Wang Dong raced the whole way and finally made it back to Shrek Academy. Standing at the academy gates, he let out a long breath, a sense of reassurance welling up inside him.
Although he had gained a great deal on this trip, he had also faced quite a few dangers. He touched the faint mark on his forehead and sighed inwardly. It would be best to keep the matter of the Eye of Destiny quiet for now.
He strode into the academy and headed toward the dormitories. Yet when he pushed open his dormitory door, he was somewhat disappointed to find that Huo Yuhao had not returned.
It seemed her journey to the Far North had not ended yet. Wang Dong frowned, faintly worried.
The Far North was extraordinarily dangerous. Although Huo Yuhao had the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm to guide her, her cultivation was still shallow, after all. He hoped everything would go smoothly for her.
He returned to his original dormitory for the time being, set down his luggage, and prepared to rest for a while.
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by a familiar figure pushing it open and entering.
It was Dai Huabin. He seemed to be in a good mood, humming a little tune with a cheerful smile on his face.
Yet the moment he saw Wang Dong, his smile froze.
Seeing him again after nearly two months left Dai Huabin feeling awful.
His eyes widened as he stared at Wang Dong in disbelief, as though he had seen something inconceivable. Wang Dong, however, did not think much of it and greeted him reflexively. "Hey, Dai Huabin. Long time no see."
The corner of Dai Huabin's mouth twitched, and his expression looked as though he had swallowed a fly.
Only after Wang Dong left had he learned that there was no rain at all in the world outside. He had thought that with Wang Dong gone, he could steal the limelight in class. Instead, he found that without Wang Dong, he had become the subject of everyone's gossip.
Those classmates were always whispering behind his back, saying he could not even withstand a single move from Wang Dong, saying he was a joke. He had had enough of those days.
Now Wang Dong had actually returned. Fuck, why did this guy have to come back? I thought something had happened to him. Why did he have to come back, of all things?
Wang Dong raised an eyebrow at Dai Huabin's constipated expression. "What? Not happy to see me? Got a problem with me?"
Humiliation welled up inside Dai Huabin, but he dared not show it. He took a deep breath and forced a smile. "No, of course not. I couldn't be happier to have you back, classmate Wang Dong."
Wang Dong glanced at him without saying anything more. Seeing this, Dai Huabin did not dare linger either. He made an excuse and hurried away.
Yet the moment he stepped out of the dormitory, his expression changed. A vicious glint flashed through his eyes, and he clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms.
Wang Dong... If it weren't for this guy, I'd be the one basking in unrivaled glory in class, instead of constantly being whispered about. Damn it, damn it!
Hatred made his teeth itch, but for now, he dared not take revenge on Wang Dong. That guy's strength was too terrifying; he was no match for him at all. He could only endure, endure until the day an opportunity arose.
Dai Huabin wandered aimlessly through the academy with a dark expression. The more he thought about it, the angrier and more resentful he became. Why?
Why did I become a joke again the moment that Wang Dong came back? I've clearly worked hard at cultivating, clearly grown stronger, so why am I still no match for that guy? He gritted his teeth, a perverse fire bottled up inside him with nowhere to vent it.
Just then, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure not far away. Wasn't that Huo Yuhao?
He froze for a moment, then a vicious glint flashed through his eyes. Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong's little shadow.
He could not beat Wang Dong, but dealing with Huo Yuhao would be as easy as reaching out and grabbing her, wouldn't it? Perfect. He had a bellyful of anger and had been worrying about having nowhere to vent it.
Dai Huabin's nature of bullying the weak and fearing the strong instantly surfaced. He strode over and blocked Huo Yuhao's path, a mocking smile on his face:
"Well, if it isn't Huo Yuhao. What, you came back alone? Where's Wang Dong? Isn't he such a great fighter? Why isn't he with you?"
Huo Yuhao had been hurrying excitedly toward the dormitories. Her journey to the Far North had gone better than she had imagined.
Not only had she found the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion's habitat, but she had also successfully obtained a second martial soul. The Ice
Jade Emperor Scorpion's power was even greater than she had imagined. That intensely frigid power surged within her, raising her strength by more than a single notch.
She was eager to see Wang Dong and share the good news with him. Yet when she saw Dai Huabin blocking her path, the smile on her face immediately turned cold.
"Move aside." Huo Yuhao looked coldly at Dai Huabin, her tone devoid of emotion.
Dai Huabin sneered and looked her up and down. "What? In such a hurry to find Wang Dong? Are you afraid someone else will snatch Wang Dong away while I'm not around?"
Huo Yuhao's gaze grew even colder. "I said, move aside."
Dai Huabin paid her no heed whatsoever and only grew more arrogant. He deliberately raised his voice so everyone nearby could hear:
"Huo Yuhao, a Soul Master barely in the teens like you dares give me that look? Believe it or not, I could deal with you with one finger!"
He believed he could easily keep Huo Yuhao under his thumb, because he was already at rank thirty-four, while Huo Yuhao was only in the teens.
With such an enormous gap, he could crush her with any casual attack. Quite a few passing students noticed the commotion and gathered around.
Some recognized Huo Yuhao, while others recognized Dai Huabin. All wore expressions of anticipation for a good show.
After all, Dai Huabin was something of a celebrity among the new students. Although Wang Dong had defeated him in an instant, he should still have more than enough strength to deal with Huo Yuhao, who was only in the teens.
A petite girl squeezed through the crowd. It was Xiao Xiao.
Her expression changed when she saw Dai Huabin blocking Huo Yuhao. She wanted to step forward and help, but it was already too late. Dai Huabin had already attacked.
He suddenly hurled a punch at Huo Yuhao, his Soul Power erupting and whipping up a fierce blast of wind pressure. In his eyes, this punch was enough to make Huo Yuhao suffer terribly.
Yet Huo Yuhao stood where she was without moving. A cold smile curled her lips, and an icy-blue gleam flashed through her eyes.
The instant before Dai Huabin's fist struck her face, a terrifying chill suddenly erupted from her body.
That chill seemed to come from the ten-thousand-year-old glaciers of the Far North, instantly freezing even the surrounding air.
Half an inch from Huo Yuhao, Dai Huabin's fist was actually stopped by a layer of ice crystals, unable to advance even a fraction farther.
Dai Huabin froze. He felt a bone-piercing chill spread up through his fist, freezing his entire arm until it lost all sensation.
He tried to withdraw his fist, only to discover that his arm had already been frozen solid and could not move.
Huo Yuhao looked at him coldly, her voice devoid of emotion. "Dai Huabin, did you just say you were going to deal with me with one finger?"
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