"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?!"
Wang Dong'er folded her arms and glared at Gu Ruiqiu in irritation.
Gu Ruiqiu gnashed her teeth in anger as she looked at the haughty young lady before her. "I'm asking your dam!"
"I bet it's because you didn't disguise yourself as a man that the timeline got messed up and triggered a butterfly effect. That's why Huo Yuhao didn't join the Tang Sect or enter Shrek through it."
"Huh?!"
Wang Dong'er was so angry she almost laughed. She had never heard such a ridiculous explanation.
She shouted at Gu Ruiqiu, "Stop pinning the blame on me! How would me disguising myself as a man have affected Huo Yuhao?"
"You, on the other hand... joined Shrek early. I'd say that's the butterfly effect."
Gu Ruiqiu's anger flared. "It's obviously your fault!"
"It's your fault!"
The two of them grappled with each other again.
After Gu Ruiqiu landed a blow on her head, Wang Dong'er suddenly froze.
She reached up, caught Gu Ruiqiu's wrist, and said, "Wait."
"What? Scared?"
Wang Dong'er's eyes darted about, as though something had occurred to her. "Did we overlook something?"
"Huo Yuhao's Martial Soul is Spirit Eyes, a Body Martial Soul. If he didn't join the Tang Sect and didn't come to Shrek with Bei Bei and Tang Ya..."
Gu Ruiqiu's expression gradually grew grave as well. "A Body Martial Soul..." she murmured to herself.
The two exchanged a glance, thinking of that sect at almost the same moment.
"The Body Sect!"
Wang Dong'er cried out in alarm, "Unlike Shrek, the Body Sect doesn't care how much Innate Soul Power someone has or how much Soul Power they've reached at a given age. As long as they're a Soul Master with a Body Martial Soul, the sect accepts them all."
It was as though Gu Ruiqiu had been struck by a revelation. "You mean the Body Sect snatched Huo Yuhao away first?"
"Right!" Wang Dong'er was almost one hundred percent certain that Huo Yuhao had joined the Body Sect.
Gu Ruiqiu fell silent for a moment. Huo Yuhao joining the Body Sect could be said to have every benefit and no drawbacks.
She trusted those old fellows in the Body Sect to protect their own.
But she also loathed the Body Sect.
She loathed it because Di Tian had told her about a beast tide that the Body Sect had caused.
The worst one of all.
Wang Dong'er sprang to her feet, preparing to leave the dormitory.
Seeing this, Gu Ruiqiu called out to stop her. "Are you planning to look for Huo Yuhao?"
Wang Dong'er didn't turn around. She simply said, "What else?"
"Are you sure?" Gu Ruiqiu challenged her.
Wang Dong'er stopped and looked at Gu Ruiqiu. "What do you mean?"
Gu Ruiqiu laughed and pointed at her own head. "Don't forget, you still have the power of our Lord Sea God in you~"
Only after Gu Ruiqiu reminded her did Wang Dong'er recall that troublesome fellow.
She clenched her fists, her face full of distress.
Gu Ruiqiu walked up to Wang Dong'er and leaned close to her ear, murmuring, "If you go looking for Yuhao now, do you believe that old fox might just give you two a Martial Soul Fusion Skill after a single night of cultivation?"
"Then he'll secretly alter Yuhao's understanding and make him continue down the path to the future, and the three of us will eventually become one as Tang Wutong."
Wang Dong'er said nothing more, merely thinking it over.
Indeed, as Gu Ruiqiu had said, she couldn't go looking for Huo Yuhao now.
But...
At last, Wang Dong'er's tone softened. "Then what do you say we should do?"
"Wait. Wait for the right opportunity, for the guidance of fate to bring Yuhao and us together. I believe Huo Yuhao will help us then." Gu Ruiqiu's gaze was utterly earnest, with no sign of backing down.
Wang Dong'er lowered her eyes. To keep the events of the future from happening again, she could only back down.
"All right, we'll do as you say."
Then Wang Dong'er raised her head proudly and met Gu Ruiqiu's gaze. "Don't get the wrong idea. I'm doing all this for Yuhao."
"Yes, yes, yes. Everything I'm doing is for Yuhao too."
Star Luo Empire, Ming Dou Mountain Range, White Tiger army camp.
Dai Hao jolted awake in his tent.
He felt every part of his body in disbelief. "What's happened to me?"
A stream of memories from the future had suddenly appeared in his mind.
Those memories felt real.
Huo Yuhao, the third god of the Dai Family after their ancestors, the God of War Dai Mubai and the God of Speed Zhu Zhuqing: the God of Emotion.
The son he had with his personal maid, Huo Yun'er.
Huo Yun'er was brought back to life, and Huo Yuhao changed his surname to Dai and returned to his ancestral family.
And he, Dai Hao, did nothing but fire a single shot, yet reclaimed the title of emperor of the Star Luo Empire for the Dai Family.
He himself also rode on Huo Yuhao's coattails to ascend to the Divine Realm and live in peace and contentment. He even saw the legendary Shrek Seven Devils with his own eyes.
The thought of it all set Dai Hao's blood ablaze.
"Du Leisi, return to the White Tiger Duke's Mansion with me at once!"
To make Huo Yuhao understand that he was a worthy father, and so he could use the connection to ascend to godhood, he, Dai Hao, had to return to the White Tiger Duke's Mansion and find out what was going on!
Body Sect, Huo Yuhao's home.
Knock, knock, knock.
Just as Huo Yuhao was completely immersed in meditation, a steady, firm yet light knock suddenly came from outside the door.
Hearing the slow knocking, Huo Yuhao emerged from meditation and slowly opened his eyes, a deep purple light flashing through them.
He left the room, walked to the door, and reached out to open it.
A sturdily built youth stood before Huo Yuhao. He was a full 1.7 meters tall, with long reddish-brown hair parted down the middle.
Long Aotian asked, "Huo Yuhao? The newly joined disciple?"
Sensing no hostility from Long Aotian, Huo Yuhao nodded. "And you are?"
Long Aotian looked at Huo Yuhao and said warmly, "My name is Long Aotian."
"Going by seniority, you should call me eldest senior brother."
Huo Yuhao spoke excitedly. "Senior Brother Long Aotian? You're the genius Senior Brother Long Aotian the sect master often mentions?"
His voice was filled with innocent excitement.
But that very excitement and enthusiasm made Long Aotian a little pleased with himself. He laughed aloud. "That's right, I'm that Long Aotian."
"Junior Brother Yuhao, you don't have to be reserved in the sect. Just be yourself around the elders and the sect."
"I came because I heard the sect had taken in a new disciple, so I made a special trip to see you."
Then a blazing fire flared in Long Aotian's eyes. "I also wanted to know just how capable the little fellow the sect master values so highly really is."
Huo Yuhao's heart tightened. No way...
But Long Aotian suddenly restrained his presence, having noticed Huo Yuhao's nervousness.
"Don't worry, Junior Brother. I won't force you. Whenever you're ready, come find me for a spar."
"Disciples of the sect should look after one another."
"If there's anything you don't understand in the future, you can come straight to me."