"Wu Lin, attending Shrek Academy was once your goal. Now that you're returning to school, you shouldn't be sad."
Beside him, Ouyang Zixin gently took his hand and looked in his direction, offering tender comfort.
When he had spoken about entering Shrek Academy before, the smile on his face had been so bright. She didn't want him to feel sad because of their parting.
Although...
Even as she comforted him, her own heart was far from at ease.
"It's just a pity I couldn't go to Shrek Academy with him. But Wu Lin will be on break soon, so it won't be long..."
She could only console herself with this thought.
Once the break came, they'd be able to meet again quickly.
"I know, but..."
Tang Wulin nodded. He understood all this reasoning, but the moment of parting was something he least wanted to experience.
In this life, what he hated most would always be separation.
"Teacher Wu, everyone, could you step outside first? I... want to talk to Zi Xin alone for a bit."
Tang Wulin's gaze shifted to the others nearby, a slightly unnatural smile on his face.
At this moment of farewell, he still hoped for some private space. Or rather...
With so many of his companions present, if he wanted to do something, he'd feel terribly embarrassed.
"Alright."
"You two take your time."
Of course, no one objected.
Tang Luochuan even stepped forward and patted his shoulder before the group returned to the villa, leaving the two alone outside.
"Wu Lin, what did you want to—"
Ouyang Zixin steadied her heart, offering a gentle smile as curiosity lit her face. But before she could finish, he stepped forward and embraced her tightly.
"Huh? Wu Lin..."
The action left her frozen in place. So this was what Wu Lin meant by "talk"!
"Just a hug."
Tang Wulin didn't elaborate, murmuring softly.
"A hug is a hug..."
"How is this talking?"
Ouyang Zixin leaned into his embrace, her voice soft.
"Mmm..."
"Wanted to hold you once more before leaving."
Tang Wulin held the girl gently, nodding, utterly unwilling to let go. If possible, he'd have liked to stay like this forever.
"You..."
"It's not like you'll never get to hug me again."
Ouyang Zixin smiled tenderly, reaching up to ruffle his hair, every bit the image of an elder sister.
And she was, after all, his Zi Xin Jie, wasn't she?
"Of course I'll get to hug you again..."
"But I'll have to wait a while, won't I?"
Though Tang Wulin wore a faint smile now, his voice still carried deep reluctance.
"Remember to miss me."
"Though I know you'll miss me terribly."
Ouyang Zixin's smile was radiant.
"Of course."
Tang Wulin laughed in agreement.
"Brother, Teacher Wu..."
"Let's go."
Not long after, Tang Wulin gathered his thoughts and returned to the villa with Ouyang Zixin. His gaze settled on Tang Luochuan and the others as he spoke.
"Finished your goodbyes?"
Wu Zhangkong asked.
"Yes."
Tang Wulin took a deep breath and nodded.
"Good. Then let's depart."
After bidding farewell to Tang Wulin's parents, the group boarded the car one by one, with Tang Wulin being the last to get in.
"Zi Xin."
"See you during the break."
He took a deep breath, waved goodbye, and then quickly sat down in the car, as if afraid she might see the disappointment on his face.
Soon, the car grew smaller and smaller in the distance.
"See you during the break..."
"But every day before then, I'll be thinking of you."
Gazing in the direction Tang Wulin had left, Ouyang Zixin smiled faintly, pressing her lips together as she murmured softly.
She would...
Wait for Wu Lin to return.
"..."
Meanwhile, inside the car on the way back, Tang Wulin kept his eyes fixed out the window, his mind clearly adrift. It was the first time he had ever felt that time could pass both so quickly and so slowly.
"Don't be so quiet."
"This isn't like our cheerful Wu Lin. Besides, once the break starts, you'll have plenty of time to train with her."
Seeing his reaction, Tang Luochuan couldn't help but comfort him first. After all, Wu Lin hadn't been like this before.
Look, love really does change people!
"And it won't be long."
"She'll definitely be studying with you at the academy—isn't that what you've always wanted?"
When the other showed no reaction, he continued.
"Exactly!"
"Pull yourself together, you idiot!"
Beside them, Xie Xie suddenly slapped his shoulder, chiming in with encouragement. Having a girlfriend should make you train even harder, shouldn't it?
For Wu Lin to act like this—what kind of attitude was that!
"Brother, Xie Xie..."
"I know."
Hearing his brother's words, Tang Wulin froze for a moment before nodding, quickly regaining some confidence, his eyes filled with determination.
He believed that as long as he worked harder at Shrek Academy, before he entered his second year...
He would definitely be able to bring Sister Zi Xin into Shrek Academy!
The three-year promise—no, it wouldn't even take three years. One year at most!
"You..."
"As long as you understand."
Seeing Tang Wulin's suddenly spirited expression, Tang Luochuan was taken aback before shaking his head with a smile.
Though he had managed to restore Wu Lin's confidence, it seemed the boy hadn't quite grasped what he meant.
In Wu Lin's mind, he must have thought that even if it wasn't possible now, as long as he worked hard, he could bring Zi Xin in.
But in reality...
With Tang Wulin being a thirteen-year-old sixth-rank Forging Master, and his Saint Forging Master brother, Shrek Academy would never refuse him!
If Wu Lin personally made the request, Yun Ming would never turn him down. The reason they couldn't bring her along this time wasn't because he lacked the qualifications, but because...
The break was about to start.
Going now would be worse than waiting until next semester!
Besides, absence makes the heart grow fon—ahem, in any case, letting these two reunite later wouldn't hurt.
"Wu Lin still underestimates his own talent and hasn't realized any of this..."
"Then I'll just give them both this surprise when they return to the academy after the break."
A mysterious smile played on Tang Luochuan's face as he thought to himself.
"What are you thinking about now?"
Beside him, Gu Yue noticed his unusual expression and asked curiously.
"Nothing."
"I thought of something happy."
Tang Luochuan shook his head slightly, gently clasping hands with the other person as he spoke softly.
"..."
With Wu Zhangkong driving at full speed, they managed to reach Heaven Dou City that very night—thanks largely to the direct route between Eastsea City and their destination.
The next day, after Wu Zhangkong returned the car to the Heaven Dou branch of the Spirit Transfer Pagoda, the group didn't linger. Instead, they headed straight to the Heaven Dou Soul Guidance Train Station.
Without personal transportation, the most practical way to reach Shrek City was undoubtedly by taking the Soul Guidance Train.
"Now that..."
"Our final exams have concluded perfectly, and everything went quite smoothly and interestingly," Wu Siduo remarked with a touch of sentimentality as they boarded the train.
Though the exams themselves were nothing extraordinary, the past days had been filled with remarkable experiences.
Whether it was visiting the Star Observation Platform, learning about Luo Chuan's relationships with two girls, touring Eastsea Academy, or witnessing a budding romance... none of it had been ordinary. Especially the moment she realized Luo Chuan was dating not one but two girls—her mind had raced at the revelation.
If one day she could be with Luo Chuan like Gu Yue and Na'er, she'd be overjoyed.
"It really did end perfectly."
The others wholeheartedly agreed with Wu Siduo's words, particularly Xu Xiaoyan and Ye Xinglan. For them, just knowing Luo Chuan had accepted not only Gu Yue...
That alone would keep them happy for a long time.
Among them, only Tang Luochuan smiled without comment. While everything seemed successful on the surface, the real issue was...
They were on a Soul Guidance Train. And the title of "Train Wrecker" no longer belonged solely to Wu Lin.
"Hmm?"
"Brother Luo Chuan, Sister Gu Yue."
Not long after the train departed, an excited voice rang out. It was none other than Mo Lan, the train conductor currently making rounds with security personnel.
"Oh? Sister Mo Lan, you're here too..."
Tang Luochuan looked surprised at the familiar face, not expecting such a coincidence.
"Mhm."
"Things have been a bit unsettled lately, and after that incident with the Evil Soul Master's bomb last time, I decided to patrol more frequently with security," Mo Lan explained cheerfully.
Beside her, the security captain—the same one from before—offered a friendly smile.
"I see."
"Then we appreciate your hard work, Sister Mo Lan," Tang Luochuan replied with a laugh.
"By the way, who are these with you...?"
"Your classmates?" Mo Lan's sharp eyes lingered on the others, her intuition telling her—
These weren't ordinary people!
"That's right."
"They're my companions—truly exceptional ones," Tang Luochuan answered with a warm smile.
"Sister Mo Lan," the others greeted in unison.
Having heard about her from Tang Luochuan, they held deep respect for the conductor who'd once exchanged herself for hostages.
"Hello there. I knew you all were special," Mo Lan beamed.
Mo Lan smiled faintly and replied softly.
"Alright."
Tang Luochuan maintained a faint smile on his face, but as he looked at the person before him, countless thoughts arose in his mind.
As the daughter of Security Officer Mo Wu, appearing publicly as the train conductor was—without exaggeration—far too dangerous!
Her father, Security Officer Mo Wu, had countless enemies who wanted him dead, making his daughter the perfect weak point.
In the original story, she had died on duty, holding her post on the train until the very end.
"..."
As these thoughts crossed his mind, he silently glanced at Mo Lan, the security officer's daughter before him, the train assassin Wu Lin beside him, and himself—who seemed to be a newly minted train assassin...
A full lineup of underworld stars!
Not to exaggerate, but with so many stacked buffs of all kinds, he genuinely felt it was all too easy to trigger something unfortunate.
"But..."
"It probably wouldn't be this coincidental."
Tang Luochuan wore a calm smile. People couldn't—at least shouldn't—be this unlucky...
He must just be scaring himself!
"Kid, don't move!"
"If you don't want to become another victim of my blade, raise your hands right now!"
Just as he was lost in thought, a man sitting not far from him suddenly sprang up, brandishing a rather crude dagger that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, pointing it straight at him.
Around the man, three gleaming yellow Soul Rings instantly materialized—three hundred-year Soul Rings.
He was actually a Soul Venerable!
"?"
At that moment, the smile on Tang Luochuan's face froze, and a question mark slowly formed in his mind.
Wait, was he...
being taken hostage?
And by a Soul Venerable with three yellow Soul Rings, no less?
(End of Chapter)