Outside the main gate of Shrek Academy.
Dawn had only just passed, and Zhang Yang had long been waiting there.
Several others stood beside him, all there to see him off.
Soul Masters hunting soul beasts to grow stronger was as basic as it got, hardly worth paying attention to.
But Zhang Yang had such good foundations and such strong charm! Almost without exception, everyone had volunteered to keep him company and offer encouragement.
"Eldest Senior Sister is so busy, but she's still helping you obtain a Soul Ring. An opportunity like this is rare, so make the most of it."
Xiao Xiao straightened Zhang Yang's collar.
She was so small that standing on tiptoe took considerable effort.
She muttered as she worked, a hint of jealousy in her sweet voice, and the others couldn't help chuckling.
"Xiao Xiao, if you're worried, why don't you just go with them?" Wang Dong'er grinned teasingly, deliberately undermining her.
"I'm not the one who needs a Soul Ring, so why would I go? Besides, there's the freshman assessment..." Xiao Xiao explained instinctively.
Before she finished, she realized she was being teased.
She glared at Wang Dong'er and turned her head away, a little annoyed.
She felt Zhang Yang's warm, large hand settle on her head as he gave her one of his customary head pats.
He was about to speak and soothe his little girlfriend when, the next second, he noticed a tall figure approaching from not far away.
Unlike the loli-like Xiao Xiao, she had the classic mature beauty look, with long, straight black hair. Wearing an elegant, serene smile, she nodded to everyone.
"Good morning, everyone."
"Zhang Yang, let's set off."
Zhang Lexuan's gaze swept over the group, pausing on Xiao Xiao for a moment, but her expression showed no sign of disturbance.
She kept her faint smile and unruffled manner. She truly deserved her title of Eldest Senior Sister, and her presence put people at ease.
"Good morning, Eldest Senior Sister..."
Huo Yuhao and the other two responded politely, their expressions strange.
They likewise looked at her, their thoughts clearly much more active.
But even Xiao Xiao, who had grown wary and was a little annoyed, felt no resistance toward her.
Instead, she felt that everything the woman before her did was overflowing with warmth, like a motherly radiance?
"Mm, let's go."
Zhang Yang returned her look.
He didn't feel awkward at all about the two women meeting. A little situation like this was nothing to fear.
He whispered a few more words to Xiao Xiao, teasing her into a good mood, then walked away with Zhang Lexuan.
"I've always heard that Eldest Senior Sister isn't just strong, she also has a kind of charm that makes people trust her. It's really true!" Wang Dong'er's expression was solemn.
"She's nothing special. We're not bad either! Come on, let's go back to class and cultivate." Xiao Xiao muttered, as if comforting herself.
As she spoke, she raised both hands to her chest.
She measured their size with her hands, picturing a comparison in her mind.
Although she refused to admit defeat aloud, she had to acknowledge that Eldest Senior Sister's were indeed much bigger than hers.
At the thought, she pouted in frustration and watched Zhang Yang's retreating figure disappear before leaving with Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er.
None of them noticed that Tang Ya had also come and was standing around a nearby corner, though she had chosen not to show herself.
"I knew it. He definitely has something going on with Eldest Senior Sister."
"The way those two looked at each other just now was obviously off."
"But there's nothing to be done. Come to think of it, didn't I fall for Zhang Yang's charm too?"
"If I have to blame something, I can only blame that guy for being too outstanding. How dare he look so good and make me fall for him..."
Tang Ya murmured, making excuses for herself.
As she spoke, she recalled what had happened that night.
An ache throbbed faintly, and her legs grew weak. She was annoyed that she had lost and had even fled in the end.
She had even left the underwear she had worn especially for the occasion in Zhang Yang's dormitory. She didn't know whether he had thrown it away, and it had been custom-made for her!
At the thought, Tang Ya blushed.
She quickly cast the distracting thoughts from her mind and headed to class as well.
On the way, she ran into her boyfriend in name, and the atmosphere between them was off.
"Xiao Ya, have you been all right these past few days? Are you feeling unwell?" Bei Bei asked with concern.
"It's nothing. I took a fall. What is it?" Tang Ya's manner was cold. The more she looked at him, the more awkward she felt.
"Uh, there's still some time before class. Let's talk about the Tang Sect expanding its recruitment, shall we? I don't think it's a good idea..." Bei Bei's expression stiffened, and he spoke instinctively.
What had he done wrong? He had only wanted to remind her to be careful.
The Tang Sect's current foundations had grown so weak they were practically negligible.
A few disciples were manageable, but if there were more, they wouldn't be able to manage them at all, nor could they provide the corresponding benefits.
Rather than have conflicts erupt later, it was better to eliminate the hidden danger now. In theory, his suggestion wasn't wrong.
But it had clearly upset Tang Ya. She had finally seen a glimmer of hope and had been happy these past few days.
Why did he have to undermine her now of all times? Even if the problem did exist, they could have thought of a solution together.
At least Zhang Yang had helped them take a step forward.
In the past, no one had paid the Tang Sect any attention at all.
Now, at the very least, people were asking about it here and there, and they had gained more than a dozen disciples. What a wonderful beginning!
"I don't want to discuss this right now, and I don't want to talk to you either. Leave me alone. I'm going to class, goodbye."
With that, Tang Ya turned and walked away.
Bei Bei was left standing there in a daze, his face twitching several times.
This wasn't the first time his girlfriend had acted strangely, and he wasn't actually stupid.
It definitely had something to do with Zhang Yang. That hateful bastard had even managed to influence Tang Ya!
Did he really think he could do whatever he wanted just because he was handsome? The more Bei Bei thought about it, the angrier he became, and he quietly came to hate him.
Zhang Yang, however, had no way of knowing any of this for the time being.
Nor was he in the mood to care what a loser thought.
Of course he was going to raise her favorability, and Tang Ya had been willing too. Who was there to blame?
For now, his focus was on Zhang Lexuan. She looked like a mature beauty, but was actually the shy type, making her comparatively difficult to win over.
[Zhang Lexuan: Inner Court Eldest Senior Sister, favorability: 50 (secretly in love and admiring) (check-in unavailable)]
It hadn't been long since the two first met.
She had just completed a mission then, killing several Evil Soul Masters.
They had met by chance and made an excellent first impression on each other, so she had invited Zhang Yang to Shrek Academy.
After that, for reasons unknown, they had never had another chance to meet, so he hadn't raised her favorability yet.
The system classified her current score of 50 as "secretly in love and admiring." The answer was written right there, leaving no room for doubt.
Now, while they were alone together, he had to do what needed doing, raise the favorability that needed raising, and obtain a new check-in reward!
"That young girl just now, the one straightening your collar, is she your girlfriend?" Zhang Lexuan was the first to start a conversation, a hint of teasing in her eyes.
How could he answer without triggering a bad ending?
Zhang Yang's thoughts raced as he considered how to phrase his reply.
Before he could work it all out, however, Zhang Lexuan smiled sweetly.
She gazed intently at him, her pretty face lightly made up, and parted her red lips to speak her mind.
"Don't worry. I'm a traditional woman."
She said only that one sentence, with no context or explanation.
Then she urged him to continue on their way and reach the Star Dou Great Forest as soon as possible.
Her behavior left Zhang Yang puzzled. He thought carefully about what she meant, and soon enlightenment dawned. Now he understood...