You Understand the Rules

Hearing Huo Yuhao's words.

Tang Ya's expression instantly turned cold. "Xu. San. Shi! What exactly did you do?"

Beibei remained expressionless as he said coldly, "Xu Sanshi, Junior Brother Huo is a friend of Xiaoya's and mine. Give me some face here—what happened?"

Thinking that the grilled fish she had reserved had vanished, Tang Ya snapped angrily:

"That was the grilled fish Yuhao saved for me! Beibei, why are you still wasting words with him? Beat him up. Beat him until he can't take care of himself, and I'll let you kiss me."

Beibei had originally been keeping a straight face, but upon hearing Little Witch Tang Ya's troublemaking words, his facial muscles immediately twitched.

Xu Sanshi curled his lips and pointed at Huo Yuhao as he explained:

"Don't go slandering me. It was just a grilled fish, and I paid for it! As for the grilled fish Tang Ya mentioned, I never got my hands on it either."

Huo Yuhao sneered. "I don't welcome a rude guest like you who forces purchases. As for your pathetic money, I already returned it to you."

"What!?"

Xu Sanshi's expression changed drastically. He searched himself up and down and, sure enough, found a Gold Soul Coin giving off a chill on his body.

The hairs on his body stood on end as he muttered, "When did this happen?"

Their earlier clash had clearly ended the moment it began. When had this Gold Soul Coin returned to his body?

Could a freshman really possess such strength?

For a moment, he began to doubt his life.

Huo Yuhao naturally had no obligation to answer his questions. Instead, he took two steaming skewers of grilled fish from the Flower Bud Gu and handed them to Tang Ya.

"Senior Sister Xiaoya, these are your grilled fish."

Smelling the familiar aroma, Tang Ya's face lit up. She naturally accepted the grilled fish, took an unceremonious bite, and spoke as she ate:

"Delicious, delicious. Yuhao, the grilled fish you make is getting better and better. Beibei, do you want some? I can share one with you."

The moment those words left her mouth, Tang Ya regretted them, but she ultimately parted with one reluctantly.

Beibei accepted it and began eating as well. He said evenly:

"Xu Sanshi, you must give me an explanation for what happened today. Otherwise, we'll settle this with a match in the Soul Fighting Zone."

Xu Sanshi knew he was in the wrong, but he still stubbornly retorted:

"Hmph, if he doesn't give Jiang Nannan face, then he isn't giving me face either. It's been a long time since I last sparred with you. Isn't it just the Soul Fighting Zone? Let's go!"

"There's no need to trouble Senior Beibei. I'll handle this myself. If just any random person can come cause me trouble, how am I supposed to keep running this business?"

Huo Yuhao's voice was resolute, drawing the attention of everyone present.

He took out the grilled fish Xu Sanshi had fought over earlier and pointed it at him.

"This grilled fish was the one Senior Jiang had her eye on earlier, but she ultimately didn't buy it. Senior Xu, if you want it, come take it yourself. You know the rules."

At Shrek Academy, fights had always been treated with a blind eye, though there were still certain restrictions.

Upperclassmen were not allowed to actively provoke or attack lowerclassmen, but lowerclassmen could take the initiative to challenge upperclassmen.

As for students of the same year, they could fight as they pleased. So long as no one died, the academy would never interfere.

Some of the watching students, eager for more excitement, immediately began to egg them on.

"Senior Xu Sanshi, enraged for the sake of a beauty—well done!"

"What a handsome junior! His personality is great too. Senior Sister supports you!"

"Come quickly, there's a show to watch! Outer Court Twin Stars Xu Sanshi and Beibei are challenging each other again!"

"Where's my grilled fish? Are you still selling or not?"

In an instant, a large crowd gathered around them.

"What are you looking at? All of you, disperse."

Xu Sanshi frowned. After driving off the surrounding crowd, he left behind a harsh warning:

"Fine, fine, fine. You've got guts, kid. I'm starting to admire you! But don't say I'm bullying the weak. Whether it's Beibei or you making the move, I'll take it. See you in the Soul Fighting Zone."

With that, he turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

Upon hearing that Xu Sanshi had accepted the challenge, the Shrek Academy students who had come to watch the excitement hurried after him toward Shrek Academy's Soul Fighting Zone.

After packing up his things, Huo Yuhao smiled faintly at the two standing beside him.

"It's been a long time, Senior Beibei. Thank you for speaking up for me just now."

Beibei nodded in greeting and smiled. "Junior Brother Huo, you've changed so much. If Xiaoya hadn't told me beforehand, and if not for your skill with grilled fish, I really wouldn't have recognized you. Let me stand up for you in this conflict."

Tang Ya, the little foodie, had just finished the grilled fish in her hand and explained as well:

"Yuhao, don't take it to heart. Xu Sanshi is just a little impulsive by nature. He's actually not a bad person, but he really was being unreasonable this time. Just wait and watch Beibei help you get your dignity back."

Huo Yuhao shook his head. "I'm fine. As for the match with Senior Xu, let me handle it. I also happen to want to see the martial soul known as the Strongest Defense of the Outer Court."

Tang Ya's mouth fell open. "Huh? Yuhao, you're not joking, are you?"

Beibei tried to persuade him. "Yuhao, we know your strength is enough to place you among the best freshmen, but Xu Sanshi is a level 39 Soul Elder. He isn't far from becoming a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor."

Huo Yuhao: "Then go ahead and give me an Achievement Task..."

Beibei

Relationship: Friends

Achievement Task: Awaiting Refresh

It seemed that without the pretext of joining the Tang Sect, the subsequent events had all been thrown into disarray. Given their current relationship, Beibei would not specifically set his sights on Xu Sanshi's Darkwater Pill.

Huo Yuhao said seriously, "I'll do it. Trust me!"

Since he had said he would teach Xu Sanshi a lesson, Huo Yuhao naturally could not go back on his word.

Keeping one's word—that was his path as a soul master!

If he did not make Xu Sanshi bleed a little, how could all this buildup be worth it?

Wasting Brother Hao's cultivation time came at a price.

Seeing Huo Yuhao's firm tone, Tang Ya and Beibei exchanged a glance. Understanding his determination, they stopped trying to dissuade him.

"Since that's the case, let me properly introduce Xu Sanshi to you. His martial soul is the Mysterious Black Tortoise, with dual water-and-earth attributes. It's a top-tier Beast Martial Soul with incredibly strong defenses, said to be impregnable..."

Tang Ya naturally did not hesitate to "sell out" Xu Sanshi.

Though she usually appeared carefree and scatterbrained, anyone who truly thought she was foolish would sooner or later suffer a huge loss at her hands.

With one glance, she could tell that little Yuhao was no ordinary person.

News of a certain class monitor from Freshman Class Nine instantly defeating a level-twenty-four Soul Grandmaster with a single punch that morning had long since been spread by interested parties.

Earlier, while she had gone out to find something to eat, Tang Ya had heard many people discussing it. A true monster had emerged in this year's Freshman Class Nine.

Coupled with Yuhao's confident demeanor now, it was easy to guess that he was the one many busybodies had dubbed the "Strongest Newcomer."

Back in the Star Dou Great Forest, Huo Yuhao had even thought to guard against a beautiful young woman like her. Naturally, he had not done so without reason.

Before, Tang Ya had been preoccupied with ~~grilled fish~~.

She had been preoccupied with Yuhao, and concern had clouded her judgment.

Now, Tang Ya had also realized that during Huo Yuhao's confrontation with Xu Sanshi just now, the latter had clearly suffered a hidden loss.

Besides, Xu Sanshi was not Beibei, who possessed the strongest offensive martial soul in the Outer Court.

As the strongest freshman, it would definitely not be difficult for Yuhao to emerge unscathed from Xu Sanshi's hands.

Perhaps Yuhao might even truly defeat Xu Sanshi?

Ah, how was that possible? She was overthinking it.

Casting out that absurd thought, Tang Ya called Beibei over and followed after them.

She could not miss this spectacle.

And she needed to cheer Yuhao on!

Besides, once he failed, she could take the opportunity to comfort him.

If she could use the allure of the Tang Sect Secret Techniques to bring such a master chef into the sect, what a wonderful thing that would be.

Plan successful!