Beibei, Tang Ya, Xuan Zi?

Zichuan opened his eyes, took the grilled fish, blew on it, and took a bite.

Crisp on the outside and tender within, it was seasoned just right. Though it could not compare to a professional chef's work, food of this quality was rare in the wilderness.

Especially since the fish contained a faint water-attributed energy, which was a decent supplement to his vigorous vitality.

"Mm, not bad. You should eat too." Zichuan nodded, affirming Huo Yuhao's cooking.

As he watched the frail youth before him beam happily at a single word of praise, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.

Huo Yuhao possessed the Spirit Eye, a Body Martial Soul. Although its quality seemed ordinary for now, with Electrolux's remnant consciousness residing within him, his future potential might not be lacking.

Moreover, he was steadfast in character, repaid kindness, and was not bad by nature. Zichuan had taken away his greatest opportunity and indirectly exposed him to Necromancy ahead of time. Where his future path would lead was difficult to predict.

Rather than let him enter Shrek according to the original course and ultimately become completely bound to Tang San's war chariot, why not... bring him into the Body Sect?

The Body Sect did not care whether a martial soul was a bodily organ. As long as it was a Body Martial Soul, it qualified. Spirit Eye was an eye, a typical Body Martial Soul.

With his current status as the Young Sect Master, bringing a moderately talented junior with a clean background into the sect should not be difficult.

That way, he could provide the sect with fresh blood while also "protecting" Huo Yuhao to some extent, preventing him from becoming entirely a pawn of the Tang Clan in the future. Perhaps... he could even cause Tang San some trouble?

Once that thought arose, Zichuan was tempted. He looked at Huo Yuhao, considering how to recruit him.

Just then, rustling came from the bushes not far away. A few figures pushed aside the branches and emerged.

At their head was a blue-haired young man who looked around fifteen or sixteen. He was tall and handsome, with a gentle, refined smile on his face, though a trace of barely perceptible weariness and depth lay hidden in his eyes.

He wore a fitted blue combat outfit, and his bearing was exceptional.

Beside him walked a girl who appeared to be about the same age.

She was tall, with a neat dark-blue high ponytail, dressed in a fitted purple combat outfit that outlined her budding, lovely figure.

She had a delicate, beautiful oval face, fair skin, lively features, and especially a pair of bright, sparkling eyes. They were currently studying Zichuan and Huo Yuhao with curiosity and a trace of caution.

Most eye-catching, however, was the fresh aura around her that seemed to blend with the natural grass and trees, as well as the air of capability and confidence in her brow, replacing her former youthful innocence.

Yet what made Zichuan's pupils contract was the slovenly old man following behind them, his hair a tangled mess.

His dusty gray robe was stained with grease, and he clutched a huge roasted chicken that was already half-eaten. His mouth was slick with oil as he ate with great relish.

While noisily chewing on a drumstick, the old man's cloudy eyes precisely locked onto the several golden, oil-dripping fish roasting over the campfire. His nostrils flared hard twice.

"Slurp—"

The old man loudly sucked in his saliva, his eyes lighting up. Forgetting all appearances, he crossed the distance in a few quick strides and darted to the campfire.

He stretched out his greasy hand and grabbed straight for another fish Huo Yuhao had just finished grilling and was about to hand to Zichuan!

"Damn! This grilled fish smells right! Fragrant! It's far better than what those little brats in the academy cafeteria make! Let this old man have a taste first!"

He moved with such speed and natural ease that it was as though he had grilled the fish himself, utterly treating no one as a stranger.

Huo Yuhao jumped in fright and instinctively tried to pull the fish back. But the old man's hand looked casual while moving as fast as lightning. He had no time to react before the fish was already in the other man's hand.

The old man was not afraid of the heat. He opened his mouth and took a huge bite, grimacing from the burn but unwilling to spit it out. While sucking in air, he called out indistinctly:

"Mmph... delicious! Beibei, Tang Ya... you two should have some too! This fish is grilled properly!"

The blue-haired young man called Beibei revealed a helpless wry smile. He cupped his hands apologetically toward Zichuan and Huo Yuhao.

"My apologies, little brothers. Elder Xuan... has a rather straightforward temperament and does not stand on ceremony. For the fish... we are willing to pay."

His tone was gentle and his manners impeccable. Clearly, he had received an excellent upbringing.

The purple-clad girl with the high ponytail wrinkled her dainty nose. She seemed somewhat embarrassed by the old man's behavior, but her gaze could not help drifting toward the remaining grilled fish. Clearly, the aroma had awakened her appetite as well.

Huo Yuhao was utterly bewildered. He looked at his empty hand, then at the disheveled old man wolfing down the grilled fish without the slightest apology, unsure how to react. Who is this old man? How is he so... familiar? And he just snatched someone else's food?

Zichuan's gaze, however, was fixed tightly on the disheveled old man called "Elder Xuan," alarms blaring in his mind.

Elder Xuan? Taotie Douluo Xuan Zi? An elder of Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion, a rank-98 Super Douluo, with the Godly Taotie Bull as his martial soul!

Why would he be at the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest at this point in time?

According to the original story, he should have been at Shrek Academy right now. Even if he were accompanying students to hunt Soul Rings, there would be no need for him to personally act, much less appear so far from Shrek City!

The God of Destruction's solemn voice rang out in Zichuan's mind as well.

"Be careful, kid. This old man is not simple. His cultivation is rank 98; among the humans of this world, that already makes him one of the strongest. His vitality is like a blazing furnace, and his Soul Power is condensed like mercury. Though he looks slovenly, his strength cannot be underestimated. His appearance here is no coincidence."

Thoughts raced through Zichuan's mind. Elder Xuan had appeared, and Beibei and Tang Ya were here too... right, in the original story, Beibei and Tang Ya had encountered Huo Yuhao in the Star Dou Great Forest after he obtained his first Soul Ring and brought him back to Shrek. But the timing seemed to have come early?

And Elder Xuan's presence, a Super Douluo, made things even more complicated.

While Zichuan's thoughts whirled, Beibei saw that the old man had nearly finished that fish, while Zichuan was still slowly eating half a fish. The girl beside him was also continuously glancing in that direction.

After hesitating, he took out a small money pouch from his clothes and walked over to Zichuan. With an apologetic yet graceful smile, he said:

"This brother, I am truly sorry. Elder Xuan... has quite the appetite. Look, there do not seem to be many grilled fish left. How about we make a deal? The fish in your hand... would you let us have it? We can buy it. Hmm... how about one Gold Soul Coin?"

He pointed at the half-eaten grilled fish in Zichuan's hand.

In his view, one Gold Soul Coin for an ordinary grilled fish was already an exorbitant price, more than enough to show his apology and sincerity.

Zichuan was still pondering what Elder Xuan's arrival meant. Hearing this, he did not even raise his eyelids. Too lazy to respond, he simply took another bite of his fish and chewed unhurriedly.

Beibei's smile stiffened. Thinking the other party considered the offer too low, he felt the man was being somewhat unappreciative, but to maintain his poise before Tang Ya, he patiently raised the price.

"Ten Gold Soul Coins?"

Zichuan continued eating the fish, entirely unmoved.

Beibei's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and he began to feel a little displeased.

This guy is being far too disrespectful. Is he trying to drive up the price?

He glanced at Tang Ya, who was staring eagerly at the grilled fish, gritted his teeth, and said, "One hundred Gold Soul Coins! Brother, surely that will do? That is enough to buy every fish in this forest!"

Yet Zichuan's response was to leisurely stuff the remaining small half of the grilled fish into his mouth. His cheeks moved as he chewed a few times and swallowed it. Then he dusted off his hands, glanced at Beibei as if looking at an idiot, and coolly uttered a few words:

"Catch your own fish and grill it."

Beibei's expression instantly darkened, and a flash of anger appeared in his eyes.

He, Beibei, was a prominent figure even in Shrek Academy's outer courtyard. When had he ever suffered such treatment? Especially in front of Tang Ya.

This guy is not only greedy, but also completely incapable of appreciating kindness!

Just as Beibei could no longer hold himself back and was about to say or do something, the purple-clad, high-ponytailed girl who had been curiously observing Zichuan at his side—

seemed to have discovered a new continent. She suddenly stepped forward, leaned close to Zichuan, tilted her head, widened those lively beautiful eyes, and stared fixedly at his face.