Zhu Lu: Dai Huabin Likes Boys!?

After washing up and changing, the two headed toward the freshman teaching building.

Freshman Class One. Tang An looked at the door number; as expected, it was the class of that old hag, Zhou Yi.

He stepped inside and swept his gaze across the room, quickly spotting a petite girl sitting in the corner. Her long, raven-black hair was tied into twin tails that swayed gently as she turned her head.

Her skin was fair, her features delicate and refined, and a pair of large, emerald-green eyes were peering around timidly.

It was Xiao Xiao, the girl who was soft on the outside but firm on the inside, just as she was in the original story.

Tang An withdrew his gaze, the corners of his mouth curling up. She was indeed as cute as the original described.

Xiao Xiao sensed Tang An's gaze and tilted her head slightly, their eyes meeting in mid-air.

A flush of red instantly bloomed on the girl's cheeks, and she quickly lowered her head, her small hands unconsciously twisting the hem of her shirt.

Why was this handsome boy staring at her? Her heart skipped a few beats for no reason.

Tang An frowned slightly; he didn't see Wang Dong'er.

That little niece who was supposed to be waiting for him in Freshman Class One was nowhere to be found in this classroom. It seemed his intervention had indeed changed things—had Wang Dong'er been assigned to a different class?

"Brother Tang An, over here." Huo Yutong pulled Tang An to a seat by the window.

The bell rang, and an old woman dressed in a black professional suit with a rigid expression walked onto the podium.

Zhou Yi pushed up the glasses on the bridge of her nose, her sharp gaze sweeping across the class. Just as she was about to deliver her classic opening line, "I never keep trash in my class," her gaze stalled on Tang An. Although she wasn't qualified to attend the high-level academy meeting held late last night, someone she knew well had leaked a few words to her:

"A person of immense importance has arrived among the freshmen; even the Dean must treat him with caution."

A youth in white, possessing an extraordinary aura, with a sturdy build despite his young bone age—the student before her matched the description perfectly.

Zhou Yi had been a head teacher for many years; while she was a bit overbearing, she knew better than to step on landmines.

She coughed dryly, swallowing the order for a morning run that had been on the tip of her tongue, and changed her tone: "The quality of this year's freshmen is quite good, so I won't bother with those formal physical fitness tests."

"However, I'll say this upfront: my class operates on an elimination system. Anyone who can't keep up with the progress will be expelled without exception."

Tang An raised an eyebrow, feeling a hint of regret.

He had actually wanted to let Zhou Yi experience the Evil Spirit Perception Illusion, to let her personally taste what it felt like to be dominated by one of her own students.

He hadn't expected that while she was mean-spirited, she wasn't stupid. After hearing the rumors, she had reined herself in. Oh well, there was plenty of time ahead.

Zhou Yi scanned the class and let her gaze fall on Tang An, squeezing out an awkward smile: "Student Tang An, how about you take on the role of class monitor?"

The whole class was in an uproar. On the first day of school, the head teacher was actually asking a freshman to be the class monitor?

"Not interested." Tang An didn't even lift his eyelids. "I recommend Huo Yuhao for class monitor and Xiao Xiao for deputy class monitor."

Xiao Xiao was stunned, her large eyes blinking. How did this handsome boy know her?

Several boys in the back row exploded on the spot: "We can accept you, but Huo Yuhao is only a level 14 Soul Grand Master. By what right does he get to be class monitor?"

Tang An glanced at them indifferently and said with disdain, "Don't say I didn't give you a chance. Pick one person to challenge her. If you win, you become the monitor. You only get one chance."

Tang An turned his head, leaning close to Huo Yutong's ear. His warm breath brushed against her earlobe, and his lowered voice carried a hint of an elusive smile: "Yutong, any problems?"

Tang An blew a soft breath as he spoke.

Huo Yutong's ears turned red instantly, her heart raced, her head buzzed, and her fingers unconsciously gripped the hem of her shirt.

But even so, Huo Yutong took a deep breath and nodded firmly: "No problem."

In the Sea of Consciousness, Silver Fox let out a soft laugh: "Your Brother Tang An is certainly quite close to you. But with your current mental power, as long as your opponent is caught off guard, a single Soul Shock will finish them. Fight with confidence."

Huo Yutong shouted in her heart, feeling shy and annoyed: "Sister Silver Fox, you are not allowed to speak!"

As soon as Zhou Yi heard there would be a match, she waved her hand: "Everyone downstairs, gather at the martial arts arena. It's a good time for everyone to get familiar with each other's strength."

On the martial arts arena, a tall boy was the first to step out. He was a level 25 assault-type Soul Grand Master with an Iron Arm Bear martial soul.

He released his martial soul and was just about to charge when Huo Yutong's eyes flashed with silver light. Soul Shock, activated.

An invisible mental impact slammed precisely into his Sea of Consciousness. The boy's eyes instantly went vacant, his body swayed twice, and with a thud, he collapsed straight to the ground, unconscious.

The entire arena fell silent, followed by an eruption of incredulous gasps: "A level 25 assault-type Soul Grand Master, taken down without even landing a single move."

Zhou Yi took a deep breath and turned her gaze to Tang An: "Student Tang An, since the class monitor has been decided, why don't you show us your strength as well, so your classmates can get to know you?"

The other students chimed in. If Huo Yuhao was already this strong, just how powerful must this boy who called him brother be?

Tang An thought about it; showing his strength once would save him trouble later.

He walked to the center of the martial arts arena, looked around, and said indifferently: "Come at me together."

The entire arena was in an uproar. One person against the whole class—he was too arrogant!

"What are you being so cocky for!" Several boys rushed up first.

Then more and more students joined in. Over twenty freshmen swarmed in from all directions, their martial souls released and their soul rings lighting up the area.

Tang An stood where he was, not even releasing his martial soul.

He sidestepped a punch and gave a light backhand slap, sending one boy flying. He lifted his foot for a light sweep, and another person hit the ground.

His movements were as casual as a stroll, yet every strike was precise to the millimeter. He controlled his force perfectly; those he knocked down were grimacing in pain, but not a single one was truly injured.

In less than half a cup of tea, over twenty people lay sprawled across the ground in a chaotic heap.

Tang An brushed some non-existent dust from his lapels and turned his gaze toward the only person still standing at the edge of the training grounds: Xiao Xiao.

She had not joined the swarm from the beginning, choosing instead to stand in the corner, her large eyes filled with curiosity and appraisal.

"You're quite clever, not joining them in the fray." Tang An looked at Xiao Xiao, his tone playful.

Xiao Xiao blinked and spoke the truth: "I didn't think they could win even if they all attacked together. Besides, how do you know my name? We haven't met before, have we?"

Tang An walked up to Xiao Xiao and said, "Xiao Xiao, Twin Martial Souls, twenty-first rank soul power at the entrance examination."

"I am the Young Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect. I have left the sect to revitalize the Tang Sect. You have excellent potential; are you interested in joining us?"

Xiao Xiao's eyes widened, her small face filled with astonishment.

The Young Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect, revitalizing the Tang Sect? No wonder this person had such a grand entrance; even the homeroom teacher didn't dare provoke him.

Furthermore, the fact that he had looked up her information beforehand proved he was genuinely scouting for talent, not just making a casual remark.

Xiao Xiao suppressed the shock in her heart, thought about it seriously, and replied crisply: "I am willing!"

Tang An nodded slightly and smiled: "Good. In the future, you and Huo Yuhao should cooperate well. Huo Yuhao is also a disciple of the Tang Sect."

The spectacle of the fight had already attracted students and teachers from several nearby classes to watch.

Within the crowd, a young man furrowed his brows, staring fixedly at the figure of Huo Yutong in the center of the field. It was none other than Dai Huabin.

Standing beside him was a youth with powder-blue long hair, his features as exquisite as a painting and his temperament cold and aloof. It was Wang Dong'er in his male guise.

Dai Huabin had originally been drawn over by the commotion just to watch the fun, but when he caught sight of that slender figure, his pupils constricted sharply.

Huo Yuhao, that illegitimate younger brother he regarded as a disgrace—how could he appear at Shrek?

Moreover, he had just knocked out a twenty-fifth rank assault-type soul master with a single move. Such strength was a far cry from the cowardly figure in his memories.

Dai Huabin stared intently at Huo Yutong, his gaze filled with disbelief and gloom.

"Brother Wang, could you defeat this guy?" Dai Huabin suppressed the anger and shock in his heart, lowering his voice to ask, hoping to mask his emotions with conversation.

Wang Dong'er did not answer. He stared blankly at the white-clad youth in the field, a strange, indescribable feeling welling up from the depths of his heart—a sense of intimacy that seemed to stem from his very bloodline.

Wang Dong'er pushed down this bizarre sensation and said indifferently: "Without using his Martial Soul, I can't gauge his depth, but that physical strength is terrifying."

Dai Huabin gritted his teeth upon hearing this. He turned his head, intending to say something more, only to see Wang Dong'er still staring fixedly at Tang An, his gaze so focused that it made Dai Huabin feel stifled.

Brother Wang had never looked at him with such an expression. Dai Huabin felt an inexplicable, burning irritation in his chest. Why should that brat be worthy of such attention from Brother Wang?

Wang Dong'er was clearly just his roommate. Between two men, why would he care who Wang Dong'er was looking at?

Beside Dai Huabin, a petite girl was silently watching his profile.

Zhu Lu, Dai Huabin's fiancée, possessed the Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul. She had short, jet-black hair, cat-like emerald eyes, and wore tight black leather pants that accentuated her slender waist and long, straight legs.

At this moment, her eyes revealed a trace of complex bitterness. She had been observing Dai Huabin's expression and complexion the entire time.

Dai Huabin had never been pleasant to girls, including his own fiancée, whom he avoided whenever possible. Yet, toward a man, he was...

It couldn't be!

Zhu Lu clenched the corner of her clothes tightly, staring at Dai Huabin's profile as a tempest raged in her heart.

"Dai Huabin... could he be... into men?"