"Yuhao!" Wang Dong'er yelled, spotting Huo Yuhao eating by himself on a table(a service given only to core disciples), covered by all kinds of meals that could even fill a pig's stomach. Wang Dong'er and their friends quickly rushed towards him in concern.
"Yuhao, are you alright? Ma Xiaotao didn't do anything to you, right?" Wang Dong'er immediately asked. Xiao Xiao, Wu Feng and Ning Tian all asked similar questions as well, crowding him.
Huo Yuhao kept a natural expression on his face as he replied, "I'm fine! In fact, I'm doing quite well. I simply accompanied Xiaotao to cultivate. You should know just how extraordinary the nature of her martial soul is. With my help, she's managed to suppress that demonic fire of hers. It also benefitted my cultivation as well."
When he'd left the Sea God's Island and returned to the lakeside, he'd firmly made up his mind: No matter who it was that questioned him, he wouldn't say what had really happened, even if he was beaten to death. It was too embarrassing!
He knew of death and murder, but intimacy between a man and a woman, he was but a student in the art despite his Ancestor's teachings.
The girls gazed at him and felt a bit apprehensive, they felt as though something was off.
Ning Tian blinked, her nose twitched and she asked, "Huh? That fragrance... it smells like the Seven Colored Treasure Shampoo, it's one of the many products my family's branches sells. It's something some of the young women in the family would use."
"Huh? Wait, I'm curious, what kind of shampoo do you use then? Judging by your words, and that I have been curious what kind of shampoo you use." Xiao Xiao asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Hehe. But of course, as the young lady of the family, I used the exclusive Nine Colored Treasure Shampoo! It's a tribute after my ancestor, Ning Rongrong's, title and..."
"Yeah, yeah. We can talk about all that later. We're trying to question Huo Yuhao here? Since he's got that shampoo fragrance on him, and I know for sure that he does not use that type of shampoo." Wang Dong'er interjected, redirecting the focus back to Huo Yuhao.
Unfortunately for her however, Huo Yuhao had already thought about all kinds of answers to his friends' questions. Without the slightest bit of hesitation, he sighed and replied, "It's because it was extremely exhausting when I cultivated with senior sister Xiaotao. That phoenix flame of hers is really strong, thus I ended up sweating all over. When I was done, I borrowed her washing machine to wash my clothes and used her shower to clean myself off, and I unintentionally used her shampoo."
"What about her soap?" Wu Feng asked, raised eyebrow and amusement flashing in her eyes.
"Yeah, even I know not to use someone else's soap." Huo Yuhao rolled his eyes.
Though they felt a little suspicious, they couldn't find a single mistake in what Huo Yuhao said, thus they gradually heaved a sigh of relief.
However, Wang Dong'er still bore a little resentment and said, "You actually needed a whole day to cultivate. Ma Xiaotao is too overbearing! What happens if it end up interfering with your studies?"
"I got my shadow clones to do that for me."
"...Fuck, I hate you."
Huo Yuhao merely grinned at their bitter expressions.
Wang Dong'er shook her head. "Oh right, Teacher Zhou asked for us to see her in her office today before class starts. It seems like there's something going on, as we weren't the only ones called. All of the core disciples have to go and see her. It seems that they're giving us special attention now."
'Is it finally time...?' Huo Yuhao had a suspicion of what was to happen nodded and said, "This is a good thing! By the way, have you guys notice anything with Dai Huabin recently?"
Wang Dong'er shook her head and replied, "Nothing. We haven't even seen that fellow since back then. Gosh, are you a pig? How much have you eaten?!" They only just now noticed that the table had been filled with empty plates.
Huo Yuhao chuckled and said, "What? You think all of these muscles came from simply eating veggies or something? I need to maintain my strength, you know." He flexed his biceps playfully, earning an eye roll from the girls.
Once he'd finished his breakfast, Huo Yuhao and the girls headed towards the school building. After Ning Tian separated from them to go to her class, they headed off to find Zhou Yi.
"Enter." Zhou Yi's ever ice-cold voice rang out.
Huo Yuhao pushed opened the door and entered, followed by his friends.
The room was already full of core disciples from Class 1. Zhou Yi intentionally glanced towards Huo Yuhao. When she saw that his expression was normal, she didn't ask any questions. With a cough, she directed everyone's line of sight towards herself.
"The reason I called you guys here today is because I have a special situation that I need to inform you guys about: In three days time, the outer courtyard will be organizing a core disciple qualification match. Originally, it didn't have anything to do with second years, but the academy suddenly decided to let the Year 2 core disciples participate in the match as well. As a result of this, you guys will need to prepare yourselves."
Feeling somewhat curious, Zhou Sichen asked, "Teacher Zhou, what's this qualification match for?"
Zhou Yi indifferently replied, "You don't have to worry about it. There won't be any sort of punishment if you lose this qualification match. Those participating are all core disciples from the outer courtyard who are fifteen years old and under. People from the Soul Tool Department will also be attending."
"According to my calculations, there are around thirty people participating in the match. We'll be choosing seven from this group to take part in a mission. As for what sort of mission it is, only the students who win will know what sort of mission it is. It's worth noting that these places would normally belong to students from the third, fourth, and fifth years. However, you guys are lucky to be able to participate in this match. You guys should do your best. We have nine core disciples from our class; at least try not to be completely wiped out."
Most of them nodded solemnly, but they all sighed in relief that they wouldn't be punished if they lose. They'd even silently cursed at the academy in their hearts for having a bit too many examinations. The Advancement Examination had just ended! What was the deal with a Core Disciple Examination now?
"Alright, you guys head back to the classroom first. Huo Yuhao, stay behind for awhile. The rest of you can head back first."
"Yes." Everyone uniformly replied.
Wang Dong'er said in a low tone, "Xiao Xiao, Wu Feng and I will wait for you outside."
Once the others had left the room, Huo Yuhao obediently closed the door. He then turned around and faced Zhou Yi, "Teacher Zhou, do you still have something to tell me?"
Zhou Yi indifferently replied, "I'm only relaying a message from Dean Yan and Dean Xian. Both of them mentioned that it would be fine, even if the others don't enter the top seven. However, they said that if you fail to do so, you'll suffer the consequences."
"Huh. Is that it?" When he heard her say this, Huo Yuhao snorted.
Zhou Yi narrowed her eyes. "Yuhao, don't be arrogant and complacent. Your opponents are not only your peers, but also senior students. No matter the opponents that you have encountered on the outside world, they cannot be compared to the monsters that is Shrek. I am proud and confident to say that Shrek students are the best among their peers. So, don't underestimate anyone in this qualification match."
'But are they as strong as a Soul Sage?' Huo Yuhao thought as he nodded at Zhou Yi before he was soon dismissed by her.
Once he left the room, he noticed Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao and Wu Feng waiting for him.
"Why did Teacher Zhou ask you to stay behind?" Wang Dong'er asked curiously.
This wasn't something that was worth hiding, thus Huo Yuhao told them what Zhou Yi had told him with a disinterested look on his face.
"Well, are you confident on the upcoming match?" Wu Feng asked, while both Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao merely shook their heads.
They already knew the answer, they both seen his true power before.
Soul Kings fell instantly before his ice. So unless there was someone with an Ultimate Fire in the upcoming match, Huo Yuhao was certain to be one of the winners.
Huo Yuhao smirked. "Yes."
.....
"You stupid little shit! You can't even take care of a few outer courtyard students?!" A tall, handsome man with long blonde hair and light blue eyes scolded a prostrating Dai Huabin. Though the latter felt anger for being treated like this, he held himself back.
Because the one scolding him was his eldest brother, Dai Yueheng. The vice leader of the current generation of the Shrek Seven Monsters.
They were in a one of the hidden houses that their family owned in the Shrek City. Dai Huabin desperately needed help so he contacted his most reliable connection in the academy, his brother.
"You never do anything right!" Dai Yueheng cursed out loud, shattering the bottle of alcohol in his hand.
Unfortunately for Dai Huabin however, he got his brother in a bad mood, all due to the leader of the Shrek Seven Monsters, Ma Xiaotao. He wasn't always the vice leader, he was in fact the leader of the group. And he only earned that position because Ma Xiaotao had to take a leave of absence due to her... condition.
He thought he would continue being the leader of the group until the end of the annual continental tournament, but he was so wrong.
Ma Xiaotao had returned and took back her position as the leader, and Dai Yueheng was demoted to vice leader once again. This change didn't sit well with him, and Dai Huabin's failure only added fuel to the fire of his frustration.
"Dai Huabin, if you can't handle a simple revenge like this, how do you expect to live up to the family's expectations? What would father... mother would say?" Dai Yueheng's voice was filled with disappointment and anger.
Dai Huabin gritted his teeth, his fists clenched. He knew he had let his family down, especially his older brother who had high hopes for him. But he couldn't afford to give up now.
"I'm sorry, Brother Yueheng, but I had underestimated the skills of my opponent. Which is why I come to you for support. I promise I will rectify this mistake and prove myself worthy of the family's expectations," Dai Huabin said, his voice determined.
Dai Yueheng regarded his younger brother for a moment, his expression softening slightly. Despite his frustration, he couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility towards Dai Huabin.
"Very well," Dai Yueheng finally said, his tone less harsh. "I will help you this time, but only if you can do either of two plans I've thoroughly about. First is if you become one of the winners in the upcoming match in a few days, as that would give you a lot of influence and authority, which makes it possible for any of your schemes to be accomplished without any consequences and they would pardon your crimes. Plan B is if your target becomes one of the winners and you're not, when that comes, leave everything up to me."
A cold glint flashed across Dai Huabin's eyes but he became worried. "But brother, what about the 3rd division? If they talked then..."
"Don't worry about them for now, considering you haven't been expelled, I imagine that they haven't spilled anything. As expected of soldiers under father, they can really endure." Dai Yueheng unscrew another bottle of alcohol. "I'll try and find them, which is going to be extremely difficult if they are kept in either in the island or... that place."
Fear flickered across his eyes and he shook his head.
"But if it's too late, then I can no longer help you."
"...I understand, brother."
He took a sip and asked, "By the way, what's the name of this... enemy of yours?"
"Huo Yuhao."
"Huo... Yuhao..." Dai Yueheng narrowed his eyes, a thoughtful look on his face as he took a sip. "Hmm. I don't like him already."
...
AN: Anyone here got Arlecchino and her weapon on day one? No? Same!
❄️Shout out to the great Cultivators of my patreon, may you reach the peak of the heavens and conquer the earth! Pursue immortality and receive enlightenment!
•Julien
•Nicholas Berenguer
•Swift Arrow
•SpamSubi
❄️A bigger shout out to the ones who ascended to become a One Above All!! The GOATS! THE MAJESTIES!!
•Adrian Durand
•Vora
Wanna read advanced chapters, stock-piled stories and support me all at the same time so I can pump out more chapters, and possibly dish out extra chaps? Well then, head on over to my patreon and become enlightened cultivators!
p.a.t.r.e.o.n.com/FroztDouluo