Chapter 5: Ma Xiaotao — Tonight, You're Sleeping in My Room
At the same time, Jiang Nannan and Ye Chen had just finished their noodles.
Jiang Nannan gently rubbed her slightly rounded belly, feeling inexplicably satisfied. It was the first time she had eaten until she was truly full.
Soul masters had large appetites. The academy's nutrition meals were good, but the portions were tiny—barely as filling as one bowl of noodles. Most of the time, she wasn't fully sated, so she supplemented with coarse grains and plain buns.
But coarse grains were bland and rough to eat. Even after filling her stomach, she felt uncomfortable, so she usually ate very little.
"Senior Sister, you should eat more from now on. I know a bit of medicine—I can tell your energy and blood are a bit weak, likely due to malnutrition. It's not serious, but it can affect your growth." Ye Chen looked at Jiang Nannan with meaningful eyes.
Soul masters weren't gods.
No matter how powerful, they could still starve to death.
Jiang Nannan was gifted and already well-developed, but if she ate properly, she could grow even better.
"Mm, I will…" Jiang Nannan's cheeks flushed lightly, but she nodded softly.
Of course, she understood what Ye Chen was implying. Yet rather than feeling offended, she found him gentle—different from all the other boys she'd met.
Those other boys only coveted her body.
But Ye Chen truly cared for her.
The two returned to the academy, walking side by side. The handsome boy and beautiful girl looked very much like a pair.
A hundred meters away, Xu Sanshi was hiding behind a tree, his face dark and shadowed, eyes glinting with murderous rage.
He might seem carefree and goofy on the surface, but that was only because he had Jiang Nannan—his light, his goddess.
She might misunderstand him now, but he believed he could win her heart someday.
Jiang Nannan was everything to him. His reverse scale. No one could touch what belonged to him!
"Kid, just you wait! Don't let me catch you alone…" Xu Sanshi swore in his heart, already planning to use the Xuanming Sect's influence to "deal" with Ye Chen.
As long as Ye Chen left Shrek City…
…
"By the way, Junior Brother, do you have any questions about cultivation? I can help you," Jiang Nannan suddenly asked.
After all, she'd already taken half of his money as a deposit. Just chatting like this made her feel guilty. At the very least, she should offer something in return.
Though cultivation ultimately depended on personal effort, she was a fifth-year student with more experience than a newcomer.
"Not yet. I'm actually a transfer student and just arrived today. Senior Sister, could you show me around the academy instead? I'd like to learn more about Shrek." Ye Chen scratched his head with an easy grin.
"Alright then."
Jiang Nannan felt a little disappointed. She had wanted to impress Ye Chen with her knowledge and "senior wisdom," but there would be other opportunities.
Showing him around campus wasn't bad either. Walking together felt relaxing—carefree in a way she hadn't felt in years.
She guided Ye Chen across various academy buildings, then took him on a stroll through the Soul Tool Department.
Shrek Academy was enormous.
Even after several hours, by the time night fell, she'd only covered roughly one-fifth of the grounds.
"Ye Chen, it's getting late. Let's head back to the dorms and rest," Jiang Nannan suggested first. She still needed to meditate later that evening.
Ten thousand years ago, Yu Xiaogang had created a meditation method to replace sleep. After countless refinements, it was now perfected—its restorative effect even surpassed real rest.
Still, the process was dull and mentally taxing. Only a few could persist.
Even Jiang Nannan had only once gone seven days without sleep—though her mind stayed clear, her emotions had grown unstable and depressive.
That said, the method drastically boosted cultivation speed.
As a commoner without much in the way of resources, her progress had always depended on hard work and relentless meditation.
"You go ahead, Senior Sister. I'll look around a bit more." Ye Chen said.
"Alright."
Jiang Nannan nodded, then bid him farewell and left.
After parting ways, Ye Chen turned toward the inner court.
Ma Xiaotao was still waiting for him. He'd definitely be staying there tonight.
The outer court dorms were practically slums. Unless he had a girl roommate, Ye Chen had zero intention of staying there.
Seriously, Huo Yuhao was so lucky…
Wang Dong had literally thrown herself into his arms.
Still, Ye Chen had his system bonuses—999 Luck and 999 Charm. He figured he wasn't any worse off than Huo Yuhao.
Maybe he could "charm" Wang Dong instead…
…
Ye Chen reached the edge of Sea God Lake and crossed a stone bridge toward Sea God Island.
Ordinary workers still lived in the inner court—cleaners and maintenance crews—so there were pathways for access.
That said, most inner court soul masters preferred walking directly across the lake's surface. It was faster—and flashier.
Ye Chen could have done that too, but honestly, who was he supposed to show off for at night?
Besides, it would waste soul power. He preferred to stroll along the bridge, enjoying the scenery.
The lake at night was breathtakingly tranquil. The mist rolled softly above the surface, glowing under the dim lamps lining the bridge, scattering light across the rippling water.
In the distance, the island loomed faintly behind a veil of hanging fog. Occasionally, a night bird skimmed across the lake, sending faint ripples trailing behind.
Half a moon hung low, its pale glow merging with the glittering starlight above.
The cool night breeze carried the scent of water and willows, a hint of moss mixing in the air. Each breath felt crisp and alive.
Before long, Ye Chen stepped onto Sea God Island.
This was forbidden ground for outer court students—no trespassing for unauthorized personnel.
But Ye Chen had Yan Shaozhe's identification token, so he wasn't worried about patrol guards catching him.
"Xiao Chen, where were you? Why are you back so late?"
From the darkness ahead, a fiery red figure appeared swiftly—it was Ma Xiaotao.
She had been cultivating, harnessing the evil fire that Ye Chen had recently suppressed. Time slipped away during her meditation, and by the time she finished, it was already night.
She thought Ye Chen would be lost and panicking by now—yet he had wandered back casually this late. Who knew where he'd been?
"The academy's so big, I kinda got lost." Ye Chen chuckled awkwardly—an obvious excuse.
"Alright, alright, as long as you're back. I've had someone prepare a place for you. Come, I'll show you."
Ma Xiaotao rolled her eyes playfully. She didn't press about where he'd been. Without hesitation, she took Ye Chen's hand and led him deeper into the island.
Ye Chen held her hand gently. Her palm was warm and soft, smooth as silk. His fingers subconsciously tightened, lightly rubbing against her skin.
Ma Xiaotao felt his movements; her face reddened slightly, though the darkness hid it from view.
Still, she said nothing—pretending not to notice.
If Ye Chen liked touching her hand, then so be it.
After all, he was her junior brother…
And a good senior sister should naturally take care of her junior.
(END CHAPTER)
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