After Gu Xingyue came out, he happened to run into Yan Shaozhe, so he came to the shores of Sea God Lake with them.
The water was like a mirror, reflecting the sky's light and the clouds' shadows. Flying across here would take them straight to the Outer Court in moments.
Yan Shaozhe folded her arms and tilted her chin slightly, her tone carrying some puzzlement and dissatisfaction. "I really don't know what you're thinking. With an ultimate attribute, why not just stay in the Golden Tree and cultivate? What are you going to the Outer Court for, my little junior brother?"
"You don't understand." Gu Xingyue could not even be bothered to spare her a glance, his tone indifferent. So what if the Golden Tree offered a great cultivation environment? Could it compare to the system's rewards? He had his own rhythm.
"Hmph." Yan Shaozhe gave a soft snort, eyeing him sidelong. "You've even beaten an Inner Court elite. Wouldn't going to the Outer Court just be blasting fish in a pond? I'm not wrong, am I?"
Gu Xingyue finally turned back, glanced at her, and said, "Senior sister, you truly deserve to be the woman who rose to dean of the Martial Soul Department. Your wisdom really does astound the world."
The corners of Yan Shaozhe's mouth rose involuntarily, and she waved a hand with affected modesty. "Wisdom that astounds the world... I'm not really that impressive."
"I wasn't actually complimenting you at all." A perfectly measured smile curved Gu Xingyue's lips.
The smile on Yan Shaozhe's face froze on the spot.
She turned and walked away expressionlessly, her voice as cold as ice. "Then take a boat across yourself."
She strode several paces before realizing there was not the slightest sound behind her.
Gu Xingyue had neither followed her nor shown any intention of calling her back.
She gritted her teeth, then turned around and walked back anyway.
Gu Xingyue was strolling leisurely toward the pier. Seeing her return, he asked, "Huh? Why haven't you left yet?"
That did it.
The thin shell of dignity on Yan Shaozhe's face shattered all over the ground. She stepped forward, her tone accusatory and edged with teeth-grinding frustration. "We're real senior sister and junior brother, born to different fathers and different mothers! Blood is thicker than water!"
"Whose blood is thicker than water with yours? Go play somewhere else." Gu Xingyue waved at her disdainfully, as though shooing her away.
Yan Shaozhe stood where she was, straightened her back, and maintained a very dignified appearance.
"If I leave just because you tell me to, wouldn't I lose all face?"
She paused, shielding her mouth with one hand and lowering her voice. "Besides... don't you want some special treatment? I have quite a few good things."
Only then did Gu Xingyue stop and turn his head to give her an appraising look.
He wondered whether this senior sister had cultivated herself silly. The illustrious dean of the Martial Soul Department was acting like a child who refused to leave.
Still... only a bastard would pass up a free advantage.
He turned to face Yan Shaozhe, his tone growing a little more serious. "Seriously, though, there is something I need your help with."
At that, Yan Shaozhe immediately puffed out her chest, her somewhat relaxed posture snapping straight. "Go ahead. I can make the final call on anything in the Outer Court." She spoke with complete confidence, her chin slightly raised. She all but had "I call the shots" carved into her face.
Then she noticed Gu Xingyue watching her with an expression that said, "I'll just listen and say nothing," his eyes full of disbelief.
Yan Shaozhe felt insulted. "What's that look supposed to mean? You don't believe me? Today, I'm going to show you just how much clout I have!"
Gu Xingyue seized the opening to toss out a question. "Senior sister, can you even handle matters in the Soul Guidance Department?"
Yan Shaozhe scoffed and planted both hands on her hips, her tone carrying an air of casual dominance. "I can handle anything the Soul Guidance Department can handle, and I can handle anything they can't, too-that's what power is! When Xian Lin and Qian Duoduo see me, those two can go straight to the children's table." With that, she looked keenly at Gu Xingyue, signaling for him to name whatever he wanted.
Hearing Yan Shaozhe's words, Gu Xingyue felt as though his brain had lagged half a beat, as though he had been hit by Unlimited Void. But having adapted so many times already, he no longer felt surprised at all.
Parallel worlds. Amazing, aren't they?
Gu Xingyue sorted out his thoughts and dispensed with the pleasantries. "Add some benches to the Outer Court cafeteria, expand the dormitories, and finally, make the cafeteria food taste better. Remember to pour thick, rich food over the food. That's all."
Yan Shaozhe fell silent.
She opened her mouth. "That'll cost quite a bit, junior brother. Besides, these are all Shrek traditions. The ancestors' laws must not be changed. It's a legacy of ten thousand years. If we change it lightly-"
"Oh, where did all those rules come from?" Gu Xingyue cut her off, then added with a smile, "As for the money-put it on the Martial Soul Department dean's tab."
Yan Shaozhe's expression instantly became quite a spectacle.
She opened her mouth to say something, but felt it would be far too embarrassing to back out now.
Watching her expression, Gu Xingyue waved a casual hand. "What are you standing there for? Get to work. Who told you to blow such a big horn?"
"This couldn't be simpler. One word from me is all it takes. I'm the dean of the Martial Soul Department. What I say is policy!"
"Sure." Gu Xingyue nodded perfunctorily and turned toward the pier, adding without looking back, "Remember, be quick. In the end, you still have to be quick."
Just as Gu Xingyue and Yan Shaozhe were talking, a figure suddenly emerged from a nearby corner and hurried toward them.
The newcomer had short, fiery-red hair and even scarlet pupils, and wore the standard uniform of a Shrek’s Inner Court disciple.
Gu Xingyue felt a very strong sense of déjà vu at the sight of this person.
Yan Shaozhe's gaze swept over him without the slightest change in her expression. She merely said flatly, "I remember telling you not to come out without my permission."
"Sorry... Teacher, I..." The red-haired young man opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to explain, but fell silent under Yan Shaozhe's calm, temperatureless gaze.
"You should know perfectly well that the problem with your martial soul is getting worse. As your cultivation deepens, the evil fire becomes harder and harder to control. You shouldn't be here at a time like this." Yan Shaozhe's voice was not loud, but every word was clear. "If you kill someone because your martial soul goes out of control, I will personally cripple your cultivation."
She looked at him calmly, with a trace of cold scrutiny.
When she had happened upon this boy during her travels years ago, discovering that he possessed the same martial soul as Shrek's ancestral Phoenix God, she had indeed felt some appreciation for his talent and brought him back to the academy to nurture him carefully.
But as time passed, the drawbacks of that evil-fire martial soul gradually revealed themselves.
In the early stages, the Ice Jade Bed transported from the Extreme North had still been able to suppress it. Now, however, it was merely a cup of water against a blazing cartload of firewood.
If he could not find a suitable partner to harmonize his soul power, continuing to cultivate would eventually let that evil fire burn him to ashes from the inside out.
Over the years, she had intermittently sealed his meridians, deliberately delaying his cultivation progress to slow him down. Because of that, he remained in the Soul King realm even now.
Did he resent her? Perhaps he did.
But she did not care.
She, Yan Shaozhe, had acted openly and honorably all her life. Why should she have to explain herself to anyone else?
Ma Xiaotao stood a few paces away, his hands slowly clenching at his sides.
His head was lowered, his hair hiding most of his face and obscuring his expression.
Hatred?
Hatred had sprouted through day after day of suppression.
When she first brought him back to this vast academy, he had thought he had flown up onto a high branch. Instead, all he got was his cultivation deliberately suppressed and his future locked down by invisible chains.
If he had not been brought here back then and had cultivated on his own, perhaps he would already have entered the Soul Emperor realm.
Obstructing someone's path was like murdering their parents.
He lowered his eyes, forcing the surging emotions back into the depths of his heart.
Not yet. My strength is still nowhere near enough. I have to wait. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west.
If one day my cultivation reaches great heights-when that time comes, I'll make this woman pay.
Out of the corner of his eye, he stole a glance at Gu Xingyue beside her, catching the scene of this person chatting and laughing with Yan Shaozhe just now.
The evil fire abruptly surged higher in his chest.
He did not want to stay another moment and hurriedly found an excuse.
Yan Shaozhe watched the red-haired figure disappear into the distance without the slightest change in her expression.
Gu Xingyue tilted his head and asked casually, "That... was your disciple?"
"Yes. I picked him up in a little village back then." Yan Shaozhe's tone was flat. "Unfortunately, his temperament is too impetuous."
As she spoke, she shook her head lightly, showing no intention of continuing the subject.
Gu Xingyue had no intention of digging deeper either. After all, it had nothing whatsoever to do with him. There was no need to say more.
Before you continue