In the quiet of Moon Pavilion.
Behind a silken, intricately-carved screen, on a plush bed inlaid with various gemstones, lay a woman with a faint blush on her cheeks.
That woman was none other than the mistress of Moon Pavilion whom Lin Feng and the others had met earlier today—Tang Yuehua.
Her lips were slightly parted, letting out soft and uneven breathing sounds.
She wore a snowy white nightgown that made her exposed skin appear even more fair and flawless.
Tang Yuehua jolted awake from her sleep.
Her cheeks felt scorching hot, as if burned by fire.
Panic welled up inside her as she muttered under her breath, "Why would I dream something like that? So embarrassing..."
Unbeknownst to her, Lin Feng's silhouette had also appeared in her dream that very same night.
Meanwhile, in the Shi brothers' dormitory.
Shi Mò, the younger brother, was completely immersed in a vivid and fantastical dream.
He found himself in a grand and boundless Kingdom of Delicacies.
The walls around him were made of rich chocolate, and the ground was a sparkling layer of jelly.
The long table before him was covered in countless gourmet dishes:
Golden, crispy roast chicken with glistening skin...
Delicate cream cakes topped with fresh fruits...
Shi Mò gorged himself, his cheeks smeared with food, eyes gleaming.
Drool glistened at the corner of his mouth as he mumbled, "So delicious… so, so delicious…"
The first light of dawn painted the sky a soft gray.
Lin Feng awoke in his dorm feeling sticky and promptly went for a shower.
After freshening up, he felt as though he'd lost a whole pound of fatigue.
Putting on a clean uniform, he stepped out toward the classroom feeling completely refreshed.
The early morning campus was lively and bustling, filled with cheerful chatter from passing students.
But Lin Feng's mind wasn't on the noise around him.
The moment he stepped into the classroom, his gaze was instantly drawn—like a magnet—to Dugu Yan.
She was quietly flipping through a book at her desk.
But the instant their eyes met, a visible blush spread across her cheeks.
A sly smile crept onto Lin Feng's lips—subtle, but mischievous.
Ye Lingling, who had been focused on her coursework nearby, noticed the strange atmosphere and looked up.
She glanced back and forth between the two, puzzled.
What's going on between them?
Something feels... different today. Like they're hiding something.
Still, her reserved nature kept her from asking aloud.
Lin Feng lazily slouched into his seat, leaning back against the chair.
The teacher began lecturing at the podium with enthusiasm—
—but to Lin Feng, the voice was just a faint murmur in the background.
His thoughts had already wandered far.
In his mind replayed the way Tang Yuehua had looked at him the day before—with an oddly intimate warmth.
If Tang Yuehua feels that way about me...
What about the other members of the protagonist group?
Would they also be more easily drawn to me?
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
But speculating wasn't enough.
He'd need to actually show up in front of them and interact in real life to know for sure.
Unfortunately, most of the Shrek Seven Devils were still too young—some not even on the radar yet.
Finding them wouldn't be easy.
He sighed, feeling a bit helpless.
For now, the only ones he could feasibly reach were Grandmaster and Flender.
He silently marked Grandmaster and Shrek Academy as his next targets to visit.
Unless he ran into a Titled Douluo, he was confident he could manage.
With his Soul Core, he had soul power equivalent to Rank 89.
Combine that with his Heavenly Flame's offensive power and the external soul bone 'Fire Wings' for flight...
Even if he couldn't win, escape should be possible.
And if he did run into a Titled Douluo?
Well, Xiao Yan's popularity was sky-high right now.
If he disguised himself as Xiao Yan, who would dare attack him?
"I'll request leave after class and head out early. Maybe I'll uncover something new."
Lin Feng made up his mind.
As soon as the bell rang, the previously quiet classroom exploded into lively chatter.
Before Lin Feng could even stand up, Dugu Yan rushed over like a gust of wind.
"Lin Feng! Let's go eat!"
She seemed like someone who'd finally made it through a long day and couldn't wait to unwind.
But Lin Feng gently declined, "Not this time, Yan'er."
"I'm going to ask for leave later—got something I need to do."
"Leave? Where are you going? I'm coming too!"
Dugu Yan slapped her hands onto his desk, her voice trembling slightly with urgency.
Her eyes locked onto his, clearly unwilling to take no for an answer.
Lin Feng looked at her earnest face and thought it over.
Having her along might actually be a good idea.
She could provide support along the way.
Her Martial Soul might even come in handy, and if things got dicey, they could always use their Martial Soul Fusion Technique.
If possible, he'd rather not expose his connection to Xiao Yan.
Besides, Dugu Yan had been complaining for ages about how boring school was.
Why not bring her along?
With a smile, Lin Feng nodded and said, "Alright, you can come. But you have to behave—and don't stir up trouble."