"Alright, alright, I got it."

Lin Feng smiled helplessly, nodding in response.

Night had quietly fallen.

Only the faint starlight pierced through the clouds, casting a dim and chilly glow.

Inside an office at the academy, the flickering yellow lamplight cast dancing shadows.

Flender sat behind his large desk, his expression grave as he looked at Lin Jian and Lin Shui standing before him.

"These are the first group of transfer students coming to our academy. You two must take extra care of them."

"Try your best to make them feel welcome here—do what you can to make them stay."

Flender's eyes were full of expectation, his tone earnest and sincere.

"Don't worry, Teacher. We understand," Lin Jian nodded slightly, his expression serious.

"Yes, Teacher," Lin Shui echoed, a friendly gleam in her eyes.

---

Meanwhile – Girls' Dormitory Area

Huo Wu, carrying a mix of nervousness and unease, gently pushed open the dormitory door.

Inside, Lin Shui had already been waiting for some time. Upon seeing Huo Wu enter, she immediately greeted her with a warm smile and stepped forward.

"Hi, Huo Wu! Welcome!"

"H-Hello!"

Huo Wu was caught off guard by the sudden enthusiasm. Her face flushed slightly as she responded in a soft voice.

"No need to be so polite. We're roommates from now on."

Sensing Huo Wu's reserved demeanor, Lin Shui led her to sit on the bed and said with a smile.

Thanks to Lin Shui's friendliness, Huo Wu gradually relaxed her tense nerves after a few exchanges.

The two began to chat more freely.

"Lin Shui, I saw you and Lin Jian fight today—you were amazing!"

"Especially you. That spatial soul skill of yours is seriously enviable!"

Huo Wu's eyes sparkled with admiration as she sincerely praised her.

"Well, I owe that to the Young Master."

"If it weren't for his guidance and help, I wouldn't have been able to cultivate my soul skills to this level."

Lin Shui responded with a gentle smile on her face.

"Young Master? Lin Feng? Why?"

Huo Wu asked curiously, puzzled.

Lin Shui only responded with a mysterious smile, offering no explanation.

"Some things, you'll find out in time."

"It's getting late. Let's sleep for now."

With that, she laid down and pulled up her blanket.

Soon, only the sound of her steady breathing filled the dorm.

Huo Wu lay on her own bed, staring at the dark ceiling, her mind swirling with thoughts of Lin Feng. Only after tossing and turning for a long while did she gradually drift off to sleep.

---

Elsewhere – In the Lin Clan Courtyard

Moonlight shimmered like flowing water, casting a silvery veil over the stone path and bathing the entire courtyard in a serene glow.

Xiao Wu rose quietly from her bed, careful not to make a sound, and tiptoed out of the room.

The courtyard was eerily silent, broken only by the occasional chirp of insects.

Suddenly, a loud snore shattered the stillness.

Xiao Wu looked toward the sound and saw a faint light coming from a window.

Curious, she crept over and peeked inside.

"Pfft—"

She couldn't help but giggle at what she saw.

Inside, Ma Hongjun was sprawled out on his bed, snoring away with his mouth open and a string of drool hanging from the corner of his lips. His sleeping posture was absolutely ridiculous.

Xiao Wu wrinkled her brows at the sight but then felt a pang of bitterness in her heart.

She thought of her true identity—a soul beast. Despite the joy of being with everyone here…

Her identity could be exposed at any moment by a Titled Douluo, bringing danger to all of them.

"Goodbye, Lin Feng… I can't drag you all into this anymore."

She silently whispered in her heart, unshed tears glistening in her eyes.

Tonight, she was going to leave.

Turning away, Xiao Wu moved swiftly toward the courtyard gate, her pace quickening.

But behind her, a shadow quietly emerged—it was Lin Feng.

He had been watching Xiao Wu in secret for some time, knowing she had been deeply anxious about Dugu Bo. He had suspected she might try to leave.

Still, seeing her actually about to walk away tonight filled him with urgency.

"Xiao Wu."

Lin Feng called out softly. In the stillness of night, his voice rang out clearly.

Xiao Wu froze. She turned around slowly.

"Lin Feng!"

At the sight of him, her eyes lit up with surprise.

"Where are you going?"

"Ah—I… I was going to the restroom."

Xiao Wu replied nervously, but then remembered her "escape plan" and faltered.

"The restroom? It's not in the bushes, you know. Are you a rabbit?"

Lin Feng raised an eyebrow, glancing toward the nearby bushes with a hint of amusement on his face.

"Don't tease me like that!"

Xiao Wu instinctively wanted to blurt out "I am," but caught herself just in time, shaking her head hard, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and anger.

"So what if you are a rabbit?"

Lin Feng stepped forward and gently patted her head, his touch tender.

"Y-You're the rabbit!"

Xiao Wu panicked. It felt as though Lin Feng could see right through her. She stumbled back a step, stammering.

"Is that so? I thought you might be a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form."

Lin Feng's gaze was deep, his tone teasing.

"How… how do you know?!"

Xiao Wu's face turned ghostly pale, her eyes widening in horror as she backed away.

"Oh? So that's a confession, isn't it?"

"D-Don't come any closer! I'll scream!"

"Xiao Wu, why are you so scared?"

Lin Feng continued to approach, his expression soft and free of malice.

"Don't come near me! I—I'm a hundred-thousand-year soul beast! I'm powerful! Don't underestimate me!"

Xiao Wu bit her lip hard, her body trembling.

"A five-year-old hundred-thousand-year soul beast? All I see is cuteness."

Lin Feng stopped, a trace of amusement in his eyes.

"I have the power of a two-hundred-thousand-year soul beast inside me—you better not try anything!"

Xiao Wu blurted out, half-angry, half-panicked.

Lin Feng chuckled inwardly. She's even using the power I gave her to 'threaten' me… But outwardly, he stayed calm.

"Wow, Xiao Wu, that powerful? I should definitely see for myself."

"Young Master, stop teasing her—you're scaring the poor girl to death."

Just as Xiao Wu stood frozen in fear, not knowing what to do, Liu Erlong's figure stepped out from the shadows.

Xiao Wu was stunned at the sight of her. Her mind went blank, completely unable to comprehend what was happening.

"Silly girl. You were my daughter for a day, and you'll always be my daughter. How could a mother ever hurt her child?"

"Soul beast or not, you'll always be my Xiao Wu in my heart."

Liu Erlong quickly stepped forward, pulling Xiao Wu into a tight embrace, her voice filled with affection and pain.

---

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