"Should we take the job?" Ji Yingying didn't really care who they were supposed to kill, but she was afraid her decision might affect Lu Jingming's plans. That's why she was so cautious, asking for his opinion first.
"Why not? Let's take it," Lu Jingming replied, the corners of his mouth lifting in interest. If he remembered correctly, in the original story, Dai Huabin had also hired assassins to kill Huo Yuhao, but at that time, Ma Xiaotao had saved him.
But now, Ma Xiaotao's evil fire had already been sealed by Jingliu, so she'd have no further connection with Huo Yuhao.
Lu Jingming wanted to see whether, without Ma Xiaotao, Huo Yuhao could still escape danger.
This was a test—could the child of destiny still turn misfortune into fortune when favored by fate?
After all, Dai Huabin was the one behind this assassination. Whether it succeeded or failed, it wouldn't have any real effect on Haiyuan City.
"Yingying, there's no need to send our strongest people for this mission. Even if it fails, it doesn't matter. Tell them if things look bad, they can retreat at any time."
Lu Jingming only wanted to test things; he wasn't truly out for blood with Huo Yuhao, so there was no need to go all out.
Besides, he remembered clearly that at this point in the timeline, Huo Yuhao had already attracted the attention and regard of the upper echelons of Shrek Academy's Soul Tool Department due to his talent, becoming a core disciple.
Not only that, with the help of the Skydream Iceworm, he'd managed to convince the Ice Empress and gained his second martial soul, the ultimate ice attribute Ice Jade Scorpion Emperor. This led the Sea God's Pavilion to convene a meeting and also list Huo Yuhao as a core disciple for the Martial Soul Department, making him the first-ever dual-core disciple in Shrek Academy's history.
How would the now-rising Huo Yuhao face the assassins of the Wuchang Division? This was something Lu Jingming was very curious about.
"I understand." Ji Yingying nodded and immediately ended the communication.
"The child of destiny, huh? I'm interested too. Coincidentally, my route passes by there—mind if I join the fun?" Suddenly, Mobius spoke up as Ji Yingying's image disappeared.
"Do as you like, just don't make a scene," Lu Jingming replied indifferently. Mobius was willful; even if he refused, she'd probably sneak off anyway, so he might as well acquiesce and gain a bit of goodwill.
As long as she didn't trigger any final cards Tang San might have left in the Golden Tree, Mobius would be safe.
After all, she was the Infinite Ouroboros—unkillable.
…
Shrek City lay at the center of the Douluo Continent, with a permanent population of five million. Second only in prosperity to the major empire capitals, it was also one of the continent's brightest economic centers, bustling with endless traffic and excitement.
Evening should have been a time when the city quieted down, but Shrek City was still as lively as daytime.
At the gate, the crowds coming and going were dense as tides, stretching as far as the eye could see, with a cacophony of sounds interwoven together.
Shrek City's Treasure Gathering Pavilion, run by the Academy itself, was a place soul masters dreamed of—a trove of countless rare spirit treasures.
At this moment, two energetic young men walked side by side out of the pavilion, their faces unable to hide their joy—they'd clearly made a big haul.
"I can't believe it! We actually managed to exchange for it!" The black-haired youth, Huo Yuhao, was full of surprise, his eyes gleaming with excitement. Even now he was still immersed in the joy of the moment, struggling to collect himself.
Not long ago, by virtue of his status as a core disciple of Shrek Academy's outer court, he'd helped Wang Dong exchange for the Golden Radiance Left Arm Bone, worth 9.5 million gold soul coins.
"Your second martial soul is of an ultimate attribute. The Academy obviously wants to tie you closely to them, to deepen your bonds. For the Academy, this price is nothing," Wang Dong said, his blue-pink short hair and androgynously handsome face betraying a deeper understanding of the Academy's leaders than Huo Yuhao.
"I get it. It's not a bad thing for me either, is it? The Academy values me so much; I'll definitely repay their kindness one day," Huo Yuhao nodded, recalling how, after winning the freshman tournament, both Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao had smoothly become core disciples, while he, the team captain, was left out. At the time, he'd felt full of resentment and complaints.
But later, when the Soul Tool Department opened its doors and accepted him as a core disciple, his dissatisfaction with the Academy faded significantly.
With Elder Yi's guidance, he gradually let go of his bitterness.
Now that the Academy valued him so much, any lingering unhappiness had thoroughly vanished.
He knew clearly that before awakening his second spirit, he truly wasn't qualified to be a core disciple, or even set foot in Shrek Academy at all.
If not for Teacher Xiao Ya's recommendation, he wouldn't have gotten into this top school.
Though the school's handling of his victory had been unfair at the time, things had changed for the better.
Now, he had caring teachers and classmates, a like-minded roommate in Wang Dong, and the support of Teacher Xiao Ya and Senior Brother Bei Bei—a warmth and sense of belonging the cold White Tiger Duke's mansion could never match.
"Come on, let's hurry back to the Academy. Tonight you'll absorb the whale glue, I'll refine my soul bone, and next time we meet Dai Huabin, I'll beat him so bad he won't know how to live!" Wang Dong waved his fist, full of confidence and bravado.
Seeing Wang Dong's fighting spirit, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but smile.
Their three-man team was growing stronger, and their bonds ever closer.
As for Dai Huabin, Huo Yuhao's hatred had never faded, but he'd learned to bury it deep. Forcing Dai Huabin to kowtow and admit fault before everyone had somewhat eased his pent-up emotions.
"Yuhao, killing intent—be careful!" Just as they left Shrek City, the Skydream Iceworm in Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea suddenly gave an urgent warning.
Although Shrek Academy was in Shrek City, it wasn't directly connected to it, so they had to leave the city to return to the school—a perfect opportunity for those with ill intent.
After all, it was much easier to strike outside the city than within.
Upon receiving the Skydream Iceworm's warning, Huo Yuhao maintained a calm expression and steady pace as if nothing had happened. Secretly, though, he activated his Spiritual Detection Sharing, alerted Wang Dong, and tried to sense the enemy's location.
Wang Dong was momentarily stunned, but quickly received Huo Yuhao's mental message and cooperated seamlessly, acting casual while secretly circulating soul power, ready to run at any time.
Why not fight directly? Simple.
Anyone daring to ambush them outside Shrek City would never be someone a third-ring Soul Elder and a two-ring Soul Grandmaster could handle head-on.
At this point, running back to the city for help was the wisest choice. Facing the enemy head-on would be suicidal.
"They've noticed—attack!" At that moment, a chilling voice rang out, and a strange gray mist surged in, sweeping towards Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong like a tide.
"Not good, Yuhao—it's a spiritual-type soul master. Your Spiritual Detection's been discovered!" The Skydream Iceworm cried out in Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea.
It never expected the ambushers to include an extremely rare spiritual-type soul master, who'd detected Huo Yuhao's probing.