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Ling Luochen stood by the window, lost in thought.
She knew that Yuwentuo had always harbored a desire to leave Shrek Academy, even going so far as to use his last bargaining chip just for a temporary opportunity to step outside its walls.
But she didn't understand what he was planning to do, and this uncertainty left her feeling conflicted.
"Leaving Shrek temporarily won't change anything. They won't truly let you go, and even if they did, someone would still be watching you," Ling Luochen murmured. "If you truly want to leave permanently, you should use your bargaining chip to secure enough cultivation resources. Perhaps one day, when your strength grows, you'll have a real chance to break free."
Though Ling Luochen was a genius, she was still young and lacked the worldly wisdom of someone like Mu En. She couldn't see the future in Yuwentuo's eyes and, like Zhou Yi, assumed he had already given up on himself. Why else would he risk his last bargaining chip just for a fleeting chance to leave campus?
If that were the case, she'd rather Yuwentuo stayed at Shrek Academy, where he could live comfortably without worry or danger.
"Luo Chen, I haven't given up on myself, and I never will," Yuwentuo said, placing his hands firmly on her shoulders. His gaze was resolute as he looked into her eyes.
Ling Luochen studied his expression. Indeed, this wasn't the look of someone who had surrendered—it was unwavering and decisive. "Fine. If that's true, then I'll test you. Your plan won't come to fruition until the end of the semester anyway. If you can secure a top-three finish in the new student assessment, I'll personally approach the principal and take you out of the academy myself."
"No problem. It's a deal!" Yuwentuo smiled confidently and nodded. The new student assessment was no challenge for him.
Top three? Even securing first place wouldn't be difficult.
Although he appeared to have only one soul ring, in reality, he possessed two—one for each of his spirit weapons. Moreover, after six years of forging his body with demonic flames, his physical prowess far surpassed that of even a three-ring Soul Elder and rivaled some four-ring fighters.
As long as his teammates didn't hold him back too much, victory was practically guaranteed.
However, a sudden realization sent a chill down his spine.
Oh no!
He had surely infuriated Xiao Xiao again today. Among the students in their freshman class, there weren't many who could be considered strong contributors.
The main ones were Wang Dong, Huo Yuhao, and Xiao Xiao—the very trio who had won the championship in the original storyline of the new student assessment.
Wang Dong was the strongest frontline fighter, boasting a top-tier offensive spirit weapon paired with an exceptionally powerful soul ring. Huo Yuhao excelled in support abilities; though he only had one soul ring, it granted him four soul skills. Even other spirit-type auxiliary masters equipped with four rings would struggle to match the quality of his single soul ring, which originated from a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. As for Xiao Xiao, she was versatile, capable of both supporting Wang Dong in direct combat and assisting Huo Yuhao with auxiliary tasks.
With dual spirit weapons, each equipped with soul rings, her fighting style was adaptable and dynamic.
Yuwentuo wasn't particularly interested in Wang Dong or Huo Yuhao since they were bound to team up together. That left Xiao Xiao as his potential teammate. He absolutely couldn't let them recruit her away, or else he'd be left isolated without support.
As long as Xiao Xiao joined him, Yuwentuo was confident about securing victory in the new student competition. The third member of the team would essentially be optional.
Realizing this, he immediately bid farewell to Ling Luochen and hurried back to the teaching building.
By coincidence, it was just the end of class, and Xiao Xiao emerged from the classroom with a sullen expression, her lips pouting.
Yuwentuo waved at her. "Xiao Xiao, class is over! I came especially to pick you up."
Seeing Yuwentuo, Xiao Xiao placed her hands on her hips. "Pick me up? Yuwentuo, we're in the same grade, the same class, and taking the exact same lessons. Don't you think it's strange for you to claim you're picking me up? You even skipped Teacher Zhou's class—you've set a new record for the academy!"
Yuwentuo clasped his hands together in apology. "Xiao Xiao, I promise this is the last time. I had urgent matters to attend to, which forced me to leave. Look, Teacher Zhou didn't punish me, did she?"
Xiao Xiao paused, puzzled. "That's right… why didn't she punish you? Has Teacher Zhou changed her ways?"
Her anger stemmed not from Yuwentuo skipping class but from her concern that he might face severe consequences, including expulsion.
Yet, throughout the entire class period, Zhou Yi hadn't mentioned Yuwentuo once.
"Of course not! I informed her beforehand. I didn't skip class—I formally requested leave," Yuwentuo lied effortlessly, knowing full well how gullible Xiao Xiao was based on her innocent, doll-like face.
Sure enough, the dense Xiao Xiao fell for it instantly. "Oh, I see. But you should've told me earlier. I was worried sick during the entire lesson!"
"I'm sorry, Xiao Xiao. I'll make sure to inform you next time. Come on, let me treat you to something delicious as compensation."
"Really? I heard the snack street outside Shrek's Outer Court is famous. I want to eat my fill tonight!" Xiao Xiao's eyes sparkled. Though she wasn't from a wealthy noble family and didn't receive much pocket money, she lived frugally and relished opportunities like this.
After spending several days with Yuwentuo, she knew he seemed quite well-off.
"No problem. Let's go!"
To ensure Xiao Xiao agreed to team up with him, Yuwentuo wasn't about to neglect her.
They strolled leisurely through the bustling snack street, where Xiao Xiao's mouth watered at the sight of all the delicious food. Everything looked tempting, confirming that beneath her cute exterior lay a hidden glutton.
Suddenly, she pointed at someone in surprise. "Huh? Isn't that our class president? What's he doing running a stall?"
Following her gaze, Yuwentuo spotted Huo Yuhao.
"Class president?" Yuwentuo asked, confused.
Xiao Xiao nodded. "Yeah, during today's class, Teacher Zhou appointed him as our temporary class president for the freshman class. She said his willpower is the strongest in the class and encouraged us to learn from him. I never expected him to know how to grill fish."
At Huo Yuhao's fish-grilling stall, custom-made metal grills, iron racks, various seasonings, cleaned and gutted greenfish, and even perilla leaves were neatly arranged.
Huo Yuhao skillfully shredded the perilla leaves, mixed them with other seasonings, stuffed the mixture into the belly of the fish, and skewered it with bamboo sticks. His movements were smooth and precise, clearly those of an experienced grill master. The timing and heat control were impeccable.
"Yuwentuo, I want to try this! President's grilled fish!" Xiao Xiao was entranced by the aroma wafting from the stall. Since they were classmates, she figured it would be nice to show her support.
Yuwentuo recalled that in his previous life, one of Huo Yuhao's nicknames had been "Grill Master Huo."
Having come to this world, missing out on such a renowned dish would indeed be a shame. Besides, this was likely Huo Yuhao's first time setting up a stall, meaning the events described in the original story were about to unfold soon.