Inside the Stone Chamber, Yan Shaozhe felt his brain buzz.
Huo Yuhao?
That Tang Sect student who'd gotten in through a special recommendation?
That new Outer Academy student whose First Soul Ring was only ten years old?
Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down, quickly piecing together everything that had happened over the past few days.
Ma Xiaotao had gone to the Outer Academy a few days ago and hadn't returned until nightfall.
As soon as she got back, she announced that she was going into seclusion. Then she'd ended up in this miserable state, looking ready to blow herself up at any moment.
Looked at that way, it all made sense.
That brat named Huo Yuhao had definitely said something he shouldn't have!!
Yan Shaozhe was so angry his teeth ached. He wanted nothing more than to drag that arrogant new student over and beat him up.
Nonsense!
Absolutely ridiculous!!
If the Evil Fire Phoenix problem could be solved by simply toughing it out, would he, the dean, have needed to scour the world for a remedy?
Did that brat really think that he, the dignified Bright Phoenix Douluo Yan Shaozhe, had less insight than a new student who'd just enrolled?!!
But as Yan Shaozhe watched his suffering disciple on the stone platform, he had no choice but to force his anger back down.
In the short time it took to speak, the Evil Fire within Ma Xiaotao had grown stronger yet again.
Even if he went to drag that Outer Academy student Xu Sanshi back right now, it probably wouldn't do much good.
Was he really supposed to put his hopes in that brat Huo Yuhao?!!
Yan Shaozhe had no time to think.
With the situation as it was, he could only grit his teeth and try the last desperate remedy.
He first pressed both hands against Ma Xiaotao's back, transforming the Bright Phoenix Soul Power into its gentlest, most primal form. For the moment, he forcibly protected her heart meridians, preventing the Evil Fire from completely breaking through her defenses.
"Hold on. I'll go get him for you right now!"
Leaving those words behind, Yan Shaozhe spun around and rushed out of the Stone Chamber. He turned into a streak of white light and headed straight for the Outer Academy.
Outside the Outer Academy's gates, at the grilled fish stall.
Smoke curled through the air, and the aroma drifted far away on the evening breeze.
Xu Sanshi held up two freshly grilled fish, shifting them from hand to hand because they were too hot. His face, however, had blossomed into a grin.
"Thanks, Yuhao! Nannan's sure to love these. I'm heading off. I'll come by again tomorrow!"
With that, the guy sprinted toward the academy without looking back, moving even faster than he did when charging into the arena for a fight.
Wang Dong sat on a little stool, rubbing her slightly bulging belly. She was too full even to collect the money.
Tang Ya had it worse. She was sprawled across a chair, still muttering that she couldn't eat another bite, yet clutching an empty skewer in her hand.
They'd agreed beforehand that they were there to help Huo Yuhao sell grilled fish, but when the fresh fish finally came off the grill, they couldn't help sneaking a few bites first.
Huo Yuhao didn't mind. He simply turned the fish in his hands and expertly sprinkled on a handful of seasoning.
The aroma burst through the air.
Honestly, he was enjoying the process.
When he grilled fish, he could completely clear his mind and think about nothing.
He didn't have to guess what that old Ghost Demon Venerable was cooking up in his head, nor worry about when God King Tang's dog leash might suddenly tighten.
Here at this smoky stall, he was just an ordinary new student making money with his skills.
Life was pretty good.
Although Huo Yuhao knew perfectly well that this was only a temporary escape.
He put the grilled fish on a plate and looked at the few raw ones remaining beside him.
Once he'd finished grilling these last few, he'd go burn some incense before the Sea God Statue.
He used to like burning incense first, then grilling fish, hoping the esteemed God King would show his divine presence and casually take care of the big problem in his Sea of Consciousness.
Not anymore.
Now he liked grilling the fish first.
He'd eat his fill, then go through the motions.
After all, offering incense to the God King was hard work. Doing it on an empty stomach would show no sincerity.
A few people were still waiting in line at the stall.
Huo Yuhao had just picked up a raw fish and threaded it onto a skewer when a gust of wind suddenly swept through.
A figure appeared out of nowhere, bypassed the line, and came to a steady stop right in front of the grill.
He was dressed in white, his expression so grim it was frightening. His presence weighed so heavily on everyone nearby that no one dared even breathe loudly.
Tang Ya had been lounging in her chair, digesting her food. At the sight of this, she immediately sat up straight, her spoiled young lady's temper flaring as she pointed a slender finger and said,
"Hey, uncle! If you want grilled fish, get in line! Don't you know the ru—mmph..."
Before she could finish, a hand shot over and clamped firmly over her mouth.
Cold sweat covered Bei Bei's forehead as he frantically signaled Tang Ya with his eyes, his voice lowered to a whisper.
"Xiao Ya, don't say anything reckless!"
Tang Ya widened her eyes and let out a couple of muffled protests, her face full of indignation.
Bei Bei had no time to placate her. He quickly bent forward, his manners impeccable.
"Dean Yan, what brings you here?"
Dean Yan?
The moment those three words were spoken, the area around the stall fell silent.
The students in line exchanged glances and hurriedly backed away several steps, afraid of getting dragged into trouble.
Huo Yuhao held a skewer in his hand and looked at the middle-aged man.
Since Bei Bei had called him Dean Yan, the man's identity was obvious.
Yan Shaozhe.
The dean of the Martial Soul Department.
And Ma Xiaotao's teacher.
Huo Yuhao knew exactly what was going on.
If Yan Shaozhe had appeared here, that meant something must have happened to Ma Xiaotao.
And judging by the look on Yan Shaozhe's face, ready to eat someone alive, it probably wasn't minor.
But even though he'd guessed why the man was here, Huo Yuhao's expression remained perfectly calm. He even brushed a layer of oil over the fish, his movements as steady as could be.
Yan Shaozhe didn't even acknowledge Bei Bei. He stared fixedly at the young man behind the grill, keeping his voice low, though fury simmered just beneath it.
"Are you Huo Yuhao?"
Huo Yuhao set down the brush, wiped his hands with a towel, and nodded.
"Yes, I am."
"Come with me."
Yan Shaozhe couldn't be bothered with pleasantries. He reached out to grab him.
Even if Huo Yuhao refused, he would take him by force.
But to his surprise, Huo Yuhao didn't dodge.
Nor did he ask where they were going. Instead, he simply untied his apron and tossed it onto the empty chair beside him.
"Okay."
Huo Yuhao knew perfectly well that he had no real power to refuse right now.
He agreed so readily that Yan Shaozhe froze for half a second.
Had this brat guessed what I'm here to do?
And how could a first-ring new student stand before a Super Douluo's pressure without so much as a trembling hand?
But Yan Shaozhe had no time to think about it. Ma Xiaotao couldn't wait.
He grabbed Huo Yuhao by the shoulder. Soul Power surged, and the two vanished on the spot.
All that remained were the dumbfounded people at the grilled fish stall.
It had all happened so suddenly that it took everyone two seconds to realize what had just occurred.
Wang Dong sprang to her feet so abruptly that she knocked over her stool. Her face filled with worry as she demanded,
"Where did he take Yuhao?! Does being a dean mean he can just grab people whenever he wants?!"
She panicked and instinctively started to summon her Martial Soul so she could chase after them.
Bei Bei hurriedly stopped her.
"Wang Dong, don't be impulsive! That's Yan Shaozhe, the dean of the Martial Soul Department. He won't do anything to Yuhao."
"Then why did he take Yuhao? Yuhao hasn't done anything lately except grill fish!"
Wang Dong was so anxious she was jumping up and down, her mind filled with troubling possibilities.
Had what happened with Wu Feng come to light?
Was the academy leadership going to secretly execute Yuhao?
Surely not?!!
They said concern made people lose their heads, and right now, Wang Dong's mind was full of every possibility.
For a moment, she even thought about going back to call Big Uncle and Second Uncle to rescue him.
Bei Bei could only smile wryly as he tried to think it through.
Yan Shaozhe had come in person and looked so anxious. It probably wasn't anything minor.
Considering that Ma Xiaotao had come to eat grilled fish every day a few days ago, only to suddenly disappear recently, the answer seemed obvious.
"Something probably happened to Senior Ma Xiaotao."
Bei Bei sighed and patted Wang Dong on the shoulder.
"Don't worry. Yuhao won't be pushed around so easily. Let's wait here for him to come back."
Wang Dong still wasn't reassured, but she knew she couldn't catch up. She could only right the overturned stool with a huff and sit back down.
Tang Ya finally managed to pry Bei Bei's hand off her mouth and took several deep breaths.
"Bei Bei, you nearly smothered me! That uncle really is the dean?"
"As real as it gets."
Bei Bei was a little helpless at Tang Ya's reaction.
When would their sect leader ever learn to rein in that carefree personality of hers?
Since Bei Bei had confirmed it, Tang Ya could only say, "Oh," and turn her attention back to the grill.
The coals were still burning hot, and seven or eight raw fish remained beside them.
She rubbed her belly. After being startled just now, she somehow felt a little hungry again.
Tang Ya suddenly thought of something. Her eyes lit up as she turned to Bei Bei with a brilliant smile.
"Bei Bei, Yuhao's been taken away. We can't let these fish go to waste."
Bei Bei's heart skipped a beat. A sudden, intense sense of danger came over him.
"Xiao Ya, what are you planning?"
Tang Ya shoved a handful of raw fish into Bei Bei's hands and patted his shoulder, her tone perfectly righteous.
"What else is there to do?"
"You grill them!"
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