At the sight of this, Yan Shaozhe could not help but freeze. Had his charm become this great? The students were so excited to see him that they were kneeling to pay their respects!
But it only lasted an instant. He quickly helped the disheveled Jiang Yuheng to his feet. "Child, don't get too worked up. If you win the championship, you'll have another chance to see me."
Jiang Yuheng was helpless. He could hardly say that he had been kicked out, could he?
So she could only swallow this humiliation with a smile, thank Yan Shaozhe, and quickly return to her team.
At that moment, she wished she could find a crack in the ground and crawl into it. Kneeling in front of everyone was truly too embarrassing!
Wang Dong said with a suppressed laugh, "Serves you right for talking nonsense. Will you dare to do it again next time?"
Jiang Yuheng curled her lips and pretended to be angry, ignoring Wang Dong.
Seeing this, Wang Dong quietly took Jiang Yuheng's arm and said in a slightly coquettish voice, "All right, my dear Captain, don't be angry. I was wrong."
Jiang Yuheng turned her head away, a barely noticeable smile tugging at her lips. "Words alone won't do. You need to show it through your actions."
Wang Dong said, "Fine, fine, fine. What do you want me to do? I'll agree to it."
"Anything?" Jiang Yuheng suddenly asked.
Wang Dong nodded without hesitation. "Anything, as long as it doesn't violate my personal principles."
Only then did Jiang Yuheng turn back. Her expression was complicated as she looked at Wang Dong's pink lips. Her own lips parted slightly, only to close again moments later.
"Consider yourself lucky. I haven't thought of anything yet." After saying that, Jiang Yuheng turned away somewhat guiltily, her cheeks flushing noticeably.
Damn it, damn it!
Jiang Yuheng, you already know it. What is there to be embarrassed about? Just say it boldly!
Wang Dong turned to look at her, her small eyes filled with enormous confusion.
Idiot, what exactly are you thinking?
There was no need to say much about the Semifinals. Jiang Yuheng's team could easily defeat even a Soul Elder, so teams without one were hardly worth mentioning.
Late at night, by Sea God Lake.
"Dean, isn't it too sudden to order a change to the Freshman Tournament rules without discussing it with Sea God's Pavilion first?" Du Weilun asked in surprise.
"Don't worry. This wasn't my decision alone; it was teacher's intention. Teacher—"
"—said that he was looking forward to this batch of students' performances, so naturally the difficulty had to be increased. Of course, the rewards won't be lacking either," Yan Shaozhe said with a smile.
When he had first heard this decision, Yan Shaozhe had also been quite surprised.
The rules of Shrek Academy's Freshman Assessment had been passed down since ten thousand years ago and had never undergone any major changes.
But from what teacher had said, this change seemed to have been made for a certain student. As for who it was, Yan Shaozhe had a faint guess.
After all, Du Weilun had unknowingly mentioned that person several times over the past few days. Yan Shaozhe's ears were practically growing calluses.
Inside the New Student Dormitory, the lights in Room 108 were still on.
"Yu Heng, Huo Yuhao seemed to have something against that Dai Huabin..." The moment they returned to the dormitory, Wang Dong could not help asking.
Huo Yuhao's reaction upon seeing Dai Huabin had been far too strange. Usually so calm and steady, he had actually lost control of his emotions like that. It puzzled her.
Jiang Yuheng stopped working on her Soul Tool and turned her gaze toward the door. "Let Yuhao tell us himself."
Hearing the voices, Huo Yuhao slowly walked in and shut the door. His expression had already returned to its usual calmness, but the aura of hatred around him showed no sign of fading.
"Are you all right?" Jiang Yuheng asked.
Huo Yuhao shook his head. "I'm fine. I thought I could suppress it, but I didn't expect my emotions to still get out of control. I'm sorry, Brother Yuheng."
Jiang Yuheng patted him on the shoulder. "Why are you apologizing to me? You're still so young. Don't be too hard on yourself. Relaxing is also a form of cultivation."
Huo Yuhao nodded, seeming to take her words to heart.
"So what happened?" Wang Dong asked cautiously.
"It's actually nothing major. I just can't get past that hurdle myself."
With that, Huo Yuhao briefly recounted for Wang Dong all the unfair treatment and hardships he had endured at the White Tiger Duke's Mansion.
Wang Dong was shocked as she listened. No wonder he was so composed, no wonder he cultivated so desperately. He had gone through such hardships.
"Bastard!" Wang Dong slammed her palm against the bedboard, sprang to her feet, grabbed Jiang Yuheng's hand, and headed outside.
"Where are you going?" Huo Yuhao hurriedly asked.
Wang Dong's face was full of anger. "Of course we're going to avenge you. Leaving everything else aside, if Jiang Yuheng and I join forces, there's no way we can lose!"
Jiang Yuheng stopped abruptly and pulled Wang Dong back, patiently persuading her, "Dong'er, calm down! Doing this won't help Yuhao at all. It'll only make things worse."
"Don't forget, privately fighting with participants in the Freshman Assessment will result in your tournament results being revoked."
"So we just endure it?!"
Jiang Yuheng patted her head and said fondly, "Silly girl, tomorrow is the finals of the Freshman Assessment. Do you think I'll let him off?"
The best way to defeat an enemy was not to aim for killing him, but to strip him of the dignity he took pride in before everyone's eyes.
"Wang Dong, I consider you a friend. Please make sure to keep this secret for me," Huo Yuhao said solemnly.
"Mm!" Wang Dong nodded seriously.
After that, the three of them went about their own tasks.
Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao focused on cultivation, while Jiang Yuheng concentrated on crafting and designing Soul Tools. It was not until noon that they left the dormitory and headed to the cafeteria.
"You three handsome boys, I heard you've already reserved the championship for yourselves. Could you give this young lady an autograph?" Xiao Xiao leaned against the cafeteria entrance with a beaming smile, facing the approaching trio.
"Xiao Xiao, why are you here? Are your injuries all right?" Seeing her, Huo Yuhao was immediately overjoyed. He hurried over and asked with concern.
Xiao Xiao giggled. "Who do you think I am? I'm a mighty wielder of Twin Martial Souls. A tiny injury like that can't do anything to me!"
Hearing that, Huo Yuhao immediately let out a sigh of relief. "That's great. I knew you'd be fine."
Listening to their exchange, Jiang Yuheng and Wang Dong exchanged a smile, both noticing the subtle undertones between them.
They did not expose it. Instead, like two parents, they quietly watched Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao, their faces full of gratification.
"Come on, the championship will definitely be ours!"
As she spoke, Xiao Xiao was the first to extend her right hand. Huo Yuhao placed his hand on top of hers, then looked toward Jiang Yuheng and Wang Dong.
The two naturally did not hesitate. They exchanged a smile, and in the end, Jiang Yuheng was the first to place her hand on top, followed by Wang Dong.
"We are the champions!" the four of them shouted together.
Just then, a shrill female voice suddenly rang out. "With your talent, you think you can win the championship? You really are toads dreaming of swan meat. Shameless."
Before you continue