Tang Hao: Leave It to Me and You'll Have Something to Worry About

He paused, then added, "That child still carries my Sea God power. Logically, nothing major should happen to him, but that Silver Dragon King girl is by his side. She seems well-behaved enough for now, but she is still half of the Dragon God. I can't help but worry."

After hearing this, Tang Hao did not waste another word. With a broad sweep of his hand, he took it on as readily as if he had been asked to drink and feast on meat.

"Don't worry. With your old man here, no one will lay a finger on him. Put your mind at ease and just watch your son make you proud down there."

Looking at his father's confident acceptance, Tang San suddenly felt a faint sense of unease for some reason.

He blinked, then looked again at Tang Hao's bold and open face, forcefully suppressing that subtle feeling.

It had to be an illusion.

His father might look rough around the edges, but he was dependable at heart. Very dependable.

Right?

He nodded slightly and stopped dwelling on it, turning his gaze back to the light mirror.

Shrek Academy, Outer Court.

After leaving the training ground, Tang Wulin did not hurry back to the dormitory. Instead, he led Gu Yuena, Wang Dong, and Huo Yuhao down the bluestone path toward the Soul Tool Department's teaching district.

The sun had climbed high into the sky, warmly shining upon the ginkgo trees lining both sides of the road. Their leaves gleamed in the light, and whenever the wind passed through, they rustled and flashed like scattered gold.

"Yuhao, I'm taking you to the Soul Tool Department next. It'll be extremely useful for your development. With your current talent, it'll be hard for you to become a core disciple on the Soul Master side, but it'll be much easier among the soul engineers."

Huo Yuhao followed half a step behind Tang Wulin, looking at the unhurried figure ahead of him before lowering his gaze to his own shadow stretched long by the sunlight. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he did not know how to begin.

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's voice emerged from his spiritual sea, lazy and carrying the tone of an old bug who had seen it all.

"Yuhao, stop bottling it up. Tang Wulin has been incredibly good to you. Look at him—he's helping you out and paving the way for you. The Soul Tool Department has far better prospects for you than that bunch in the Soul Master Department. Take my advice: stick with him from now on. Follow him, and maybe we'll really have a shot at becoming gods."

Hearing that, Huo Yuhao's fingers curled slightly at his sides. A warm emotion rose in his chest, and his steps unconsciously quickened until he was nearly half a step behind Tang Wulin.

He gave a quiet "Mm," so soft it was almost as if he were speaking to himself.

Tang Wulin did not turn around, but his hearing was excellent, and that nearly inaudible response reached his ears.

He merely smiled faintly and continued down the bluestone path without slowing.

It seemed Sky Dream understood how to behave after all.

When they reached the entrance to the Soul Tool Department's teaching district, they ran into Xian Lin'er.

She had just reported Zhou Yi's matter together with Yan Shaozhe and was coming around from the administrative building when she saw Tang Wulin leading a group of half-grown children in her direction.

She stopped, folded her arms, and smiled teasingly. "Well, little Wulin, are you planning to treat my Soul Tool Department like a market? Bringing all these children here—are you enrolling them, or are you here to bring us more of that special metal you gave us last time?"

Tang Wulin stopped before her and politely greeted her, "Hello, Sister Xian." Then he stepped aside, bringing Huo Yuhao into view, and gently pushed him on the back.

Huo Yuhao stumbled half a step forward. When he looked up and met Xian Lin'er's gaze, the tips of his ears instantly reddened.

"This child's martial soul is Spirit Eyes," Tang Wulin said naturally, as if discussing something utterly ordinary. "It's a spiritual attribute, and his innate foundation is quite good. I think he's well-suited for the soul tool path. Whether he's studying or using soul tools, his spiritual power advantage can be fully utilized. It's much more worthwhile than going to the Soul Master Department and competing with others through brute force."

Upon hearing this, Xian Lin'er swept her gaze over Huo Yuhao's face, then sent out a thread of soul power to rapidly circle his body. She nodded slightly, her tone turning more serious. "Spirit Eyes martial soul... It really is a rare mutated spiritual-type martial soul. Fine. Since you recommended him, I'll take him. Later, I'll have Qian Duoduo give him a detailed spiritual power test. We'll arrange his courses after seeing what kind of foundation he has."

Tang Wulin quietly introduced Qian Duoduo.

When Huo Yuhao heard the words "vice dean," a trace of hesitation appeared on his face. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

Tang Wulin seemed not to notice his hesitation. He turned and smiled at him, his tone relaxed. "It's fine. Don't worry, I'm here."

That slight unease in Huo Yuhao was gently brushed away by those words. He pressed his lips together, lowered his head to hide the redness in his eyes, and softly said, "Thank you, Brother Tang."

Watching this scene, Xian Lin'er smiled and shook her head. Then she turned and led them into the teaching district. "All right, don't just stand around at the entrance. Come in with me. I'll have someone register this boy."

Tang Wulin followed behind, his steps light.

Elsewhere, on the path leading to the teachers' dormitories in Shrek Academy's Outer Court, Zhou Yi was limping forward.

The blood inside her boot had already dried into a dark brown crust. Every step felt like she was treading on shattered porcelain, and the pain made her entire right leg tremble.

She supported herself against a plane tree by the roadside and stopped to catch her breath. Her fingers dug tightly into the rough bark, her knuckles turning white.

With her head lowered, loose strands of hair stuck to her forehead with cold sweat, and her mind was in chaos.

But amid that chaos, she suddenly jerked her head up, her pupils contracting sharply.

Her head had been left buzzing from the hammer blow, and the hundred-thousand-year soul ring had so shaken her that she had overlooked the most important thing.

That youth's martial soul.

Blue Silver Grass.

Clear Sky Hammer.

Blue Silver Grass and Clear Sky Hammer.

Zhou Yi's lips began to tremble—first her lower lip, then her upper lip. It was as if all color had been drained from her face in an instant, leaving it so pale it was nearly translucent.

Her back slammed against the trunk, and she slowly slid down the rough bark to sit on the ground. Her hands hung at her sides, her fingertips twitching faintly.

She recalled the youth's clear and composed eyes, the Clear Sky Hammer that bore no soul rings yet carried the force of thunder, the silver token that had flashed in the sunlight, and the hundred-thousand-year soul ring as crimson as lava.

Blue Silver Grass, Clear Sky Hammer, twin martial souls, Sea God Pavilion token.

Those words swirled repeatedly through her mind, faster and faster, until they intertwined into an impenetrable net that trapped her completely.

A crushed whimper escaped her throat.

"...It's over!!!"

Zhou Yi sat collapsed beneath the plane tree, staring up at the sky overhead, broken into fragments by the leaves. Her eyes were unfocused, and her lips trembled, but she could no longer form a single complete sentence.