"You mean… you want to join my faction?" Lin Yun asked with genuine interest, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "Are you sure?"
With Zhang Lexuan present, Lin Yun and Xiao Xiao hadn't lingered together for long. He decided to settle her matter first, so he could take Xiao Xiao to see a different world. Honestly, Lin Yun was also curious why Zhang Lexuan had come to him.
And her opening words immediately shocked him.
The Shrek Academy's Inner Academy senior, breaking ties with Shrek?This was going to be fun…
"I have no other choice," Zhang Lexuan said softly, lowering her head as her fingernails dug into her palms. "For over a decade, I lived inside the web of schemes woven by Shrek. This numb, puppet-like existence—I no longer want it."
"Now… I only want power. Greater power. Power enough to destroy Shrek and quell my fury."
Lin Yun stroked his chin, his expression utterly 'serious.'
"Schemes?" Lin Yun leaned back theatrically.
"Yes, schemes," Zhang Lexuan said, raising her head, her face bitter as she pursed her lips. "I once treated Shrek as my home, believing that after my family's demise, Shrek was my only refuge."
"But I never expected…"
"Never expected that your family's destruction was orchestrated entirely by Shrek, just to turn a prodigious soul master like you into their tool?" Lin Yun asked.
Zhang Lexuan's body tensed abruptly. Her spiritual power surged uncontrollably, but she quickly restrained it.
Even now, hearing her fate spoken aloud by someone else stirred the anger and resentment deep within her.
"Hehe…" Zhang Lexuan let out a light laugh, stray strands of hair partially covering her face and eyes. "It doesn't matter anymore. I, Zhang Lexuan, am no longer bound. Seeing you feels like rebirth."
"I… have never felt so clear and unburdened."
Ha… Ha Lexuan?
"As long as you help me get revenge, I'll join your faction. As long as you help me avenge my family, I'll do anything," Zhang Lexuan said earnestly.
Well… the words lacked the grandeur of a top contender in the pinnacle competitions, but that didn't matter. What mattered was that Zhang Lexuan genuinely hated Shrek, pinning all the blame for the destruction of her family on them. She also fully believed in the conspiracies detailed in Greedy Ambition.
Otherwise, why would she come to Xiao Xiao, trying to locate Lin Yun and seek his help?
What made it harder for Lin Yun to grasp was that whether these conspiracies were true or not, he himself didn't know. He had merely used the Evil Soul Master secrets and Shrek's chronicles to stir things up for amusement.
And now, without me even intervening—just a few books—and Shrek is almost collapsing?!
Lin Yun hadn't paid attention to Shrek for a while. After releasing the books, he hadn't checked their effects. Based on the previous books, he already knew how absurdly gullible Douluo's people were and could predict the results.
The populace, untouched by public opinion manipulation, were so naive that even Lin Yun found it a little surreal.
According to Zhang Lexuan, Shrek was now near collapse. Most students had chosen to quit, and now teachers outnumbered students. She also provided Lin Yun with all the intel on Shrek Academy's strongest members.
Having once been part of the Sea God Pavilion, she naturally knew the Academy's powerful figures and its organizational structure almost perfectly. This was why Shrek didn't want to let her leave—not just for her talent and strength, but also because she knew too much that she shouldn't. The only problem was, they couldn't restrain a soul master already at eight rings.
Xuanzi and Yan Shaozhe were exceptions—they had been grounded by Moon; otherwise, no one could have restrained them either.
Zhang Lexuan's act was like a "blood oath," revealing everything she knew about Shrek to Lin Yun.
"Looks like you really intend to go all out against Shrek Academy. Good," Lin Yun smiled. "In that case, I'll accept you. Just remember not to regret it. Once you join my faction, leaving is only possible through death."
"I won't regret it," Zhang Lexuan said firmly.
Now, she had nothing left besides her hatred.
Shrek Academy was her life-and-death enemy. Her family, the Zhangs, had perished, leaving only her. Though her veins carried the royal blood of the Sun-Moon Empire, she had no real allegiance to it. The Zhangs had relocated to the Heavenly Soul Empire hundreds of years ago and no longer considered themselves part of the Sun-Moon people.
In short, Zhang Lexuan was now entirely alone, unburdened, in a "whatever, nothing left to care about" state.
Lin Yun's decision to accept her was partly because of this.
Hah—pulling a proud Moon Fairy down to the mortal realm… it's a bit guilt-inducing, but with all her vulnerabilities against Shrek, I have to make her suffer a bit first, then give hope.
After all—
First was Xixi, now Zhang Lexuan. Manipulating Shrek's people to attack Shrek had become addictive!
Xixi was easier; she hadn't consumed much Shrek resources. The soul bones used were procured by Lin Yun from Shrek, so objectively, she wasn't truly an investment of Shrek. But Zhang Lexuan was different. She had fully grown using Shrek's resources. When she ran rampant against Shrek, the expressions of the Sea God Pavilion elders would be priceless.
Lin Yun only aimed to continue strengthening inherently evil Shrek—not because he was interested in Zhang Lexuan physically.
Yes!
Lin Yun, the proper Lord of Soul Beasts, only cared about his career, not love!
Yet, Lin Yun's gaze involuntarily flicked to Zhang Lexuan's long, jade-white legs, faintly visible beneath her gauzy skirt. No stockings, yet perfection didn't require them.
Ahem… love brain and lust can be separate, right?
As a Soul Douluo, Zhang Lexuan's senses were sharp. She noticed his gaze on her legs. Then she did something extremely uncharacteristic:
She tugged her skirt slightly, making her legs even clearer!
End of Chapter)
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