Relationship Among People, What a Pain Can They Be.

Aiden knew something like this will happen, but what grew on him was a different matter. He is nearing bottleneck for his Tree of Life spirit and this time he needs to supplement it with proper divine herb and infuse it using special means that Nexus devised. It was a formation that can directly work with martial spirits bypassing the need for the body to withstand the medical qualities of the immortal herbs, which can be deadly fierce at times.

That particular formation resulted from Nexus research on the evolution of martial spirits. It was used only for establishing the route of supply. Like that, for example, Aiden can finally try to inject dragon's blood he acquired years ago on the North Pole. He was quite curious about the result but decided to do it later after more tests.

But his Tree Spirit is the true pain in the ass. Nexus only roughly devised a plan to help restore it and gave a spectrum of energy signatures Aiden needs to use in order to do so. Technically, it meant neither of them had any idea what herbs exactly were needed for the task, they had only mathematical equation.

It can't be any more theoretical. So for now the crucial point of the plan was that there was no plan whatsoever. Depressing.

A herb he has no idea where to find, what its name and looks.

'Nexus, aren't you exceptional and knowledgeable?'

= I am. But I'm not omniscient.

'Nice comeback, can't deny that.'

While the group made their way back to the Shrek Academy, Aiden stayed at the back and took a cursory glance over everyone. He was deep in thought, analyzing information that Sixth gathered about Shrek students. It was one of the first tasks Aiden insisted to do after Dragon Fang got on track.

If original Shrek students were more or less like an open book for him, than the addition of the five others is a completely different story.

Aaron Cloud. He actually was the less suspicious as his background was easily checked. He was born in a small village in the family of the chief, who is a hereditary winemaker. As simple as that. To some extent, his personality of wine fanatic and love of everything about it was the direct product of family upbringing.

And when his martial spirit turned out to be a gourd, he was incomparably excited, although his talent wasn't the best and body rather weak, his obsession with wine and understanding of it inadvertently influenced even cultivation. That was a marvel in itself, how his personality clicked with martial spirit.

And Aiden learned from him one vital thing – be carefree about one's desires and impulses. One can control them and that is the right way. But never go against it, otherwise, it will only breed disaster in the future. That was partly a reason why Aiden mostly goes with the flow and can help people without seeking gain if he finds he wants it.

Maybe some will say it is illogical, but to him, it's just being truthful with oneself. What is more – he will help himself immensely by leading such a life. Aaron was a great example of a person who was at peace with himself and his cultivation way. That is why Aiden thought of him highly.

In comparison to him, Shen Ling was someone with a background. He was a descendant of a collateral branch of the ancient Shen clan. They were a reclusive family of battle masters similar to Tang clan, however, Sixth emphasized that the power of the clan is on a totally different scale. In a sense, it was not Rong Rong who is the noblest among them, but Shen Ling.

Anyway, Shen Ling was a young master, but a straight one. He might have his own troubles, however, he didn't enroll Shrek with some underlying meaning.

Why he suddenly came to Shrek Academy was a mystery Aiden wasn't keen to reveal. In all truthfulness, it doesn't matter much. What matters is his connection to such monumental power. It can help in the future. That is if he doesn't have some generic abandoned talented son plot. In that case, that will be a shitty situation with tons of pain incoming.

Actually, the most suspicious people were Shui Bing'er and Bai Feng, that arrogant spear user.

The latter was quite mysterious. In terms of background, he was similar to Aaron, however, there was a year between ten and eleven, when he disappeared and returned significantly stronger. What is more, Dragon Fang wasn't able to find any clues for now.

Taking into consideration that he usually was a so-called background character who is always there but never talks, Aiden couldn't help but pay close attention to him.

Bing'er... here Aiden sighed more than once or twice. She is not an unknown character in the novel he read and there was described in a positive light. And in all truthfulness, Aiden felt very good about her deep in his heart... but what made him wary was their mutual attraction and her attitude to him.

If he is to describe it in one word, it would be unnatural!

She was way too close to him from the very first moment they met and it made Aiden build a wall, trying to keep her at arm's reach, but sometimes he just couldn't help himself. In his logical conclusion, he thought Bing'er is here specifically for him and not to just be near or anything but in a very intimate way.

What he can't understand is why? Did she have any underlying agenda or not?

Aiden never felt that he is someone amazingly charming for a girl like her to only come here due to some feelings of affection or even love. Let alone they never met before!

And that contradiction was like an iron wall, making him suspicious and distrustful. But up to now, she did nothing wrong or bad. Also, her background was also more or less clean.

She was one of the major headaches of Aiden as of now.

Aiden was walking with others and already saw gates to the Shrek Academy. They were returning before finally departing for the capital of Heaven Dou Empire.

A competition will happen only after a year or so. He still has time to take care of many matters.

What Aiden can't understand is why Yu Xiaogang chose the top academy in empire full of nobles, instead of the one of his wife. It is just strange. Perhaps he really thought they will be welcomed with open arms? Well, Aiden has no interest in displaying himself to everyone to jeer at. He doubted that Dugu Bo will be there with all that he knows about demons now and his recent improvement in cultivation.

They walked to the main square and stopped there, stunned.

'Oh, boy. Is he craving for a beating? And here I got all good and relaxed after taking out the trash from Suotuo City. But no, I forgot one thing. Now you look at that, Nexus. Right here we have that unusual specimen, a little shithead standing proudly and stinking all over the Academy.'

= Judging by exuding hormones, the said individual is happy and expectant of something. Also, his posture shows a profound ignorance of his own plight and proud attitude, as if he accomplished something significant.

'You know Nexus... sometimes your analysis can be very hurtful.'

Aiden nearly sent the fat guy flying with Dragon Claw, while looking at Ma Hongjun, who stood there like a proud peacock.

"I'm back!" - he said aloud and received only silence.

"Really now." - Hongjun heard a gentle voice. It was almost like a song of a lark. He stared at Shui Yue'er with wide eyes and grinned.

= Hormones responsible for matting spiking to unbelievable levels in said individual. He is ready for a certain process that leads to the reproduction of humanity.

'Nexus... please... just keep it to yourself.'

Shui Yue'er made her way to him without hurry, as if she was relaxed and carefree like a spring breeze.

"Senior brother Hongjun." - she sang in a seductive voice and beamed.

"Yes, yes, my junior sister Yue'er." - nodded Hongjun like a chicken.

"Welcome back!" - she slammed her fist in his face. - "Jerk!" - and walked away to her dorm.

"You have many things to explain, Hongjun. We were at your funerals, you idiot! And now you are standing here smiling as if that was just a little prank! Are you a ghost or what?" - grumbled Xiao Wu. - "Where is Aaron?"

"Er... I am alive. This is hard to explain. He is fine too. He is training in another place."

Then he told others a really fascinating story about a benevolent and smart headmaster, Flender, who spared no expenses, monetary included, to find people that wanted to hurt them in the shadows and brought them to justice.

Well, Aiden's idea was easy.

Flender took his money?

He better slave... cough... help him a bit to repay with interest... cough... to show his gratitude for it. In his mind, he already planned to overwork the poor scrooge to the limits of human abilities.

Actually, this idiotic thing will fool only kindergarten people, but they still partly believed it because of the body they saw.

All of them had different expressions, but generally Shrek students decided that the guy just doesn't want to explain everything and got himself into something shady. They patted his shoulders with pity and offered help if he one day needs it.

His face was full of disappointment.

"He is taking us for idiots." - said Bing'er darkly when Aiden walked to his usual place and she tagged along. - "Isn't he?"

"Who knows." - Aiden shrugged and glanced at her. Bing'er was staring at him all the time.

"And it means he doesn't trust us, right?" - she said again.

"Who knows." - Aiden said again and felt uncomfortable.

"Well." - she stretched herself, showing perfect curves of a youthful body and giving a glance to see Aiden's reaction. - "I just hope that he will tell me everything one day with no lies. I don't like it when people tell lies."

"One day he surely will." - Aiden nodded with a sign. Only a stupid person won't understand her implication here.

"That's good then. I'm keen for that day to come. For now, how about you cook something good? After your food, I can't enjoy eating anywhere." - she smiled craftily.

'This girl... seriously... well... it doesn't matter if I remain guarded in my heart.'

But Aiden was hungry too. With his body training, eating normal food absolutely does not quell the hunger. So he already wanted to have a proper meal. There was no difference to cook for one or two.

= Master, I recently compiled a magnificent set of dual cultivation techniques...

'Nexus, shut it!'