I Got Where I Am Today Through My Own Efforts

"Do you have Huo Yuhao's Diary Copy too?"

"You're actually a girl, right?"

After finding a sufficiently secluded place with no one else around, Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao asked at the same time, then answered in unison.

"Yes."

Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao were both speechless. This was clearly their first time meeting, so why were they so in sync?!

To keep the strange atmosphere from spreading any further, Xiao Xiao waved her hand.

"You must have also gone looking for Zhang Lexuan, the Eldest Senior Sister from the Inner Court whom Huo Yuhao mentioned in his diary, and found out that she's already left Shrek Academy, right?"

After seeing Wang Dong'er nod, Xiao Xiao asked again.

"What about you? What are you planning to do? I don't think you plan to stay at Shrek forever, do you?"

The moment those words fell, Wang Dong'er's little face filled with vigilance and wariness, as though she were bracing for a formidable enemy.

Tang San's contingency left within her soul had thoroughly frightened her. Even though she now knew that Xiao Xiao possessed Huo Yuhao's Diary Copy just like she did, she still did not trust her much. Naturally, she had no intention of telling her about her plans.

Xiao Xiao was somewhat surprised by Wang Dong'er's reaction, but she quickly understood why she was acting this way.

Anyone who learned that their fate had been part of a conspiracy, that even their biological father had treated them as a tool to scheme with, and that they would completely disappear once his goal was achieved, would probably become as unable to trust others as Wang Dong'er, wouldn't they?

Looking at the valiant "boy" before her, a trace of pity flashed through Xiao Xiao's eyes. She sighed softly.

"Don't worry. I mean you no harm."

"I just wanted to tell you that if you're planning to leave Shrek Academy and go to the Sun Moon Empire, you can take me with you."

Wang Dong'er was startled, her large pink-blue eyes filled with confusion.

"You want to go to the Sun Moon Empire? Why?"

The petite Xiao Xiao spread her hands. After letting out a long sigh, she spoke of what her family had gone through over the years.

"My family is located on the border of the Dou Ling Empire, right next to the Sun Moon Empire. Because our inherited martial soul is somewhat special, the Sun Moon Empire has been sending people to recruit my family all these years."

"The higher-ups of my family were firm from the very beginning. They never once considered defecting to the Sun Moon Empire. But after news that the Sun Moon Empire was recruiting my family reached the Dou Ling Emperor's ears, my family's situation became increasingly difficult, and we've constantly been targeted."

"My family originally sent me to Shrek Academy to prove that we had nothing to do with the Sun Moon Empire. At the same time, they wanted to see whether we could seek Shrek Academy's protection, so that the nobles of the Dou Ling Empire would stop causing trouble for my family."

"But according to what Huo Yuhao wrote in his Diary, the family of that Eldest Senior Sister from the Inner Court, Zhang Lexuan, was most likely wiped out because Shrek's higher-ups secretly instructed others to do so. So I think entrusting my family's fate to Shrek Academy's protection is probably unreliable!"

"Rather than remain in the Dou Ling Empire and continue being targeted by those nobles, I might as well truly join the Sun Moon Empire!"

Wang Dong'er did not quite believe what Xiao Xiao had said. She felt that, no matter what, the Dou Ling Emperor and nobles could not possibly be that foolish and shortsighted, could they?

Even the Sun Moon Empire was trying its hardest to recruit Xiao Xiao's family, yet the Dou Ling Emperor had begun targeting them repeatedly without even investigating the matter properly?

Xiao Xiao saw Wang Dong'er's distrust and shook her head.

"I know it's hard for you to believe something like this right away, but in the eyes of the Dou Ling Empire's higher-ups, it doesn't matter whether my family accepted the Sun Moon Empire's recruitment. What matters is that they can use this method to warn other families, letting them know exactly what price they must pay for becoming involved with the Sun Moon Empire."

"And if you're going to the Sun Moon Empire, you're probably planning to join the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, just like Huo Yuhao, right?"

"Leave this matter to me. With my family negotiating with the Sun Moon Empire, we can absolutely ensure that the two of us remain classmates at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy."

Tsk!

Xiao Xiao had perfectly demonstrated how a single sentence could move Wang Dong'er. Upon hearing that Xiao Xiao had connections that could make her a student of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy without any effort, she immediately nodded.

"Alright! Then let's leave Shrek together and head to the Sun Moon Empire!"

The two girls looked at each other and smiled brightly at the same time.

After reaching an agreement, Wang Dong'er also told Xiao Xiao that she planned to wait until classes officially began the next day, experience Shrek Academy's teaching methods for herself, and then withdraw.

No matter what, Shrek Academy was the continent's most famous academy. Since she was already here, she naturally wanted to see what level its teachers were really at.

Xiao Xiao had no objection. Aside from sharing some of Wang Dong'er's thoughts, her family likewise needed time to prepare.

Even though the Xiao Family was not a great family, relocating the entire family to the Sun Moon Empire was absolutely not something they could take lightly.

After making their decision, Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao returned to Shrek Academy and waited to personally experience Shrek Academy's teachers' instruction the next day.

Although Wang Dong'er learned from Mu En, who was lounging in a recliner by the dormitory entrance, that besides Xiao Xiao, two other beautiful girls had come looking for her, she did not pay it much mind. She had already decided to leave with Xiao Xiao the next day, so why would she care about anyone else?

Ning Tian and Wu Feng, who knew nothing of their plans, had thought there would be plenty of time in the future. They could have a deeper conversation with Wang Dong'er later, so they did not rush to meet her.

And so, with no one disturbing them, the night passed without incident.

The next day, just as Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao sat in the classroom of New Student Class One waiting for their teacher to arrive, the Diaries in their minds began to stir at the same time.

The two girls instinctively checked the newly updated contents of their Diary Copies.

It's another new day. Yesterday, I traveled farther than expected. I've now crossed the border and arrived in the Sun Moon Empire's territory. To celebrate, I'll grill a few fish to reward my hardworking self! Image Image Image.

Seeing this, Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao exchanged glances. Each could clearly see the surprise in the other's eyes.

Huo Yuhao had reached the Sun Moon Empire so quickly? Didn't he say it would take two days?

Before they could figure out what was going on, several more lines appeared in the Diary.

Oh, right. I've already collected the reward for meeting yesterday's diary-writing target. Besides my Soul Power increasing again, bringing me to level twelve, the Diary even gave me a beginner's Soul Tool crafting gift pack. This country bumpkin, who had never touched Soul Tool crafting before, learned a great deal of basic knowledge and directly became a First-Level Soul Engineer.

Ah, Diary, Diary. I originally wanted to experience the joy of working with my own hands and enjoying the fruits of my labor, so why did you have to corrupt me with a reward like this?

I'm telling you, even so, I still have to say this: I, Huo Yuhao, got where I am today entirely through my own efforts! o(>ω<)o