In the twilight after the selection, the candlelight flickered in the council hall, casting intermittent light on and off Xuan Zi's deeply lined face. Yan Shaozhe stood with his head bowed and his back slightly hunched, seemingly bearing invisible pressure under Xuan Zi's piercing gaze.
" Huo Yuhao is a born Soul Master commander, no!"
Xuan Zi abruptly stood up, his aged hand slamming heavily on the sandalwood table, making the teaware clink. "The title 'commander' underestimates him! That boy's battlefield resourcefulness, his precise grasp of the situation, and that keen perception beyond his years..."
He paced back and forth, his withered fingers gesturing forcefully in the air, yet his cloudy eyes blazed with intense light. "In all my years, I have never seen such a prodigious talent! If I had to describe it, his talent is simply that of a born god! Even the former Sea God at the same age could never have been his equal! Do you understand the significance of that?"
Yan Shaozhe looked up at the emotionally charged Xuan Zi, his brows furrowed, his face full of melancholy. " Xuan Zi, your praise is practically making Huo Yuhao feel like he's on a pedestal..."
He paused, gave a wry smile, but his tone unconsciously carried a hint of agreement, "However, given the strength and talent he has displayed, he certainly deserves this praise. It's just that this child is determined, and ordinary words will probably be difficult to sway him."
Xuan Zi abruptly stopped, his gaze sharp as a hawk's. "I'm telling you, from this moment on, any request Huo Yuhao makes, as long as Shrek can fulfill it, we must unconditionally satisfy!"
"He is the academy's hope for the next few decades, even a century! He will definitely become an unparalleled powerhouse, perhaps even more brilliant than the Sea God."
The old man's voice was firm and resolute, carrying an unquestionable authority, as if he wanted to etch this determination into Yan Shaozhe's heart.
Yan Shaozhe nodded repeatedly and solemnly replied, "Yes! Yes! I will do my best to persuade Huo Yuhao and make sure he understands the academy's sincerity." He secretly pondered what kind of bargaining chip he could use to change the boy's mind and help Shrek overcome obstacles in the Continental Soul Fighting Tournament.
The gentle twilight washed over the spires of the Shrek Academy, sprinkling fine gold dust onto the carved glass of the Tea House. Warm yellow light poured out from inside, blending with the twilight and outlining a hazy glow on the bluestone floor.
This teahouse, tucked away in a corner of the academy, is now wafting with the rich aroma of tea and the sweet scent of baking, as if opening its arms to welcome the Shrek Seven Devils.
Inside, around an exquisite walnut round table, the new generation of Shrek Seven Devils gathered together. Amidst laughter and conversation, they successfully completed a crucial adjustment to the team rankings, showcasing their perfect teamwork and collaboration, as if reliving the legendary glory of the original Shrek Seven Devils.
As the backbone of the team, Bei Bei is calm and composed, displaying the Great Wind in every gesture; He Caitou, refers to himself as the second oldest, and his humorous remarks often make everyone laugh.
Jiang Nannan sat by the window, gently stroking the bone china teacup in her hand. The rising steam blurred her delicate face. Beside her, Xiao Xiao rested her chin on her hand, her gaze revealing a hint of disappointment. Both of them were troubled.
The empty seat where Huo Yuhao was absent seemed like a glaring presence to them. "Why didn't Yuhao participate?" The same question swirled in their minds, their confusion and worry turning into a faint sorrow between their brows.
In stark contrast to them was Xu Sanshi, whose lips couldn't stop curving upwards, and whose eyes were almost squinted into slits.
With Huo Yuhao absent and Jiang Nannan sitting beside him, this rare moment of solitude filled him with joy, making even the surrounding air seem sweeter.
From the direction of the kitchen came the sound of light footsteps. Tang Ya, wearing an apron and casually tucking her stray hairs back, was deftly wiping silver teaware. She had been working here for some time, and her every move exuded skill and passion for her job.
Before long, Bei Bei, dressed in her waitress uniform, walked over with an upright posture, carrying a beautifully decorated tray. On the tray, uniquely shaped desserts were arranged in a staggered manner: colorful macarons, tiramisu sprinkled with cocoa powder, and cream cakes adorned with fresh fruit—each one looked incredibly tempting.
The group sat together, enjoying the food and sharing their experiences. Suddenly, He Caitou put down his fork, his expression serious and resolute. "Sect Leader, I want to join the Tang Sect!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Tang Ya's teacup trembled slightly, and surprise instantly lit up her eyes. Since the upheaval, the Tang Sect had been struggling to survive, He Caitou's addition was undoubtedly a shot in the arm.
She was too excited to speak, but she held He Caitou's hand tightly, tears welling up in her eyes.
However, beneath this joyous atmosphere, a subtle shadow lurked deep within Tang Ya's eyes. Bei Bei saw all of this; he knew that Tang Ya carried a heavy burden of the mission to revive the Tang Sect, and he was also aware of her untold past and pain.
But he chose to silently protect her, never revealing anything, only offering the warmest support from the sidelines.
"Why that expression, Senior Tang Ya?" A clear voice suddenly broke the atmosphere in the room. Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw the carved wooden door of the tea house slowly open, and a new guest stepped in—it was Huo Yuhao!
The air inside the teahouse suddenly froze. When Huo Yuhao pushed open the door, the cold wind he brought with him carried the chill from outside, causing the delicate candlelight to flicker slightly. He looked at Tang Ya, who was huddled in the shadows, and a complex emotion welled up in his eyes—this Tang Sect Clan leader, who always presented a bright smile, actually carried shackles that were unimaginable to ordinary people.
Her mutated Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul no longer relied on natural growth, but greedily absorbed blood essence. This special ability, which was almost like that of Evil Soul Master, would later become both her reliance and the sword of Damocles hanging over her head.
This is why the Evil Soul Master organization revered her as the " Blue Silver Saintess," coveting her strange and powerful abilities. Huo Yuhao arrived early to prevent her from going down the wrong path before the crisis struck.
" Yuhao, what brings you here?" Jiang Nannan's voice was filled with surprise. With each graceful step, ripples appeared in the black tea in her cup. Huo Yuhao, however, ignored her, his gaze fixed intently on Tang Ya: "To become stronger, to take revenge, that's what Senior Tang Ya must be thinking, isn't it?"
His voice was like ice, each word striking the hearts of everyone present, "Why is everyone growing up so fast? Why can I, a freshman, rise so quickly, while you... are struggling in the same place?"
Tang Ya's fingertips dug deeply into her palms, her nails almost piercing the panel.
Huo Yuhao's words were like a sharp scalpel, ruthlessly tearing open the scars she had tried so hard to conceal. "From the first time we met, I understood—senior, the hatred in your eyes couldn't be hidden no matter how many smiles you wore. That burning resentment, I know it all too well."
A scream tore through the air. Tang Ya collapsed to the ground, clutching her ears. The purple flower in her hair fell to the ground, gathering dust. Xiao Xiao couldn't help but take a half-step forward, but was gently pulled back by He Caitou. The gazes of the crowd were like invisible ropes, trapping Tang Ya in the center.
Huo Yuhao knelt on one knee, meeting the gaze of the huddled Tang Ya, his voice growing increasingly sharp. "I exposed all of this not to hurt you! Do you intend to wait until you drag yourself into the abyss before facing your own weakness?!"
"Junior Brother Yuhao, what's wrong with you...?" Bei Bei's voice trembled, her fists clenched white. Huo Yuhao suddenly looked up, his gaze sharp as a sword. "Brother Bei! Can't you really tell?"
Tang Ya Ya's eyes held a confusion that threatened to consume her reason at any moment! If she were allowed to wallow in hatred and do something extreme in the future, who would clean up the mess?
He reached out and held Tang Ya's trembling shoulders, the warmth of his palm seeping through the fabric. "Senior, temporary confusion isn't scary. What's scary is wandering in the fog for too long and completely losing your way."
Only by making a choice can you break free of your shackles and truly grasp your own future!
(Temporary hesitation is not terrible; what is terrible is not making a choice amidst hesitation, because once a choice is made, it means you will no longer hesitate, you have a goal.)
Bathed in the warm yellow light of the teahouse, Huo Yuhao stared directly into Tang Ya's reddened eyes, his words striking like heavy blows. "You want to take revenge alone, you want to bear everything alone, but you've forgotten that behind you are the one you love, and the people who love you." He suddenly turned to look at Bei Bei, whose expression was grave, a ripple of inquiry in his eyes. "Brother Bei, do you like Senior Tang Ya?"
"I like him." Bei Bei almost without hesitation, his Adam's apple bobbing as he uttered the word, which was filled with burning affection. Huo Yuhao's gaze was intense as he continued to press, "Does Senior Tang Ya like Brother Bei?" The breathing in the room instantly became heavy, and even the ginkgo leaves falling outside the window seemed to hang in mid-air, as if holding their breath and waiting for an answer.
Tang Ya gave a soft "hmm".
"If you die because of revenge, then you'll never see the person you love again."
Huo Yuhao took a half-step closer, his voice carrying an undeniable pressure, "Perhaps you think you're right to seek revenge, but Brother Bei might regret not stopping you for the rest of his life, and perhaps he'll even follow you in death. Is such a price really worth it?"