From quite a distance, Feng Piaoling spotted Bei Bei, Tang Ya, and Huo Yuhao. However, Jiang Nannan's appearance was somewhat beyond his expectations.
Back then, in order to change this tragic regret from the original story, and also to reach the Great Star Dou Forest to hunt for an Earth Armored Dragon soul ring, Feng Piaoling had left the Sun Moon Empire. Near the Xuanming Sect, he had found Jiang Nannan.
At that time, to avoid arousing Xu Tianran's suspicion, he had simply left behind medicine to treat Jiang Nannan's mother's heart condition along with enough money for her recovery. Thinking that since she had already joined Shrek, the Xuanming Sect likely wouldn't give her too much trouble, he had departed in a hurry.
Afterward, Xu Tianran merely assumed Feng Piaoling had acted on a whim of benevolence and did not look into the matter further. He never expected that she would be waiting for him right at the gates of Shrek Academy.
"Benefactor, it has been a long time."
Perhaps realizing her loss of composure, or perhaps fearing she might annoy Feng Piaoling, Jiang Nannan hesitated briefly before reluctantly pulling away from him. She then gave him a graceful, respectful bow.
"Indeed, several years have passed in a flash. Is your mother's health well?" Feng Piaoling let out a quiet sigh as he looked at Jiang Nannan's stunningly beautiful face so close at hand.
If this were back when he had first transmigrated, he certainly wouldn't have minded building a harem in this world filled with beauties. But after experiencing the death of his parents and surviving more than five years of treading on thin ice within the Crown Prince's manor, he was no longer the naive newcomer he once was. He had more important things to do.
Seeming to sense the change in Feng Piaoling's mood, a touch of sadness entered Jiang Nannan's gaze as she looked at him.
"Thanks to the excellent medicine and funds you gave us back then, Benefactor, Mother's health is no longer in danger. Jiang Nannan will never forget your kindness in saving her mother."
"That is good," Feng Piaoling nodded.
Right then, Xu Sanshi walked over, holding a brocade box and a gold card. "So, the little brother who helped Nannan's mother back then was you. I have ten thousand Gold Soul Coins here, as well as a Mystic Water Pill. Consider this a way of repaying Nannan's debt of gratitude."
The crowd erupted into a clamor at the sight of the items in Xu Sanshi's hands. One must realize that in this era, ten thousand years later, there were no soul master subsidies. Soul masters were generally quite poor. Even Shrek students, who could receive subsidies from the three empires, barely maintained a level above subsistence.
This was enough to demonstrate the sheer value of ten thousand Gold Soul Coins and a Mystic Water Pill, which was worth ten thousand gold pieces itself. Never mind commoners; even the nobles were shocked by Xu Sanshi's extravagant gesture.
This undoubtedly incensed Jiang Nannan. Her beautiful eyes glared at Xu Sanshi with fury. "Xu Sanshi, what is the meaning of this?"
After receiving help from Feng Piaoling back then, Jiang Nannan had rejected the Xuanming Sect. Naturally, she had been targeted by them as a result. Although the matter eventually blew over because they found a new replacement, the young master of the Xuanming Sect had somehow learned about her almost selling herself for her mother's sake. Claiming to admire her, he had begun three years of relentless pestering, which annoyed her to no end.
"Nannan, don't be angry. Am I not thanking this little brother on your behalf? Whether he accepts it or not is entirely up to him."
Xu Sanshi's goal was simple: if he couldn't have Jiang Nannan for the time being, then no one else should either. As long as this pretty boy accepted the Mystic Water Pill and the Gold Soul Coins, he wouldn't dare lay a finger on Jiang Nannan in the future.
Hearing this, though Jiang Nannan was furious, she found herself unable to tell Feng Piaoling not to accept it. She already owed her benefactor too much and had no right to make demands of him. She could only look at him with an apologetic expression, her heart filled with tension and unease.
"I, Feng, act solely according to my own heart. You should take this Mystic Water Pill and the Gold Soul Coins to help those who truly need them," Feng Piaoling said. Without paying him any further mind, he walked alone toward the East Gate.
"Benefactor..." Jiang Nannan hurried to catch up.
"Your martial soul is not bad. You must cultivate diligently in the future; do not let your path of cultivation be interrupted," Feng Piaoling said, merely raising a hand and giving her this advice with his back turned.
He then took out a letter of recommendation prepared for him by the Crown Prince's manor, written by a city lord of a major city in the Douling Empire. He presented it to the Shrek students on duty at the gate. This was one of the necessary conditions for joining Shrek Academy without going through the "back door."
With a city lord's recommendation, the students naturally did not block him. They gestured for him to head to the side grounds to participate in the assessment.
Watching Feng Piaoling's receding figure, Jiang Nannan—who had originally worried he might misunderstand—suddenly took on a determined look. She murmured, "Benefactor, rest assured. From now on, Nannan will cultivate with all her might and will never fail your expectations."
At that moment, Tang Ya walked over. "Nannan, you and him..."
Just now, she had overheard their conversation. Her mind couldn't help but recall what Feng Piaoling had said back in the Star Dou Forest about personally witnessing a female genius soul master being forced to sell herself to save her mother.
She now had her answer. At the same time, she finally understood why Jiang Nannan remained unmoved by Xu Sanshi's pursuit. If such a person had appeared to save her parents when the Tang Sect was facing its great calamity, perhaps she too would have fallen in love with him from the bottom of her heart.
"Xiao Ya, you know my benefactor?" Jiang Nannan looked at her best friend in surprise.
Tang Ya nodded. "Yes. His name is Feng Piaoling. We met by chance in the Star Dou Forest earlier. You could say we're acquaintances."
"Feng Piaoling..." This was the first time Jiang Nannan had learned her benefactor's name, and her beautiful eyes instantly lit up.
"Xiao Ya, thank you for telling me my benefactor's name. I'm going to go cultivate now; let's talk more when we have time."
After saying this and greeting her other companions, Jiang Nannan walked alone through the East Gate that symbolized Shrek Academy.
Bei Bei stood to the side. "Xiao Ya, we should head in."
Tang Ya nodded, and the two of them led Huo Yuhao—who was extremely upset by Feng Piaoling's arrival—into the East Gate.
Subsequently, Jiang Nannan's female companions also left, but they did not enter the academy. Instead, they went to watch the entrance assessment. They wanted to see just what kind of strength this freshman possessed to fascinate the number one beauty of the Outer Court.
Before long, only the duty students from the second and third years and Xu Sanshi remained at the East Gate.
"Hmph, acting like such a big deal, even lecturing Nannan. He's just a freshman. I'll see just how much skill you actually have." Xu Sanshi curled his lip in annoyance and, like Jiang Nannan's companions, leaned in to watch.
In truth, there wasn't much to see in the entrance assessment. It was nothing more than three conditions:
First, a recommendation letter from a city lord of a major city in one of the three Douluo empires.
Second, being no older than twelve.
Third, having soul power no lower than Rank 15.
In addition to these, there was an implicit rule: the soul ring configuration. If the first soul ring was a white ten-year soul ring, they would likewise not be accepted—unless, like the Tang Sect, you held a special exemption slot.
Postscript: Jiang Nannan will definitely be added to the harem, but the protagonist is currently focused on becoming stronger.
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