Flender wanted to take Yu Xiaogang to become a man

"Arrange the finest private courtyards for their accommodation, too. I don't want the people I brought here having trouble settling in."

Zhi Lin and the others nodded repeatedly. "Haha, of course, of course."

Xue Qinghe said in satisfaction, "Also, summon Qin Ming. He's the Imperial Fighting Team's supervising teacher, so he'll need to handle the specific arrangements."

Qin Ming was soon summoned.

The moment he entered, he sensed the unusual atmosphere in the office.

"Councilors, Your Highness? You sent for me?"

Zhi Lin pointed at Lin Ye and the two girls, saying excitedly, "Teacher Qin Ming, come here! His Highness has brought three peerless geniuses to the Imperial Fighting Team! Starting today, they're the team's newest members!"

Zhi Lin pointed at Zhu Zhuqing. "This is Zhu Zhuqing, an agility-attack Soul Grandmaster. Her martial soul is the Hell Spirit Cat."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Approval shone in Qin Ming's eyes. "The Hell Spirit Cat? That certainly is a powerful agility-attack martial soul."

Zhi Lin then pointed at Ning Rongrong, his tone even prouder. "And this is Ning Rongrong, daughter of Sect Master Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect! Her martial soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda! She's also a Soul Elder!"

"What? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?!"

Qin Ming was startled and turned to Ning Rongrong. That was the legendary, top-tier support martial soul!

Although the Imperial Fighting Team already had a support martial soul that could rival the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's, when it came to support, more was always better.

Finally, the gazes of the three councilors and Xue Qinghe all settled on Lin Ye.

Zhi Lin drew a deep breath and introduced him in an exaggeratedly excited tone.

"This is Childe Lin Ye! The sole personal disciple jointly taught by His Eminence Sword Douluo Chen Xin and His Eminence Bone Douluo Gu Rong!"

"A twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor!"

"Gasp!"

Qin Ming had already sucked in a breath of cold air upon hearing that he was the sole personal disciple of both the Sword and Bone Douluos!

The words "twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor" sent another jolt through his body!

He snapped his gaze toward Lin Ye, desperate to see his soul rings!

Understanding his intent, Lin Ye willed them forth again.

His white paper martial soul floated into view, and four soul rings appeared once more.

Yellow! Purple! Purple! Black!

That dazzling black light instantly froze the expression on Qin Ming's face!

His eyes remained fixed on Lin Ye's soul rings.

"A twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor? With a ten-thousand-year fourth ring?!"

Qin Ming felt as though everything he knew had been shattered!

He was considered well-informed even at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, but the boy before him was an absolute monster!

Watching Qin Ming stand speechless with shock, Lin Ye felt not the slightest ripple within.

They were merely a few soul rings that exceeded the usual limits. To him, they were nothing special.

"Ahem!"

Xue Qinghe cleared his throat, snapping Qin Ming out of his shock.

"All right, Teacher Qin Ming. I'll leave them in your care. Take them to their assigned accommodations, and help them integrate into the team as soon as possible."

"Yes! Yes, Your Highness! Councilors!"

As though waking from a dream, Qin Ming hurriedly answered with respect.

"Childe Lin Ye, Miss Rongrong, Miss Zhu, please follow me." Qin Ming immediately composed himself and gestured with great respect.

Lin Ye and the two girls followed Qin Ming outside.

Just as Lin Ye was about to step across the threshold—

"Little brother Lin Ye."

Xue Qinghe's gentle voice came from behind him.

Lin Ye stopped and turned to look at Xue Qinghe.

Xue Qinghe stepped closer to Lin Ye, that flawless, warm smile still on his face.

"Focus on your studies and cultivation here without worry. If you need anything, you can come find me at the palace anytime."

As he spoke, Xue Qinghe offered Lin Ye a token.

Seeing this, Lin Ye accepted it without standing on ceremony and returned a gentle smile. "Understood, Brother Qinghe. Thank you."

Xue Qinghe smiled and nodded, lightly patting Lin Ye's shoulder like an elder brother.

"Go on."

Lin Ye nodded again, said nothing more, and turned to leave with Qin Ming.

But as he left, a trace of amusement flashed in his eyes.

Qian Renxue, you're really throwing yourself into this act more and more.

Xue Qinghe stood where he was, watching Lin Ye disappear from view. His smile slowly faded, and a complicated gleam flickered in the depths of his eyes.

He turned back to the three councilors, ready to hear their report on the academy's affairs.

Yet no one noticed that, with his hands held behind his back, he unconsciously rubbed the hand that had just patted Lin Ye's shoulder.

Meanwhile, Qin Ming led Lin Ye and the two girls through the beautiful academy.

Still brimming with excitement, Qin Ming enthusiastically introduced the academy to them.

"Lin Ye, your talent truly is..."

"With you joining the Imperial Fighting Team, we'll be like a tiger given wings!"

Lin Ye merely gave a quiet "Mm," without taking up the conversation. He walked calmly, his gaze sweeping over the dormitory area ahead.

Qin Ming hurriedly explained, "Those private courtyards up ahead, in the nicest surroundings, are the accommodations arranged for you."

Just then, Lin Ye caught sight of a group of people.

Not far ahead, a group of young people in matching uniforms was approaching them.

Their leader had short, dark-blue hair and handsome features, with a trace of familiar arrogance between his brows.

Lin Ye had seen that sort of arrogance at Shrek.

From the original story, Lin Ye already knew the name of the person leading them.

Yu Tianheng.

Yu Xiaogang's own nephew!

An almost imperceptible curve immediately tugged at the corner of Lin Ye's mouth.

"His own nephew, huh? Heh. Let's see just how close the two of you really are."

"Achoo!"

At Shrek Academy, Yu Xiaogang, who was sitting across from Flender, suddenly sneezed.

"Xiao Gang, what's wrong? Have you caught a cold?" Flender asked with concern.

"Probably not. Something may have irritated my nose." Yu Xiaogang shook his head and went back to poring over his materials.

Looking at Yu Xiaogang's old, thin clothes, Flender suddenly felt as though something had clenched around his heart.

For more than a month, Yu Xiaogang had bent his back and exhausted himself for Shrek, not even finding time to change into decent new clothes.

And after all these years, this brother of his still seemed to be a...

"Xiao Gang, take a break. Let's talk."

Yu Xiaogang paused at his words, then looked up. "Boss Fu, what did you want to talk about?"

"How long have we known each other?" Flender asked wistfully.

Yu Xiaogang froze, unable to answer even that himself.

He had forgotten how long it had been, too.

"I remember. I remember very clearly. A full twenty-five years."

Flender raised his head and said softly, "Twenty-five years. Enough to wear us down from spirited young men into what we are today. Thinking back carefully, in all those twenty-five years, I've never truly cared about how well you were doing, despite being your elder brother. Now that I think about it, I really do feel ashamed."

Yu Xiaogang's nose stung with emotion. "Boss Fu, I..."

"Xiao Gang, come to the Spring Breeze House tomorrow. I'm going to give you a proper welcome banquet there, just the two of us. Make sure you come." Flender patted Yu Xiaogang's shoulder, then rose and left.

As Yu Xiaogang watched Flender leave, his head buzzed.

The Spring Breeze House? Why did that name sound so strange?

Little did Yu Xiaogang know that it was a "heaven on earth," a place that would let him leave childhood behind for good and become a man.