The Unstoppable Huo Gua's Grilled Fish!

Shrek City's east gate bustled at dusk. After a dull day of training, most students came here with friends to unwind.

At an unassuming grilled-fish stall in the corner, a small, slender figure worked with her head down. The long line stretching from the stall showed just how popular her business was.

"Huo Yuhao's grilled fish! Only five copper coins each!"

"Come on over! Don't miss out!"

Not far from the stall, Tang Ya stood with one hand on her hip and a freshly grilled fish in the other, calling out to passersby.

"Here's your fish, senior. Enjoy!" Wiping the fine sweat from her forehead, Huo Yuhao smiled and handed the fish to the older student before her.

"Come again!"

After accepting his copper soul coins, Huo Yuhao glanced at the darkened sky. A blue-haired figure rose unbidden in her mind.

Brother Xiang Jun should be back soon. I wonder if he's had dinner.

Beside her, four fish lay quietly over the grill, sending an enticing aroma into the air. One whiff was enough to tell how much care Huo Yuhao had put into them.

"Kid, give me two grilled fish!"

A voice abruptly broke Huo Yuhao's train of thought. She looked over and saw a tall young man with thick brows and large eyes staring straight at the fish on the grill.

Huo Yuhao gave him an apologetic smile. "Sorry, senior. We've sold out for today. Please come back tomorrow."

Sold out?

The young man eyed the fish still lying on the grill, his tone turning sour. "Sold out? What are those, then? I waited in line all this time, and you dare refuse to sell to me?!"

He tossed down a Gold Soul Coin and reached straight for the fish.

But Huo Yuhao seemed to anticipate his move. She snatched up the remaining fish and apologized again. "Sorry, senior. I saved these for someone else..."

With the fish gone, his hand slammed into the scorching grill. As though he couldn't feel the heat, he crushed the charcoal in his grip to powder.

"Even if the king himself showed up today, I'm eating that fish!"

His vicious expression frightened Huo Yuhao into backing away, but she kept the fish firmly hidden behind her.

"Sorry, senior, these fish really are—"

"Xu Sanshi! You waterlogged turtle! If you dare bully our Yuhao again, I'll pry that stinking shell right off you!"

Before Huo Yuhao could finish, Tang Ya appeared and let loose at the young man.

"Xu Sanshi? Is he the Xu Sanshi they call the Outer Court's number one defender?!"

"What a shame. Looks like this fish stall won't survive the night."

Once the onlookers learned who he was, gasps rippled through the crowd.

A waterlogged... turtle?!

"My Martial Soul is the Xuanming Turtle, not some waterlogged turtle!"

Xu Sanshi's eyes went red with fury, and he breathed like a bull. Glaring at the unruffled Tang Ya, he gritted his teeth. "Tang Ya, for Bei Bei's sake, I'm warning you to stay out of this!"

"Stay out of it? Yuhao is a Tang Sect disciple. Her business is my business!" Tang Ya planted her hands on her hips, with no intention of backing down.

"Fine, fine, fine!"

Xu Sanshi said "fine" three times in a row. The sight of him on the verge of losing control made Tang Ya's eyelid twitch.

Stupid Bei Bei, why aren't you here yet?!

Tang Ya nearly wanted to cry. As she searched for a way out, she noticed a figure approaching them from a distance.

Huh? Is that...

Tang Ya blinked her lovely eyes. A brilliant idea took shape in her mind.

You want to bully our Yuhao? Just watch how I deal with you!

A crooked smile crossed Tang Ya's face. She thrust out her modest chest and said mockingly, "Xu Sanshi, you're one of the Outer Court's acknowledged twin stars. What's so impressive about bullying a defenseless girl and a freshman?"

At that, the onlookers' gazes toward Xu Sanshi turned pointed.

"I didn't! That's not what happened! Stop making things up!" Their stares made Xu Sanshi squirm, and he hurried to deny it, his face flushing red.

"Is that so? Then you can explain yourself to someone else!" Tang Ya chuckled. Her gloating expression left Xu Sanshi utterly confused.

Before he could figure out what she meant, gasps suddenly sounded around them.

"Look, look! That guy is so handsome!"

"Holy shit, how does he get to be that good-looking? That's not fair!"

"Honestly, I was planning to grow up looking like that, but he beat me to it..."

Huh? Brother Xiang Jun!

Huo Yuhao's face lit up at the sight of the tall figure walking toward her.

"What happened, Yuhao? Is something wrong?" Ignoring the crowd, Xiang Jun looked at the overturned grill and began to piece things together.

"Well, it's just..."

Before Huo Yuhao could finish, Tang Ya rushed over and pointed angrily at the culprit. "That big turtle tried to snatch the fish Yuhao saved for you! He's practically asking for a beating!"

Snatching things?

Even Shrek Academy has bullies?

Xiang Jun frowned and followed Tang Ya's pointing finger. A burly young man stood there, glaring at him with jealousy written all over his face.

"Were you the one trying to take Yuhao's fish?"

"I paid for it... Wait, who the hell are you to stick your nose into my business?" Xu Sanshi started to defend himself, but the moment he noticed Xiang Jun's freshman uniform, his tone changed completely.

Just a freshman. I, Xu Sanshi, can put him in his place without breaking a sweat!

Oh? Talking tough, are we?

Is the wind at Shrek that loud, or can you just not hear me?

Xiang Jun's expression chilled. He decided to teach this arrogant brat a lesson.

"Xu Sanshi, weren't you acting all tough a moment ago? What happened? Lost your nerve? All talk, huh?" Tang Ya taunted, her hands on her hips.

"Hmph. I've been tough this whole time!"

Xu Sanshi snorted and turned to Xiang Jun with a disdainful look. "You want to play hero, kid? Then face me in the Soul Arena. If you're too scared, get lost!"

"Sure. But fighting for nothing is boring. Why don't we make a wager?"

Xiang Jun agreed at once, a "warm and friendly" smile spreading across his face.

Tang Ya's words had already told him who the young man was.

Eternal Defense—Xu Sanshi!