Several days passed in succession.
Neuvillette quietly observed Huo Yutong and Wang Dong from the shadows.
Although Wang Dong was now living in his dorm, the bedding was neatly folded, the room spotless. She might be a bit proud, but at heart, she was a good kid.
As for Huo Yutong…
This frail-looking body burst forth with admirable strength.
She endured Zhou Yi's oppression during class every day, studied soul tools in her spare time after class, and on weekends, she sold grilled fish in Shrek City.
Every evening, there was always a slender figure running hard on the training field.
No matter the wind, sun, or if she stumbled and rolled on the ground, she never stopped once.
Perhaps, in the original story, her goal had been to avenge her mother and force that "heartless" father to apologize.
But now, with Huo Yun'er still alive, all her efforts were for something else — just to have Neuvillette look at her, even if it was only once.
Perhaps it was the convergence of fate's threads, but without the dormitory dispute, the two of them got along fairly well. Together with Xiao Xiao, they went to and from school, and when Huo Yutong sold fish, Wang Dong was often at the stall helping to call out to customers.
"Not bad."
Neuvillette finally gave a slight nod.
He looked at the bustling street, at the endless flow of people, at the girl with a small pushcart set up with utensils, skillfully preparing grilled fish, and at Wang Dong happily hawking beside her.
A crowd had already gathered up ahead, craning their necks, waiting eagerly for the grilled fish in the girl's hands.
"I'll take one."
Neuvillette spoke, his tone gentle.
"Sorry, the fish is already sold out."
The girl didn't even lift her head, continuing to turn the fish over the grill, her voice calm and neither servile nor overbearing.
The corner of Neuvillette's mouth twitched slightly.
Tsk…
How could he have forgotten about this?
Wang Dong was momentarily stunned when he saw this.
It was that teacher from the other day…
He was just about to remind Huo Yutong —
But in the next moment, another voice came.
"Well, well, didn't think someone as busy as you would have time to come here for Yutong's barbecue."
The teasing voice of Beibei rang out.
He and Tang Ya appeared in the crowd's view.
"Hehe, after graduation, I might take up a post at the Academy, so I'm getting more familiar with the surroundings."
Neuvillette looked at Beibei and smiled lightly.
"Mm…"
Huo Yutong instinctively raised her head when she heard Beibei's voice — and froze for a moment.
It was… His Highness the Holy Son?
Had I just refused him?
Her lips parted slightly, her heart full of tension, and for a moment she was flustered and at a loss.
Hadn't everything she had done been for the sake of getting closer to Neuvillette? And now, when such a good opportunity presented itself, she had just pushed it away!
"It's burning."
Neuvillette smiled faintly and pointed behind her.
"Ah, I'll grill another for you — just now I…"
Huo Yutong's hopeful blue eyes looked at Neuvillette.
"No need. That one you just had is fine."
Neuvillette waved his hand.
"But…"
Huo Yutong opened her mouth, her delicate face full of hesitation.
She wanted the Holy Son to eat the best. The burnt one, she could quietly dispose of herself later — after all, a fish cost one copper soul coin, and she couldn't bear to waste it.
But seeing Neuvillette's firm expression, she could only hesitantly hand it over.
Her two fair little hands clasped tightly behind her back, she watched his reaction in secret.
"Mm. The taste is indeed good."
Neuvillette elegantly accepted the grilled fish, a pale-blue ripple of water covering his palm to wipe away the grease.
The golden-yellow grilled greenfish still had faint rivulets of oil flowing across it, its rich aroma bursting forth from the flesh. Although one side was a bit charred, the fish meat beneath was completely unaffected — juicy and flavorful.
One could only say, the protagonist's aura really was tilted in her favor.
"Heh, Yutong, this guy's always been fair — at least, I've never caught him lying."
Beibei grinned broadly.
He had known Neuvillette from early on, though in their childhood, they had drifted apart somewhat because of Mu En. But as they grew older, thanks to Beibei's easygoing nature, their relationship had smoothed out considerably.
"Is that so…"
Huo Yutong finally let out a small breath of relief.
"Junior sister, may I ask — how much for one grilled fish?"
A soft voice came from the side.
Jiang Nannan strode forward on her long, slender legs, drawing countless eager gazes from male students as she gracefully approached the stall.
Her skin was as fair as snow, her eyes like clear water. A cascade of golden hair fell in large waves down her back. She was stunning beyond compare.
The crowd instinctively parted to make way.
After all, a campus beauty like her would be the center of attention wherever she went.
"Uh… Senior sister, it's five copper soul coins apiece."
Huo Yutong finally came back to herself from Neuvillette's praise and spoke to Jiang Nannan.
"Five copper coins are a bit steep. Based on cost, three would be more reasonable…"
"Sorry, senior sister, my grilled fish is non-negotiable in price — and in any case, it's already sold out."
Huo Yutong pressed her lips together. She hadn't expected such a beautiful girl to haggle like a market vendor.
Most who made it into Shrek Academy were wealthy — haggling was almost unheard of.
Neuvillette glanced at Jiang Nannan, his expression calm.
A child from a poor family — bargaining was normal enough.
Jiang Nannan gave a brief apology and turned to leave.
"You dare not sell to me!"
Suddenly, a booming voice rang out.
In the next instant, a flash of golden light shot toward Huo Yutong's stall.
A gold soul coin landed squarely on the grill. Immediately afterward, a figure strode forward, reaching out to snatch the two grilled fish on the rack.
But Huo Yutong's spiritual sense had been fixed on the fish the whole time. The moment the voice sounded, she swiftly reached out and took them away first.
These two fish were reserved for Tang Ya and Beibei — how could she let someone just take them?
"You looking for death?"
Xu Sanshi's brows shot up. With an angry roar, he lunged toward Huo Yutong again, reaching to grab them from her hands.
But just as he was about to touch her —
A pale-blue light flared instantly.
It was as if Xu Sanshi had slammed into a pillow of cotton — a thin water membrane blocked him, keeping him from advancing further.
"Who the hell dares…"
Xu Sanshi's face was full of fury as he turned his head — and saw the young man sitting at a table, holding an odd, long staff, elegantly eating grilled fish.
It was like a bucket of cold water had been poured over him. He froze on the spot.
He knew this man.
Once, when Ma Xiaotao's evil fire flared out of control, she had dragged him over and beaten him up in an attempt to use his Xuanwu Turtle water-type martial soul to suppress it.
But that time had been especially bad — usually, no matter how bad it got, Ma Xiaotao's rampage would be eased somewhat after pummeling him. Yet that time, even after exhausting all his soul power, he couldn't quench her evil fire.
When everyone else was at a loss —
This man had appeared.
Towering waves surged forth, and a high, draconic roar resounded throughout the entire Sea God Pavilion.
He didn't seem like a water-type soul master at all, but rather like a magician who commanded the sea itself, vast and boundless, moving as he willed.
Compared to him, Xu Sanshi's so-called water-type martial soul was like a stream before the ocean.
Ultimate Water…
Later, Xu Sanshi had curiously asked a senior in the inner court about his identity.
The answer he got had left him utterly shocked —
A terrifying existence that had slain a hundred-thousand-year soul beast.
Which was why, now, looking at Neuvillette quietly seated at the table, elegantly eating grilled fish, Xu Sanshi felt as if he were looking at some terrifying monster wearing the skin of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast…
(End of Chapter)