Eleven years later.
The back door on the north side of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion quietly swung open, and a slim, petite figure slipped out without a sound.
The young girl glanced around. Seeing that no one was nearby, she finally let out a small sigh of relief.
From her backpack, she carefully took out a golden invitation letter and lightly pressed her lips together.
Her mother had been the Duke's personal maid since childhood, growing up alongside him. And so, on a certain night twelve years ago, she had ended up in Huo Yun'er's womb.
Ten years later, on the very day she was born, a boy said to be the Holy Son of Shrek Academy happened to arrive at her mother's small courtyard and, together with her "eldest brother" Dai Yueheng, witnessed her birth.
That Holy Son had even gifted her a treasured item he carried with him.
Thinking of this, Huo Yutong carefully took out a crystal pendant from around her neck and gently stroked it, her beautiful eyes full of gratitude.
According to her mother, it was thanks to the Holy Son that the two of them had been able to survive in this man-eating Duke's Mansion. If it weren't for him, with the Duchess's temperament, there was no way she would have allowed them to live comfortably in their little courtyard.
Thus, from the day she was born, she had always harbored the deepest gratitude toward the Holy Son.
Four years ago, when she awakened her martial soul, her innate soul power astonishingly reached the ninth rank — an extremely rare feat in the entire Duke's Mansion.
But she knew in her heart that this was all due to that crystal pendant.
When Dai Yueheng heard the news, he was overjoyed and wanted to personally come pick her up, but she tactfully declined.
In the whole Duke's Mansion, the only one who ever showed her genuine kindness was her eldest brother. During festivals and holidays, he would send gifts — sometimes even visiting in person to check on her and her mother.
So she did not dislike this half-brother of hers.
However, deep down, she still disliked this grand, imposing Duke's Mansion…
And… the White Tiger Duke himself.
For ten years, this so-called father had not once set foot in her and her mother's small courtyard!
Shaking her head, Huo Yutong pushed away the distracting thoughts.
"Shrek Academy, huh…"
Her beautiful eyes glimmered with anticipation as she walked in the direction of the Star Dou Forest.
Shrek Academy — Sea God's Pavilion
A young man yawned and slowly got up.
Looking around in slight confusion, he muttered,
"Huh? Where are my clothes?"
"I took them to wash for you. These are new — put them on."
A gentle voice came from the side.
The boy's mouth twitched as he turned toward a beautiful woman of about twenty-six or twenty-seven, in the prime of her youth.
"Senior Sister, can't I have a little privacy?"
"In front of me, you have no privacy." Zhang Lexuan's tone was utterly flat.
Neuvillette: "…"
After sixteen years of living together, he knew all too well the nature of this "childhood betrothed" of his — stubborn, extremely stubborn.
Once she set her mind on something, not even nine bulls could drag her back.
And she was powerful — frighteningly so.
At only twenty-seven years, she had already reached the rank of Soul Douluo, with her eighth soul ring being an astonishing 100,000-year ring.
She was practically the template for a main character.
"Also, since you've chosen to go to the Shrek Outer Court, there's no way you'll be going as an ordinary student." Zhang Lexuan sat on the edge of the bed, skillfully folding Neuvillette's clothes.
"The Sea God's Pavilion has decided unanimously — you'll be going as an Outer Court teacher. Consider it a form of training."
"Teacher?"
Neuvillette pointed at himself in disbelief.
"I'm just a seventeen-year-old kid, isn't that a bit—"
"A seventeen-year-old Soul Sage, one step away from Soul Douluo," Zhang Lexuan said expressionlessly. "Last year, when we got separated from Elder Xuan in the Star Dou Forest, we came face-to-face with a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. You — this so-called seventeen-year-old kid — insisted on soloing it and told the rest of us to fall back…"
"You call that a seventeen-year-old kid?!"
Her voice rose noticeably, her beautiful eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Neuvillette felt his scalp tingle instantly.
A woman's memory really was terrifying.
Last year, as an Inner Court disciple, he had gone to the Star Dou Forest to obtain a soul ring, led by the notoriously unreliable Elder Xuan.
Naturally, as expected, the unexpected happened — a hundred-thousand-year soul beast blocked their path.
They had no choice but to fight.
Neuvillette knew they would win — that's how it played out in the original story — so he mainly hung back, evacuating the wounded and minimizing casualties.
But during the battle, Zhang Lexuan was struck hard in the chest by the beast and collapsed, gravely injured.
And then… Neuvillette lost it.
Ordering everyone else to retreat, he fought the hundred-thousand-year beast alone.
Within several miles of the Star Dou Forest, everything was leveled to rubble, dust and broken rock filling the air. The others were stunned, watching as Neuvillette revealed his martial soul's true form — a massive water dragon, roaring to the sky, ruthlessly pummeling the hundred-thousand-year beast despite his own injuries.
But after all, it was a hundred-thousand-year beast, and Neuvillette was only a Soul Sage.
It took every trump card he had — and left him severely wounded — to beat it to the brink of death, its body battered beyond recognition.
The last thing he saw before passing out was a trembling figure rushing over and holding him tightly.
After they returned, this Senior Sister didn't just give the "spectator" Inner Court disciples a severe beating — she also didn't spare Neuvillette much kindness either.
He knew she truly cared for him.
If she hadn't been injured so badly that she could barely move, she probably would have thrown herself in front of him.
By now, she valued his life even more than her own.
Faced with her complaints, Neuvillette could only smile bitterly and gently wrap an arm around her slender waist, speaking softly,
"It was just an emergency last time. It won't happen again."
"When have I ever lied to you…"
A while later.
Neuvillette finally stepped out of his quarters, letting out a long breath.
Standing at the center of Sea God Island, he breathed in the fresh scent of the greenery.
The island held many buildings, but the tallest stood at its center — the Sea God's Pavilion.
Though only six stories high, each floor was ten meters tall, giving it a grand, majestic presence.
The island was surrounded by seawater, and mist shrouded it year-round, making it hard for outsiders to see its true appearance.
But Neuvillette had grown up here — he was long used to it.
"What's the matter, little Neuvillette? Is something troubling you?"
A gentle old voice sounded beside him.
"Or… do you have a different opinion about the Pavilion's decision?"
"Not exactly."
Without turning, Neuvillette knew Elder Mu was standing there. His expression was firm.
"It's just… I plan to use this opportunity to clean out some of the Academy's parasites. Elder Mu, will you support me?"
"…"
Mu En's deep gaze swept the sky.
"Of course. The parasites in the Academy have only been getting worse in recent years."
"They've already entrenched themselves deep within Shrek's lower levels. The only reason we haven't acted yet is because we've been waiting — waiting to find more of them and then wipe them out in one sweep."
"If you have the will, the Sea God's Pavilion will naturally support you."
"So, who do you plan to start with?"
Neuvillette stared quietly at the lake's surface.
"Let's start… with Zhou Yi…"
(End of Chapter)