31: Chapter 30 Companionship

If Lin Yan were one of "their own people" who grew up in Shrek since childhood, or even just an Inner Court Disciple, based on his talent, Principal Yan Shaozhe could have made the decision and agreed on the spot.

However, the reality was that Lin Yan had only officially enrolled for two short days, and his time joining Shrek was simply too short. He had not truly "given his heart" to it yet!

Because of this, Principal Yan Shaozhe felt quite troubled.

Although Douluo people generally valued practical combat over theory, and Shrek's true core Legacy, top-tier secret techniques, and self-created Spirit Abilities were all stored in the academy treasury rather than the Library.

Even so, the two Libraries of the Inner and Outer Courts housed countless rare ancient texts accumulated by Shrek over ten thousand years, which naturally could never be easily opened to outsiders.

Furthermore, even regular "insiders" had to perform great meritorious service to obtain full reading permissions.

However, in the past, even if someone truly made a great contribution, very few would use their merits to exchange for such "useless" reading rights. Wasn't it better to trade them for Cultivation resources instead?

Weighing it in his mind for a moment, Principal Yan Shaozhe smiled bitterly and said, "Little Lin, do you think you can change to another condition?"

"I can make the decision to grant you the reading rights of the Outer Court Library, but the Inner Court Library and the formations of the Soul Tool Department are simply not something I alone can decide."

Meeting Principal Yan Shaozhe's troubled gaze, Lin Yan shook his head gently with a firm attitude, "Dean, I also know that this isn't something you can make a decision on alone."

"I just hope you can try your best to fight for it for me. If it really doesn't work out, let this matter drop. Based solely on the first two conditions, I can still promise to help Ma Xiaotao suppress her evil flames for three years."

Hearing this, Principal Yan Shaozhe once again wore a bitter expression. Three years wasn't long, but it wasn't short either, but what about after that?

Surely he couldn't let his Disciple stop Cultivating, right?

Taking a deep breath, Principal Yan Shaozhe promised quite sincerely at this moment, "Little Lin, I will do my utmost to help you strive for this matter."

"But if it ultimately doesn't work out, I ask you to seriously consider changing to another condition. As long as it's not too excessive, I can agree to it!"

Principal Yan Shaozhe might be a bit stingy towards others, but towards Ma Xiaotao, whom he raised from childhood like a daughter, he was truly quite good.

However, even so, Lin Yan still did not relent and promise anything extra.

Because human nature was such that as long as there was a way out, it was bound to be impossible to go all out.

Of course, if this matter truly proved impossible in the end, Lin Yan was not some pedantic person either. When he had demands at some point in the future, he would take it out again as a bargaining chip.

After obtaining Principal Yan Shaozhe's promise, Lin Yan stayed for a little longer, finalized some details of the first two conditions with him, and then took his leave and departed.

Oh, right.

Before leaving, Lin Yan casually mentioned his request for "self-study".

Considering the huge gap between Lin Yan and the freshmen of the same grade, as well as holding his own Disciple's future in his hands.

Principal Yan Shaozhe readily agreed; as long as Lin Yan could get a full score in every future assessment, he would be permitted to study independently.

In this way, next he only needed to report to Teacher Wang Yan, and from then on he could skip classes with imperial approval.

...

After reuniting with Jiang Nannan, the two of them came to the bustling Shrek City together.

At this time, the setting sun sank into the horizon, and the warm twilight spread all over Shrek City.

On the long street, the flow of people was like a weaving shuttle. The shops on both sides successively lit up their lights, and the warm yellow halos intertwined in a staggered pattern. The evening breeze brushed past the alleys, mixed with the mouth-watering aromas of street food and the cheerful laughter of the crowd. Everywhere the eyes could see was the lively hustle and bustle of the mortal world.

Holding the lively and carefree Jiang Nannan by the hand, watching her enthusiastically introduce to him which roadside stall's food was delicious, and how the owner of that shop was particularly fierce...

A sense of satisfaction and accomplishment spontaneously arose in Lin Yan's heart.

Look! This was the girl he had taken care of and watched grow up!

Compared to that always icy-cold Jiang Nannan in the original work, Lin Yan still liked the current carefree, soft and sweet Jiang Nannan!

"Brother, hurry up! Let's go try those pastries from that shop. This is my absolute favorite place in Shrek City!"

Holding his hand like a bouncing elf, Jiang Nannan shuttled through the bustling crowd, leading him into a small shop with a modest storefront but a cozy layout.

She picked out the pastries, paid for them, and then, full of expectation, gently picked one up with her slender, white, jade-like fingers and brought it to Lin Yan's lips.

Lin Yan bit into the pastry, but during this process, he "accidentally" took that tender, white fingertip—resembling a spring scallion—into his mouth as well.

A warm and moist sensation came from her fingertip. Jiang Nannan's rosy cheeks flushed slightly, adding a touch of pitiable bashfulness to her brows and eyes. Feigning nonchalance, she gently withdrew her finger, yet ripples of emotion surged deep within her heart.

Facing Jiang Nannan's sparkling, expectant gaze, the pastry melted softly between his lips and teeth, offering a warm, sweet fragrance that was refreshing without being cloying. Lin Yan nodded gently with a smiling expression in his eyes.

Seeing that he liked it, Jiang Nannan's smile blossomed like a flower, and sweetness spread in her heart. She immediately held his hand tightly again, saying, "Let's go! I'll take you to try some other delicious food!"

Just as Lin Yan and the other enjoyed this leisurely comfort to their heart's content, a familiar name suddenly reached Lin Yan's ears: "Sanshi".

He glanced slightly to the side and saw a woman with a refined and elegant temperament strolling down the street, holding hands with a tall man.

Pulling back his gaze, Lin Yan's expression did not change in the slightest. With his intervention in this lifetime, Jiang Nannan and Xu Sanshi naturally had no entanglements.

As for the woman by Xu Sanshi's side, she was presumably the one who helped him complete the secondary Spirit Awakening in this lifetime, but these things had nothing to do with him.

Recalling his fleeting thoughts, Lin Yan kept pace with the light-footed Jiang Nannan, continuing to enjoy their gentle and wonderful night.

Time passed, and the evening breeze remained gentle, yet the comfortable time felt exceptionally rushed.

After the two of them returned to the academy together in each other's company, wandering around, they unconsciously walked to the side of Sea God Lake.

Night fell over the Sea God Lake embankment, and the densely growing Blue Silver Grass bloomed with specks of light blue fluorescent light, swaying gently in the dark.

Ripples gently stirred the surface of the lake, shattering the glowing light all over the ground and turning it into a lake full of flowing starlight.

Lin Yan held Jiang Nannan in his arms as they sat among the soft Blue Silver Grass. The bright moonlight poured down, washing away the previous hustle and bustle.

Jiang Nannan docilely snuggled against his chest, hearing his steady and powerful heartbeat beside her ear. Her slender, jade-like arms gently wrapped around his waist, as if she had found the most secure haven.

She did not speak, gently closing her eyes. Her long eyelashes cast shallow shadows under the fluorescent blue shimmer. Fading away from her previous liveliness and agility, at this moment she was as quiet as blooming flowers under the moon, tender and lingering.

Lin Yan was also speechless, only quietly tightening the arm he had wrapped around her shoulders.

Lowering his gaze to look at the quiet profile of the person in his arms, his gaze was clear and pure, without a shred of desire, gentle like water.

Five years of time vanished in a flash. That pitiful little girl from back then had already grown into a peerless beauty with a captivating appearance and breathtaking looks across the Outer Court.

In these five years, there were no soul-stirring ups and downs, only countless warm, enduring companionships just like today.

Perhaps, this was the true preciousness of childhood sweethearts...