Grilled Fish! Mom's Cooking!

In the forest, the campfire crackled.

Bei Bei was still toiling away, ruining live fish one after another, their white juices dripping onto the fire.

If you ignored the charred skin, the presentation was... rustic, at least.

Rustle rustle!

A sound of footsteps echoed, and Jiang Yi emerged from the night.

"Little Brother Jiang, you've come at the perfect time! Try my grilled fish!"

Bei Bei looked up, saw Jiang Yi, and quickly offered a skewer of somewhat blackened grilled fish.

Due to Tian Meng's concealment, he hadn't noticed Jiang Yi's breakthrough.

"Thank you!"

Jiang Yi took the grilled fish, glanced at the slightly carbonized skin, didn't mind it, and slowly began to eat.

As someone orphaned from childhood, Jiang Yi wasn't that picky. In his most difficult times, even soup made from boiled grass roots and fish bones was considered a great supplement.

It was only after awakening his martial soul that Jiang Yi's life improved somewhat, but after getting Xiao Lan, it all went to waste again.

"Hahaha! Eat more if you like it."

Bei Bei also laughed heartily, watching Jiang Yi eat his grilled fish, a sense of accomplishment welling up inside him.

If even Little Brother Jiang likes it, then Teacher Xiao Ya will definitely like it too!

Thus, Bei Bei grilled with even more effort, wisps of smoke rising and drifting in the night sky.

Jiang Yi watched the busy Bei Bei and smiled. His impression of this senior disciple of the Tang Sect was quite decent.

In the original work, apart from being a bit too much of a simp, Bei Bei didn't have many other flaws.

But then again... being devoted in Douluo Continent, he could only offer his respect.

After all, he was a complete pervert.

Having transmigrated, to still be timid and subservient, wouldn't that be a wasted transmigration?

The two chatted idly, and before long, two figures approached from the distance.

"We're back!"

Tang Ya, pulling Huo Yutong along, strode over.

Huo Yutong had been injured earlier, and Tang Ya had taken her to clean her wounds nearby and wash up.

"Teacher Xiao Ya!"

Bei Bei heard the voices and turned around with a smile, but the next moment, he couldn't help but freeze.

"Is this... Little Huo?"

He widened his eyes, looking at the blue-haired girl beside Tang Ya in disbelief.

Huo Yutong had changed into clean clothes. Though simple, they couldn't hide the girl's elegance.

Her previously sallow face had become fair and rosy, with a touch of tender melancholy amidst her youth.

Just looking at her made one want to hold her and cherish her gently.

"Of course!"

Tang Ya said with a proud smile, putting an arm around the little Yutong beside her, a hint of doting on her face.

By the river, she had learned about Huo Yutong's background and successfully recruited a new member for the Tang Sect.

Tang Ya treated this little sister as if she were her own.

Jiang Yi glanced over, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

Although he had accidentally seen her earlier, the feeling of the two wearing clothes... was indeed different.

However, after a second glance, Jiang Yi withdrew his gaze.

Tang Ya pulled Huo Yutong to sit by the campfire and then mercilessly criticized Bei Bei's grilled fish.

"Bei Bei, your grilled fish still smells so bad!"

She picked up a skewer, sniffed it, and then disgustedly put it back.

"Teacher Xiao Ya, I've done my best..."

Bei Bei shrugged helplessly.

Just then, Huo Yutong, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.

"How about, I'll do it!"

Huo Yutong stuck out her tongue. Looking at the blackened grilled fish, she volunteered.

This was one of the few things she could help with.

"Then we'll have to trouble you, Little Yutong!"

Tang Ya rubbed her hands together, nodding repeatedly, her eyes shining as she looked at Huo Yutong.

A few days ago, they had already tasted Huo Yutong's cooking, and that grilled fish reminded her of her mother's taste.

"Mm."

Huo Yutong nodded with a smile and began to move with practiced ease.

Her movements were skillful—flipping, seasoning, and controlling the heat all in one fluid motion, making her look like a completely different person from her previously timid self.

Before long, skewers of fragrant grilled fish were distributed to everyone, the mouth-watering aroma wafting through the night breeze.

"Jiang Yi, what do you plan to do next?"

Tang Ya looked at Jiang Yi tentatively while eating her grilled fish, clearly still unable to let go of this "fish that slipped through the net."

Compared to someone like Bei Bei, who acted like a young master, Jiang Yi and Huo Yutong were the true pillars the Tang Sect needed.

Huo Yutong, sitting nearby, continued grilling fish, but her ears perked up quietly.

She had already promised Big Sister Tang Ya to go to Shrek Academy, but if Jiang Yi could come along too... that would be even better.

Of course, she only wanted to repay his kindness; after all, her mother had said that a good child always returns favors.

"Me?"

Jiang Yi pondered for a moment, then spoke without hesitation.

"I've already found my second soul ring, so next... I should be applying to Shrek Academy."

This was a goal he had already decided on; although Shrek Academy was a bit abstract in the original story, it was one of the few options for commoners on the continent.

The Sun Moon Empire had evil soul masters, and joining the nobility of the major empires meant being a dog, so Shrek Academy was better than that.

The Body Sect was also decent, but he didn't possess a body martial soul. After thinking it over, Shrek was the most suitable place to lay low and develop, as long as he stayed away from Tang Wutong.

"Really?"

Hearing this, Tang Ya stood up abruptly.

"Join our Tang Sect!"

She leaned in with a grin, draping an arm over Jiang Yi's shoulder like an intimate elder.

"Little Yutong is also a member of the Tang Sect. If we add you, the scale of our Tang Sect will have quadrupled..."

Tang Ya started giggling as she spoke, daydreaming about the future.

"I think I'll pass for now..."

Jiang Yi glanced at her and declined directly.

Joining Shrek was fine; God King Tang wouldn't necessarily pay him any mind, but the Tang Sect was different.

That was a massive karmic debt!!!

"Alright then..."

Tang Ya pouted, helplessly releasing Jiang Yi's shoulder, her face showing visible disappointment.

"However, Junior Brother Jiang, if you encounter any problems at Shrek Academy, you can come find us..."

Bei Bei smiled and took over the conversation, diffusing the slightly awkward atmosphere.

Given the strength Jiang Yi had displayed, he didn't think the other party would fail the entrance examination.

"Then thank you, Senior Brother!"

Jiang Yi nodded with a smile, not refusing.

"By the way, Jiang Yi, what is your martial soul? Would it be convenient to reveal it?"

Bei Bei asked curiously.

A martial soul capable of achieving regional beast transformation like his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon must also be a top-tier beast martial soul. Yet, he had never seen Jiang Yi fully release his martial soul.

Tang Ya and the others nearby also turned their curious gazes toward him.

Meeting the three pairs of eyes, Jiang Yi thought for a moment, then opened his palm and summoned his martial soul.

"This is my martial soul!"

A palm-sized purple sphere appeared in Jiang Yi's palm, with a faint golden lightning pattern engraved on its surface.