Suotu City

Heaven Dou Empire, Baruch Kingdom, Suotu City.

Midday sunlight spilled across the streets as bustling crowds hummed with activity and cries of peddlers rose and fell.

An Chen stood at the city gates, looking up at the three large characters of Suotu City inscribed above, before stepping quickly inside.

Half a month ago, An Chen set out from Qingshi Village. Crossing mountains and rivers all the way through two provinces, he finally arrived at this city he had only ever seen in the original work.

An Chen was not in any particular hurry to find Shrek Academy.

According to the timeline of the original work, Tang San and Xiao Wu should also be arriving in Suotu City around this period.

An Chen wanted to wander around the city first to see if he could run into them.

Having read the original work, he knew that while Tang San appeared honest on the surface, he was extremely shrewd inside. Therefore, he needed to manufacture some accidental encounters, as approaching him rashly to strike up a conversation would only make Tang San suspicious of him.

An Chen found an inn to settle down in within the city and then went out to see if he could "accidentally encounter" Tang San.

This Suotu City was far more prosperous than Tieyan City. Its streets were wide, people came and went in a constant stream, and occasionally he could spot individuals wearing Soul Master Badges walking past him.

Habitually, he activated Spirit Vision to observe the surrounding pedestrians.

Most people possessed very ordinary auras, the physical blood-qi colors of their limbs were normal, and their emotional layers were also the common orange-red or pale blue.

Occasionally, a few Soul Masters would have auras that appeared slightly more solid than those of ordinary people, yet they remained only at standard levels.

An Chen withdrew Spirit Vision and walked aimlessly.

Until he arrived at a secluded street, where his footsteps suddenly paused.

Not far ahead, two figures were walking side by side.

Walking on the left was a boy of twelve or thirteen, dressed in simple cloth garments, with plain features, dark, thin skin, and an overall very honest appearance.

The most eye-catching feature was a jade belt tied around his waist, emitting a warm luster under the sunlight.

Walking on his right was a young girl with a scorpion braid, exquisite features, lively eyes, and an energetic, playful vibe exuding from her every movement.

An Chen's pupils contracted slightly.

Were these Tang San and Xiao Wu?

Observing Tang San's true appearance, An Chen felt he looked much like any ordinary child from a mountain village.

If not for Xiao Wu and the Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night around his waist, An Chen would have simply taken him for an undernourished child.

An Chen did not step forward. Instead, he slowed his pace, following them at a distance of ten paces behind.

He activated Spirit Vision to observe their auras.

The physical auras of both bodies met the standards of common Soul Masters.

Tang San's emotional layer carried pale blue and light green hues, and only when he looked at Xiao Wu would a trace of faint yellow and orange emerge.

Xiao Wu's aura, however, was entirely different.

Her emotional-layer aura was bright and active, resembling a leaping flame.

Walking together, one pitch-black and the other lively and cute, the two presented a strangely incongruous yet harmonious sight.

An Chen followed behind them, listening to their conversation.

"Third Brother, why did Grandmaster have us come take the exams for this Shrek Academy?" Xiao Wu complained. "All the other intermediate Soul Master academies are willing to unconditionally recruit us, yet we have to come to this tiny academy that doesn't even have official grade classifications."

"Since Teacher arranged it, naturally he has his reasons." Tang San's voice was calm. "Besides, don't you think this little academy is more interesting?"

"What could possibly be interesting about it? I seriously doubt this academy can even recruit any students." Xiao Wu pouted, then her eyes suddenly lit up as she pointed at a distinctive building ahead. "Third Brother, look at that!"

An Chen raised his gaze and saw that it was a rose-red building, its exterior walls decorated with rose-flower motifs.

"Rose Hotel! How pretty!" Xiao Wu cheered, grabbing Tang San's arm and running forward. "Let's stay here!"

Dragged by the arm, Tang San smiled helplessly. "Alright, whatever you say."

The two walked into the hotel, and An Chen paused at the entrance for a moment before following them inside.

Rather than trailing directly behind the pair, he acted like an ordinary patron, sitting down at a tea table in the hotel lobby to brew some tea.

The hotel lobby was furnished quite exquisitely with rose-red walls, crystal chandeliers, and a faint floral fragrance permeating the air.

Behind the counter stood a young waiter, watching Tang San and Xiao Wu with a beaming smile.

"Are the two of you checking in?"

"Two rooms." Tang San retrieved a Gold Soul Coin from his waist and placed it on the counter.

The waiter glanced at the Gold Soul Coin, then looked back at Tang San and Xiao Wu, the smile on his face turning somewhat ambiguous.

"I'm sorry, you two, our hotel only has one room left today."

"Only one room left?" Tang San frowned.

"That's right, there is only a single guest room remaining. But you can rest assured, every guest room in our establishment is extremely spacious and fully equipped with all amenities, making it quite comfortable for two people to stay in." As his voice trailed off, he cast a meaningful look toward Tang San, though someone with Tang San's low emotional intelligence could never hope to understand it.

"One room is fine too." Xiao Wu spoke up magnanimously. "Third Brother, haven't we always been living together before? Besides, it's just for one night anyway."

Tang San was momentarily stunned, seeming as though he wanted to say something, but ultimately nodded.

"Alright, then please open that room for me."

An Chen picked up his teacup and watched the scene unfold, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.

The plot of the original work was indeed playing out without a single word altered from his memory.

Just as the waiter was about to process the paperwork, the lobby doors were suddenly pushed open.

A blond youth walked in, his arms wrapped around two similarly attractive young women.

The youth was around fourteen or fifteen years old, with long blond hair draped over his shoulders and handsome features, but what drew the most attention were his eyes.

They were heteromorphic eyes, with double pupils residing within both of them.

Just as I expected, An Chen thought to himself upon seeing the newcomer.

This was the Evil Eye White Tiger, Dai Mubai.

He immediately activated Spirit Vision, scanning Dai Mubai's aura.

At this sight, An Chen felt a slight jolt in his heart.

Dai Mubai's aura was vastly stronger than those of both Tang San and Xiao Wu.

The colors on all parts of his body glowed brightly, with red, yellow, green, purple, and other hues appearing much more vivid than those of ordinary people, while his blood-qi circulated with forceful vigor.

His emotional layer was a churning dark red, suppressing a certain restlessness and dissatisfaction.

Deep within that mass of dark red, a faint layer of gray was also concealed.

Was that... suppressed pain?

An Chen's brow furrowed slightly; his emotional state was not quite right.

Analyzing it mentally, Dai Mubai in the original work should currently be enduring the pressures of his family.

He was a prince of the Star Luo Empire and the heir of the White Tiger Duke, yet internal struggles within his clan had led him to choose exile.

Such pain and suppression were exposed without reservation under Spirit Vision.

Dai Mubai walked into the lobby, his gaze sweeping over Tang San and Xiao Wu before finally landing on the waiter.

"I say, this room should belong to me."

His voice was cold and arrogant, carrying an unquestionable momentum.

Dai Mubai strode up to the counter and glared at the waiter. "New here? Don't you know there's always a room kept for me here?"

The waiter froze. "You are..."

"Go call your manager." Dai Mubai's tone was impatient.

Staring under his piercing gaze, the waiter felt a chill run down his spine and hastily scurried into the back to find someone.

Watching this scene unfold, An Chen sighed inwardly: You really are as overbearing as ever, Young Master Dai. A good show is about to begin.

He took a sip of tea, remaining silent as he quietly observed everything about to transpire.