From Dugu Bo's villa, the laughter of an old man and a young girl could be heard. Dugu Bo's silver beard trembled slightly with his hearty laughter as he chatted with the girl beside him about something amusing. The girl's eyes crinkled, and the teacup in her hand swayed slightly.
Seeing Huo Yuhao arrive, he hurriedly waved:
" Yanyan, this is my young friend I often mention, Huo Lai." Dugu Bo's voice carried a hint of expectation as he watched his granddaughter's reaction. The girl turned around at the sound of his voice, nearly dropping her teacup—the newcomer was dressed in a black outfit that accentuated his tall and straight figure, his black hair cascading down his shoulders like a waterfall, his brows and eyes seemingly holding a galaxy, his deep eyes appearing to contain a vast starry sea, his gaze even more dazzling than the Sunset Forest at dusk.
"Brother Huo... hello." Dugu Yan's cheeks flushed, and her voice softened involuntarily. Huo Yuhao nodded politely, his voice clear and melodious. " Senior Dugu, the poison of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor in your body has been completely cleared. It's time for this junior to depart after today's farewell."
Dugu Bo paused slightly, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes. He had specifically summoned his beloved granddaughter, hoping the young people might spark a romance, but now it seemed his wishful thinking was thwarted. "In that case, young friend, take care on your journey."
Goodbye
Deep within the Sunset Forest, in an extremely secluded place, Huo Yuhao shed his disguise, his aura dissipating like smoke. As his Soul Power flowed, his figure gradually blurred, eventually disappearing into the dappled shadows of the trees, leaving only a few withered leaves swirling in the strong wind, telling the story of what had just happened.
The next morning, before the bells of the Shrek Academy had even rung, a thunderous roar erupted outside Class One: " Huo Yuhao! Who is Huo Yuhao? Come out here!"
The students in the classroom were already used to it, and some even calmly took out sunflower seeds and started eating them.
Yan Shaozhe strolled out from behind, his robes fluttering even without wind, exuding an air of superiority. "Old Qian, save your energy! Yuhao is an Inner Court disciple handpicked by my Martial Soul Department, so don't waste your time."
"Bullshit!" Qian Duoduo jumped up and down, sparks flying from the Soul Tool in his hand. "Why do you get all the best prospects? Huo Yuhao's spiritual power is one in a hundred years; he's a natural-born talent for our Soul Tool Department! I'm going to fight to the death for him!"
The two deans argued heatedly, their faces flushed, completely oblivious to the students around them who were trying so hard not to laugh. This "battle" over Huo Yuhao was likely to become another topic of conversation at the Shrek Academy.
At this moment, Huo Yuhao was leaning against the dormitory window, looking at the two arguing in the distance and smiling helplessly.
As a prominent figure at Shrek, he had already won over everyone in his class with his strength. However, in the neighboring class, there were always some "hot-blooded teenagers" who couldn't see the difference in ability and were eager to try their luck.
The rustling of the sycamore leaves outside the window bears witness to the strange scene that unfolds every day: the love letters that girls secretly slip into their drawers with blushing faces, and the challenge letters that boys hand over with fierce expressions, have achieved an odd balance in quantity.
The boys handing over their challenges had burning eyes, secretly calculating: even if they lost, being able to withstand a few moves from this "monster" would be something to brag about in the academy. Huo Yuhao, clutching a thick stack of challenges, rubbed his temples in exasperation. "I just got back to the academy and I'm already entangled in these trivial matters. It's never-ending."
As the sun began to set, the bell rang for the last class around noon. Usually at this time, the corridors would be filled with the sound of students rushing to the cafeteria, but today, an eerie silence permeated the entire teaching building. Huo Yuhao's classroom was surrounded by a huge crowd, with occasional bursts of commotion erupting from within.
"Look! It's Senior Jiang Nannan!" someone shouted, and everyone's attention instantly focused on the doorway. There stood a graceful young woman carrying an exquisite lunchbox, her cool face glowing softly in the sunlight, like a flower on a high mountain.
"I heard she's having an affair with Huo Yuhao, is it true?"
"Oh my god, the goddess personally delivered the food, how romantic!"
Huo Yuhao, however, was completely oblivious to the surrounding noise. He was intently flipping through the challenge letter in his hand. Suddenly, a name caught his attention—"Looks like there are a few who are worthy of my attention. Ning Tian, the young sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" His fingers lightly caressed the paper, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. "Interesting."
Memories flooded back, and thinking of Ning Tian's ordeal in the Qiankun Asking Love Valley, it was truly tragic. "I remember she was eventually gender-swapped by Tang San and ended up with her friend Wu Feng. What a twisted sense of humor. The Qiankun Asking Love Valley..."
"Tests? Just thinking about it makes Huo Yuhao want to skin that lunatic Tang San alive! I love it! I'll tear that damn place down first, then pull Tang San's consciousness down. He can revive, right? Let him eat my Golden Dragon Explosive Fist until he dies. Let's see if he still dares to set me up for tests."
The warm spring sun shone through the window, casting dappled light on Huo Yuhao's desk.
He was staring blankly at the challenge letter in his hand, his thoughts still immersed in his dissatisfaction with Tang San and Qiankun Asking Love Valley, when he suddenly heard a commotion outside the classroom.
Looking up, I saw Jiang Nannan's aloof figure. Her cool face was flushed with a faint blush, and her peach blossom eyes were slightly lowered, but they could not hide the shimmering light within them. She was walking lightly towards me, meeting everyone's probing gazes.
The girl carried a delicate lunchbox, its surface gleaming warmly in the sunlight. " Yuhao, you haven't eaten yet, have you? I brought you some food I made."
Her voice was soft, tinged with a barely perceptible nervousness, and her fingertips trembled slightly as she handed over the lunchbox. Huo Yuhao was somewhat bewildered, his dark eyes filled with confusion—although he usually had some interaction with Jiang Nannan, such intimate behavior was truly unexpected.
He subconsciously took the lunchbox, his gaze sweeping over the girl's slightly flushed cheeks, and teased, "Senior, you can cook?" Jiang Nannan nodded gently, sat down in the empty seat next to him, and watched intently as he opened the lunchbox.
The rising steam carried an enticing aroma, and Huo Yuhao took a bite, his eyes flashing with delight. "Delicious! Senior, you're amazing!"
A gentle smile curved the girl's lips. She rested her chin on her hand and quietly watched him eat. She gazed at Huo Yuhao's face, lost in thought, her eyes filled with longing, until even the cicadas chirping outside the window became indistinct.
She was thinking to herself, "I could look at this forever and never get tired of it..." Before she could finish speaking, a series of hurried footsteps approached from afar, and Ma Xiaotao's fiery red figure appeared at the classroom door, also carrying a lunchbox in her hand.
" Yuhao, I got you some food from the cafeteria, let's eat together..." Ma Xiaotao's voice trailed off as her gaze fell on Jiang Nannan, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You are, Jiang Nannan, junior?" Her tone held a hint of wariness.
Jiang Nannan slowly stood up, her moon-white skirt sweeping past the chair, blooming into a cool, elegant flower on the ground. " Xiaotao Sister Xiaotao, what are you doing here?"
"I'm bringing food to Yuhao. But I'd like to ask, Jiang Nannan, what are you doing here?" Ma Xiaotao raised an eyebrow, her tone laced with a hint of hostility. "And you, Jiang Nannan, what's wrong? Didn't Xu Sanshi bother you today?"
Actually, it's not surprising that the two of them know each other, because Huo Yuhao took a few days off and was "lying down" in his dormitory. Of course, he wasn't just lying down; both of them had come to the class to look for him, and they had bumped into each other quite a few times. They even met again now after Huo Yuhao took leave.
Jiang Nannan gently shook her head, looking at Huo Yuhao with a firm gaze. "It's absolutely impossible for me and him. Besides, I..." Before she could finish speaking, Huo Yuhao interrupted her.
Sensing the increasingly tense atmosphere and the fierce clash of their sharp gazes, Huo Yuhao quickly spoke up, "Thank you for your kindness, senior sisters. To live up to your good intentions, I'll try them all, okay?"
He smiled helplessly, taking the food box from Ma Xiaotao with one hand, but inwardly he groaned, "What's going on? Did I break some heavenly law today? Why is everyone coming to me?" -- This isn't a meal, it's Asura!
Within the Sea of Consciousness, the gloating voice of Sky Dream Ice Silkworm rang out. " Yuhao, blame it on your own fame! Who told you to be so prominent in the academy? Naturally, this romantic entanglement came knocking on your door."
Electrolux let out a hearty laugh, " Yuhao is very popular at school! My disciple is truly charming!"
Huo Yuhao rolled his eyes inwardly and said helplessly, "Teacher, please stop making fun of me."
"This guy's got guts to provoke two goddesses at once!" The students watching this dramatic scene cast envious and jealous glances, with some even exaggeratingly lamenting, "The difference between people is greater than the difference between people and Soul Beast!"