Lin Chuan all grown up
The moment she said that, Lin Chuan was genuinely a little surprised.
Although Zhang Lexuan had seemed like a rather guileless, somewhat dazed person in the original story, she was actually quite clever.
She had even guessed that he had a purpose in resurrecting her.
At that thought, Lin Chuan nodded openly.
"Since you've guessed it, I'll lay my cards on the table. I want you to be my Dao protector."
"I grew up in the Far North, raised entirely by the Ice Empress and the Snow Empress. But I didn't have them come along on this trip. After all, they're Ferocious Beasts, so having them follow me around for too long wouldn't really work. Right now, I desperately need a Dao protector who can hold the fort."
"After all, the waters of this Douluo I world run deep. There's even a Titled Douluo lurking outside right now, watching me like a hawk."
"But although I resurrected you, this deal is absolutely not compulsory. You can still choose to live for yourself. If you don't agree, you can leave whenever you want. I won't force you."
Zhang Lexuan nodded without so much as batting an eyelid.
"Sure. I'll be your Dao protector."
She smiled, her tone carrying some of the clarity of someone who had seen through the ways of the world.
"You said earlier that I should live for myself from now on. But who says living for yourself has to mean making the world your home and living apart from everyone? The way I see it, staying by your side is itself a way of life I've chosen for myself, isn't it?"
"Besides, this is the Douluo Continent from ten thousand years ago, after all. There are accounts of this place in the history books, but they aren't very detailed."
"Since I have this chance, of course I want to stay and take a good, clear look."
At those words, Lin Chuan nodded in satisfaction.
That was exactly what he had been waiting to hear from Zhang Lexuan.
Of course, if she had shaken her head and refused at the outset, he would not have wasted another word.
Everyone had their own path. A forcibly plucked melon would never be sweet, and forcing someone's head down was beneath him.
Although he was the one who had resurrected her, saving her life was one thing. He, Lin Chuan, really had no liking for controlling other people's choices.
Yet at that very instant, an exceedingly crucial detail suddenly flashed through his mind.
It was a detail inextricably tied to Shrek Academy.
Since he was dead set on putting Tang San through some suffering, the rest of the Shrek bunch naturally could not be spared either.
That meant he had to give Zhang Lexuan advance notice.
At that thought, Lin Chuan rubbed his chin and spoke.
"Right, I need to get the unpleasant part out of the way first. This is ten thousand years ago. That Shrek of yours isn't what you remember it being."
"I'll most likely be standing against these people, so I hope that when the time comes, you won't help them, but will help me instead. Can you understand that?"
As soon as he finished, Lin Chuan stared unblinkingly at Zhang Lexuan's face, trying to glean some hint from her expression.
Who would have thought that what Zhang Lexuan said next would leave Lin Chuan momentarily stunned? It truly caught him off guard.
Zhang Lexuan simply nodded with a calm expression and began with a smile.
"Shrek Academy from ten thousand years ago? What a coincidence. I happen to be very curious about it myself. I also want to see with my own eyes just how much those first-generation Shrek Seven Devils, whom the history books praise to the heavens, really amount to."
She paused, her gaze exceptionally clear and her tone carrying an air of carefree ease.
"As for helping them? You can put all your worries to rest. There's no way I would do that. In my previous life, I worked like an ox and a horse for Shrek. I paid back everything I owed long ago. Now neither side owes the other anything."
"In this life, I'll live only for myself, and also... for you. You gave me the chance to keep living. I, Zhang Lexuan, am not about to become an ungrateful white-eyed wolf."
Hearing that, Lin Chuan was truly astonished. He honestly had not expected those lines to come out of Zhang Lexuan's mouth.
But on second thought, he felt delighted. This was exactly the result he wanted.
If Zhang Lexuan still had that personality from Douluo II, they might as well part ways sooner rather than later. They simply were not walking the same path.
Lin Chuan did not dwell on it any further. He nodded with a smile.
"Living for yourself, and for me too-well said. With that kind of understanding, you really have been reborn from the bones up. All right, let's save the sentimental words for later. This isn't a place to linger. I need to leave first."
Zhang Lexuan suddenly interjected.
"Do you need me to come with you? Of course, I mean... close personal protection."
No sooner had she said it than she realized something. Why did those words sound so improper?
Zhang Lexuan's cheeks instantly flushed red all the way to her ears.
Lin Chuan gave Zhang Lexuan a slightly puzzled look, but did not think much of it.
He casually raised a hand, and a streak of golden light instantly sprang from his fingertip, shooting straight toward the spot between Zhang Lexuan's brows.
Seeing the golden light flying toward her, Zhang Lexuan made no attempt to dodge. Complete cooperation was the order of the day.
The next instant, the golden light sank between her brows.
Immediately afterward, Zhang Lexuan felt a hum in her mind as an enormous amount of information was forcibly poured into it, like floodwaters through opened gates.
All of this information concerned the world before her-or, to be precise, the underlying logic of the Heaven and Earth Great World.
To put it plainly, that streak of golden light was an exclusive pass for entering and leaving this place.
With a mere thought, she could leave at any time.
Once outside, another thought would likewise let her flash back here instantly.
In that single instant, when Zhang Lexuan looked at Lin Chuan again, the look in her eyes had changed completely. It was filled to the brim with awe.
Wouldn't even a god-level being be shocked by a method like this?
Only after finishing all of this did Lin Chuan smile and speak in a relaxed tone.
"I reckon you should already have some idea. That's right, this is my world. Here, I'm absolutely the creator-the kind whose word is final."
"For now, just stay here without worrying. If I run into any danger outside, you can come out at any time and lend me a hand."
"Oh, and there's one more thing I need to explain beforehand. Since this isn't just any place, but a great world belonging solely to me, whenever I'm outside, everything my eyes see will appear here on a huge screen of light. You'll be able to see the outside world perfectly clearly through it. Put simply, it lets you watch the outside through my eyes. That happens to satisfy your wish to take a look at the world ten thousand years ago, too. But this can be switched on and off."
"All right, I should be leaving now. Oh, right, my name is Lin Chuan."
After saying all that, Lin Chuan did not drag things out in the slightest. His figure instantly vanished from the spot.
Zhang Lexuan stood where she was, looking at the place Lin Chuan had just occupied, a faint glimmer flickering softly in her beautiful eyes.
The corners of her mouth curved slightly into a smile, and she spoke softly.
"Tsk, tsk. What an interesting little brother. So young, yet already so handsome. What will happen when you grow up? Won't you attract thousands upon thousands of girls?"
"Hehe... even this big sister's heart is fluttering a little. Still, fluttering heart or not, I really do need to thank you properly. If not for you, I'd probably be at the end of my lifespan now and would have simply died."
"How should I repay this kindness?"