Sworn Brothers

"Senior Brother Bei?"

The senior student conducting the interview immediately straightened with respect.

"If you're vouching for him, what's left to doubt? Take this little brother inside to register."

"Thanks. I'll treat you all to a good meal next time."

Bei Bei gave them a thumbs-up, then turned to Tang Wulin with a smile.

"Come on, little brother Tang. Let's go in and sign you up."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Bei."

Tang Wulin looked at Bei Bei gratefully. He could have gone back for another recommendation letter, but Bei Bei had still taken a risk by vouching for him.

"It's nothing."

Bei Bei smiled easily. He hadn't planned to step in. A child entering Shrek Academy wasn't necessarily a good thing. But then he had heard his great-great-grandfather's voice in his ear. That ancestor had taken an interest in this boy, so Bei Bei had no choice but to help him get in.

"I'm Bei Bei, an ordinary student in the outer courtyard."

"This is Xiao Ya, my teacher and the head of the Tang Sect."

Bei Bei began introducing everyone to Tang Wulin.

"Hello, little brother. I'm Tang Ya."

Tang Ya smiled and raised a hand in greeting.

"Sister, you're the head of the Tang Sect?"

Tang Wulin froze at Bei Bei's introduction, then asked in disbelief.

There was clearly something unusual about Bei Bei and Tang Ya's teacher-student relationship. Tang Ya was probably just another outer-courtyard student, yet she was the head of the Tang Sect? How was that possible?

"The Tang Sect founded by Sea God Tang San ten thousand years ago?"

At Tang Wulin's question, Tang Ya's face suddenly went pale. She looked as though she might collapse, and her words came with difficulty.

"That's right. Because of Soul Tools, the Tang Sect has fallen into complete decline. In my generation, there are only me and three disciples left."

With that, Tang Ya glanced at Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao beside her. She had recruited Huo Yuhao for his grilled fish and steadfast character, while Wang Dong had volunteered to join after hearing about the Tang Sect. The once-mighty sect now consisted of only the four of them.

Soul Tools?

Tang Wulin blinked, puzzled. He remembered the Tang Sect developing all kinds of Soul Tools ten thousand years later. How could Soul Tools have caused its decline now? There had to be reasons he didn't know about.

"Oh!"

"That's right! Wulin, would you like to join the Tang Sect? It used to be the number-one sect on the continent!"

An idea seemed to strike Tang Ya. Her eyes lit up, and her lively manner returned as she asked.

Beside her, Huo Yuhao rubbed his nose without thinking. This scene felt oddly familiar.

"I'll need to go back and discuss it with my elders. Personally, I'd be happy to join."

Tang Wulin nodded firmly. He was curious about the sect his father had founded and willing to help the declining Tang Sect. But whether he joined still depended on his elders' arrangements.

"Wonderful! Another disciple!"

Tang Ya clapped her hands in delight. Bei Bei, beside her, looked helpless. He doubted the boy's elders would agree, but since the child had caught his ancestor's attention, he couldn't be sure.

"And this is Wang Dong, from the Clear Sky Sect."

Bei Bei kept the introduction brief, drawing Tang Wulin's attention to Wang Dong.

The Clear Sky Sect?

The Clear Sky Sect sent someone to study at Shrek Academy too?

Tang Wulin curiously studied the short-haired, pink-and-blue-haired boy before him. For some reason, Wang Dong looked familiar.

Tang Wulin knew nothing of the Clear Sky Sect's earlier arrangements. Besides, Wang Dong's surname was Wang. Perhaps he was a disciple from an outside family, so Tang Wulin gave it no further thought.

"Hello, little brother. I'm Wang Dong."

Wang Dong couldn't resist reaching out. She bent down and gently kneaded Tang Wulin's soft, fair cheeks.

From the moment she had seen Tang Wulin, she had felt something strange and wonderful. And he was so adorable that her fondness for him kept growing.

"Mmph~"

Under Wang Dong's clutches, Tang Wulin could only mumble until she finally let him go, satisfied.

"And this is Huo Yuhao, our youngest junior brother."

At the sound of his name, Huo Yuhao scratched his head sheepishly. He wouldn't dare get as handsy as Wang Dong.

"Hello, I'm Huo Yuhao. My Martial Soul is Spiritual Eyes."

Huo Yuhao smiled and held out his hand to Tang Wulin.

Feeling the rough skin of Huo Yuhao's palm, Tang Wulin couldn't help looking at him with pity and respect. He had clearly endured a great deal.

"Well, now this is interesting."

Tai Tan watched the group below from the air, clicking his tongue in wonder.

"Mu En, can you put little Dong and that Huo Yuhao in the same room?"

Niu Tian nodded lightly, then turned to Mu En.

"Of course."

Mu En agreed at once. As long as these two lords didn't dissolve Shrek Academy on the spot, he would let them do as they pleased.

"Why don't the three of us become sworn brothers? We're all going to join the Tang Sect anyway, and meeting today must be fate."

Put three heads together, and an idea was bound to hatch.

Wang Dong's eyes lit up. She pointed skyward as the thought sprang into her mind.

She had met Huo Yuhao on the road. After a rocky start, they had begun getting along well, and she found him very much to her liking. She had even offered to help him obtain a Soul Ring, but he had refused. When they met again, his First Soul Ring turned out to be a ten-year one. She had nearly died of frustration.

And the instant she saw Tang Wulin, she had felt a connection in her blood. But Tang was a common surname, and she had never seen him in the Clear Sky Sect, so she hadn't dwelled on it. Surely her parents, who had gone away long ago and whom she had never met, couldn't have given her another little brother?

Huo Yuhao was a weakling, and Tang Wulin was a child. Wang Dong had come up with the idea so she could protect them more easily. After all, she was a Soul Grandmaster with a thousand-year second Soul Ring.

"Sworn brothers?!"

Everyone cried out at Wang Dong's suggestion. Even the usually impulsive Tang Ya thought it was far too rash.

"Say yes."

Uncle Da Ming's voice suddenly sounded in Tang Wulin's ear. He went still. Seriously? But why did Uncle Da Ming's voice sound a little strange?

"Then I'll be the third brother."

Tang Wulin spoke up. After spending this time with his two uncles, he had come to trust them deeply and agreed without hesitation. Besides, he thought Wang Dong seemed nice. She was probably a kind person.

"Huh?"

Even Wang Dong was surprised. She hadn't expected Tang Wulin to agree so readily.

"Little Wulin, you—"

Before Tang Ya could finish, Bei Bei covered her mouth. This was a private matter between the three of them; they had no business interfering.

That left Huo Yuhao. Everyone turned to look at him.

Huo Yuhao was still bewildered. How had their relationship suddenly leaped all the way to brotherhood? Under everyone's burning gaze, his face flushed bright red. He slowly lowered his head and fidgeted, rubbing his hands together before him.

Brothers...

Huo Yuhao thought of those two brothers, then of his mother, who had died so miserably. A fierce light flashed in his eyes. Fortunately, his head was lowered and no one saw it. He forced it back down.

"Then I'll be the second brother."

I have brothers now, too.

Dai Huabin. Dai Yueheng.