Familiarity, Planning for Immortal Herbs

The shop was bustling with voices. A towel hung over Fang Zhou's shoulder as he helped his father clear away the diners' leftovers and make room for En Zuo and Tang San.

After wiping the grease stains from the table clean and handing the plates to the work-study students hired by the shop, Fang Zhou waved at En Zuo and the other man with a smile. "Over here, over here."

Neither of them hesitated and took their seats.

Before long, four grilled fish were brought to the table.

Many diners from Monster Academy shifted their seats, wanting to sit closer to En Zuo. The academy had been buzzing with rumors lately, and a new round of admissions would soon begin.

En Zuo was set to officially join Monster Academy as part of this year's new students. A few days ago, he had even declared that he would form a team comparable to the Eight Heavenly Kings.

Presumably, the young man sitting beside him was one of the new candidates.

The heated gazes directed at him made Tang San somewhat uncomfortable. His chopsticks paused as they held a piece of fish. Although the food was appetizing, being the center of attention made him feel unnatural.

"En Zuo, are you this popular at the academy?" Tang San asked quietly. "Why does it feel like everyone knows you? Those students wearing the academy's red uniforms are all looking at you with admiration."

En Zuo placed the fish between his chopsticks into his mouth. The fragrant flavor of the specially prepared fish flooded his lips and teeth, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "Maybe because my talent is pretty decent. I'm just privately called a genius that Monster Academy sees only once every few centuries."

Remembering that En Zuo had already stepped into the Soul Ancestor realm at only eleven years old, Tang San felt relieved. With such talent, he would be considered a peerless prodigy in any academy.

Tang San's face showed a trace of emotion as he replied, "That's true. A student as gifted as Brother En Zuo would draw attention wherever he went."

The two chatted and laughed. During this time, En Zuo picked up his soul tool phone, tapped on it a few times, then laid it flat on the table.

He could not forget his old teammate while bringing in a newcomer for team building. En Zuo decided to let Huo Yuhao and Tang San get acquainted first.

As long as he kept them in line, he was sure nothing would go wrong.

En Zuo cleared his throat and said concisely, "I came here mainly to introduce you to your future teammate. Once you're familiar with each other, it'll be easier to coordinate in battle later. The academy will arrange an entrance examination for new students in one or two months, so I hope the two of you can build rapport quickly."

A teammate?

Tang San was intrigued.

Someone En Zuo had chosen was probably no less talented than him. He only hoped the person would not be too arrogant or look down on him.

"Don't worry, En Zuo. I'll definitely get along with him," Tang San promised.

By the time they had eaten nearly half of the grilled fish, only scraps remained before them. Then, a somewhat smaller figure squeezed through the indistinct crowd behind them.

He wore simple black clothes, and his short black hair barely reached his forehead. His features were exceptionally handsome, though the pair of gray, lifeless eyes beneath his brows made him seem somewhat gloomy.

The moment he entered, he surveyed the diners in the shop.

When he spotted En Zuo, Huo Yuhao naturally walked over and sat beside him. Just as naturally, he accepted the grilled fish Fang Zhou personally handed him.

After thanking him, he looked at the young man of similar age sitting across from En Zuo. For some reason, despite never having had any contact before, the moment he saw that face, the pent-up resentment in his chest became difficult to restrain.

It was as though an enemy were sitting before him.

Strange. Why did he feel this way?

Suppressing his emotions, Huo Yuhao forced a smile and extended his hand. "Hello, my name is Huo Yuhao. I'm your future teammate in battle. Please take care of me from now on."

Huo Yuhao?!

Tang San sat upright and stared fixedly at Huo Yuhao's face. From those slightly youthful features, he could vaguely find traces of the beloved person his daughter had protected even at the cost of her life in Heaven and Earth Valley of Love Questions, within his parallel timeline.

In Heaven and Earth Valley of Love Questions,

The Purple Demon Eyes he cultivated every morning had allowed him to see every moment of his daughter's death clearly. Her determination to take her own life, and the relief she felt at being able to protect Huo Yuhao, deeply pierced Tang San's heart.

It could be said that whenever he saw Huo Yuhao's face, he could clearly recall every moment in Heaven and Earth Valley of Love Questions, recalling what he had done as a God King.

In Huo Yuhao's eyes, Tang San had merely heard his name and looked over his face, yet he already seemed unable to control his expression.

Did he know something?

Why was he reacting so strongly?

Tang San also knew that his reaction had been too intense. He reached out, clasped Huo Yuhao's hand, and apologized sincerely. "Sorry. I was just reminded of some unpleasant memories."

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Tang San. You can call me Xiaosan from now on. I'm very happy to become teammates with you. Please take care of me in the days ahead."

Huo Yuhao glanced at En Zuo.

Could Big Brother En Zuo have really brought God King Tang San back?

He narrowed his eyes slightly and examined Tang San, only to discover that he was completely different from the Tang San in his memories. He could not help but relax.

Tang San's appearance was known to everyone throughout Douluo Continent: a handsome face and his distinctive blue hair.

Yet the young man before him looked ordinary and approachable. He wore an old-fashioned blue outfit, looking very much like a soul master raised by his grandfather's generation. He was probably not the legendary God King Tang San.

Huo Yuhao let out a breath of relief.

"Nice to meet you. Please take care of me from now on."

Seeing that the atmosphere between the two was fairly harmonious, En Zuo finally smiled. After Huo Yuhao quietly finished his grilled fish, En Zuo calmly began clearing the plates.

Though his voice was not loud, it reached both of their ears with unusual clarity amid the noisy shop, without the slightest attempt at concealment.

"Very good. I see Monster Academy's future in you. Unlike the others, I see the future in which you are destined to shine. The two of you, like me, are destined to become figures the soul master world will look up to."

En Zuo's voice was gentle and steady. Though he was usually quite kind toward others, at this moment, the pride in his heart was fully on display.

He looked at the two spirited youths before him, the smile on his lips unchanged.

"And for our first gathering, the most important task is to cultivate your soul power diligently. After passing the entrance examination, strive to shine in the grade assessment."

"And after that,"

"We still aren't qualified to contend for the championship in next year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament. If we compete, it will be to claim first place. So, when the tournament after next begins four years from now, I hope every one of you will have reached the cultivation of a Soul King."

This was En Zuo's expectation for the two of them. In his view, with the countless scarce resources from the future at their disposal, their cultivation would surely advance by leaps and bounds.

And after securing Tang San, the immortal herbs—

Could begin to be planned for as well.