"Xiao Xiao?!" Huo Yuhao was utterly stunned, left momentarily dazed.
Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi exchanged strange looks, both clearly caught off guard by Zhu Ziyang's sudden revelation. Still, their curiosity far outweighed their surprise, and the two of them stared at Yuhao with eager eyes, waiting to see his reaction.
As for He Caitou, he could only bury his fleeting, wistful thoughts deep in his heart. His one-sided affection was destined to go nowhere.
"I… uh… I…" Yuhao's mind was in complete chaos. It felt as though he'd been struck by one of his own spirit skills. Words failed him until at last he blurted out: "But… wasn't Xiao Xiao in love with Wang Dong?"
The poor boy's thoughts were a mess, like a childhood sweetheart suddenly confessing that she didn't like the boy next door, but him instead. His powerful spiritual strength wasn't enough to steady his heart.
Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi, seeing his bewildered expression, struggled to hold back their laughter.
"That was when you were younger," Zhu Ziyang said, patting Yuhao's shoulder with a knowing smile. "Xiao Xiao admitted it to Sister Nannan herself—there's no doubt about it. So, be ready, and don't you dare disappoint us!"
He laughed, and Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi joined in. Truth be told, they were looking forward to tomorrow's Sea God's Fate Matchmaking Assembly more than ever—not for their own sakes, but for the front-row entertainment.
"Mm." Yuhao nodded blankly. At the moment, he only wanted to find Wang Dong and ask him directly. Yet, after two days back, he still hadn't seen him, which left him unsettled. "Senior Brother, will Wang Dong be there?"
"Of course!" Zhu Ziyang answered. Seeing Yuhao still so fixated on Wang Dong, he couldn't help feeling exasperated. That kid doesn't even need to reveal his female form to completely ensnare you. "Every inner court disciple will participate. So stop obsessing over Wang Dong!"
"Got it…" Yuhao scratched his head awkwardly, embarrassed.
"Yuhao, don't tell me you swing that way?" Xu Sanshi teased, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
"Swing? What do you mean?" Yuhao blinked in confusion.
"Uh… nothing, nothing!" Sanshi muttered, his joke falling flat. He raised his cup instead. "Forget it. Drink up! Tomorrow, who knows if we'll get to indulge like this again."
Zhu Ziyang, Bei Bei, and the others chuckled and joined him, raising their cups of wine.
The day of the Sea God's Fate Matchmaking Assembly arrived.
Though it was an inner court event, it was considered one of Shrek Academy's grandest traditions. Even outer court students gathered around Sea God Lake to watch, knowing they wouldn't see much, but eager to at least bask in the atmosphere.
Sea God Lake and Tianyuan Plaza had been decorated festively. On the lake floated a massive wooden ferry—the largest on the waters—its decks ablaze with lantern light. Zhu Ziyang and several elders of the Pavilion stood at its bow.
"Ziyang, go on. Leave this boat to us old men," Xuan Zi said with a hearty smile, giving him a push.
"Yes, yes, I'm going," Zhu Ziyang replied helplessly. In a flash, he vanished from the boat, reappearing among the gathered male disciples on the shore. Behind him, the elders' laughter echoed across the water.
This year's assembly included sixty-three participants: forty-two men and twenty-one women. No wonder the male disciples were so excited—the odds were steep, and every man looked like a starving wolf.
But the imbalance of numbers wasn't the real challenge. After all, this was Shrek Academy's inner court. These weren't ordinary blind dates—they were competitions meant to showcase the pride and brilliance of Shrek's prodigies.
The assembly was divided into five stages, each with its own rules. But before any of that, the opening mattered most.
The event was held on the lake itself. Each participant had to stand on a lotus leaf floating upon Sea God Lake. The female disciples would be granted a leaf upon appearing, but the men had to claim their own. Though enough leaves existed for all, those who claimed the ones closest to the women would hold the advantage.
One rule was absolute: once you fell into the water—willingly or not—you were eliminated.
The calm lake shimmered under lantern light. Apart from the elders' ferry, only the ring of lotus leaves awaited. The men fidgeted eagerly, eyes blazing, but no sign of the women had appeared yet.
"Senior Brother, why aren't the girls here yet?" Yuhao asked curiously, though his eyes scanned the crowd for Wang Dong's familiar figure. Not seeing him left Yuhao oddly restless, though his anticipation for the event kept him distracted.
Just then, twenty-one golden pillars of light shot into the sky, dazzling all eyes. Within each pillar, a graceful figure emerged, dressed in identical white gowns and veiled wide-brimmed hats that hid their faces completely.
The female disciples had arrived.
As they stood in a line facing the shore, the male disciples' excitement surged. Even the usually composed Bei Bei was flexing his fingers nervously, while Xu Sanshi nearly burst with impatience.
Watching him, Zhu Ziyang nearly believed the man really was single.
Then, two brighter pillars of light appeared. From them stepped a man and a woman—Dai Yueheng and Zhang Weiwei.
Zhu Ziyang blinked in genuine surprise. Since when did those two become a couple?
The Sea God's Fate Assembly always had two hosts—a man and a woman, who had to be lovers or spouses. That was the unspoken rule. Which meant Dai Yueheng and Zhang Weiwei weren't just partners on stage.
Honestly, the revelation shocked him. One was proud to the point of arrogance, the other cold as ice. How did they even get along in daily life? Unless, of course, both had hidden sides no one knew of—perhaps the proud tyrant could turn into a puppy, and the frosty queen into a soft-hearted girl?
Zhu Ziyang shook his head quickly. Enough nonsense. Don't think about it.
On stage, Dai Yueheng smiled warmly.
"Here on Sea God Lake, where bonds are forged and love decided, I welcome you all. Tonight, may every one of you find the partner your heart seeks."
Then Zhang Weiwei took over, her cool voice carrying across the waters:
"We also welcome the elders of Tianyuan Pavilion and all the teachers who have joined us tonight. On behalf of the students, I thank you for your tireless efforts and guidance, without which we would not stand here today."
With the opening complete, the real contest began.
"Now, prepare yourselves," Dai Yueheng announced. "In a moment, forty-two beams of light will appear across the lake. Whoever claims a lotus leaf within one of those beams secures a place in the first stage. Those who fall behind may lose their chance entirely. Remember—falling into the water means elimination!"
As his words faded, the tension on shore skyrocketed. Soul power surged everywhere as the male disciples readied themselves.
Zhu Ziyang, watching the fierce eagerness of his peers, could only smile faintly.
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