"Wow, Hua, you've gotten so strong now! You don't seem aggressive at all, but your presence feels way more powerful than your straightforward attacks from before."
Dan Zhu exclaimed in delight, praising Fu Hua with sparkling eyes.
"???"
Beside her, Xiao Xuan was startled awake by Dan Zhu's sudden outburst. Rubbing her eyes, she forced herself to focus and glanced in Fu Hua's direction.
Once she got a clear look, Xiao Xuan was unimpressed.
Seriously?
Isn't this the same routine she used back on Taixuan Mountain?
What's the difference?
Shrugging, Xiao Xuan dozed off again.
Fu Hua shot Dan Zhu a glance but didn't respond, continuing her morning exercises at her own pace.
After a while, Fu Hua finally finished her routine, exhaling deeply as she relaxed her stance.
Only then did she join the others in their lively banter.
Wu Tong watched as this group—whose ages could easily qualify them as ancient ancestors—chatted and laughed together.
A warm sense of satisfaction filled his heart.
One of his long-standing wishes as a "ship ghost" had been fulfilled: the "Tragedy of Fu Hua" side quest, now successfully resolved.
Just as Wu Tong was lost in thought, a bold and cheerful voice called out from behind him.
"So, feeling tempted to join them, Mr. Wu Tong?"
Turning around, Wu Tong saw it was Himeko Murata speaking.
His gaze then drifted to the space behind her.
Well, well… She's literally staying in the room next to mine.
A stunning neighbor?
Are they really this trusting? Not worried I might lose control?
Though his mind wandered into absurd territory, Wu Tong didn't shy away from Himeko's teasing. Instead, he chuckled and replied, "Of course. After all, they're a group of beautiful girls."
"Some wise folks once said that admiring beauty can add years to your life."
Himeko hadn't expected such a response. After a brief pause, she burst into laughter, as if she'd stumbled upon something amusing. "Haha, now that's an interesting saying."
As she observed Wu Tong—witty, kind-hearted, incredibly powerful, and undeniably wealthy—Himeko felt a flutter in her chest.
Such a rare catch. If I let this one slip, I might never get another chance.
Is my springtime finally here? Wait, isn't this kid a bit too young for me?
Unaware of Himeko's thoughts, Wu Tong continued chatting with her.
Soon after, Wu Tong, Himeko, Fu Hua, and the others headed toward the cafeteria.
Another lavish feast ensued, with Kiana and the others joining in midway.
Once everyone was full and satisfied, the group began discussing their plans for the day.
With Otto no longer a threat, Kiana and the others decided to reward their hard training with a short break.
While hosting Wu Tong, they'd also take the chance to unwind.
...
"How about we go shopping? I want to splurge!" Kiana, who had just received a hefty allowance from Theresa, raised her hand enthusiastically when no one else spoke up.
"Nah, that's boring. Why not hit the arcade instead?" Bronya, engrossed in her handheld console, shook her head in refusal.
"I want to go to the Honkai Beast Expo. I heard there's one happening in the Far East soon."
Theresa chimed in, her dignified image as the academy's principal long shattered after Fu Hua's revelations about the "plot."
Now, she had fully embraced her true self, openly declaring her love for all things Honkai Beast-related.
"How about a movie? We'd love to see some modern literary works," Dan Zhu suggested cheerfully, with Cang Xuan nodding expressionlessly in agreement.
"Anything's fine, but can I get a few more meat buns first?"
Xiao Xuan, indifferent to the others' plans, was too busy devouring the buns in front of her. Once finished, she turned to Cheng Lixue with her request.
"Of course…"
...
Before long, the group was divided, each trying to convince the others to follow their own idea.
In the blink of an eye, the once-harmonious private room turned into a lively debate hall.
"Shorty, what's so fun about games? Shopping with Mei is way better!"
"Single-celled organism, games are infinitely more interesting than shopping. Why waste money on stuff when you can just gacha?"
"Honkai Beast Expo? Uh… yeah, no thanks."
"Huh? Why not? Honkai Beasts are the hottest mascots right now!"
Watching this unfold, Wu Tong sighed inwardly.
Are you guys hosting me, or just doing what you want?
After a while, seeing that no consensus could be reached, Wu Tong made the executive decision: "Kids choose. Adults take it all."
Hearing his verdict, the girls immediately dropped their arguments and unanimously agreed.
With plans settled, everyone finished their meals quickly and returned to their rooms to freshen up, change, and prepare.
By noon, the group had gathered at St. Freya Academy's main gate.
Once everyone was present, Theresa raised her tiny hand and declared:
"Let's move out!"
With that, the lively crowd surged toward the city.
On the streets, men who spotted Wu Tong surrounded by a bevy of stunning women couldn't help but shoot him envious, jealous glares.
Those with girlfriends even earned themselves a sharp pinch for their wandering eyes.
Wu Tong, of course, remained oblivious to this. All he felt under their gazes was one thing:
Pure satisfaction.
...
At 12:10 PM, the group arrived at Thunderbolt Arcade.
With their superhuman reflexes and combat-honed precision, the Valkyries dominated the games, crushing the competition effortlessly.
Ordinary players stood no chance and were soon utterly defeated.
But as the saying goes: constant victory breeds boredom.
Unsurprisingly, everyone quickly lost interest.
...
At 1:00 PM, they headed to the cinema for a two-hour screening of Honkai Beast Adventure King.
By the end, Dan Zhu and Cang Xuan vowed never to place high expectations on modern literature again.
...
At 3:20 PM, the group arrived at the Far East's Honkai Beast Expo, strolling around casually.
However, aside from Theresa, Bronya, Kiana, and the other Honkai Beast enthusiasts, the rest of the group wasn't particularly engaged.
Wu Tong was no exception, but since the others were still enjoying themselves, he played along.
Honestly, he couldn't comprehend how a mascot like Honkai Beast had become so popular.
It's just a yellow rabbit. And kind of ugly, too. How did it become a global icon?
Is this the so-called 'ugly-cute' appeal?
...
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(End of Chapter)