Huo Yuhao had just reached the dormitory when something felt off.
There seemed to be a commotion inside. It was pretty loud, too.
Wang Dong was back? That fast?
Puzzled, he reached out and pushed open the wooden door.
The moment it cracked open, he was met not by the familiar beds and desks, but by another wall.
A wall made of muscle, bronze-colored and absurdly sturdy... a wall of flesh.
Huo Yuhao blinked, then slowly raised his head along the wall.
He saw a face.
A rugged face, packed with muscle and radiating one clear message: I'm not happy.
A pair of saucer-sized eyes glared viciously at him,
and the man snorted heavily through his nose.
He looked ready to swallow Huo Yuhao whole at any moment.
I must have opened the door the wrong way.
Expressionless, Huo Yuhao lowered his head and quietly shut the door.
He stood outside, looked down at the "108" sign hanging on it, and confirmed he hadn't gone to the wrong room.
He took a deep breath and pushed the door open again.
The same familiar wall of pectorals.
The same hulking man, glaring just as fiercely as before.
Huo Yuhao silently reached out again, ready to close the door and collect himself.
This time, a hand as large as a fan shot out and clamped onto the doorframe, stopping him cold.
"You're the kid named Huo Yuhao, right?"
"Get in here!"
Before the words had even finished, Huo Yuhao felt his collar tighten. His feet left the floor, and he was effortlessly hauled inside like a little chick.
"Second Uncle! What are you doing?"
Wang Dong's furious, anxious voice came from inside.
She hurried over, slapped Tai Tan's hand away, and pulled Huo Yuhao behind her, glaring at Tai Tan like a mother hen guarding her chick.
"Yuhao is my roommate! You came in and immediately started grabbing him. If I'd known, I wouldn't have brought you here!"
At Wang Dong's reproach, Tai Tan's ferocious expression from a moment ago crumpled at once.
He scratched the back of his head, and a hint of ingratiating smile appeared on his rugged face.
"I just forgot, that's all."
"Second Uncle knows his own strength. The young fellow's fine, isn't he?"
As Tai Tan tried to laugh it off, he frantically gave Niu Tian, standing nearby, a look.
Big Brother, say something!
Hadn't they agreed before coming? They'd give the kid a warning first, let him know their Wang Dong wasn't someone to mess with, and make him keep his distance from her!
Why were you silent now?
However,
Niu Tian acted as if he hadn't seen Tai Tan's glances. After a few seconds of silence, he decisively sided with Wang Dong.
"Exactly!"
Niu Tian put on a stern face and scolded Tai Tan without the slightest courtesy.
"You're not a young man anymore. Why are you still so reckless?"
"What if you scare the poor boy?"
Tai Tan's eyes widened even more than before.
He pointed at Niu Tian, then at himself. His mouth worked for a long time, but he couldn't manage to squeeze out a single word.
"You... I..."
Tai Tan's face was full of grievance. This wasn't how the scene was supposed to go!
Weren't they supposed to gang up on him? Why was I the only one playing the villain?!
Niu Tian ignored Tai Tan's resentful expression and turned to Huo Yuhao.
He bent down slightly, his tone gentle.
"Young man, I'm truly sorry."
"My second brother is impulsive. Are you hurt?"
Standing behind Wang Dong, Huo Yuhao had already guessed the two men's identities with near certainty.
Niu Tian and Tai Tan.
The two legendary Big Uncles and Second Uncle behind Wang Dong.
Their appearances and temperaments were certainly as bold as could be.
Still, this worked out well. He wouldn't have to rack his brains figuring out how to get close to them.
He wanted to see what God King Tang had in mind, going to such lengths to send these two over.
"I'm fine."
Huo Yuhao stepped out from behind Wang Dong and smoothed his wrinkled collar, his voice calm.
"Uncle was just looking out for Wang Dong. I understand."
Looking at the composed young man before him, Niu Tian felt even more surprised.
He'd seen everything clearly just now.
If an ordinary boy had been suddenly lifted by someone as powerful as Tai Tan, his legs would've given way in fear.
But this kid's heartbeat hadn't even faltered once.
Most importantly, the moment Huo Yuhao drew near, the jade pendant in Niu Tian's arms had grown warmer.
There was no doubt about it.
This was the key person that individual was searching for.
Niu Tian's thoughts raced. He turned to Wang Dong and Tai Tan.
"Dong'er, take your Second Uncle downstairs for a walk."
"I have something I'd like to discuss with your roommate alone."
Wang Dong froze, then instinctively stepped in front of Huo Yuhao, eyeing Niu Tian suspiciously.
"Big Uncle, what are you going to do?"
"You're not going to bully him too, are you?"
Seeing Wang Dong like that, Niu Tian felt a pang of sadness.
A daughter was truly no longer one's to keep. She was already taking someone else's side.
In the end, he could only smile helplessly.
"You little rascal, don't you trust your Big Uncle?"
"I'm not as unreasonable as your Second Uncle."
"I just want to have a quick chat and find out how you're doing at school."
Wang Dong was only half convinced.
But from childhood onward, Big Uncle had indeed been far more reasonable than Second Uncle.
"Then... all right."
Wang Dong walked toward the door, looking back every few steps. She also dragged Tai Tan out, who still looked indignant.
"Come on, Second Uncle! Stop causing trouble!"
"But, Big Brother—"
"Come on!"
As the wooden door closed,
only Niu Tian and Huo Yuhao remained in the cramped dormitory.
The air fell silent.
Niu Tian pulled out a chair and sat down, gesturing for Huo Yuhao to sit on the bed opposite him.
Huo Yuhao didn't stand on ceremony. He sat on his own bed, back straight.
Niu Tian looked at him, considering how to begin.
His mission was simple.
Find that person and hand him the jade pendant.
As for what happened afterward or what plans that person had, Niu Tian knew nothing and had no intention of asking.
When gods fought, why should someone from the lower realm get involved?
Still, he had to pass the pendant over naturally, without arousing suspicion.
"You're Huo Yuhao, right?"
Niu Tian was the first to break the silence.
"About what happened just now, I'm truly sorry. Dong'er's Second Uncle was too rash and caused you trouble."
Huo Yuhao shook his head.
"It's all right, Uncle. Wang Dong is a good roommate. She hasn't caused me any trouble."
Niu Tian smiled and picked up the thread of the conversation.
"We spoiled Dong'er when she was young, so she's a little willful."
"But since she came to Shrek, I've noticed she's changed quite a bit."
"She knows how to take care of herself now, and she isn't as headstrong as before."
Niu Tian paused, his gaze settling on Huo Yuhao. His tone grew sincere.
"She told me about the two of you."
"She's grown so much in just a few weeks. I'm sure your patience and help have had a lot to do with it."
"As her elder, that makes me very happy."
As he spoke, Niu Tian took something from his sleeve.
It was a smooth, warm jade pendant carved with intricate patterns. At its center was a dark golden character: Tang.
Niu Tian held the pendant out to Huo Yuhao.
"This is a small gift from an elder. Consider it my thanks for looking after Dong'er."
"Take it."
Huo Yuhao looked at the jade pendant.
After all that, he would have had to be a fool not to understand.
This wasn't some elder's token of gratitude.
This was clearly something God King Tang had gone to great lengths to put in his hands!
Huo Yuhao didn't even bother with the usual polite refusal. He reached out and took the pendant at once.
"Thank you, Uncle."
He'd accepted far too readily, and his movements had been far too quick.
Niu Tian's hand hung frozen in midair. The words of persuasion he'd prepared were suddenly stuck in his throat.
This kid... wasn't he going to refuse once out of politeness?
When ordinary people received something obviously so valuable, didn't they usually turn it down a couple of times?
He'd just taken it without even asking a question?
Niu Tian suddenly felt that he couldn't quite see through the teenage boy before him.
No wonder that person had taken an interest in him.
His composure and courage were indeed extraordinary.
Now that he'd delivered the item, Niu Tian didn't plan to stay any longer.
He stood up and brushed the wrinkles from his clothes.
"I'll be going now. I'll find Dong'er and the others."
"We'll be staying in Shrek City for a few days. If you run into any trouble at school, you can always ask Dong'er to come find me."
The implication couldn't have been clearer.
Huo Yuhao nodded and stood to see him out.
"Take care, Uncle."
As the wooden door closed again,
the dormitory fell completely silent.
Huo Yuhao stood where he was, looking down at the jade pendant in his palm.
It was warm to the touch, and the dark golden character Tang glimmered faintly.
He took a deep breath.
Everything would be decided by this one move.
Huo Yuhao first released his spiritual power and carefully checked the Sea of Consciousness.
That old Ghost Demon Venerable was still sleeping inside the Black Cyclone, with no sign of waking.
Good.
Huo Yuhao didn't hesitate. He sat cross-legged on his bed and closed his eyes, pretending to cultivate,
while secretly channeling a wisp of spiritual power into the jade pendant in his hand.
"Vmmm—"
A faint hum sounded in his ears.
Huo Yuhao saw a flash of white light before him, and his consciousness was instantly drawn into a strange space.
There was neither sky nor earth here.
All around him, blue mist churned, and the air was filled with the boundless aura of the ocean.
Just as Huo Yuhao was surveying his surroundings,
the blue mist ahead slowly parted.
A tall, slender figure emerged from within.
The man wore a splendid blue robe, and his sea-blue hair fell loose down his back.
Most striking of all was the divine pressure about him—lofty and aloof, as though he looked down upon all living beings.
The newcomer looked at Huo Yuhao and slowly spoke.
His voice was ethereal and imposing, as if it had descended from the highest heavens.
"Do not be alarmed."
"I am the Sea God, Tang San."
"I have come this time to save you from dire straits."
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