Chapter 15: Meeting Ning Tian and Wu Feng Again
After a small interlude, the two finally arrived at Shrek Academy's Outer Academy main cafeteria.
The place was bustling with noise and filled with a rich aroma.
Most students were holding trays, standing in small groups to eat.
This was an old rule of Shrek Academy.
The cafeteria provided no seats, and food was not allowed to be taken out.
Lin Xuan held the tray he had just received, feeling speechless in his heart.
This rule was exactly like the high schools in his previous life; they called it saving time and preventing waste, but in reality, it was just a pointless hassle.
The two ordered their meals. Lin Xuan got a fragrant portion of Braised Spirit Beast Ribs with rice and clear soup, while Dugu Qing chose a few light vegetable dishes and a fish soup.
They found a spot by the window where the crowd was relatively thin and stood there.
Lin Xuan was focusing on the ribs on his plate when suddenly, a soft and pleasant voice sounded beside the table.
"Student, what a coincidence. We meet again."
Lin Xuan looked up at the sound, and what met his eyes was Ning Tian, whom he had met briefly at the registration desk at noon.
She was still dressed in elegant and refined clothing, her platinum-blonde hair shimmering with a faint luster under the bright cafeteria lights, a polite and gentle smile on her face.
Beside her, the fire-red haired and tall Wu Feng followed like a shadow. At this moment, Wu Feng was staring fixedly at Lin Xuan with beautiful eyes that seemed to spit fire, as if she were looking at a mortal enemy.
However, when Lin Xuan's calm gaze turned toward her, Wu Feng acted as if she had been burned, reflexively and quickly averting her eyes.
But then, seemingly feeling that she was being too cowardly, she forced herself to stare back. Her momentum, however, was clearly weakened by half, making her appear bold in appearance but weak in reality.
Lin Xuan felt both annoyed and amused. This red-haired girl was truly... both arrogant and cowardly.
"Mm, it is quite a coincidence."
"We saw that there were fewer people over here," Ning Tian smiled and asked softly, "If you don't mind, shall we join you?"
Lin Xuan glanced around. It was indeed peak dining hours, and the space to move within the cafeteria was slightly crowded.
He nodded indifferently, his tone flat.
"Please, go ahead. No one is here."
"Thank you."
To the side, Dugu Qing looked at these two girls of extraordinary appearance and temperament with some curiosity. The faint air of nobility about Ning Tian in particular made him a bit constrained, and he lowered his head to take small sips of his fish soup.
Lin Xuan's attitude could not be called warm; after all, strictly speaking, this was only their second meeting.
Ning Tian didn't seem to mind. Her gaze swept over Lin Xuan and the slightly nervous Dugu Qing, finally landing on the head-bowed Dugu Qing as she asked with friendly curiosity,
"Is this... Student Lin Xuan's girlfriend? She's very cute."
"Pfft—cough, cough!"
Dugu Qing, who was sipping his fish soup, was directly choked by those words. His fair cheeks instantly turned bright red, and he coughed repeatedly, his emerald eyes full of panic and embarrassment.
Lin Xuan glanced at Dugu Qing's strange expression, put down his chopsticks, and explained in his usual flat tone,
"Student Ning Tian has misunderstood. This is my roommate, Dugu Qing. Gender: male."
"Ah?"
Hearing this, a trace of astonishment appeared on Ning Tian's exquisite face. She carefully looked at Dugu Qing's overly delicate features and slender build, especially that long dark green hair. A flash of realization crossed her eyes, followed by an apologetic smile.
"I see. I was presumptuous, I'm truly sorry. Student Dugu Qing, your appearance is... very distinctive. I let my first impressions lead me astray."
Dugu Qing finally managed to stop coughing, the flush on his face not yet faded. He waved his hand somewhat shyly.
"It's... it's fine... I'm used to it."
Although the opening was a bit awkward, the conversation had finally started.
Ning Tian quickly regained her elegant composure. She looked at Lin Xuan and said sincerely,
"I saw from the notice board in the plaza that Student Lin Xuan was also assigned to Freshman Class Nine? It seems we are destined; we will be classmates from now on."
"Competition at Shrek Academy is fierce, and the curriculum and cultivation are different from before. Since we are all newcomers, perhaps we can interact more and help each other in the future."
Lin Xuan understood clearly.
Here it was, the traditional specialty of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School—recruiting talent.
He wasn't opposed to this; after all, being noticed and recruited by the continent's number one support Sect was proof of his own value.
But he would certainly not rush to suck up to them or show any eagerness or sycophancy.
Waiting for the right price, maintaining independence, and seeking to maximize benefits within a partnership—that was his style.
Lin Xuan's expression remained unchanged. He nodded with a casual attitude, his tone neither warm nor cold.
"Student Ning Tian has a point. Since we are all students of class nine, we will naturally be dealing with each other in the future. Interaction and mutual help are both fine."
Seeing that Lin Xuan did not refuse, the smile in Ning Tian's eyes deepened a bit. She began to chat seemingly at random.
"Where is Student Lin Xuan from? Your accent doesn't sound like someone from the Heaven Dou Empire."
"I travel around and have no fixed residence."
"Oh? Then you must have seen much. I wonder what Student Lin Xuan's thoughts are on the academy's upcoming freshman assessment?"
Ning Tian continued to ask, turning the topic toward the academy's internal affairs.
"I've just arrived and don't know much yet. I'll take it one step at a time," Lin Xuan replied flawlessly.
"True. Student Lin Xuan's talent is very high. Seeing the light from that crystal ball at noon was truly impressive," Ning Tian expressed her praise at the right moment.
"It was just luck," Lin Xuan remained indifferent.
Back and forth they went, with Ning Tian mainly guiding the conversation, asking about non-private information gently and with tact.
Lin Xuan handled it with ease, his answers concise. He didn't reveal too much, nor did he let the conversation die.
Soon, Dugu Qing finished his simple meal. He lightly touched Lin Xuan's arm and whispered,
"Lin Xuan, I'm finished."
Lin Xuan understood. He had also finished eating, so he nodded politely to Ning Tian.
"We're finished. We'll head out first. Enjoy your meal."
Ning Tian nodded elegantly. "Alright, see you later."
"Hmph!" Wu Feng let out a dissatisfied snort from her nose and turned her head away.
Lin Xuan and Dugu Qing left with their trays.
Only when their figures disappeared at the cafeteria entrance did Ning Tian withdraw her gaze. She gently scooped up a bit of food with her spoon, her movements still elegant, but her eyes held a look of contemplation.
"Young Master!"
Wu Feng finally couldn't help herself. She lowered her voice, her tone full of dissatisfaction and urgency.
"Why are you being so polite to that guy? You even chatted with him so much! He's just a commoner Soul Master with slightly higher Soul Power! Seeing his indifferent attitude really makes me angry!"
Ning Tian glanced at the fuming Wu Feng and said gently,
"Wu Feng, you can't just look at the surface, and even less can you act on impulse. Eleven-year-old Soul Elders are rare even among major powers, let alone from a commoner background?"
"His value far exceeds your imagination. As for his attitude... it's only normal for talented people to have some pride."
She looked toward the cafeteria entrance, her gaze deep.
"Even if such a person cannot be brought into the Sect, they should at least not become an enemy. Remember, our Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School is a support system Sect. Wealth and resources, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and attack system geniuses—these three are the foundation of our existence. Not one can be missing."
Wu Feng opened her mouth as if she wanted to argue further, but seeing Ning Tian's calm gaze, she eventually swallowed her words and just sullenly poked at the food on her plate.