Su Wen didn't keep pressing Wang Dong'er's sore spot. To keep poking at her pain wasn't the act of a good person. Instead, he asked gently:
"Do you want to cultivate tonight?"
"Mhm!"
Wang Dong'er nodded dumbly like a goose.
She lifted the blanket and patted the space beside her, signaling Su Wen to sit.
But only when the two of them embraced did she realize something was wrong—she was in her true form, a girl's body!
Before, when she still carried the mindset of being a boy, that male disguise gave her enough of a sense of security. Even if they touched, she could trick herself into thinking Su Wen just saw her as a brother. But now…
There was no fooling herself.
"Su Wen, Su Wen…"
She whispered softly, trying to stop the Martial Soul Fusion for the night.
But she didn't get a reply.
"Mm~"
Feeling the fierce, burning heartbeat against her, Wang Dong'er's pale cheeks flushed. Yet she still reached out, wrapping her arms around his waist in return. It was the first time she cultivated with Su Wen as her true self—and the feeling was indescribably strange.
…
Morning.
Su Wen slowly woke.
In his arms lay a peerless beauty. She had kicked the blanket away, one tender, snow-white foot draped over his leg. Each toe was clear and delicate like grapes. She twitched in her sleep, as though dreaming, her toes curling. Her slender, pale arms looped tightly around his neck, her body pressing half on top of him, leaving him helpless.
"This sleeping posture…"
With daylight on his side, he finally took the chance to study her face closely.
Her skin was smooth as polished jade. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly as if still trapped in a nightmare. Her small upturned nose carried a hint of childishness. Lips soft as rose petals, glistening with life. An oval goose-egg face, imbued with a fragile beauty that stirred one's heart.
No wonder, in the original tale, she was someone who could captivate both men and women.
If she grew up… even Jiang Nannan might not compare.
"Huff…"
Suddenly, Wang Dong woke with a start.
She gasped for breath, hugging Su Wen tighter on instinct, burrowing directly into his chest.
"Had a nightmare?" Su Wen asked.
"Mhm." She nodded, still half-dazed.
But a moment later, as full awareness struck, she sprang back in shame and anger. "What are you doing!"
"You were the one who clung to me last night," Su Wen explained calmly.
"I…"
Wang Dong'er flushed, wrapping herself tightly in the blanket. After recalling carefully, she realized he was telling the truth. With a flustered humph, she rolled around a bit before finally climbing out of bed.
She quickly claimed the bathroom, and after a long ruckus, she re-emerged—not as Wang Dong'er, but once again in her male disguise, Wang Dong.
…
"Holy crap, boss—you're alive?!!"
The moment Su Wen walked into class, Xie Huanyue looked as if he had seen a ghost.
"Who the hell spread the rumor that I was dead!" Su Wen growled through gritted teeth.
Not far away, Dai Huabin shuddered violently, his whole body trembling. If Su Wen ever found out he was the one who had been spreading the rumor these past few days… he might really end up dead.
"What's wrong, Huabin?" Zhu Lu asked, seeing his face pale as paper.
"N-nothing, just a stomachache." He shook his head repeatedly, already considering whether to take a few days off.
Now that the Demon King had returned, it was best to lay low for a while.
Ding ling ling~
Mu Jin entered the classroom, her high heels tapping against the floor, her face heavy with gloom.
Her proudest student had vanished. He had followed the academy's strongest into Star Dou Forest for a soul ring—and yet somehow, something had gone wrong. How could that be, when the academy's strongest had been leading them?
And yet, reality was reality.
Su Wen was missing, even Du Weilun had only stammered excuses. Recently, word of Su Wen's supposed death had spread throughout the class like wildfire, leaving her distraught.
But then—
"Su Wen?!!"
Mu Jin froze, staring at the boy sitting right there in the classroom. "Weren't you dead?"
The entire class fell silent.
Every gaze turned toward Su Wen.
His mouth twitched.
The rest of the lesson passed with Mu Jin's tone full of joy, classmates buzzing with excitement. The only exception was Dai Huabin, sitting pale-faced, fists clenched, as Su Wen muttered under his breath about finding out who spread the rumor. Huabin felt the world go dark—he really might end up dying for real…
…
Star Dou Forest Core.
Ancient trees towered sky-high, enclosing the Lake of Life.
A girl in a silver-white dress sat there, plucking petals from a flower as if caught in a great dilemma.
"Not evolve…" she whispered at one petal.
When the last petal fell, she blinked, then picked another flower, repeating the process again and again.
Finally—
"Evolve! Fate has chosen evolution for me!"
Her silver eyes lit up.
The final petal had fallen on evolution.
"Master…" Di Tian couldn't stand watching anymore. "If you wish to go, why not just say so?"
Around her lay piles of bare flower stems.
"You have an objection?" The Silver Dragon King tilted her head, her silver pupils sweeping lightly across him.
"N-not at all!"
Di Tian shivered, dropping to one knee at once. His expression twisted in difficulty. "But your wounds are not yet healed. And Shrek Academy is no ordinary place—it gathers the strongest humans alive, and the Golden Ancient Tree itself. I fear for your safety…"
"There is no need for worry. I will return unscathed."
The Silver Dragon King waved a hand calmly.
"This is the guidance of fate."
Di Tian's lips twitched.
"Damn this so-called fate…"
"Enough. I want to see Shrek for myself. To uncover what mystery lies behind that boy's evolution."
Di Tian wanted to protest, but held his tongue.
Look, if she was only looking, that was fine. But what if she ended up throwing herself into danger? The entire future of the soul beasts rested upon her shoulders!
Yet he dared not speak further. He could only watch her silver figure drift away into the distance.
"Sigh… why is our Master so much like a child," Di Tian muttered to Bi Ji.
"That was evolution. Don't tell me you weren't tempted," Bi Ji teased with a smile.
"Aren't you curious just how far your bloodline could still evolve?"
"…Of course I am," Di Tian admitted with a sigh. "But the fate of the entire soul beast race rests on me and Master. I can't afford to be selfish. If Bear Lord could shoulder the burden of Star Dou Forest, perhaps even the whole race, I might… I might try it myself."
"Don't frown so much." Bi Ji comforted softly.
"There will be a way… There must be a way for humans and soul beasts to coexist."
"My worries aren't only about Master." Di Tian rubbed his temples. "The Auspicious Beast has also packed her bags. She sneaked off while Scarlet King was asleep, clearly preparing to run away."
Bi Ji: "…"
"You think she's chasing after evolution too?" Di Tian asked, troubled.
Bi Ji shook her head, sighing. "That silly girl has no interest in strength at all. The only thing that could motivate her… is Su Wen himself."
"Should we stop her?" Bi Ji asked after a pause.
Di Tian shook his head.
"She's grown up. Mixed Doubles might have worked before, but now it will only make her more rebellious. Let her go. Who knows—maybe she'll meet Master at Shrek Academy. The thought alone is… amusing."
…
Elsewhere, the Auspicious Beast tiptoed away with her pack. After making sure Scarlet King's three heads were snoring, she quietly slipped into the distance.