Senior Sister, What Would You Choose? (Part 1)

Ling Bai looked in surprise at the woman who had suddenly appeared. For a moment, he failed to recognize her, and a fragmented scene flashed before his eyes.

In a platinum crystal hall, the woman stood before him as well, gazing at him. Six golden wings drifted behind her, and a faint smile touched her red lips.

"Senior Sister, why are you here too?"

Ling Bai steadied the book in his hands and temporarily cast aside the image that had suddenly surfaced in his mind.

"Rather than why I'm here, I'm more curious why you're standing foolishly at the door." Han Ruoruo's elegant, radiant face resembled a lotus rising from water, while the fitted waist of her red academy uniform accentuated her fluidly soft curves.

"I came to read for a while, but it turns out my clearance isn't high enough."

Ling Bai spoke helplessly. Who would have thought Shrek had installed a soul-guided access gate on the second floor of the library? Freshmen like him did not even qualify to enter.

"Do you want to go in?"

Han Ruoruo tilted her head. Ling Bai noticed her slightly swaying silver earrings, as well as the mischievous smile he had never seen before.

"Since we're already here."

Ling Bai casually delivered the classic line.

Han Ruoruo was instantly convinced. "That does seem right. Since we're already here, what a pity it would be not to take a look. Come on, Senior Sister will take you in!"

Han Ruoruo scanned her academy badge against the soul-guided access gate, and that pleasant voice immediately sounded.

"Student Han Ruoruo, you possess red-level reading clearance for the Inner Academy Library. Welcome to the second floor's restricted book section for borrowing and research. A friendly reminder: every page is a precious asset of the entire continent. Please cherish and protect all books within this area."

Han Ruoruo pushed open the heavy Pear Wood doors, and an ancient, timeworn air washed over them. The second floor's all-wood furnishings cast a faint dark-brown wooden hue across their faces.

"That voice..."

Ling Bai seemed to realize something. "Was that you, Senior Sister?"

"Correct, but there's no prize." Han Ruoruo made a small joke. "There used to be teachers specifically assigned to manage the restricted book section on the second floor. But after the Soul Guidance Department developed the access system, the library became an unattended area.

"Most academy students only care about practical combat. Compared to the Mimetic Cultivation Zone and the Soul Arena, the library is the place everyone least wants to visit. When the academy needed someone to record the voice prompt, I was about the only person they could find."

Han Ruoruo said, "I've always felt that books record the experiences of those who came before us, as well as their blessings for those who come after. Whether ordinary people or soul masters, we should never stop learning until the coffin is closed. Yet whenever I mention this place, I can see contempt on their faces. I really dislike it. It's been a long time since I last saw anyone else in the library, apart from you, Little Junior Brother."

Han Ruoruo's eyes gleamed. While showing Ling Bai around the Inner Academy earlier, she had intentionally or unintentionally hoped that he would visit the library more often. Ling Bai had not disappointed her.

"Reading and learning bring joy, clear the mind, and benefit one's actions." Ling Bai moved past Han Ruoruo and headed toward the rows of wooden bookshelves. "The books I've read may not be as vast in number as yours, Senior Sister, but I'll keep reading."

Han Ruoruo froze for a moment, then her crystalline eyes curved into a delightfully happy arc. "If everyone were like you, Little Junior Brother, I believe the academy's disciples would develop far more comprehensively."

"Senior Sister, you can't force someone to read."

Ling Bai browsed the titles as he replied casually.

"That's true. Even Lexuan couldn't take it. She tried to persuade me before, saying that soul masters had basically finished learning everything they needed to know at Shrek Outer Academy. As Inner Academy students, we should focus more on improving our Soul Power and devote ourselves to practical combat."

Han Ruoruo walked along the opposite side of the shelves from Ling Bai. They were separated by a row of bookshelves, and their mottled shadows showed through the gaps between the books.

"Eldest Senior Sister is being somewhat arbitrary. There are many things in books worth a soul master's careful study. Six years at the Outer Academy are nowhere near enough for us to understand the entire world of soul masters," Ling Bai said frankly.

There were plenty of people in his previous life who still had not truly figured out mathematics after twelve years. There was no reason six short years at the Outer Academy could teach students everything a soul master ought to know.

Han Ruoruo covered her mouth and smiled. "You can only say that to me. Don't go talking about it outside, or it would be troublesome if Lexuan found out."

"Alright, I'll listen to you, Senior Sister."

Ling Bai pulled a pitch-black book from the shelf. It was as thick as five combined editions of the Xinhua Dictionary. He found a seat by a window on the second floor and sat down.

Unlike Ling Bai, who only took a single book, Han Ruoruo held a stack of books piled so high that it exceeded her head. She sat opposite Ling Bai and set the "book tower" beside her with a dull thud.

After that muffled sound, the library fell into a long silence. They were both intelligent people and understood the art of leaving space for one another.

Sunlight streamed through the window and fell across their hair, making it shine as brilliantly as gold and bringing precious silk to mind.

No one knew how much time had passed before Ling Bai slightly straightened his aching back and turned his gaze toward Han Ruoruo. She was still engrossed in her book, her jade-like hand propping up her snowy-white chin.

From Ling Bai's angle, he could see the woman's slender neck and collarbones. Her soft white-and-pink curves resembled a vividly painted peony, while several stray hairs resting upon them were like stamens. Bluish veins extended downward from the flower, taking root deeper beneath her clothes.

A library, morning, sunlight, a senior sister...

For no reason at all, he thought that if this had been a university in his previous life, it would probably have been the sort of place where a couple's feelings first blossomed.

Ling Bai smiled and continued turning the pages.

A few minutes later, Han Ruoruo raised a hand to brush away a strand of hair hanging at the tip of her nose, and her gaze lifted with it. The young man across from her had a fair, clean face that was unreasonably handsome. Fragmented sunlight fell into his golden eyes, warm and tranquil.

After a while, seeing that Ling Bai was still on the same page, Han Ruoruo could not help asking softly, "Little Junior Brother, is there something you don't understand? Do you want me to take a look?"

"Hm?"

Ling Bai raised his head, his golden eyes meeting Han Ruoruo's concerned gaze. After thinking for a moment, he nodded and closed the book. Only then did Han Ruoruo see the six large characters on its black cover.

"Chronicles of the Mainland Evil Soul Masters."

Han Ruoruo's willow brows furrowed slightly. Chronicles of the Mainland Evil Soul Masters recorded the lives of many evil soul masters over the past ten thousand years, including the outrages that had provoked heaven and enraged mankind. Shrek Academy had collected it so students could understand the evil and terror of evil soul masters, cultivating in them a sense of justice that would make them enemies of evil soul masters for life.

"Little Junior Brother, are you... having some difficulty with it?" Han Ruoruo asked hesitantly.

Chronicles of the Mainland Evil Soul Masters was essentially a collection of biographies, not some incomprehensible tome. Ling Bai should not have been unable to understand it.

"Senior Sister, we are enemies of all evil soul masters, aren't we?"

"Of course!"

Han Ruoruo's tone was resolute. She had spent many years in the Inner Academy and had encountered evil soul masters while carrying out inspection missions. Having witnessed their cruelty and viciousness, she would never feel pity for any evil soul master.

"Then, Senior Sister..."

Ling Bai patted the black book and asked:

"If you were the one who awakened an Evil Spirit, what would you choose?"