Speaking of which, Coca-Cola wasn't something that had originally existed in this world.
Back then, Qing Linyun had drawn the recipe from the system shop and tossed it to Ye Lingling, telling her to organize people to produce it.
At first, it had been a small operation, but everyone who tried it said it was good.
Word spread from ten people to a hundred, and now the cola was a hit across the length and breadth of Douluo Continent.
Seeing that there was profit to be made, Ye Lingling quickly set up large production lines and distributed the cola throughout the continent. That was how it swept all of Douluo Continent.
Recently, Ye Lingling had even been planning to sell it on other continents.
It was also a small, inconspicuous but highly profitable business under Qing Linyun's company.
Qing Linyun took the cola and pulled the tab.
Hiss.
A rich, fizzy aroma rushed up his nose.
He took a delighted sip.
That's the taste. As expected of Coca-Cola, it really does taste better than Pepsi.
Wu Changkong didn't drink. He walked aside, took out his soul communicator, and dialed a number.
After a few rings, someone picked up.
"Hello?"
A woman's voice came through.
"Junior sister, it's me," Wu Changkong said. "Someone... came to see me."
"Who?"
"Master's new disciple." Wu Changkong glanced at Qing Linyun, who was drinking cola on the sofa. "He said his name is Qing Linyun."
The other end of the line fell silent for two seconds.
Then Shen Yi's voice came through, with a trace of seriousness:
"Senior brother, listen to me."
"Whatever you do, don't underestimate this junior brother of yours."
"That guy... is a true devil incarnate."
Wu Changkong: "..."
"Master can't keep him under control, and even Her Majesty Holy Spirit Douluo gets headaches over him."
Shen Yi continued, "You can listen to what he says, but don't believe it all. Still, there's one thing: he isn't stupid, and he isn't a bad person. Just keep an eye on him."
"...Got it."
Wu Changkong hung up.
Holding the soul communicator, he stood there and glanced at Qing Linyun, who was happily clutching his cola and drinking on the sofa.
A devil incarnate?
No matter how he looked at him, he was just a kid of fifteen or sixteen.
...But the strength he'd shown just now, crushing Wu Changkong's sword Qi with his bare hand, really wasn't like that of an ordinary kid.
Wu Changkong sighed.
He was used to being cold, and Long Bing was the only person who had ever been close to him. After she was gone, he knew even less about how to get along with people.
Now a junior brother had suddenly appeared, and he really didn't know what to say.
He collected himself, walked over, and sat down on the sofa beside Qing Linyun.
The two sat in silence for a while.
Wu Changkong was the first to speak.
"...How have things been at Shrek lately?"
"Pretty good." Qing Linyun put down his cola. "The outer court's the same as ever. I trick a bunch of people every day, and I'm holding steady at first place on the This Fellow Deserves Death Ranking."
The corner of Wu Changkong's mouth twitched.
Was Shrek this bizarre now?
Was he really getting old?
"How is Master... in good health?"
"He's doing great." Qing Linyun smiled. "He just keeps talking about you every day."
Wu Changkong said nothing.
"Sister Ya Li is doing well too," Qing Linyun continued. "And Uncle Yun Ming is still the same as ever."
"Mm."
Although Wu Changkong said nothing, he keenly noticed that Qing Linyun seemed to have a very unusual relationship with the Sea God Pavilion Master and his wife, Her Majesty Holy Spirit Douluo.
What normal person called those two big shots sister and uncle? And weren't his generational rankings a bit of a mess?
Wu Changkong was a little numb.
The two chatted a little longer about everyday matters.
It was all Shrek trivia: what so-and-so had done, who had made another breakthrough.
Toward the end of their conversation, Qing Linyun suddenly changed the subject.
"Senior brother."
"Mm?"
"Master's a little stubborn and doesn't like to talk." Qing Linyun looked at him, his tone growing more serious. "But he really misses you."
Wu Changkong's body stiffened slightly.
"I didn't come here just because I wanted to," Qing Linyun continued. "Sister Ya Li gave me a task too. She told me to find a way to persuade you to go back to Shrek."
Wu Changkong fell silent.
He said nothing.
He only turned his head slowly and looked out the window.
The sports field lay outside.
Students were still out on the field in groups of two or three.
Tang Wulin and Xie Xie were crouched in some corner or other.
Wu Changkong watched for a long time.
Then he sighed.
"I still have my students here."
His voice was soft.
"I've only just started teaching them."
"To be honest... I can't leave."
After hearing that, Qing Linyun was inwardly delighted.
It was just what he wanted.
If he really went back to Shrek with Wu Changkong, what had he come to Eastsea City for?
Wouldn't it have been a wasted trip?
He kept his expression neutral, though, and nodded instead. "You're right, senior brother," he said earnestly.
"A teacher should be responsible for his students."
Wu Changkong glanced at him, surprised that the kid was being so reasonable today.
Then he heard Qing Linyun change the subject.
"So, uh... senior brother."
"Mm?"
"I was thinking, I don't have anywhere to go for the time being anyway." Qing Linyun rubbed his hands together, looking expectant.
"How about... I stay and be your teaching assistant?"
Wu Changkong frowned.
"No."
He refused outright.
"You're only fifteen."
Wu Changkong looked at him. "You're at a critical stage in your cultivation. Being a teaching assistant might be easy, but it would hold up your cultivation."
"Don't be so quick to refuse, senior brother."
Qing Linyun smiled and didn't waste any more words.
He stood up.
His Martial Soul activated.
The phantom of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger appeared behind him.
All six elements pulsed in unison around him.
Then his Soul Rings lit up.
Four black.
Three red.
Seven Soul Rings lit up one after another beneath his feet, their radiance illuminating almost the entire living room.
They nearly blinded Wu Changkong's titanium-alloy dog eyes.
Wu Changkong froze.
He stared at the seven Soul Rings, his eyes fixed on them.
Four black and three red.
Fifteen years old.
A Seven-Ring Soul Sage.
He opened his mouth, but couldn't speak for a long time.
After quite a while, he finally let out a long breath.
"...The waves behind drive the waves ahead in the Yangtze River."
Qing Linyun smiled and withdrew his Martial Soul.
He sat back down on the sofa, picked up his cola, and took a sip. Then he said with a sincere expression:
"Look, senior brother, I already have seven rings."
"When I was at Shrek, Master was strict, and I didn't neglect my cultivation. But to progress further now, I don't think cultivating behind closed doors is enough."
"Besides accumulating Soul Power, I think experience is important too."
"So I don't want to stay at Shrek all the time. I want to travel around and see the world outside."
"If I become a teaching assistant, teach some students, and gain a different perspective, maybe I can take another step forward."
His words were heartfelt and earnest.
He couldn't have sounded more sincere.
...Of course, it was pure nonsense.
What lack of experience? What teaching perspective?
He'd made it all up.
He knew perfectly well what his real goal was.
But Wu Changkong didn't know that.
He looked at his fifteen-year-old junior brother, a Seven-Ring Soul Sage with four black and three red Soul Rings.
Then he thought about what Qing Linyun had said... It seemed to make some sense.
Wu Changkong knew his own people well: Zhuo Shi had always been strict about his disciples' cultivation, so he didn't doubt that statement.
But how could he have imagined that his junior brother had actually brought back someone who could keep Master's temper in check?
Then he looked again at that pitiful expression.
Wu Changkong was silent for a long while.
Finally, he nodded.
"...All right."
"If you want to be a teaching assistant, you can stay."
Qing Linyun immediately broke into a brilliant smile.
"Thank you, senior brother!"
Wu Changkong looked at him, then at Long Bing's portrait on the wall.
It suddenly occurred to him.
The days ahead probably wouldn't be very quiet.