The moment they stepped into the dormitory building, a mixture of dampness and sweat hit them in the face.
The light was dim, the corridor narrow, and the walls were mottled with stains.
Tai Tan's rugged face instantly darkened like the bottom of a pot.
He instinctively held his breath and irritably waved his thick arm through the air, as if trying to drive away the foul smell.
By instinct, Tai Tan wanted to summon the immense Soul Power of a Level 98 Super Douluo and erect a barrier around them to block out the odor.
But he'd only raised his hand halfway when he forced himself to stop.
No. Dong'er was right here.
What if he seemed too disgusted and hurt the girl's pride?
All he could do was secretly complain to his big brother.
"This is it?"
"This environment, this smell... It's even worse than that Shrek Academy built in a village ten thousand years ago, the one Sister Xiao Wu used to tell us about!"
"At least the air was fresh back then! Ten thousand years have passed, and Shrek has gone backward instead of forward?"
Niu Tian glanced at him but said nothing. The meaning in his eyes was clear.
Bear with it.
Wang Dong didn't think there was anything wrong with the place. She was used to it.
Following behind, Niu Tian said nothing, but his gaze swiftly swept over everything around them. He, too, was displeased.
The new students' dormitory was in this condition, and Yan Shaozhe had just been putting on airs like some big shot?
If it came to it, he'd just have Dong'er live somewhere else.
When had their little princess ever had to put up with this kind of crap?
That person had only said Dong'er should go to Shrek Academy once she was old enough to study. He hadn't said she had to live at Shrek.
They hadn't gone far down the corridor when the three of them stopped in front of a wooden door bearing the number "108."
"Here we are! This is it, Dormitory 108!"
Wang Dong proudly fished a key out of her pocket and deftly slid it into the lock, turning it twice.
With a soft creak, the wooden door swung open.
Like a conscientious little tour guide, she stepped aside and gestured for them to enter.
"Big Uncle, Second Uncle, come on in!"
Tai Tan drew a deep breath, then stepped inside as if he were marching off to war.
Niu Tian followed behind him.
Fortunately, the air inside was much fresher.
Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao were both fairly tidy about that sort of thing.
It was just... wasn't the room a little too small?
Two single beds stood against the wall, with only a narrow aisle between them.
A small desk, a chair, and a flimsy wardrobe—that was all the furniture.
Sunlight streamed in through the only window, making the dust motes floating in the air clearly visible.
Tai Tan's fists clenched in an instant.
"What kind of dump is this?!"
His voice was so loud it made Wang Dong's ears ring.
She jumped in fright and blinked, confused.
"What's wrong?"
"What's wrong?!"
Tai Tan was so furious he nearly jumped. He pointed at the two beds, his finger trembling.
"Two people have to live in a dump like this?!"
"What's the difference between this and the little black room where the Clear Sky Sect locks people up for punishment?"
Wang Dong felt a little aggrieved by his shouting and muttered under her breath.
"It's not that bad... The Outer Academy dormitories are all like this."
"They're all like this?!"
Tai Tan grew even angrier.
"Has Shrek Academy run out of people? How could they put a young girl like you in the same room as some brat?!"
"He... He doesn't know I'm a girl..."
Wang Dong's voice grew softer and softer, and her confidence wavered.
That might have been all right if she hadn't said it, but those words made Tai Tan explode.
"He doesn't know?! And that means he can share a room with you?!"
"What if he finds out one day? What if he gets up to no good in his sleep? What if..."
"Enough, Second Uncle!"
Wang Dong's face flushed bright red, her cheeks burning with embarrassment and agitation.
"What are you talking about? Yuhao isn't like that!"
"How am I talking nonsense?!"
Tai Tan glared at her with an expression that said, "You're far too naive."
"You've only known him for a few days! You can't judge a person by their face!"
Niu Tian hadn't said a word. He simply surveyed the small room in silence.
At last, his gaze settled on the bed beside the window.
That was probably Huo Yuhao's bed.
The blanket was folded neatly, with crisp, sharp edges, like a block of tofu.
There wasn't much on the desk beside it, but everything was arranged in perfect order.
A few books, a cup of water, and a faded apron hanging nearby, folded with meticulous care.
Though the space was simple, it was marked by a level of discipline and tidiness far beyond that of most people his age.
Niu Tian turned his gaze away and silently formed a rough judgment.
This kid had a steady temperament.
For a teenager to maintain such strict self-discipline in conditions this meager, he certainly wasn't some restless, shallow nobody.
He patted Tai Tan, who was still shouting, on the shoulder and spoke calmly.
"Enough. Say a little less."
Tai Tan was still worked up, and he turned around, ready to argue.
"Big Brother! We can't just let this go! Today, I'm going to—"
Niu Tian swept him with a glance.
Tai Tan swallowed the rest of his words.
He could only huff angrily, like an enraged bull, pacing back and forth in the cramped room and finding fault with everything he saw.
"This bed is way too hard!"
"What's this blanket made of? Can anyone sleep comfortably under it?"
"There isn't even a decent tea set!"
Wang Dong watched her Second Uncle act like this, torn between amusement and exasperation. All she could do was tug at his arm.
"Second Uncle, stop pacing. You're making me dizzy."
Niu Tian ignored the two clowns. He walked straight to the only desk, pulled out the only chair, and sat down.
That finally quieted Wang Dong and Tai Tan.
Niu Tian reached out, picked up a book from the desk, and casually flipped through it.
It was about basic knowledge of Soul Beasts.
The pages were still new, but they were already covered in dense markings made with pens of different colors.
He then picked up the neatly folded apron and rubbed the fabric between his fingers.
A faint scent of cooking smoke and spices lingered on it.
This kid seemed fairly honest.
Niu Tian snorted.
If Shrek had really arranged for some unruly brat to share a room with Dong'er and lead her astray, then he wouldn't hold back from making a scene.
Just then, his spiritual power sensed someone approaching from outside, apparently heading toward this dormitory.
Was it that kid named Huo Yuhao?
Niu Tian's expression didn't change. Although he was Dong'er's roommate, he was probably just an ordinary kid.
There was no need to pay him much mind. He could just give him a warning later, as he and his second brother had discussed...
He hadn't even finished the thought when the disdainful look on Niu Tian's face suddenly froze.
As the kid in the corridor drew closer, the jade pendant in his arms stirred, gradually growing warm.
It was as if a bolt of lightning had suddenly flashed through Niu Tian's mind. In an instant, he connected all the clues and realized what that person had sent them to Shrek to find.
Huo Yuhao?
Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao!
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