Huo Lei pushed open the door. When he saw Jin Shan on the sofa, an inexplicable pang rose in his chest, and he snapped, "You old man! You finally decided to show yourself!"
Jin Shan's eyes flew wide. "Well, well! Is this still my disciple? Your temper's grown while we've been apart. Now you dare call your master an old man?"
Huo Lei immediately changed his tune and grinned. "Heh! I just missed you, that's all!"
"Hmm! That's more like it. Following someone around in secret all this time has been miserable. You brat, how much longer do you plan to have me tail that Soul Douluo?" Jin Shan gave Huo Lei an aggrieved look.
"Not a moment longer," Huo Lei said firmly. "I want you two to meet and get to know each other. It'll make what comes next easier."
"What comes next? What are you scheming now, brat?" Jin Shan asked, looking puzzled.
"The Soul Master Tournament is over. Next, I want to find somewhere to train for four or five years. I haven't decided how many people will come, but I definitely won't be alone. I hope you'll stay and guard the academy, while that Soul Douluo continues to protect me from the shadows. So everyone should meet before we leave." Huo Lei laid out his plan.
Jin Shan nodded. "Oh, I see. Not a bad idea. You'll have your chance soon. I showed myself because that Soul Douluo isn't with you right now. He went to Red Rock City to meet visitors from Heaven Dou City."
"Visitors from Heaven Dou City?" Huo Lei asked. "Could Emperor Xue Ye have sent them to confer titles on us?"
"Probably. Hmm? Brat, you're already level fifty-nine? How did you advance so quickly?" Surprise flashed through Jin Shan's eyes.
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