Xia Yan Returns

Night fell.

Starlight flickered.

Inside and outside the village, everything was silent, save for the moonlight.

Compared to other academies, Shrek Academy had one major advantage: it had an abundance of dormitories.

The number of dorms was many times the number of students.

Therefore, students could choose their rooms at will—a feat few Soul Master Academies across the entire continent could claim.

It was practically extravagant.

During the day, Oscar had dragged Tang San to the pond with a rope, washed him clean, and then selected a decent room for him.

He swept it clean.

Since there was no bedding, Oscar even laid out his own brand-new set on Tang San's bed. As for why it was brand-new, it was simply because Oscar couldn't get past his own mental block.

Even if it were bedding he had used, the thought of Tang San using it afterward—the idea of them sharing a set of bedding—

gave him the chills.

He couldn't accept it at all.

On the other side of Shrek Academy, in the Vice Dean's office, Zhao Wuji lay back in his chair with his feet propped up on the desk, the moonlight from the window spilling in.

"..."

Staring at the moon, Zhao Wuji covered his face and let out a long sigh.

If word of today's events got out, he would likely be a laughingstock for the rest of his life...

"Sigh..."

That kid should be fine. I held back my strength, and he ate a Recovery Sausage. At most, he'll be out for an hour or two; he should wake up normally by dawn. I never expected Blue Silver Grass could produce a genius...

"Get out here!"

Suddenly, a low voice, suppressed with rage like a volcano before an eruption, drifted into Zhao Wuji's ears from outside.

He froze.

He shouted, "Who's there!"

He immediately unleashed his Soul Saint-level perception. He could perceive every blade of grass and tree within a hundred meters of the building, yet outside was dead silent; there wasn't a soul in sight.

Someone who can evade my perception?

Stronger than me?

Who is it?

Zhao Wuji's heart sank, and he immediately rushed outside.

He saw a dark figure standing on the grass under the moonlight, draped in a tattered black robe. He couldn't make out the man's features, only the black stubble on his chin.

It was a middle-aged man.

Zhao Wuji hesitated for a moment. Even at such close range, he couldn't sense the other party's aura.

It could only mean the man was stronger than him.

Stronger to the point of being overwhelming!

Zhao Wuji immediately changed his demeanor. He cupped his hands and bowed, "This Senior, may I ask who you are..."

If someone is stronger than him, he must be respectful.

Don't let his burly appearance fool you; he knew exactly what he was doing. Having roamed the Soul Master world for years and remained unscathed, if he had relied solely on brute force, he would have been dead a long time ago.

His survival relied on knowing how to adapt.

The black-robed man did not speak, remaining silent where he stood.

To Zhao Wuji, this was not a good sign.

Then, the black-robed man made a grasping motion with his left hand, clutching a massive black hammer. A yellow Soul Ring slowly rose and rippled outward.

Zhao Wuji could only bite the bullet and continue to bow, "Senior, this junior is dull-witted and does not know how he has offended you. I hope you can enlighten me!"

The black-robed man remained silent, a second yellow Soul Ring lighting up on his body, followed by a third, a fourth...

Soul Rings were released one after another, until the ninth Soul Ring appeared.

A blood-red, hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring!

Zhao Wuji's pupils shrank violently, a chill running down his spine as his heart leaped into his throat.

Two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red!

A Title Douluo!

He bowed even lower, hurriedly offering a fawning smile: "This junior is bold, may I ask which senior has graced us with their presence..."

Tang Hao did not respond, standing silently in place.

Only the chirping of crickets between the blades of grass remained, making the silence feel even more deathly.

Zhao Wuji felt his mouth go dry. He truly did not know what he had done to offend this Title Douluo, so he could only bite the bullet and continue: "Please forgive me, Senior, this junior..."

A furious Tang Hao was unwilling to utter another word, swinging his hammer down upon him.

"No! Senior! This junior..."

Before Zhao Wuji could finish his sentence, heavy fists and the giant hammer intertwined, raining down upon him and rendering him unable to speak a single word...

The physical defense of the Immovable Bright King, which he usually took such pride in, was as weak as a chick before a Title Douluo who hadn't even used a single soul skill. He had no power to resist, and Zhao Wuji dared not resist, fearing he might further enrage Tang Hao.

Tang Hao could have held back initially, but by the end, he was so close... he almost couldn't restrain himself, almost beating Zhao Wuji to death in broad daylight!

A humiliating disgrace!

To dare insult the son of him, the Clear Sky Douluo!

Tang Hao threw punch after punch, the desolate, empty meadow echoing with Zhao Wuji's screams.

When Tang Hao finally finished venting, Zhao Wuji lay sprawled on the ground, his head swollen to twice its size like a pig's, both eye sockets bruised black, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth, his arms completely broken, and not a single patch of skin left intact. Tang Hao had driven hidden force into his body with every punch, churning his internal organs and muscles into unbearable agony, leaving him to lie on the ground, gasping for air.

"Many... cough, cough... many thanks to Senior... for the grace of not killing me... cough, cough, cough..."

Tang Hao retracted the Clear Sky Hammer, shook his black robe, and stood with his hands behind his back.

Flender, who had been hiding in the dark, stepped out from the shadows and bowed: "Many thanks to Senior for the grace of not killing us."

He had arrived while Zhao Wuji was screaming, but he had been unable to show himself, nor had he intended to hide from a Title Douluo's perception.

Tang Hao sneered: "Hmph, Four-Eyed Owl Flender."

Unwilling to say more, he issued a direct command:

"You two, protect my son Tang San well. Do not let him suffer any harm that could affect his life."

"Facilitate his relationship with Xiao Wu."

"There is also a Xia Yan in your academy. Keep a close eye on him. If he intends to oppose Tang San, seeks to defect to Martial Soul Hall, or even tries to get close to Xiao Wu, execute him immediately!"

A fierce light flared in Tang Hao's eyes:

"There must be no mistakes!"

The obsession of Tang Hao's entire life was revenge—to annihilate Martial Soul Hall!

But during these years of seclusion in Soul Birth Village, he had seen no hope for vengeance, burdened by hidden injuries and drunk day after day.

Yet, his son had suddenly awakened with Innate Full Soul Power, the Clear Sky Hammer, and Blue Silver Grass!

It was hope!

But for just the two of them, father and son, to kill nearly twenty Title Douluos, including Bibi Dong, along with those Soul Douluos and Soul Saints...

it was somewhat difficult.

Tang Hao had originally intended for Tang San and Xia Yan to become good friends. Xia Yan also possessed Innate Full Soul Power, with talent and strength far exceeding his peers; he could have become a great asset for their father-son revenge against Martial Soul Hall.

But he never expected that Tang San and Xia Yan would not become friends, but enemies instead. That trash Yu Xiaogang couldn't even handle a small matter properly!

Even more serious was the fact that Xiao Wu had actually fallen for Xia Yan!

It wasn't that he hadn't considered killing Xia Yan, but a dead "white moonlight" was the most terrifying thing of all.

What if Xiao Wu pines for Xia Yan for the rest of her life?

Only by letting Xia Yan live, and letting Xiao Wu see the unacceptable flaws in him, could her affection for him be erased.

He could not be killed.

Tang Hao regretted countless times why he hadn't acted sooner; otherwise, the situation would not be as unsightly as it was now.

After Tang Hao finished his instructions, he flew into the night sky.

Flender remained where he was, still respectful, waiting until the burly, black-robed figure vanished into the night sky.

Only then did he stand up.

He helped Zhao Wuji to his feet.

"Sigh..."

Flender watched the direction in which Tang Hao had departed with caution: "I finally understand why Xia Yan came to Shrek..."

He had asked before, and Xia Yan had only said that Shrek did things in a mysterious and eccentric way that suited his tastes, so he came.

Now it seemed, He had actually just wanted to find a remote place to hide from Tang Hao.

He just hadn't expected to run into him at Shrek anyway...

Zhao Wuji was in excruciating pain all over. He wanted to take a medicinal pill but didn't dare to. His lips were blackened and swollen like sausages as he asked in slurred, indistinct words: "Then... then what do we do? We can't actually lay a hand on him, can we?"