Chapter 10: Enrollment

“Don’t be nervous! It’s that guy called Beibei.”

Tianmeng’s voice echoed in his ear, causing Huo Yuhao, who was still trying to break free, to stop struggling. He closed his eyes in pain, his body going limp.

As his mental energy was drained to the limit, his vision had completely darkened. Any information flowing into his brain triggered a sharp pain in his head.

“Xu Sanshi, what exactly happened here?”

Beibei quickly reached out to steady Huo Yuhao, frowning as he looked toward the fallen Xu Sanshi.

Unfortunately, half of Xu Sanshi’s face was swollen like a pig’s snout, and he was just holding his nearly splitting head, groaning incoherently without uttering a complete sentence.

“Uh… actually, they had a bet duel. That Xu Sanshi promised not to use any soul skills.”

Wang Dong, who had been watching quietly nearby, raised his hand and gave a brief answer: “The cause was Huo Yuhao knocking down four second- and third-year students.”

“?”

Beibei’s facial features suddenly seemed to form a question mark.

Was this kid even speaking human language? Why did he suddenly not understand?

“Wuwu!”

Xu Sanshi, regaining some composure, nodded lightly while holding his face. Outside the arena, the four trembling students who had tried to hide behind others were pulled out by senior students and pushed in front of Beibei.

“So you mean four second-ring great soul masters were defeated by a ten-year first-ring?” Beibei looked at the unlucky group and cautiously asked.

“Yes…”

Originally, the four wanted to find a hole to crawl into, but seeing Xu Sanshi’s miserable state, they suddenly felt balanced again, puffed out their chests, and replied confidently, “Yes!”

“And then, a fourth-ring soul sect member who didn’t use soul skills was also beaten by him?”

Beibei’s gaze shifted to Xu Sanshi.

“Ugh… Hu Xue!”

Xu Sanshi’s expression instantly changed and he spat out a few clear words: “…Ugh, not skilled!”

“Come on, stop being stubborn.”

Wang Dong sneered, “Just that last move, your soul power barrier was broken. If help had been one second later, you’d be disfigured.”

“Argh!”

Xu Sanshi’s swollen face flushed even deeper, “That’s because I was careless…”

“Beibei! Huh… finally caught up.”

Tang Ya ran the last few steps weakly, leaning on her knees to catch her breath. “Why didn’t you wait for me? Why run so fast… huh?”

She squinted and glanced at Xu Sanshi a few times. “Who’s this pig-headed guy?”

“Xu Sanshi. He got beaten up like this by Yuhao.”

Beibei’s mouth twitched.

“Tsk~”

Tang Ya immediately gasped. Nowadays, even a first-ring soul master was so fierce?

No, he must be made to join the Tang Sect! Even if it takes coaxing and trickery, it doesn’t matter.

If successful, the revival of the Tang Sect would be within reach!

…

“How are you feeling now?”

Wang Dong supported Huo Yuhao’s arm as they moved forward slowly, occasionally glancing at his pale face.

“Much better… but to fully recover, it’ll probably take until tomorrow.”

Huo Yuhao’s body sagged, utterly exhausted. If no one held him up, he might have collapsed right there.

“Thank you.”

Huo Yuhao smiled weakly. “If you hadn’t helped me, I’m not sure I could have made it through the procedures.”

Though Xu Sanshi stubbornly refused to admit defeat, under Tang Ya’s (someone’s roommate) pressure, he obediently fulfilled his promise. He personally bustled around, even handling Wang Dong’s procedures along the way.

However, Tang Ya and Beibei were both eager to take their advancement tests, so Huo Yuhao had to leave his newly met roommate—whom he’d only known for minutes—to take care of things for him. Perhaps fate had a hand in it, as their dorm numbers randomly turned out to be the same: 108.

“Hey… this is nothing. Helping friends out is what friends do.” Wang Dong smiled casually.

“Friends?”

Huo Yuhao’s spirit brightened slightly, a light flickering deep in his pupils. “Are we friends now?”

“Otherwise?”

Wang Dong teased back with a laugh, though a faint trace of confusion flickered in his eyes.

Strange.

Since when did he consider Huo Yuhao a friend?

They had only just met, yet it felt as if they were long-time close comrades, casually unfazed by formalities… Could it be because he truly respects the strong from the bottom of his heart?

That didn’t seem right either.

“It can’t be because our soul bonds are highly compatible, can it?” Wang Dong muttered. “But that alone wouldn’t bring much goodwill…”

“What?”

“Never mind. We’ve reached the dormitory building. Now I’m not sure which way to go.” Wang Dong fumbled with the keys in his hand, clearly perplexed.

Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao looked up at the six-story dormitory, then his gaze was drawn to a faint warm light near the entrance, where an elderly man was dozing.

The elderly man’s reclining chair gently swayed as if in a breeze, bathed in warm sunlight radiating comforting heat, with a natural aura of brightness emanating quietly.

Huo Yuhao blinked.

Perhaps due to the blessing’s influence, he could actually see tiny glimmers of light continuously condensing on the old man’s skin, then sinking beneath and disappearing.

“Just ask and you’ll know.”

Huo Yuhao released Wang Dong’s shoulder and mustered his strength, stepping forward with the keys in hand and bowing: “Good day, sir. We are new students. Here are our badges and keys… May I ask how to get to dorm 108?”

Wang Dong behind him was momentarily stunned, then hurriedly bowed as well.

“108 is on the first floor, third room on the left. Dormitories from the fourth floor upward are for female students only, and you are not allowed up there. Anyone caught will be expelled.”

Moon opened his eyes slightly, glanced at Huo Yuhao, then fixed his gaze on Wang Dong, adding at the end, “The dormitory bathhouse is inside the communal restroom.”

“Thank you.”

Huo Yuhao thanked him without noticing Wang Dong’s suddenly stiffened expression behind him.

Bathhouse… communal…

Now it was truly over.

‘Damn it.’

Could the prestigious Shrek Academy not assign individual dorm rooms to each student? Why must so many cram together into this tin can of a dormitory building?

Where was the prestige of the world’s top academy? The level? The funding?

“Hey, what are you thinking about?”

Huo Yuhao put his arm around Wang Dong’s shoulder, waving the keys in front of him. “You look troubled.”

“It’s nothing.”

Wang Dong hung his head. “I just… I’m not used to those big communal bathhouses. I’ve always lived in private suites since I was little. I feel awkward going into places like that.”

Is that so?

Huo Yuhao paused briefly, then nodded in understanding.

When the Duke’s family’s collective soul awakening happened, he was fortunate enough to be taken on a tour of the palace, glimpsing the lifestyle that only young lords and ladies could enjoy.

“Then just wash in the dorm room. I’ll watch the door for you.”