Chapter 59: Pledged Among the Floral Seeds

"Knock, knock—"
"Click."
An academy-uniformed student stood at the doorway. Upon seeing Nian Yun, he bowed politely first. "Senior Yun Nian, Instructor Qin Ming asked you to go to the reception room. A senior is looking for you."
"Understood, I'll be right there."
After the messenger left, Nian Yun turned back inside, retrieved his mask, and headed out.
After a brief jog, Nian Yun arrived at the VIP reception room. "A senior? It shouldn't be Dugu Bo."
"Knock, knock."
"Click."
"Teacher." After bowing to Qin Ming, Nian Yun saw Ye Lengleng sitting opposite him alongside an exquisitely delicate and stunningly beautiful woman with a poised and dignified demeanor.
"Ah, let me introduce you. This is Senior Ye Shuangyi, Lady Ye." Qin Ming stood up to make the introduction.
With just a single glance, Nian Yun felt as though he had been seen right through.
"Junior Yun Nian greets Senior."
"Mm." Facing Yun Nian's bow, Ye Shuangyi also stood up and responded with a smile.
"Well then, Yun Nian, have a good chat with Senior Ye." After giving instructions to Nian Yun, Qin Ming bowed to Ye Shuangyi and departed.
Once the three of them were seated—
Before Yun Nian could even speak, Ye Shuangyi took the initiative. "Hello, Yun Nian. I came to find you abruptly today specifically to express my gratitude. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all, but I'm unaware of what gratitude the Senior is referring to?"
"Lengleng."
At Ye Shuangyi's call, Ye Lengleng summoned her Wuhun, the Nine Heart Begonia, which slowly unfolded. Its radiance was even more vibrant than before.
"Lengleng explained everything to me in her letter. To be honest, the Grade Nine Purple Ganoderma you gave Lengleng is something generations of our family could never hope to obtain. As Lengleng's mother, it is only right that I come and thank you."
"Lengleng and I are classmates and teammates. Senior flatters me."
"Lengleng, step outside for a moment. There are some things I wish to say to Yun Nian alone."
Ye Lengleng nodded and walked toward the door.
"Clang—"
"For a worldly-detached woman like me, do you still need to conceal your face?"

Once Ye Lengleng left, Ye Shuangyi seemed like a completely different person, her tone suffused with oppressive weight.
"Rustle."
"Please forgive me, Senior. Junior did not mean any disrespect." With that, Nian Yun hurriedly removed his mask.
"Do you know how precious the Grade Nine Purple Ganoderma is? To gift it so casually—surely you had ulterior motives."
Noticing a hint of something amiss, Nian Yun hurriedly explained, "I hope Senior does not misunderstand. Junior simply thought the herb would be beneficial to Lengleng, with absolutely no other thoughts."
"What? Are you saying Lengleng is not good enough for your eyes?"
"No, no. It's just that Junior wouldn't dare entertain such thoughts."
"And what if I insist that you do? Do you want to, or do you not?"
Confronted with this question, Nian Yun was somewhat bewildered. "Is this some kind of trap?"
"Stare."
System: "Goddess Ye Lengleng main quest. If the host answers 【Want to】, reward: Rank 1 Soul Power. If the host answers 【Do not want to】, prohibit the host from opening the quest refresh map for one month."
"System, are you malfunctioning?"
After a brief pause, Nian Yun looked straight into Ye Shuangyi's eyes. His mouth opened for a long moment before he slowly spoke.
"I want to."
"Good, very good." Hearing Yun Nian's answer, Ye Shuangyi was immensely satisfied. "Since you want to, it is mutual affection, and I can finally rest at ease."
With a smile, Ye Shuangyi shifted the topic.
"I suppose Yun Nian is not your real name."
"Since Senior has seen through it, Junior will no longer hide it. Junior Ning Yun greets Senior."
"Ning Yun? Shouldn't it be Nian Yun?"
Nian Yun was startled, raising his head to look at Ye Shuangyi. Although he had lived through three lifetimes, and the person sitting opposite him was merely an auxiliary-system soul master, Nian Yun felt a pressure unlike any he had ever experienced before.
"Captain of the Wuhun Hall Golden Generation, dual Wuhun—am I wrong?" A faint smile played at the corner of Ye Shuangyi's lips, which, coupled with her beauty, made her look breathtakingly stunning.
"What is Senior's purpose here?" Nian Yun's initial smile faded, and his gaze turned sharp.
"Don't be nervous. As I said just now, I am detached from worldly affairs; I don't care about the matters of the mainland. I only wish to ask you to protect Lengleng well."
As she spoke, Ye Shuangyi summoned her own Wuhun. Seven soul rings appeared simultaneously, and amidst Nian Yun's astonishment, Ye Shuangyi extracted a seed from within them and handed it over.
Nian Yun reached out to take it, but unexpectedly, the seed flew into his body of its own accord. Even more wondrously, there was no fluctuation of soul power energy whatsoever coming from the seed.
"Consider this seed as my token of gratitude. As for its use, you will know once you ask Lengleng."

Recalling the two choices the system had given him, Nian Yun's vigilance toward Ye Shuangyi diminished somewhat.
"System, what is the composition of this seed?"
System: "Automatically unlocked when the host's soul power reaches Soul King and Ye Lengleng's favorability reaches 80."
Not long after, their conversation concluded, and Qin Ming personally escorted Ye Shuangyi away.
"Yun Nian, did my mother give you anything?" As soon as Ye Shuangyi left, Ye Lengleng eagerly hurried over to find Nian Yun.
"Oh, yes. A seed, but she didn't tell me its purpose and told me to ask you."
Just as Nian Yun finished speaking, he turned to look at Ye Lengleng. Ye Lengleng stammered for a moment before running off with a blushing face, leaving Nian Yun even more bewildered.
——
Shrek Academy
Following the trip to the Star Dou Great Forest, Nian Yun had successfully broken through to the Soul Ancestor realm, and the fourth soul rings of both his Wuhun were ten thousand years old.
"Nian Yun."
Just as he was about to step through the academy gates, a voice called out from behind. Nian Yun and Zhu Zhuqing turned simultaneously to see Tai Long approaching with Tai Nuo, accompanied by an elderly white-haired man walking ahead of them.
Sensing hostile intent, Zhu Zhuqing immediately assumed a battle stance.
Nian Yun reached out to stop her and softly said, "Zhuqing, no matter what happens next, do not attack. Alright?"
Zhu Zhuqing did not reply, merely taking a step back.
"You are Nian Yun?" the white-haired elder asked.
"I believe the two individuals behind Senior should recognize me."
"Very well. Since you admit that you were the one who made a move, I won't waste words. Nor will I bully the younger generation with my status: if you can remain standing without falling within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, this matter will be considered settled. But if you cannot hold out, you will enter my family. How about that?"
Tai Long and Tai Nuo looked utterly shocked, while Zhu Zhuqing grew angry. "Clearly, it was your son and grandson who came looking for trouble. We simply cannot accept this proposal."
"Even if my grandson started the trouble, didn't you make him call for reinforcements? Well, now I am here." The white-haired elder pointed at Nian Yun.
Nian Yun placated Zhu Zhuqing slightly before speaking up, "If I hold out and this matter is merely brushed aside, such a bet is completely meaningless to me."
"Then what do you want?" The white-haired elder waved his hand dismissively and asked without a care.
"I want your family to obey a single command from me unconditionally, and with all your might." After a moment of contemplation, Nian Yun uttered his demand, word by word.