Grilled Fish

Outside Shrek Academy's East Gate, Long Street was bustling.

This gate was the academy's only direct passage to the outside world, with students taking turns standing guard every day.

A market had spontaneously formed along the base of the city wall outside the gate. It sold everything—food, daily necessities, low-grade Soul Tool parts, and even stalls that bought Soul Beast materials.

The cries of vendors and the sounds of haggling blended together, making the place far livelier than the academy itself.

Huo Yuhao crouched in an open space by the street, with a simple charcoal stove set before him. Several skewered fish rested over the stove, sizzling as oil dripped from them.

His hands moved steadily. With the precise control of his Spiritual Eyes, he turned each skewer evenly. The golden fish skin had been grilled to a lightly crisp finish, and its fragrance drifted far on the wind.

This was his first time setting up a stall outside the academy. Tang Ya had helped him prepare the fish, saying they were fresh and inexpensive goods purchased from the logistics department. She had prepared the seasonings as well.

Even the charcoal stove had been lent to him by Beibei. They both said he was good at grilling fish and could try setting up a stall outside the academy to earn some pocket money.

He was actually rather nervous, but he also felt a small sense of anticipation.

Most of the fish on the stove had already been sold. Only the final two skewers remained, specially saved for Tang Ya and Beibei. They had said they would come by later to pick them up.

Huo Yuhao looked up at the sky, figuring that they should be arriving soon.

Just then, a series of footsteps stopped before his stall.

"It smells so good."

A soft, sweet female voice rang out. Huo Yuhao looked up, and his breath involuntarily caught.

Four or five girls in yellow school uniforms stood before the stall. The one at the front had a slender figure and an exquisitely beautiful face bearing a gentle smile. The corners of her eyes tilted slightly upward, and even standing there casually, she looked like a meticulously painted portrait.

It was Jiang Nannan, the universally acknowledged beauty of the Outer Court. The girls behind her all leaned closer curiously, staring at the grilled fish sizzling with oil.

"Little brother, how much are these grilled fish?" Jiang Nannan asked with smiling eyes.

Huo Yuhao hurriedly came back to himself. "Hello, Senior Sister. They're five Copper Soul Coins per skewer."

Jiang Nannan looked at the two remaining skewers on the stove, then counted the number of people on her side. A trace of difficulty appeared on her face, but she still tried to negotiate. "I'll take them all. How about three Copper Soul Coins each?"

Huo Yuhao shook his head apologetically. "Sorry, Senior Sister, but these two skewers were promised to someone else, so I can't sell them. And I can't lower the price either. The fish and seasonings I use are all good quality."

A flicker of regret crossed Jiang Nannan's face, but she did not press the matter. She merely smiled and waved her hand. "All right, then. I'll try them next time."

She was just about to turn and leave when an irritated voice suddenly cut in from the side—

"What's going on? Aren't they just two lousy skewers of grilled fish?"

The crowd parted, and a tall youth strode over. He wore a black school uniform and had a handsome face, though his brows were tightly furrowed and his eyes were full of impatience.

It was Xu Sanshi of the Outer Court's Fifth Year.

The moment his gaze landed on Jiang Nannan, it immediately softened. "Nannan, if you wanted grilled fish, you could've just told me. Why bother haggling with a child?"

As he spoke, he pulled a Gold Soul Coin from his Soul Tool and slapped it onto the wooden board before Huo Yuhao. The coin rolled twice.

"One Gold Soul Coin. I'm buying these two fish." Xu Sanshi lifted his chin slightly, his gaze arrogant and condescending as he reached for the two skewers. "Take the money and get lost. Don't stand here and get in my way."

He moved extremely quickly, and his hand was about to touch the skewers—

At the instant his fingertips were about to make contact, a hand reached in from the side. Two fingers gently pinched the skewers and steadily lifted both of them away.

Xu Sanshi's grab hit empty air, and his palm landed directly on the glowing charcoal fire. With a sharp hiss, he jerked his hand back, his palm reddened all over.

"Who the fuck dares steal my things?" Xu Sanshi instantly flew into a rage and looked up, ready to lash out.

But when he saw the newcomer's face, he forcibly swallowed the curse that had reached his lips.

Xue Lingyun stood before the stall with two skewers of grilled fish in hand. A casual smile curled at the corner of his lips as he raised a brow at Xu Sanshi. "Oh? Senior Xu, what a coincidence."

"It's you..." Xu Sanshi squeezed out through gritted teeth, his face shifting between green and white.

"Bro Lingyun!" Huo Yuhao's eyes immediately lit up when he recognized him.

Jiang Nannan's eyes brightened as well, and she immediately stepped forward. "Lingyun classmate!"

Xue Lingyun looked at her, his gaze pausing as if weighing how to address her. After a moment, he hesitantly said, "Uh, Senior Sister Jiang."

"You don't need to be so polite with me." Jiang Nannan smiled as she stepped closer and lightly patted his arm. "Just call me Nannan."

Xue Lingyun froze for a moment, then nodded. "Uh, Nannan."

"Yes!" Jiang Nannan answered brightly, her eyes curving into crescents.

Beside them, Xu Sanshi's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

The girls who had come with Jiang Nannan nudged one another and exchanged meaningful looks from the side, unable to suppress their smiles.

Huo Yuhao looked from one to the other, his face full of confusion. "Bro Lingyun, you know each other?"

"We do." Xue Lingyun smiled and first handed the two skewers back to Huo Yuhao. "This is Jiang Nannan. You could say she's an old acquaintance of mine, and she's also a fourth year senior at our academy."

He turned toward Xu Sanshi, whose face had gone iron-gray, paused, and deliberately drew out his words. "As for this one, he's Senior Xu Lei. Uh... I suppose he's a good person. He even gave me a few Mystic Water Pills before. The one you took was generously gifted by this senior."

"My name is Xu Sanshi!" Xu Sanshi instantly bristled, the veins at his temples bulging.

Xue Lingyun nodded thoughtfully. "They mean about the same thing. But I think Xu Lei sounds better."

"You—!" Xu Sanshi wanted to retort, but when he met Xue Lingyun's faintly smiling gaze, the rest of his words caught in his throat.

Especially the matter of the Mystic Water Pills—he did not dare mention even half a word about it. He had lost those in a bet, and if that got out, he would be utterly humiliated.

Beibei had somehow come over as well. Hearing that, he could not help laughing. "Xu Lei? That's a nice name. It sounds better than Xu Sanshi."

"Beibei, shut up!" Xu Sanshi's face flushed red.

Huo Yuhao and Xue Lingyun ignored him and continued chatting among themselves.

"Bro Lingyun, why did you come here?" Huo Yuhao asked.

"I had nothing to do. I was getting bored staying in the academy, so I came out for a walk."

Xue Lingyun shrugged, his gaze sweeping over the street that stretched beyond the city gate. "I heard Shrek City is pretty interesting. I was planning to go in and take a look."

"Shrek City? I know that place well!" Jiang Nannan immediately leaned in, her eyes sparkling. "I've been at Shrek for years. I know exactly which streets have the best food and which shops are cheap! I'll show you around!"

Without waiting for Xue Lingyun to react, she directly grabbed his wrist, turned, and ran toward the city gate to the south.

To enter the city, they had to go through the South Gate or North Gate. The East Gate was an academy-only passage, and the school had no back gate leading into the city.

As she ran, she turned back and waved at Huo Yuhao. "Yuhao, I'll try your grilled fish next time!"

Dragged along by her, Xue Lingyun only had time to turn back, smile at Huo Yuhao, and wave. His figure quickly disappeared into the crowd.

The girls who had come with Jiang Nannan did not follow her. They remained where they were, whispering among themselves with smiles curving their eyes.

"Nannan!" Xu Sanshi shouted anxiously and lifted his foot to chase after her.

A hand pressed down on his shoulder, stopping him.

Beibei stood before him with a helpless smile. "Enough, Sanshi. Don't chase her. There are plenty of fish in the sea, and besides, Jiang Nannan was never interested in you to begin with."

"What do you mean, not interested?" Xu Sanshi's eyes reddened. He shoved Beibei's hand away, but when he looked up at the crowd again, there was no sign of Jiang Nannan or Xue Lingyun.

He froze in place, staring at the empty street entrance. His knees went weak, and he nearly dropped to his knees. Clutching his hair with both hands, he let out a mournful cry. "No—Nannan!"

Fallen leaves from the roadside swirled past his feet in the wind, inexplicably adding a touch of desolation.

Only after Xu Sanshi left did Tang Ya slowly emerge from the crowd. She walked to Huo Yuhao's side, took the grilled fish he handed her, and bit into it. Her eyes brightened. "Not bad, Yuhao. Your skills are getting better and better."

Beibei walked over as well, accepted the other skewer, tasted it, and nodded.

"Senior Sister Tang Ya, Big Brother Beibei." Huo Yuhao greeted them with a smile.

"Now that those two have left, you can finally eat your fish in peace." Tang Ya took another bite and said indistinctly, "Xu Sanshi's expression alone could make me laugh for a year."

Beibei added leisurely from the side, "Especially when he was called Xu Lei."

Huo Yuhao could not help laughing.

"By the way, you seem very close with that Xue Lingyun?" Tang Ya asked curiously.

Huo Yuhao nodded, a gentle smile in his eyes. "Yes, we've known each other for many years."

He said nothing more. He simply lowered his head, his thoughts drifting back to the past.