Theory Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang (I)
"It's not much use to me. It would only go to waste if I kept it," Lin Chen said calmly. "You've been stuck at the level twenty-nine bottleneck for a while, haven't you, Senior? With this Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, you can not only break through to level thirty without trouble, but also strengthen your foundation."
"But..." Ye Lingling bit her lip, still feeling that it was far too valuable. She felt uneasy accepting such a generous gift for no reason.
"No buts." Lin Chen's tone was calm, but his certainty left no room for refusal. "We're all part of the same group. The stronger your support abilities are, Senior, the better it is for everyone. Consider it my contribution to the class. Once you're stronger, there'll be plenty of times when I'll need your help."
Ye Lingling fell silent.
She looked at Lin Chen's calm face, a jumble of emotions stirring in her heart.
Others thought her cold and aloof, difficult to approach. In truth, she simply wasn't good with words. Ever since she was little, because of her Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul, people around her had either fawned over her or tried to use her. No one had ever been like Lin Chen, giving her something so precious simply because he thought she needed it, and speaking of it so lightly, as though it were a trivial matter.
"...Thank you," Ye Lingling said softly, her voice gentler than usual. "I'll remember this favor. If you ever need me for anything, just say the word."
"It was no trouble." Lin Chen smiled. "Go ahead and absorb it, Senior. I'll stand guard for you. The Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid's medicinal properties are mild, but it's best to be cautious when absorbing it for the first time."
Ye Lingling nodded and stopped refusing. She sat down cross-legged, cradled the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid in her palm, and used her Nine Heart Begonia Soul Power to slowly envelop the spirit herb.
The lustrous white orchid gradually melted into a pure medicinal liquid, which flowed through the meridians in her palm and surged into her body. Gentle yet immense Soul Power burst through the level twenty-nine bottleneck in an instant. Like rivers bursting their banks, it raced through her meridians, climbing steadily toward level thirty.
A pale pink Soul Power light blazed, and the phantom of the Nine Heart Begonia grew increasingly solid. Every petal became distinct, and even its stamens were clearly visible.
Standing beside her, Lin Chen secretly released a thread of Chaos Soul Power to help set her disordered meridians in order. The Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid's medicinal power was too abundant, and support-type Soul Masters had relatively weak meridians that were easily damaged by its force. With the Power of Chaos to guide it, she could absorb it more thoroughly.
Half an hour later, the Soul Power fluctuations around Ye Lingling slowly subsided.
Two Soul Rings rose from beneath her feet, several times brighter than before. Her Soul Power fluctuations settled firmly at level thirty, and her foundation was exceptionally solid.
Ye Lingling slowly opened her eyes. A glimmer flashed through them, and her whole bearing had grown somewhat gentler.
She rose and bowed deeply to Lin Chen. "Thank you for your help, Junior. Lingling will never forget this kindness for as long as she lives."
"You're too polite, Senior." Lin Chen waved a hand. "What matters is that you broke through."
Ye Lingling raised her head and looked at him earnestly.
Morning light fell on Lin Chen. The young man, two years her junior, stood tall, his features handsome and his expression calm and composed, as though he had done something utterly insignificant.
But she knew full well that a single Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid was valuable enough to drive any support-type Soul Master mad. He had given it to her so readily, without even asking for anything in return.
For some reason, a faint blush rose to Ye Lingling's cheeks. She quickly looked away, her heart beating a little faster for reasons she could not explain.
She had previously thought only that Lin Chen was highly gifted and strong, an opponent worthy of admiration. But now, looking at his calm profile, she felt a different kind of ripple in her heart. It was as though a pebble had been tossed into the cool, still lake of her heart, sending rings spreading across its surface.
After chatting a little more about cultivation, Lin Chen took his leave.
Ye Lingling stood where she was, watching his back gradually disappear at the end of the woodland path. She did not move for a long time.
She raised a hand and lightly touched her cheek with her fingertips. A trace of warmth still lingered there.
"Lin Chen..." she whispered his name, the faintest smile curling her lips without her realizing it.
Meanwhile, Lin Chen had just returned to the courtyard when he ran into Xiao Wu, who came bounding out.
"Brother Lin Chen, someone from the academic affairs office came by with a notice. Next week, the academy is organizing a training trip to the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, so students who have reached a bottleneck can obtain their Third Soul Rings. We're on the list of people going along for the training too."
Lin Chen's eyes flickered slightly.
Training in the Star Dou Great Forest?
He remembered that in the original story, Tang San and the people from Shrek seemed to go to the Star Dou Great Forest around this time as well.
"Interesting." The corners of Lin Chen's lips curved almost imperceptibly. "It looks like Star Dou is about to get lively."
Suotuo City's mornings were always wrapped in a thin mist. Few pedestrians walked the dirt roads of the slums, and Shrek Academy's peeling wooden gate looked even more dilapidated in the morning haze.
A gray figure stood before the gate. Yu Xiaogang wore a gray cloth robe washed nearly white, and his face looked more haggard than it had a few years ago. Only his eyes remained as deep and sharp as ever. He looked up at the crooked words "Shrek Academy" above the gate, a complicated smile touching his lips.
How many years has it been?
Back then, the Golden Iron Triangle had roamed the continent, full of vigor and ambition. After all the twists and turns, he had finally returned to Flender's turf.
"Who is it? Blocking the gate so early in the morning."
A lazy voice came from the courtyard. A black-robed youth yawned as he pulled the gate open. It was Dai Mubai.
He looked up and saw Yu Xiaogang, then paused. "You're... Grandmaster Yu?" Tang San had mentioned this teacher when he enrolled, so Dai Mubai remembered him vaguely.
"Is Flender here?" Yu Xiaogang's voice was low.
"The dean's inside." Dai Mubai stepped aside to let him in, muttering to himself. Isn't this the theory grandmaster from Nuoding Academy? What's he doing at Shrek?
In the courtyard, Flender was inspecting the students' morning practice with his hands behind his back. Clad in a long black robe, his hooked nose and shrewd eyes made him look every inch a crooked merchant. Hearing footsteps, he turned and saw Yu Xiaogang. He froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Xiao Gang! What brings you here?"
The two hurried toward each other and embraced tightly.
The Golden Iron Triangle had once ventured across the world together. Though they had later gone their separate ways, their friendship had never faded. Flender led him toward the office, chattering away. "I thought you'd spend the rest of your life holed up in that little place called Nuoding, working on your theories. A rare guest, a truly rare guest!"
Inside the modest office, Flender casually poured a cup of coarse tea. Yu Xiaogang sat down, rubbed his fingertips against the cup, and got straight to the point. "I came this time because of my disciple, Tang San."
"Tang San?" Flender raised an eyebrow, the hand holding his teacup pausing. "You mean that level twenty-nine kid with the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul? I was just about to ask you, what exactly is that boy's background?"
He paused, then lowered his voice. "When Zhao Wuji got beaten up last time, that was the presence of the Clear Sky Hammer, wasn't it? I didn't mistake it, did I?"