Still a Youth Upon Returning

Bai Mo walked over to Tingyun with Ning Tian and Gu Yuena, then asked whether she'd found any promising talent.

As for Nan Qiuchiu, Wu Feng had dragged her off to the Trial Tower's control room to watch the trials as they really unfolded.

"Of course! I've found nine little ladies who are every bit as promising as Nannan!"

Following Tingyun's gesture, Bai Mo spotted a little girl with green twin-tails.

"Come to think of it, aren't there a lot of green-haired people around?"

Bai Mo couldn't help commenting. There was Ice Empress, Bi Ji, and now Xiao Xiao.

"This child may be young, but she has a good temperament. After studying at Purple Branch for a while, she has a chance of entering Black Branch," Tingyun said softly.

(A brief aside: In the original, Xiao Xiao was Soul Power Level 22 when she enrolled, then reached Level 29 a year later. She gained seven levels in one year—what the hell had she been doing before that? This Soul Power system is just ridiculous. The author will be revising Soul Power Levels later on.)

Tingyun then pointed out a few more students to Bai Mo.

"Is that the friend Jiang Nannan was going to look for?"

Bai Mo suddenly noticed Tang Ya entering the Yellow Trial Tower.

How did Bai Mo know Tang Ya?

Heh. Tang Ya had actually shown up for the trial wearing the Tang Sect's light-blue uniform. She might as well have put up a sign announcing she was from the Tang Sect.

"Doesn't matter if she's from the Tang Sect or Shrek. As long as she doesn't cause trouble and is content to be a student, we can leave her be!"

"Bai, a moment ago, three Soul Power fluctuations of the same origin appeared on the outskirts of Shrek City. They're probably those Evil Soul Masters you mentioned."

Bai Mo had been watching the excitement with Tingyun when he suddenly received a message from Herta.

"Oh? What happened? Did the Evil Soul Masters come looking for trouble?"

"No. The three of them just released a burst of Soul Power, then took a little girl from Shrek and ran off."

"Well, never mind, then. As long as they don't jump out in front of us for now, they can do whatever they want. But is Shrek just cursed with bad luck? I beat them up, and now one of their students has been kidnapped by Evil Soul Masters?"

"Do as you like!"

Bai Mo was whispering to Little Black Tower in his heart and didn't notice Gu Yuena edging closer to him again.

"Student Bai, do you think you could get through the Black Trial Tower?"

They hadn't built a Red Trial Tower on campus. What use was there for something you couldn't get through? If he had more money to spare later, he could always set one up to put the students through their paces.

"Mm-hm—huh?"

When he saw Gu Yuena approaching, Bai Mo's eyes lit up. He'd just thought of a brilliant plan.

"I asked if you could get through the Black Trial Tower, Student Bai. I tried it yesterday, and it took a lot of effort to make it through."

Gu Yuena repeated her question, raising her delicate face with a proud little smile.

"No, no, I'm too weak. By the way, Old Gu, are you free lately? I'll take you somewhere nice!"

Bai Mo grinned at Gu Yuena. He planned to get his hands on some good stuff and, while he was at it, let Gu Yuena take the blame.

Bai Mo reckoned that while he was smashing up Shrek, the Minghuo Chamber of Commerce and the Fairy Boat had probably caught the eye of some Divine King.

But it didn't matter. If Gu Yuena and Bai Mo showed their hands at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well together, Divine King Tang would never think the Fairy Boat was behind it all.

"Somewhere nice?"

Gu Yuena gazed at Bai Mo in confusion. For all her unparalleled wisdom, she couldn't figure out why he'd suddenly changed his attitude toward her.

"Wait! Don't call me Old Gu!"

"Hehe, there are plenty of treasures there. We should be able to get quite a lot out of it, though we might need your uncle's help. The Fairy Boat needs time to get approval before it can dispatch a Titled Douluo."

"No problem!"

Gu Yuena didn't care about the treasures. She was just pleased that Bai Mo was relying on her more. That would give her a considerable advantage in winning him over later.

Bai Mo smiled happily. Di Tian, you may have slighted me two chapters ago, but I'm a magnanimous man. Look, I'm even planning to take you out and let you show your face in front of a Divine King!

"Then go tell your uncle first. We'll leave soon, so make it quick!"

"Okay!"

Gu Yuena left, satisfied. She also planned to tell Di Tian that if they ran into danger, he should hold back a little. That was how you built a closer relationship, after all!

"Heh. You're saying that dragon has lived for hundreds of thousands of years?" Herta teased in Bai Mo's mind.

"Still a youth upon returning!"

After joking around for a moment, Bai Mo turned to Tingyun and Ning Tian.

"I'm planning to dig up a hot spring and pick a few flowers and herbs while I'm at it."

Ning Tian stared at Bai Mo in shock.

"Do you mean that flower I'm thinking of?"

Bai Mo shrugged, putting on a mysterious air.

Ning Tian pressed her lips together and gazed at the carefree Bai Mo with complicated feelings.

"Ah, sir, you really are a man of many affairs. But there's something I'd like to remind you of."

Tingyun waved her fan as she called Bai Mo to a stop.

"Please, enlighten me, Tingyun!"

"Student Gu Yuena's Martial Soul is the Silver Spear, and she has Innate Full Soul Power. Do try not to forget that~"

Bai Mo's face stiffened. He hadn't even thought to ask Gu Yuena about her Martial Soul after recruiting her. If she had been anyone with a brain, he would have been exposed on the spot.

Bai Mo looked at Tingyun, whose eyes were smiling at the corners. To her, the battle of wits between him and Gu Yuena was probably nothing more than children playing house.

"Sir, there's no need to worry too much. In my opinion, even if this student really does find out, she may not be able to bring herself to make a move~"

Bai Mo smiled politely.

Just then, the delighted Gu Yuena returned, with the stern and imposing Di Tian following behind her.

"Senior Di Long, I assume Gu Yuena has already explained things to you. I'll be relying on you for this trip!"

"Mm. I'll keep you all safe."

"Don't worry, Student Bai. If you really are in danger, it will have to get past my dead body first!"

Gu Yuena recited her line with a solemn face, the tips of her ears turning red.

Bai Mo's pupils contracted as he stared at Gu Yuena. Where the hell had she found that line?

"Th-thank you! Though there's no need to put it that way. I still have a trump card left behind by the Celestial Lord, so I won't be in danger."

Di Tian's eyes shifted, but he didn't interrupt his master's efforts to win Bai Mo over.

"Heh heh heh. We three brothers went to see what sort of big shot this Minghuo was, since it had managed to suppress Shrek Academy. We never expected, never expected to find such an unexpected prize!"

Zhong Litian cackled.

"Heh heh heh. Big Brother is right. Who would've thought Shrek Academy was hiding such a promising Evil Soul Master? Once we hand her over to the Cult Master, she might even become the future Saintess!"

Zhong Didi dragged the unconscious Ma Xiaotao along with one hand, backing up his big brother.

"Heh heh heh. Big Brother, Second Brother, should we keep monitoring Minghuo Academy?"

"Heh heh heh. Monitor my ass! Do you think we can keep an eye on a faction that can go toe-to-toe with Shrek? We've got an unexpected prize in hand, so now's the perfect time to back out of this business!"

"Big Brother is brilliant!" ×2!