The Next Morning
Before dawn broke, Tang Yin groggily climbed to the dorm roof, half-awake and hair like a bird's nest. He sat cross-legged, breathing in the cold air that drifted through the east.
As he finished his Purple Demon Eye practice, eyes glowing faintly, he felt a stare.
As he opened his eyes, finishing his cultivation, he noticed a familiar figure standing across the courtyard—Zhu Zhuqing, her gaze fixed on him from the girls' dormitory below.
"Good morning, Zhuqing," Tang Yin greeted her with a casual smile.
Zhuqing gave a silent nod, then leapt onto his rooftop with feline grace, as quiet and swift as a shadow.
"What were you doing?" she asked, curiosity flickering in her usually calm eyes.
Tang Yin blinked in surprise. Zhuqing had actually started the conversation? Still, he replied honestly, "Me? I was cultivating my purple demon eye technique—it strengthens my spiritual power and enhances my mental perception."
Zhuqing tilted her head. "Spiritual power? Is that like soul power? I've never heard of cultivating mental strength."
Looking at her curious face, Tang Yin chuckled and—without thinking—gently patted her head. "Spiritual or mental power helps in regulating emotions, sharpening focus, and sensing your surroundings more clearly. A Soul Master who hones it can even absorb higher-aged soul rings more safely."
Zhuqing's cheeks flushed slightly. She slapped his hand away—half-embarrassed, half-annoyed—but didn't move away.
Tang Yin scratched his head awkwardly but continued, "With further training, it can help you control your soul skills better. You think clearer, react faster—sometimes you even get sudden inspiration."
Zhuqing gave him a skeptical look. "If it's that amazing, how come I've never heard of it before?"
Tang Yin grinned. "Simple. Because I'm the only one with the training method."
That stunned her. She stared at him for a moment, then asked seriously, "Can you teach me? I've seen how fast you are—even faster than most Agility-type Soul Masters—and you hit harder than an Attack-type. But if it's a secret, I won't press."
He looked at her thoughtfully, which only made her heart race. After a pause, he nodded. "I can teach you. But only if you become my disciple. These techniques will be the core foundation when I establish my own sect in the future."
Zhuqing hadn't expected him to be so ambitious. Yet, without a flicker of doubt, she dipped into a deep, elegant bow. Her graceful, voluptuous figure moved "I accept," she said, her voice calm but resolute.
Not one to waste time, Tang Yin pressed his index finger to her forehead, instantly transferring the complete Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record—excluding the hidden weapon section.
Zhuqing gasped as a flood of information poured into her mind. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Master! Is all of this real? If I train with this technique, I can cultivate as fast as an innate full soul master?!"
Tang Yin blinked. Man, does she get into role-play this quickly? he thought, momentarily distracted as she looked up at him with wide, sparkling eyes
Tang Yin puffed his chest with pride. "Don't call me master—it makes me sound old," he muttered. "But yes, I created it myself. And as you can see, my cultivation speed speaks for itself."
Zhuqing scanned the memory again, her eyes widening with each passing second. "Tang Yin… these techniques are insane!" she breathed. "If any of the major clans found out, they'd start a war over this!"
Tang Yin tapped her forehead playfully. "Then don't sell me out. Problem solved."
She blushed furiously and leapt away. "I didn't mean that! Stop twisting my words!"
Tang Yin chuckled to himself as she vanished toward the cafeteria. Looks like this kitten's starting to like me... hmm, let's take things slow.
But someone else had seen everything.
From below, a pair of furious golden eyes burned with jealousy. Dai Mubai, fists clenched, watched as his pride was crushed before his eyes. Without a word, he stormed out of Shrek Academy and headed toward Soto City.
Meanwhile… in Soto City
Still fuming, Dai Mubai pushed open the doors of an upscale entertainment house—but even the refined smiles and silken dresses inside couldn't calm his stormy mood. Instead, a darker urge overtook him.
He wandered into the city's red-light district, a far cry from his usual haunts. The air reeked of cheap perfume and desperation. Women—many past their prime—called out to him, their stained robes barely covering their sagging bodies.
Normally, he would've sneered and turned away. But tonight... something snapped. An old woman, wrinkled like a dried plum and smelling faintly of garlic and sorrow, caught his attention.
The more he stared, the more his twisted mind responded. Against all reason, he followed her into a decrepit brothel lit by flickering lamps and questionable moans. She was more than willing to... satisfy his needs, and his frustrations.
When he finally left—shirt half-buttoned and dignity crumpled—he still didn't feel better. If anything, he felt worse.
But that didn't stop him.
Dai Mubai began to roam the slums like a man possessed, diving into every dirty brothel he could find. The women there were loud, lewd, and likely riddled with disease—but for him, each stop was a desperate attempt to reclaim something he'd lost.
Something... that might never return.
Back at Shrek
In the cafeteria, Ning Rongrong leaned in with a mischievous grin, elbowing Zhuqing lightly. "Hmm, Zhuqing, I didn't think you had it in you," she teased. "When I woke up, there you were—bowing to Tang Yin like you weren't already showing off those perky curves. As if he needed help noticing." Her tone turned mock-resentful.
She pouted dramatically, giving Zhuqing another playful nudge. "Were you afraid you'd lose your chance if I got serious? Is that it? I wonder what Meng Yiran would say if she found out you were busy seducing him while the rest of us were asleep."
Zhuqing's face turned crimson, but she said nothing—eyes glued to her tray like it held all the secrets of the universe.
Just then, Tang Yin walked in—and paused.
He caught the scene with a smirk, eyes landing squarely on Ning Rongrong.
Feeling the heat of his gaze, Ning Rongrong yelped and immediately buried her face in her arms, squeaking like a guilty child. Zhuqing wasn't much better—frozen in place, eyes firmly avoiding his.