Gently wiping away the tears from Jiang Nannan's eyes, Su Yu gazed at her. Her beautiful face, paired with those misty, tear-filled eyes, looked even more captivating. Su Yu quietly looked at Jiang Nan'nan, and she quietly looked back at him. Facing this familiar face, Jiang Nannan felt a surge of sorrow welling up in her heart. Though her tears had been wiped away moments ago, her eyes glistened again, and another crystalline tear rolled down her cheek.
"Sigh, why are you crying again?"
Su Yu lightly dabbed at her tears with a tissue, his tone tinged with helplessness.
"Sister Nannan, you didn't call me out here just to cry in front of me, did you?" he joked, trying to lighten the mood.
However, Jiang Nan'nan didn't reply, and the tears continued to fall from her eyes. Su Yu sighed softly.
Seeing her , he couldn't help but wonder if she had been wronged.
"Sister Nannan, did someone bully you? Tell me, and I'll deal with them for you."
"Was it Xu Sanshi? If it was, I'll deal with him. I don't mind teaching him a lesson for your sake."
Su Yu assumed Xu Sanshi might still pester Jiang Nannan, as described in the original story, making her feel fed up. If that were the case, he wouldn't hesitate to eliminate Xu Sanshi. After all, he had only kept Xu Sanshi around to mess around with, but that didn't mean he wouldn't kill him if needed. Xu Sanshi might have some background, but compared to Su Yu, it was insignificant. Su Yu had never considered Xu Sanshi a real threat.
"No, Xiao Yu, don't act recklessly," Jiang Nan'nan quickly said, alarmed.
"Xu Sanshi has significant backing. You shouldn't bring trouble upon yourself."
His reaction genuinely startled her. Su Yu's offhand comment about killing someone was terrifying. He was even fiercer than the Shrek crowd; no wonder even Xu Sanshi and the others were wary of him.
"So, that fool did bully you?"
Su Yu's eyes narrowed, and a glimmer of cold light flashed across them.
Was this fool so eager to seek death? Fine.
After the competition, he'd find a reasonable opportunity to make Xu Sanshi disappear. In a world this vast, it wasn't unusual for a person to vanish. If questioned, he'd blame it on those evil soul masters.
"No, it's not like that! You misunderstood. He didn't bully me; I'm just upset," Jiang Nannan explained.
After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Nannan softly said, "They're saying you're a bad person, inherently evil, and planning to harm you during the competition. I… I just couldn't take it…"
As she explained the situation, Su Yu felt both touched and heartbroken. Jiang Nannan had stood up for him despite the pressure from the entire Shrek Academy team. Her unwavering support moved him deeply. Jiang Nannan had always been a kind and fair person. Her willingness to believe in him despite Shrek's brainwashing showed how highly she valued him.
Su Yu knew well how skilled Shrek was at indoctrination. That Jiang Nannan still trusted him so completely was truly rare. But while her heart was good, her actions were unwise. Su Yu had intentionally avoided fully revealing himself to Jiang Nannan to spare her from any trouble. Yet, here she was, openly defending him. For Su Yu, there was no harm; Shrek couldn't touch him. But Jiang Nannan might face significant repercussions. He could already imagine the pressure she must have endured—criticism, questioning, isolation, and even subtle persecution. By siding with him, she had essentially alienated herself from Shrek Academy. If Jiang Nannan had a powerful background, Shrek might have hesitated to act against her. However, she was a commoner, and her martial soul wasn't particularly rare or powerful. In Shrek's eyes, her status was far below that of Xu Sanshi and others like him.
"Sister Nannan, you…"
Su Yu sighed, his gaze softening.
"Sister Nannan, I'm truly touched that you believe in me so much. But you shouldn't have done this. They might isolate you because of it."
Jiang Nan'nan shook her head and said, "I'm not afraid. I just can't stand them slandering you."
"You're a good person. You saved my mother and helped our family so much. Even our neighbors sing your praises. I believe you'd never cause trouble without reason. Compared to Xu Sanshi and Dai Huabin, I trust you more. At least you've never bullied anyone intentionally."
Jiang Nannan had eyes and a sense of right and wrong. She knew Xu Sanshi and Dai Huabin's reputations in the academy. Compared to them, Su Yu was much gentler. Even if Su Yu had conflicts with them, she believed it was out of self-defense.
"Sister Nannan, honestly, your trust humbles me."
Su Yu felt deeply moved. Jiang Nannan's support showed her gratitude and confirmed he hadn't helped the wrong person.
"Sister Nannan, this time you've offended Shrek for my sake. Why not go all the way and leave Shrek Academy? Staying there won't benefit you anymore, and you'll likely face further targeting from Dai Huabin and others."
"I've joined a sect with immense power. You can join too, and I promise you'll receive the best training," Su Yu said, extending an invitation.
"These are things you absolutely can't get at Shrek Academy."
Su Yu saw it as unwise for Jiang Nannan to remain at Shrek Academy any longer. He was determined to pull her out of what he viewed as a quagmire. The sect he mentioned was none other than the Ice God Palace. With Su Yu's status there, a single word from him would ensure Jiang Nannan received the finest resources and training. Su Yu was never stingy with his people.
However, to Su Yu's surprise, Jiang Nannan shook her head and replied, "I don't want to leave. Studying at Shrek Academy has always been my dream. I want to stay and compete in the tournament to defend Shrek's honor."
Her words nearly made Su Yu explode with frustration. Unable to hold back, he flicked her on the forehead.
"Ouch! What are you doing?"
Jiang Nannan cried out, her large, beautiful eyes wide with a mix of confusion and indignation.
"You... You're driving me crazy!"
Su Yu exclaimed, struggling to calm himself. Even with his practiced self-control, her words about "defending Shrek's honor" were too much to bear. Seeing that Su Yu genuinely seemed angry, Jiang Nannan hesitated, then tentatively tugged on his sleeve.
"I'm sorry, Xiao Yu. I know you mean well, but I don't want to leave Shrek Academy," she explained weakly.
Su Yu rubbed his temples, forcing himself to regain composure. He had initially thought Jiang Nannan's loyalty to him meant she wasn't fully indoctrinated by Shrek Academy. But now it was clear she had been influenced—just not in matters concerning him.
"Is Shrek Academy really that great?"
Su Yu asked with a hint of exasperation.
"The academy is amazing," Jiang Nan'nan replied.
"Although some individuals have issues, that doesn't overshadow its excellence. Just being able to study there is a blessing."
Su Yu covered his face in despair.
Where did this level of devotion come from?
"You say Shrek is so great, but when you faced problems, did Shrek help you?" he countered.
Jiang Nan'nan fell silent, then muttered softly, "The academy is so big... It can't handle everything."
"And what about people like Xu Sanshi, Dai Huabin, and Wang Yan? Isn't Shrek Academy full of scum like them? Is that worth your loyalty?"
"I believe they're just exceptions. Most of the teachers are good," Jiang Nannan argued.
"Jiang Nan'nan, you speak so highly of Shrek Academy, but have you ever considered this: how many commoners are there in Shrek Academy?"
Su Yu's tone was calm but piercing.
"Is it truly the holy land for all students of the continent, or just a playground for nobles?"
He continued, "Don't forget, applying to Shrek Academy requires a letter of recommendation from a main city. Do you think ordinary commoners can get that?"
"But... But I got one," Jiang Nan'nan protested.
"That's because you have innate full soul power. The city lord wouldn't dare withhold it from you for the sake of their record. But what about others? What about those with above-average talent but not extraordinary? How many commoners have you seen in Shrek Academy besides yourself?"
Su Yu's words hit like a sharp blade, cutting straight into Jiang Nannan's heart. She knew her background set her apart. Ironically, in the academy's history, early generations of Shrek's Seven Monsters had included commoners like Oscar and Ma Hongjun. But now, the situation has shifted drastically. By the second generation, the academy admitted few commoners, with Jiang Nannan being one of the rare exceptions.
"You see, Shrek Academy isn't the place you think it is. It's not as good as you imagine. What have they given you? How have they treated you as their companion? Trust me, Jiang Nannan—I won't mislead you," Su Yu implored, hoping to guide her back to clarity. Shrek Academy had a track record of doubting even its people.
In the original story, after Huo Yuhao brought glory to the academy by winning a major tournament, Yan Shaozhe still suspected him of being a spy. Dai Huabin had even orchestrated an attempt on Huo Yuhao's life, and despite pledges to punish him, Dai Huabin was eventually admitted to the inner court. Such contradictions reflected the academy's flawed philosophy. While Shrek Academy might have its good aspects, its teaching methods often led to twisted outcomes, even in otherwise decent individuals.
For Su Yu, Jiang Nannan had already shown remarkable resilience by maintaining her sense of self. Now, his priority was to pull her out completely and bring her back to safety.