"No wonder the smell was so familiar! Turns out it's you, Xiao Yuhao, grilling fish again!"
A voice filled with excitement rang out from the woods. Tang Ya emerged, her eyes locked onto the golden, sizzling fish in Huo Yuhao's hand. Her nose twitched, and she nearly drooled at the sight.
Still, she managed to greet the others. "Hi! Little Junting, Little Ningtian, Little Wufeng." But her gaze quickly returned to the grilled fish, sparkling with undisguised greed.
"Xiao Yuhao, can you sell me one?" she asked, swallowing hard. She could tell this wasn't just any ordinary blue carp, and while she wasn't shameless enough to snatch it outright, offering to buy it was fair game.
Huo Yuhao chuckled. "Sister Xiaoya, you'll have to ask Wu Feng."
After all, he had only cooked the fish; Wu Feng had provided the ingredients, which made up most of the cost.
"Little witch..." Tang Ya immediately switched targets.
Wu Feng, ever straightforward, simply laughed. "It's just grilled fish. I made plenty. Eat as much as you want."
Just as Tang Ya eagerly reached out to claim her prize—
"Xiaoya!"
A voice, tinged with exasperation and the slightest hint of anger, rang through the clearing.
Tang Ya froze mid-motion, her expression flashing with panic. Huo Yuhao, facing her, caught the momentary guilt in her eyes before she turned toward the newcomer.
A girl in a purple school uniform stepped into view. Her figure was slender and well-proportioned, her snow-white skin contrasted beautifully with the wavy golden hair cascading down her back. Her eyes, clear like a mountain spring, carried a touch of annoyance. Yet, there was something uniquely captivating about her aura.
"Oh! Nannan, I totally forgot about you!" Tang Ya exclaimed, hastily retracting her hand from the fish.
An awkward smile appeared on her face as she hurried to Jiang Nannan's side, linking arms with her affectionately. "Nannan, good Nannan, I was wrong, please forgive me." She lifted the grilled fish temptingly toward her friend. "Here, take a bite, and we'll call it even?"
Jiang Nannan rolled her eyes. "Do you think I'm as easily bribed as you?" Yet, despite her words, she instinctively took a deep sniff. "It does smell really good..."
But then she hesitated, a look of reluctance flashing across her face. "Wait, isn't this really expensive?"
Chen Junting, who had been observing, finally spoke up with a warm smile. "Senior sister, don't worry about that. Since you're Sister Xiaoya's friend, you're welcome to join us. It's just some ten-year-old blue-striped fish—not worth much."
Ning Tian, sitting beside him, chimed in with a friendly nod. "That's right. Please, enjoy."
Both were members of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and knew well that making connections with talented Soul Masters was part of their mission. Jiang Nannan, being a fourth or fifth-year student, was likely quite gifted. Moreover, her careful attitude toward money suggested she came from a commoner background—exactly the type of talent they sought to recruit.
Tang Ya, noticing Nannan's hesitation, grinned mischievously. "Come on, Nannan. They're from the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. They're loaded. We don't have to pay!"
Jiang Nannan sighed but eventually smiled. "Then, thank you, junior brothers and sisters."
She tucked a strand of golden hair behind her ear, gracefully accepted a freshly grilled fish from Huo Yuhao, and took a careful bite. The instant the crispy skin and juicy flesh hit her tongue, her eyes widened in delight.
As she ate, Tang Ya took the opportunity to introduce her properly. "This is Jiang Nannan. She comes from a commoner family in the Douling Empire, but her talent was exceptional. She received a recommendation from the city lord himself and was admitted into Shrek Academy. We're dormmates."
"Senior Sister Jiang Nannan is quite impressive." Chen Junting's tone carried genuine admiration.
Tang Ya puffed out her chest proudly. "Of course! Nannan was one of the three core disciples of her class."
Ning Tian's eyes gleamed with interest. Clearly, he had already set his sights on her for potential recruitment.
Just then—
"Hmm?"
Chen Junting's gaze flickered toward a nearby bush. His voice, filled with Soul Power, carried a sharp edge. "Since you're already here, why not come out and join us? Hiding like that might lead to misunderstandings."
A sudden gust of wind stirred the treetops. He flicked his bamboo stick forward, sending it shooting toward the bushes!
Everyone turned their heads, but no one seemed particularly alarmed. After all, this was Shrek Academy—outsiders couldn't just sneak in.
Just as the bamboo stick was about to hit its target, a large hand shot out, catching it effortlessly.
A tall, muscular young man stepped into view. He had thick eyebrows, tiger-like eyes, and a strong, chiseled face. His black school uniform marked him as a sixth-year student.
The moment he appeared, the air around them grew noticeably tense.
"Heh... Nan Nan, fancy meeting you here."
The young man flashed a smile, but no matter how one looked at it, the flattery beneath his expression was unmistakable.
Ning Tian nudged Chen Junting. "Brother Junting, look at Senior Sister Jiang Nannan..."
Jiang Nannan's warm expression had completely disappeared the moment the young man arrived. Her face turned frosty, her eyes brimming with unmistakable disdain.
Before she could say a word, Tang Ya pointed at the newcomer and snapped, "Xu Sanshi! Nannan doesn't want to see you! Why do you cling to her like a leech?!"
Xu Sanshi frowned. "Tang Ya, this has nothing to do with you. Move aside."
"You—!"
"Xiaoya." Jiang Nannan placed a hand on Tang Ya's shoulder, stopping her. She stepped forward, facing Xu Sanshi directly.
The moment he met her eyes, the impatience in Xu Sanshi's face melted into a gentle expression. "Nannan, I—"
"Xu Sanshi," Jiang Nannan cut him off coldly. "I've told you before: there's no chance between us. Please stop bothering me."
She turned to the others. "Sorry for disturbing you all. Xiaoya, I'm leaving."
Without another glance at Xu Sanshi, she walked away, her pace quickening. Moments later, she activated her Martial Soul and vanished into the distance.
A heavy silence followed.
Then, a small, pitiful voice broke the stillness. "Nannan..."
It was the sound of a heart shattering.
Curiosity sparked among the group.
"Sister Tang Ya, what's going on?" Wu Feng asked, clutching her grilled fish.
Everyone leaned in, eager for gossip.
Tang Ya smirked. "Ah, it's a long story. In short, Xu Sanshi has been hopelessly chasing after Nannan for years. He's not actually a playboy—just ridiculously loyal. Honestly, if I didn't have Bei Bei, I might've accepted him."
"Nonsense!" Xu Sanshi's sad face darkened in an instant. He scoffed. "Tang Ya, the only person for me is Nannan!"
"Xu Sanshi! What did you just say?!"
As the two started bickering, Chen Junting, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng exchanged amused glances.
Wu Feng muttered, "So this is what you call devotion? Looks more like a lost cause to me."
The others nodded in silent agreement.
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(End of chapter)
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Stones me y'all ~