Huo Yutong?

Xiao Yi activated his Azure Serpent Three-Flower Eyes. Three petals slowly revolved in his pupils, mesmerizing anyone who looked into them. The Mandala Snake that had just lunged at him seemed to have been hit with a body-binding spell. It froze on the spot, unable to move.

Those strange, captivating eyes turned toward the source of the noise.

The bushes rustled, and three figures hurriedly sprang out from within.

The moment they saw each other, both sides froze.

As soon as Bei Bei saw Xiao Yi, he went on high alert. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Spirit inside him possessed him of its own accord, and three spirit rings—two yellow and one purple—began circling around him.

Xiao Yi looked at the three across from him, especially Bei Bei's reaction, and felt a little speechless. I only looked at you. Was there really any need to be this scared?

What surprised Xiao Yi wasn't Bei Bei, but the two girls behind him, who were staring at him with bewildered expressions.

That's right, there were two...

One had long black hair tied high into a ponytail with a butterfly hair ornament, and a pretty face with a pair of pale pink eyes. (The manga version.) Who else could it be but Tang Ya?

The other girl left Xiao Yi at a loss.

She was petite and delicate—or rather, she looked a little malnourished. Her long blue hair was simply tied back, and her fair face had an unhealthy, waxy pallor. More than her looks, what drew the eye were her lively eyes, bright as stars.

A bold guess took shape in Xiao Yi's mind. Could it be...?

He slowly withdrew his spirit and put on a friendly smile.

"This Mandala Snake was your target, right? It's only restrained by my spirit skill."

The three finally came back to their senses. Bei Bei also realized he'd lost his composure, and, feeling rather awkward, hurried to apologize.

"Sorry, little brother. We misunderstood you. Thank you for stopping this spirit beast for us." As he spoke, he led the two girls forward and apologized to Xiao Yi. In truth, he'd simply been frightened by Xiao Yi's glance, but Bei Bei maintained that he absolutely could not admit it.

Tang Ya curiously sized up the young man before her. Before Bei Bei could say anything, Tang Ya seemed to think of something. Her eyes lit up, and she almost blurted out:

"Little brother, would you like to join the Tang Sect?"

She'd seen it just now: there were three purple spirit rings beneath the boy's feet.

Tang Ya gazed at Xiao Yi with shining eyes, not even blinking. He felt a little creeped out.

"Xiao Ya." Bei Bei helplessly pushed Tang Ya's head back when she leaned toward Xiao Yi. Tang Ya glared daggers at him.

"What are you supposed to call me?"

"Teacher Xiao Ya." Bei Bei immediately backed down.

"Sorry, little brother. Teacher Xiao Ya is just like that, so please don't take it to heart. Her name is Tang Ya, and she's the sect master of the Tang Sect. This is Huo Yutong, another member of our sect. Also, we're all students at Shrek."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Xiao Yi, and I'm planning to apply to Shrek too."

Xiao Yi already knew all three of them were from Shrek. In his twelve years in this world, they were the first characters from the original story he'd met. He was just a little curious about how Huo Yuhao had become Huo Yutong.

He looked at the little girl huddled behind the other two, trying her best to stay unnoticed, and seeming rather timid. He was curious.

Bei Bei and Tang Ya, however, brightened.

"So you're planning to join Shrek too, little brother. That makes you our junior, then, Xiao Yi."

"Then, little brother, would you like to join the Tang Sect? Back in the day, the Tang Sect and Shrek were as close as family."

Xiao Yi's mouth twitched. Was Tang Ya a little slow on the uptake?

Bei Bei gave Tang Ya a helpless look. There were only three people left in the Tang Sect. Why would a genius like him join?

"The Tang Sect? Is that the sect founded by the Sea God Tang San?"

"That's right, the Tang Sect you're thinking of." Tang Ya proudly shot Bei Bei a glance.

See? Our Tang Sect is still famous.

"It was personally founded by the Sea God Tang San. So, little brother, would you like to join?" Worried Xiao Yi might refuse immediately, she hurriedly listed the benefits of joining the Tang Sect: the Mysterious Heaven Technique and some Tang Sect arts.

When she finished, Xiao Yi still didn't react, and Tang Ya began to lose confidence. With only a few people left in the Tang Sect, he probably wouldn't agree.

"So there are only three of you left in the Tang Sect?" Xiao Yi looked at the three before him, trying not to laugh. Just thinking about what he was about to say made the corners of his mouth creep upward.

"Mm, that's right." At his answer, Tang Ya immediately drooped, and her eyes grew a little red.

"The Ironblood Sect took our Tang Sect's legacy. Now we don't even have a place to call our sect's home."

Just thinking of that night made Tang Ya's heart feel as if it were being cut by knives.

But before she could even finish grieving, Xiao Yi could no longer hold back the corners of his mouth.

"That's wonderful!"

Tang Ya: ?

Bei Bei: ??

Huo Yutong: ???

Xiao Yi pretended he'd misspoken and coughed twice.

"Ahem. I mean, it's wonderful that I'll get to be your junior."

Tang Ya was dazed. She pointed at Xiao Yi with a trembling finger.

What kind of brain does this guy have? I'm the sect master of the Tang Sect, and I'm standing right here. How can he say something like that...?

But then she suddenly felt dejected. What he'd said wasn't entirely unreasonable. The Tang Sect really had nothing left, and he was only telling the truth.

Tang Ya silently brooded nearby while Huo Yutong comforted her. Xiao Yi didn't say a word the entire time.

Bei Bei glanced back at Xiao Yi. Under Xiao Yi's gaze, Huo Yutong was like a startled fawn, shrinking even further until she nearly hid behind Tang Ya.

Bei Bei gave an awkward smile and said nothing. It was obvious the boy had declined. Seeing the Mandala Snake lying on the ground as if dead, he hurriedly reminded her:

"All right, Teacher Xiao Ya, come absorb the spirit ring. Xiao Yi's been holding it still for ages."

Tang Ya slowly made her way over, the corners of her eyes still red, with a few little pearls of tears clinging there.

As she passed Xiao Yi, Tang Ya glared fiercely at him, then dashed over to the Mandala Snake and pulled out a knife, stabbing it viciously as if venting her anger.

Before long, a purple spirit ring floated out. Tang Ya sat cross-legged and began absorbing it.

Xiao Yi, Bei Bei, and Huo Yutong leaned to one side and waited for Tang Ya to finish absorbing the spirit ring.

Xiao Yi curiously watched the little Huo. Good grief, I can't believe it—this is Huo Yuhao? Why is she so adorable? Little Huo is pretty cute.

Seeing Xiao Yi staring at Huo Yutong, Bei Bei asked curiously:

"What's wrong, Xiao Yi? Do you know our junior sister?"

Xiao Yi shook his head.

"No, I just think Huo Yutong's eyes are beautiful. Is your spirit also related to your eyes?"

Feeling a little embarrassed under his gaze, Huo Yutong finally lifted her head and answered softly.

"Mm."

She's got a nice voice too, Xiao Yi thought. Someone should just electrocute her.

"Your spirit is related to your eyes too, right, Xiao Yi?" Bei Bei recalled the brief glance when they'd first met. That inexplicable pressure had genuinely startled him.

Xiao Yi nodded gently. Petal-like patterns appeared in his eyes, beautiful enough to make both of them stare.

Huo Yutong in particular felt an inexplicable sense of closeness toward Xiao Yi. She stopped huddling and hiding like an ostrich.

Though she was a little shy and stammered at times, she still began chatting with the two of them.