Dormitory 108?

Only after Tang Ya and Bei Bei disappeared around the bend did Su Chen turn and, following the number on his key, head unhurriedly toward the freshman dormitory area.

In the Sea of Consciousness, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, who had been quietly watching the show, finally spoke. His voice was thick with teasing and amusement:

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Kid, I saw everything. That little girl called Tang Ya—from the Star Dou Forest until now, the way she looks at you, the way she acts... heh heh, she seems to like you a lot, doesn't she?"

Su Chen didn't break stride. His expression remained unchanged as he replied calmly in his mind, "You're reading too much into it."

"Reading too much into it?" Sky Dream Ice Silkworm gave a strange laugh. "Bro has lived for a million years. What haven't I seen? That little girl's thoughts are written all over her pretty face!"

"When she talks to you, her eyes shine like stars. She gets so close, and when it's time to part, she looks so reluctant... tsk, tsk, it's good to be young!"

"Is playing matchmaker part of your grand plan to become a god?" Su Chen asked in return.

"Hey! You can't put it like that!" Sky Dream Ice Silkworm declared righteously. "Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a confidante by your side on the road to godhood?"

"Besides, that little girl has pretty good talent, and she's quite beautiful... If you're interested in her, there's no harm in taking her. By human standards, she's only two or three years older than you anyway."

"Think about it, kid. I can tell you're not completely indifferent to her, either."

Su Chen didn't respond. Sky Dream Ice Silkworm wasn't entirely wrong; Su Chen had naturally noticed Tang Ya's feelings.

The Sect Master of the Tang Sect was lively, kind, and resilient, and she did indeed have a special fondness for him. And from a practical standpoint, if he could bring the declining Tang Sect under his control through Tang Ya, he'd have another card to play against Tang San in the future.

But that wasn't a pressing matter.

Meanwhile, Tang Ya, who had already walked some distance away, was being questioned by Bei Bei.

"Xiao Ya, you seemed... especially warm toward Su Chen today." Bei Bei carefully chose his words and asked tentatively.

Tang Ya stopped in her tracks. A hint of panic flashed across her face, but she quickly hid it and put on a casual air. "Did I? I just think Su Chen is so talented and handsome, and we were the ones who brought him here. Of course I should look after him a little more! Besides, he'll probably be an asset to our Tang Sect someday!"

"Is that so..." Bei Bei looked at Tang Ya's faintly reddened ears, and that strange feeling in his heart surfaced again.

But he didn't press her. He merely nodded. "You're right. Su Chen is definitely worth recruiting."

After leaving the bulletin board where the class assignments were posted, Su Chen followed the signs alone, walking unhurriedly toward the freshman dormitory area.

Shrek Academy's inner city covered a vast area, and its roads were clearly laid out. Even without Tang Ya as his "guide," finding the dormitory buildings was no trouble.

After walking a little farther and passing through a small grove where students could relax, he saw row upon row of neat, grayish-white buildings.

They were all built in the same style, each four stories tall. They looked plain, but covered a large area, clearly with plenty of room inside. This was the dormitory area for new students and lower-year students in the outer courtyard.

The number on Su Chen's key pointed to one of the buildings. When he reached its entrance, his attention was first drawn to something beside the door.

An old but clean recliner stood there, with an elderly man resting on it, eyes closed. He wore the plainest gray cloth clothes, and his sparse hair was streaked with white. Deep wrinkles and age spots covered his face. Curled up in the chair, he looked small and withered, his breathing so faint it was almost imperceptible, as if he could pass away at any moment beneath the autumn sun.

Anyone who didn't know better would have thought he was just an ordinary old man, on the verge of death, assigned by the academy to pass the time keeping watch at the entrance.

But Su Chen's steps paused, almost imperceptibly.

Mu En.

The name came clearly to mind, along with the information associated with it.

This old man, who looked as if he could breathe his last at any moment, was one of the most powerful people on Douluo Continent, the true pillar of Shrek Academy and the Sea God Pavilion Master—Mu En! A Level 99 Limit Douluo, with the Light Sacred Dragon Martial Soul and the title "Dragon God"!

Seeing this peerless powerhouse "hidden" in such a manner at the entrance to the freshman dormitory building, Su Chen couldn't help feeling a complicated, subtle wistfulness. Memories surged through his mind like a tide.

Mu En and his close friend, Long Xiaoyao, who would later become his enemy—two Level 99 Limit Douluo who should have stood at the peak of the continent, looking down upon the masses and living freely, had their fates take a shocking turn because of one woman: Ye Xishui. In the end, both met tragic fates.

Long Xiaoyao was infatuated with Ye Xishui. He even joined the Evil Soul Master organization, the Holy Spirit Cult. Though he seemed to have come to his senses later, he spent his entire life trapped by that twisted affection, used to the fullest by Ye Xishui.

In Su Chen's eyes, Mu En's lot was perhaps even more "tragic." He, too, had deeply loved Ye Xishui, yet gained nothing of substance. Instead, he became enemies with his dearest friend, Long Xiaoyao, because of her, and lived a lonely life.

Worse, although he narrowly won the earth-shaking battle against Du Bisou, Sect Master of the Body Sect, he was gravely injured. Later, he forcefully took the "Dragon Core" to increase his strength, further damaging his foundation and leaving him disabled for life. In his later years, he could only live out his days at this dormitory entrance, subsisting on the faint sunlight and clinging to life, entrusting all his final hopes and efforts to Shrek Academy and those who came after him.

At least Ye Xishui had once felt a moment of true affection for Long Xiaoyao, and had borne him a child. That child's bloodline had remained in Shrek in another form, and even became the dean of the Spirit Department.

But what about Mu En? He had guarded her devotedly and given everything in silence, only to gain nothing in the end—gravely wounded, disabled, and alone until death...

A Limit Douluo, a powerhouse at the peak of the continent, reduced to such a state. Nothing showed fate's cruel caprice more clearly.

Thoughts surged through his mind like a tide, but Su Chen's face showed no sign of them. He walked steadily to the recliner and stopped about three paces from the old man. Then he bowed slightly, respectful but not servile, and spoke in a clear, even voice:

"Hello. I'm a new student, here to move into the dormitory. Could I trouble you to help me find my room?" As he spoke, he held out the plain brass key in his hand.

Mu En's eyelids, drooping as if he had already fallen asleep, twitched almost imperceptibly before slowly opening.

His calm, still gaze fell on Su Chen and studied him at length.

After a moment, a hoarse, low voice sounded, as if its owner had not spoken in a long time. He spoke slowly, with the characteristic halting quality of an old man. "Let me see the key."

Su Chen did as he was asked, gently placing the brass key in Mu En's outstretched palm, which was covered in wrinkles and loose skin. The hand looked frail and powerless, but Su Chen could faintly sense the terrifying strength within it, like a dormant volcano.

Mu En picked up the key without even looking down at it. He merely waved it casually before his eyes, as if confirming the tiny number engraved on it, then handed it back to Su Chen.

He lifted his other hand and pointed inside the dormitory building behind him. His voice remained flat and emotionless. "Go on. Room 108 is on the first floor, the third door on the left." He paused, then looked at Su Chen with cloudy eyes and added, his tone slightly firmer, carrying the force of an undeniable rule: "Remember, the fourth floor and above in this building are the girls' dormitories. Boys are strictly forbidden from going up there. If you're caught, you'll be expelled immediately. There will be no second chances."

Su Chen took the key and thanked him simply. His voice remained calm; he showed neither the nervousness of a new student nor the slightest disrespect because the other man looked like an old gatekeeper. He gave another slight nod, then turned and walked into the dormitory building.

Mu En's gaze seemed casual, but it followed Su Chen until his figure disappeared into the shadows inside the building.

On the recliner, the old man's seemingly stiff lips twitched upward almost imperceptibly, forming the faintest of smiles. Deep in his cloudy eyes, a dim glimmer flashed.

Such pure and powerful light... Though deliberately restrained and hidden, it even carries a kind of divinity of a higher order. But at this distance, and with us both sharing the light attribute... how could it possibly escape the old man's notice? Mu En thought to himself.

His Martial Soul was the Light Sacred Dragon, a top-tier Martial Soul of the light attribute. Though it had not reached the level of Ultimate Light, it came close, and his senses for the light attribute were exceptionally keen.

The moment Su Chen approached, he had already noticed the boy's latent yet inherently high-grade aura of light. It was beyond what an ordinary light-attribute Martial Soul could possess. It had even caused the dormant Light Sacred Dragon Martial Soul within him to stir ever so slightly.

Interesting. I wonder when that kid Shao Zhe will discover this genuine treasure. Mu En closed his eyes again, seeming to become the same drowsy old man as before. Only a faint amusement and anticipation passed through his mind. Those teachers in charge of admissions, and those few arrogant fellows in the Spirit Department... I'd like to see if their judgment has really deteriorated that badly.

He even mischievously wondered whether he should give someone a secret word to have them "overlook" the boy for a while, just to see how long it took this hidden pearl to shine too brightly to be ignored.

Of course, it was only a thought. Shrek needed geniuses, but it needed to guide them properly, too. The boy called Su Chen clearly had quite a few secrets. He needed to be observed, and he needed a measure of protection.

At the very least, under Mu En's watchful eye, within Shrek Academy, anyone reaching out with the wrong intentions would have to think twice.

The dormitory building was dim inside, but very clean. The floor was laid with terrazzo, and the walls were painted white. Though the place had been around for some time, it was well maintained. The faint scent of sun-warmed bedding mixed with the smell of wooden furniture in the air.

Following Mu En's directions, Su Chen soon found the third room on the left. A brass number plate was nailed above the door: 108.

Su Chen took out the key, inserted it into the lock, and gently turned it.

"Click."

The door opened.

He stepped inside and quickly swept his gaze across the room.

The room was more spacious than he'd expected, about twenty square meters. A single bed stood on each side, each with brand-new bedding and a pillow. Between the two beds, by the window, stood a broad desk with two wooden chairs.

A double-door wardrobe stood near the entrance. The window was open, and the breeze stirred the curtains, bringing in a little coolness and the fresh scent of plants from outside.

A standard, simple double dorm room.

But for now, the room was empty. The other bed was neatly made, and it was clear his roommate hadn't arrived yet.

Su Chen's gaze swept over the two beds, then settled on the empty one to the left by the window. He set down his modest luggage.

"Dormitory 108..." he repeated under his breath. Remembering the original plot and the key in his hand—the key that should have belonged to "Huo Yuhao's" Dormitory 108—

Who would've thought, Su Chen realized, a barely perceptible smile curling his lips. I didn't pay attention to the number when I picked up the dormitory key, and I've still ended up sharing a room with that young lady in disguise.

Wang Dong'er. Or rather, she should be called Wang Dong for now. In the future, she would merge with Wang Qiu'er's divine sense, becoming Tang Wutong, who would lose some of her original charm.

Remembering the striking brilliance and unique appeal of Wang Dong'er and Wang Qiu'er in the original story, then comparing them with Tang Wutong—whose fate had been forcibly "arranged" by Tang San after their merger, and whose personality had become somewhat spoiled and willful—Su Chen couldn't help shaking his head. A genuine pang of regret rose within him.

Wang Dong'er, said to be the most beautiful bearer of the Light Goddess Butterfly Martial Soul on Douluo Continent, was the little princess of the Clear Sky Sect. She had peerless looks and, at first, was as proud as a swan. But beneath that, she was sensitive and kind, and gradually matured through her trials. Her feelings for Huo Yuhao were sincere and passionate.

Wang Qiu'er, the Emperor Auspicious Beast Three-Eyed Golden Lion in human form, had inherited a wisp of divine sense split off by Tang San. She was strong-willed and devoted, loving and hating without restraint, like a burning flame—beautiful and dangerous. Her defiance of fate and the purity of her feelings were both moving.

Those two, in looks, talent, and character, were both top-tier. Each was an independent star, shining with her own unique radiance.

Yet under that bastard Tang San's "arrangements," they were forced to merge and became Tang Wutong. They lost their individuality, and their personalities became somewhat blurred, even contradictory. She seemed more like a "tool" made to be "worthy" of the chosen son of fortune and to carry on the Divine King's bloodline.

This was like forcibly combining two SSR god-cards with limitless potential into a single card that looked flashy but had lost its soul, and might even have become a mediocre R-card. Su Chen's judgment held a hint of mockery. That Divine King's desire to control the fates of those around him really is as "strong" as ever.

A pity, but it had nothing to do with him. At least, not for now.