The exchange period ended quickly, and both Shrek Academy and Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy prepared to switch their students back.
The meeting point was once again at Yuming Pass.
As Dai Huabin, Xu Sanshi, and the other Shrek Academy exchange students walked toward Yan Shaozhe, Jiang Nannan, however, remained standing quietly behind Jing Hongchen, unmoving.
Xiaoxiao, who had taken a few steps forward, noticed this and turned back in confusion. "Nannan-jie, what's wrong?"
Jiang Nannan's expression was calm. In front of everyone, she said clearly,
"I'm staying at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy."
Her words stunned everyone. Xu Sanshi was the first to react, his emotions surging. He looked at Jiang Nannan in disbelief and exclaimed,
"Nannan, stop joking around! Let's go back to Shrek already!"
Jiang Nannan frowned, glaring at him sharply.
"Xu Sanshi! I've told you countless times — stop calling me that so intimately!"
In the distance, Yan Shaozhe's brows furrowed deeply.
"Jiang Nannan, are you sure about this?"
"Nannan-jie, don't make trouble. Dean Yan is waiting for us,"
Xiaoxiao urged, glancing at the increasingly displeased Yan Shaozhe.
But Jiang Nannan shook her head.
"I'm not joking. I'm serious."
Then she turned to Yan Shaozhe and said,
"Dean Yan, there's no rule in Shrek Academy that forbids students from voluntarily withdrawing, is there?"
Yan Shaozhe shook his head.
"Of course not."
Shrek Academy didn't have strict regulations for outer court students. Since Jiang Nannan hadn't yet entered the inner court, technically she was free to withdraw, and the academy couldn't stop her.
Yan Shaozhe regarded her steadily.
"With your talent, you have a real chance of becoming a Titled Douluo. You're really willing to give that up? The academy has invested heavily in your cultivation over the years."
To him, joining the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy meant completely abandoning the path of martial soul cultivation.
After hearing this, Xiaoxiao's expression shifted slightly. She glanced at Yan Shaozhe but stayed silent.
Standing in front of Jiang Nannan, Jing Hongchen smiled and addressed Yan Shaozhe:
"Dean Yan, there's no need for concern. Whatever debts Miss Jiang owes to Shrek Academy will be covered by the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. Once you return, just send an invoice to Mingdu."
If it had been someone else from Shrek, they would surely have said there was no need to fuss over such matters. But Yan Shaozhe was different. He simply nodded.
"Fine."
He wasn't particularly upset about Jiang Nannan's departure — in his view, losing her while gaining Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong was a favorable exchange.
Standing behind Yan Shaozhe, Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong found the whole thing laughable. A petty man like this truly wasn't fit for great responsibility.
Xiaoxiao, watching Yan Shaozhe agree so readily, felt her expression shift again.
Jiang Nannan tried to comfort Xiaoxiao briefly, telling her not to worry.
Yan Shaozhe then called out,
"Dai Huabin, Xu Sanshi, Xiaoxiao — what are you three waiting for? Come over."
Once the three had gathered, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen also brought the Sun Moon students back to their side.
Jing Hongchen, already aware of Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong's plans, decided to play along when he saw they hadn't moved. He furrowed his brows and asked,
"Shengyu, Qingtong — why aren't you coming?"
Hearing this, Yan Shaozhe smiled triumphantly, as if regaining the upper hand. He lifted his chin slightly and said,
"My apologies, Hall Master Hongchen — the two of them have decided to stay at Shrek Academy!"
Jing Hongchen played his part perfectly, feigning shock and anger.
Jiang Shengyu cupped his hands respectfully and said,
"Senior Brother, Qingtong and I have decided to continue our studies at Shrek Academy. Please don't worry — we will always remain our teacher's disciples."
Yan Shaozhe, in excellent spirits, didn't bother analyzing the second half of that sentence. He waved his hand grandly and departed with all the Shrek students in tow.
Once they were gone, the "angry" expressions on the faces of the Hongchen trio gradually faded.
Jiang Nannan frowned, about to speak to soothe Jing Hongchen, when she heard him turn to Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen with a grin.
"How was that performance from your grandfather just now?"
Meng Hongchen giggled.
"Perfect! You could act in one of those dramas Qingtong mentioned!"
Jing Hongchen chuckled.
"Yuhao and Ziwen are already working on that. When you're all grown up, if this old man is still alive, perhaps I really will take on a role or two."
Ai Cao and the other students, including Jiang Nannan, looked at him in astonishment. Jiang Nannan asked,
"Dean Hongchen, you mean…"
Jing Hongchen waved a hand, his gaze soft on her bewildered face.
"Don't worry. We were merely acting just now."
The Mingde Hall had long since investigated Jiang Nannan's background, so Jing Hongchen saw no need to hide the truth — revealing it also helped calm the anxious Sun Moon students nearby.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nannan's eyes widened in surprise.
"Then Shengyu and Qingtong…"
Meng Hongchen gently patted her shoulder.
"Now you understand. Come on, let's head back to Mingdu. The man on Yuming Pass's tower has been watching us the whole time."
They all turned to look — indeed, Dai Hao stood atop the city wall, staring unblinkingly in their direction.
Jing Hongchen distributed flying soul tools to everyone, and they took off toward Mingdu.
Meanwhile, Yan Shaozhe returned to Shrek Academy with Jiang Shengyu and the others and immediately went to report to the Sea God Pavilion. He vividly recounted Jing Hongchen's "furious" reaction, clearly pleased with himself. Yet when the topic of Jiang Nannan came up, Xuan Zi couldn't help sighing.
"I didn't expect her to choose the Sun Moon Empire."
After a moment's silence, Elder Song said indifferently,
"It's just as well. Those with divided loyalties should leave sooner rather than later — saves the academy from being tainted. Jiang Nannan… I've heard of her. A pity. She won't have a future in the Sun Moon Empire."
Yan Shaozhe nodded in agreement.
"Indeed. Her martial soul is the Soft Bone Rabbit — not exactly a top-tier one. Once she's in the Sun Moon Empire, her only path is as a soul engineer. And soul engineers… have no future."
"Yan Shaozhe, that's not right of you to say,"
Xian Lin'er interjected, frowning in protest.
"Enough,"
Xuan Zi raised a hand, halting the argument.
"There's no need to quarrel over someone who's already left the academy.
"With Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong staying, they'll serve as captain and vice-captain for the next Soul Master Tournament team. As for the remaining members — Shaozhe, you can start selecting them."
"Understood, Elder Xuan,"
Yan Shaozhe replied, bowing his head.
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