Both the Eldest Senior Sister and Tang Ya Lost Their Way

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Chapter 11: Both the Eldest Senior Sister and Tang Ya Lost Their Way

Zhang Lexuan quietly stayed beside Mu En, watching until Bei Bei had led Ye Xixuan out of the Sea God Pavilion.

Mu En had asked Zhang Lexuan to come not merely because he wanted her to guide Ye Xixuan's cultivation. More importantly, he wanted to untie the knot that had lingered in her heart all these years.

"Lexuan, what do you think of Xixuan?"

"He's more gifted than I am. In the future, he'll certainly become a pillar protecting the academy." A faint, heartfelt smile appeared on Zhang Lexuan's serene face. She had not noticed the intent behind Mu En's question.

After a brief pause, Mu En sighed softly. "Back then, Bei Bei's parents passed away one after the other, and my state of mind was nowhere near as peaceful as it is now. In truth, I've come to regret what I did. Lexuan, you no longer have to abide by that oath. Live this life for yourself."

"Mu En!" Zhang Lexuan suddenly grew agitated, even frightened, and spoke stubbornly.

"I already swore an oath. Whatever Bei Bei chooses in the future, I will only ever be his child bride. If he doesn't like me, then I'll remain alone for the rest of my life and devote everything I have to Shrek, to repay your kindness back then."

"Foolish child, foolish child!" Mu En closed his eyes in anguish, as though he had reached some sort of decision.

"Do you know that what I least want to see is you treating these things as the pillars holding up your life?"

Thud! Zhang Lexuan stubbornly dropped to her knees before Mu En, two trails of clear tears already running down her lovely face.

"Mu En, I could never repay your kindness in this lifetime! This has nothing to do with anyone else. It's my own choice!"

"Fine!" Mu En drew a hurried, ragged breath, and even his face flushed.

"Since you say you want to repay my kindness from back then, I'm now asking you to tear up and revise that oath yourself. I want you to stay by Xixuan's side and protect him until he grows strong enough to inherit the position of Sea God Pavilion Master. If you're willing, you can be his child bride, too!"

At Mu En's age and level of cultivation, his emotions should not have fluctuated so violently. Yet he felt guilty toward Zhang Lexuan, and he was even more unwilling to see her drift through her entire life in a daze, unable to find its meaning.

He had never expected Zhang Lexuan to take those angry words seriously.

"Yes, Mu En! I swear to you that I'll stay by Xixuan's side and protect him in the future, and be his child bride."

"Enough..."

Before Zhang Lexuan could finish, Mu En interrupted her. The air of approaching death surrounding him seemed to grow much heavier. He had never imagined that her stubbornness ran so deep, and the more stubborn she was, the guiltier he felt.

Only then did he belatedly realize how utterly shameless it had been to make Zhang Lexuan swear such an oath when she was only around ten years old. He had ruined this child's life.

Zhang Lexuan was now almost twenty. There could hardly be any romantic feelings between her and Bei Bei, who was only nine. What drove her was more a sense of responsibility and the oath she had sworn back then. That was why she felt no resistance at all to Mu En's angry words just now-or rather, she was desperate to find a new emotional pillar and purpose.

And that emotional pillar and purpose had naturally shifted to Ye Xixuan.

Meanwhile, Ye Xixuan and Bei Bei took a small boat to the lakeside path on the outer court side of Shrek Academy.

The lakeside path led straight to Shrek Square. The teaching buildings of the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Tool Department stood to its south and north respectively.

Bei Bei explained to Ye Xixuan, "The colors of the outer court's teaching buildings correspond to the colors of the uniforms. The white one is for new students, and the yellow ones are for second- and third-year outer court students. The fourth- and fifth-year buildings are purple, while the sixth-year building is black. All those gray teaching buildings north of Shrek Square belong to the Soul Tool Department."

"Senior Brother Bei, are there any inner court disciples from the Soul Tool Department on Sea God Island?"

"There are, but very few, and they don't have much of a presence in the inner court," Bei Bei said in surprise.

;psme&;psme&

"What, are you interested in Soul Tools?"

"I just think my first Soul Skill might be able to work together with Soul Tools." Ye Xixuan made no attempt to conceal his thoughts from Bei Bei.

In his memories of his previous life, Xiao Hongchen had possessed a Soul Skill similar to his own. However, Xiao Hongchen had chosen to use his ability to control metal to create ranged Soul Tools such as Soul Cannons out of thin air, while the effect of Ye Xixuan's first Soul Skill, Condensed Shadow, seemed more suited to melee Soul Tools.

Moreover, using melee Soul Tools was more in keeping with the way traditional Soul Masters fought. Melee Soul Tools were merely weapons; the Martial Soul and Soul Skills remained the foundation. This could hardly be considered abandoning the roots to chase the branches.

Hearing Ye Xixuan's explanation, Bei Bei grew interested as well.

"Can the things condensed by your first Soul Skill conduct Soul Power?"

"They should only be able to conduct darkness-attribute Soul Power," Ye Xixuan said after a moment's thought.

As they spoke, the two had unwittingly reached the spacious Shrek Square, beside which hung a green sign.

Bei Bei pointed toward the area beyond the square. "This road leads to Shrek City's east gate, which also serves as the outer court's main entrance. What are you going there for?"

"I have a friend there." Thinking of what Tang Ya might have gone through,

Ye Xixuan could not help quickening his pace.

By now, the sky had gone completely dark. This main road through Shrek Academy led straight outside the city gate, with bright Soul Guidance Lamps lining both sides. At this hour, almost no one was walking around the academy. After all, even Shrek Academy's outer court assessments were extremely strict, and everyone was making the most of their time to cultivate.

Bei Bei silently followed Ye Xixuan, his hands clasped behind his head and a puzzled expression on his face.

"A friend?"

A petite figure sat curled up on the base of a massive stone pillar outside the east gate. Her black hair spilled loosely down her back and covered her face, and her entire body trembled slightly.

"Sister Xiaoya." Hearing the voice beside her, Tang Ya instinctively raised her head. At the sight of Ye Xixuan's familiar face, she could no longer suppress her emotions. She suddenly stood, threw her arms around him, and burst into loud sobs.

After absorbing his first Thousand-Year Soul Ring, Ye Xixuan had grown considerably taller. He was now only half a head shorter than Tang Ya.

Holding her slender frame in his arms, Ye Xixuan could clearly feel the helplessness in her heart. He offered none of those hollow words of comfort. He knew those were not what Tang Ya needed.

Beyond her helplessness and hurt, Tang Ya also harbored resentment-not just toward Shrek Academy, but even more toward herself.

Her circumstances and Ye Xixuan's stood in stark contrast. If she possessed an astonishing talent like his, would the outcome have been different?

Ultimately, it was all because she was weak.

Driven by these extreme emotions, the power hidden deep within Tang Ya's Martial Soul Origin was stirred once again.

Ye Xixuan's Martial Soul stirred in response, and the Mind Demon Mark surfaced beyond his control, immediately drawing a frown from him. He then placed his right hand against Tang Ya's lower back and carefully sensed the source of that stirring.

Watching from a distance, Bei Bei felt his eyelid twitch for some reason. Yet he had no idea how serious the problem was. Seeing Ye Xixuan's little movement, he merely grumbled inwardly.

Xixuan is way too precocious. No wonder his mind went astray when he heard what Xuan Zi said earlier.

(End of chapter)