded like chicks pecking at grain.

Jiang Chen shook his head and laughed.

They shut the door and began enjoying the food Ling Luochen had brought.

He had to admit that this ice-cold beauty was thoughtful. She had bought something different for everyone. She'd clearly put care into it.

No one in the dormitory had a complaint. They were thrilled from the bottom of their hearts.

Jiang Chen ate his snack too.

Xie Huanyue looked up from his pizza. "Jiang Chen, if you ever break up with Ling Luochen, tell us beforehand."

"Why would I tell you?" Jiang Chen asked, puzzled.

Xie Huanyue pointed at the door. "So we can tell you to get lost. If you really do that, you're no brother of ours. You're a stranger."

"Ling Luochen isn't just your senior to us. She's everyone's senior. If you want to break up with her, we'll be the first to object."

Zhou Sichen nodded along. "Agreed!"

Jiang Chen froze. He could hardly believe his friends had been bought over by one late-night snack.

Could you guys have a little backbone?

Judging by their faces, if he said he was cutting ties with Ling Luochen, they really would throw him out of the dormitory on the spot.

Jiang Chen behaved himself and went back to eating.

Xie Huanyue changed the subject. "Jiang Chen, how confident are you about the Freshman Assessment? I hear a few people in Freshman Class One are especially strong. That old hag Zhou Yi drills them like dogs every day. She must have gotten results by now."

Jiang Chen silently glanced at his palm and said nothing.

If he hadn't come from another world, perhaps his ambitions really would have soared higher than the heavens, and he would have believed he'd win the Freshman Tournament for certain.

But this era belonged to the Child of Fortune. It was hard to break that curse of fortune.

After a moment's thought, Jiang Chen replied, "I'll do my best."

Xie Huanyue thought that made sense.

Do your best!

Soon, they finished eating. Jiang Chen sat cross-legged on his bed and began regulating his breath.

What had happened with Ma Xiaotao hadn't shaken him much. If anything, it had made him calmer. That was simply the kind of person she was, cut from the same mold as Yan Shaozhe.

But one thing continued to gnaw at Jiang Chen: the Phoenix Bloodline.

His parents in this world had told him that their family's Phoenix Bloodline originated in the Far North and was closely tied to the Ice God. Yet they had no way to stabilize it.

Jiang Chen glanced at the Ice Phoenix mark on the back of his hand and fell into thought.

What was missing?

Why couldn't I complete the Second Awakening?

He had no desire to end up like Xu Sanshi, neither human nor ghost.

Lost in thought, Jiang Chen entered Deep Meditation.

Several hours passed.

Just as he was about to give up, understanding struck. His bloodline resonated within him, and his eyes snapped open.

"I cared too much about my family and Huo Yuhao. I even went along with Mu En. That went against my own path from the start."

"Where did the calm, composed person I used to be go? I'm the true wielder of the Phoenix Martial Soul. Why should I bow my head to a Child of Fortune?"

"Outside forces may decide whether I win or lose, but a true powerhouse must first master his own heart."

"It's time to stabilize my bloodline once and for all."