Xu Zihuang and Tuoba Yu continued along the lakeside path toward the East Gate.
On the way, Tuoba Yu couldn't resist raising his brows at Xu Zihuang in a teasingly suggestive manner.
"What do you think?"
"What do I think of what?" Xu Zihuang looked at him in puzzlement. Seeing Tuoba Yu's exaggerated winking expression, his good first impression of him instantly collapsed.
Far too lecherous.
"That Cui Yajie, of course." Tuoba Yu quickly explained.
"What do you feel about her?"
"It was only our first meeting. What could I possibly feel?" Xu Zihuang was speechless. He really couldn't understand this kind of restless mindset common among boys their age.
A girl merely glanced at you, and you'd already be thinking of names for your future children.
But it was precisely Xu Zihuang's calm that left Tuoba Yu even more dejected.
"You're something else!" After holding it in for a long time, that was all he could grind out through his teeth.
Sour! Too sour!
Among ordinary people on the Douluo Continent, marrying and having children in one's teens was the norm. Though Tuoba Yu wasn't yet twelve, soul masters often matured earlier than normal folk. Fantasizing about the opposite sex was only natural.
But Xu Zihuang's experiences were completely different. As the sole son of the mighty King Zihuang, who wielded overwhelming power, what peerless beauties had he not already seen?
From childhood until now, not a single girl had ever stirred that kind of fluttering heartbeat in him.
He had no such worldly desires, no feelings of that sort.
The two walked on until they left the academy grounds.
No sooner had they stepped outside the gate than Xu Zihuang realized that Beibei's earlier introduction had been far too modest. The avenue outside the East Gate at night was even livelier than by day.
Countless vendors crowded the street, hawking all manner of goods, dazzling to the eyes. The food stalls were most numerous, the cries of sellers rising in an endless chorus. Clearly, they had gathered here precisely to do business with Shrek Academy students.
Tuoba Yu had by now reined in his earlier mood. Leading Xu Zihuang, he headed toward a busy open-air eatery at the edge of the avenue, not far ahead.
The place wasn't very large, but its business was booming. Most of the customers were Shrek Academy students of second year or above.
For freshmen like Xu Zihuang and Tuoba Yu, not wearing uniforms, they stood out conspicuously among the crowd.
Just as Xu Zihuang followed Tuoba Yu closer to the eatery, he suddenly turned his head, sensing something.
What entered his eyes was Tang Ya's delicate, pretty face. Her bound black ponytail swayed faintly, carrying a light fragrance. One slim jade hand was frozen midair.
It seemed she had been about to pat his shoulder.
Xu Zihuang smiled in greeting.
"Senior Tang, what a coincidence."
"Boring." Tang Ya withdrew her raised hand, clasping both hands behind her back with a playful pout.
"Tianhuang, how did you notice me? I clearly went out of my way to conceal my aura and footsteps."
"That only means, Xiao Ya, your cultivation still isn't refined enough."
A warm voice sounded. A handsome young man with short blue hair had somehow already appeared at Tang Ya's side.
It was Beibei.
Though that's what he said, a faint heaviness flashed in Beibei's eyes as he looked at Xu Zihuang.
With Tang Ya's cultivation and use of Tang Sect's special techniques, even he himself couldn't have reacted as keenly as Xu Zihuang just had.
"It seems Tianhuang's strength is even greater than I imagined."
Laymen watch the spectacle; insiders see the craft. Beibei had clearly noticed how Xu Zihuang had instinctively assumed a counterattack stance just now.
That spoke of extremely rich combat experience.
By comparison, Huo Yuhao, whom they had brought into the Tang Sect, was far less satisfactory.
Thinking of this, Beibei couldn't help feeling a trace of helplessness.
For soul masters, talent was determined by two key factors: the quality of one's martial spirit, and the innate soul power at awakening.
Though Huo Yuhao's martial spirit was decent, his cultivation talent was far too poor. He might not even pass Shrek Academy's first-year assessment.
"Hmph, Beibei, don't forget—some of Tang Sect's techniques were taught to you by me." Tang Ya clearly disliked the way Beibei acted so pedantic, critiquing her as though he were some elder.
Beibei only smiled without replying. Instead, his gaze shifted to Tuoba Yu beside Xu Zihuang.
Out of courtesy, Xu Zihuang made introductions.
"Senior Brother Bei, Senior Sister Tang, this is my roommate Tuoba Yu."
"And these are Senior Sister Tang Ya and Senior Brother Beibei from the fourth year."
Before others, Beibei still carried his refined, cultured demeanor, nodding slightly in greeting.
"Hello, Senior Brother Bei, Senior Sister Tang." Tuoba Yu suddenly grew reserved.
Tang Ya aside, Beibei's name was well known throughout Shrek Academy's outer court. Possessing the top-tier beast martial spirit, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, he had broken through rank thirty at just thirteen years old. Together with Xu Sanshi, he was hailed as one of the Outer Court's Twin Stars, with a strong chance of entering the Inner Court.
And admission to the Inner Court was every student's ultimate goal.
But Xu Zihuang noticed that Tuoba Yu's eyes held more than shyness—there was also a hint of complex emotion.
Tang Ya glanced at the busy eatery nearby, then smiled knowingly.
"Looks like you two were planning to get noodles at Uncle Chen's stall. As it happens, I know him well. I'll go have a word with him to clear a table for you."
With that, she bustled away into the crowd.
Tang Ya's personality seemed to let her get along well with anyone. Sure enough, before long Uncle Chen had tidied a table for the two of them. Meanwhile, Tang Ya and Beibei went off to other stalls to buy food.
The wooden table, though simple, was clean and orderly.
Tuoba Yu sat across from Xu Zihuang, struggling for a long while before finally blurting his question.
"Tianhuang, are you very close with Senior Brother Bei?"
"When I arrived at Shrek Academy to register, I happened to meet Senior Brother Bei. We haven't known each other long—we just get along." Xu Zihuang studied Tuoba Yu thoughtfully.
"I see."
Hearing his answer, Tuoba Yu couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh of relief.
As they spoke, kindly Uncle Chen brought over two steaming bowls of beef brisket noodles on a tray.
The broth was rich, the beef plentiful. On top of each bowl were also two golden fried eggs.
Uncle Chen chuckled. "These two eggs are on the house. The noodles are all-you-can-eat."
"Thank you, Uncle Chen."
It was clear why Uncle Chen's food was so popular among Shrek Academy students—his cooking truly was excellent.
The beef was tender, the balance of fat and lean just right, and the freshly-pulled noodles were perfectly chewy.
For Xu Zihuang, long tired of countless top-tier delicacies, this had a charm all its own.
More importantly, the price was very reasonable—only one silver soul coin a bowl.
The two ate to their hearts' content.
When it came time to pay, Tuoba Yu also covered Xu Zihuang's share.
Xu Zihuang didn't argue. It was only one silver coin. He would return the favor next time.