The massive carcass of the Man-Faced Demon Spider lay in pieces, its acrid venom sizzling faintly against the forest floor. A heavy silence hung over the clearing, broken only by the ragged breathing of the seven young soul masters.
Dai Mubai was the first to recover. The blond-haired youth with the evil eyes stepped forward, his muscular frame still tense from battle. White tiger spirit essence lingered around him like fading mist.
"Who the hell are you?" he demanded, voice rough but not hostile. "That spider was over eight thousand years old. You killed it like it was nothing."
Luo Fang turned fully to face the group, his expression calm and unhurried. He noted each of them quickly—years of reading people in immortal battlefields made it second nature.
The tiger youth was proud but protective. The blue-haired boy with the grass spirit radiated quiet intelligence and hidden depth. The pink-haired girl beside him moved with a softness that belied monstrous strength. The chubby one clutching sausages looked harmless yet cunning. The shadowy figure in the back was wary, almost invisible. And then there was the phoenix-flame girl, fierce and straightforward.
And Ning Rongrong—still standing closest to him, her pagoda slowly dimming as she lowered her hand.
"I told her already," Luo Fang said with a faint smile, nodding toward Rongrong. "Luo Fang. Just a traveler passing through. I sensed the fight and thought I'd lend a hand."
Tang San stepped forward, his clear eyes studying Luo Fang intently. The Blue Silver Grass around his feet retracted slowly, but his posture remained alert. "Your power… it doesn't feel like soul power. There are no spirit rings visible around you. How did you destroy that spider's core so cleanly?"
A reasonable question. Tang San's mind worked like a master tactician's—Luo Fang could sense the Tang Sect foundations hidden beneath his spirit master exterior.
"Different world, different methods," Luo Fang replied simply. "Where I come from, we cultivate something called immortal qi. It's… not entirely compatible with soul rings, but it gets the job done."
Zhu Zhuqing, the black-clad girl with the Nether Civet spirit, finally spoke from the shadows. Her voice was cool and low. "He's not lying. I couldn't sense any spirit fluctuations from him at all. But that attack… it was faster than even my full-speed dash."
Ma Hongjun scratched his head, his phoenix flames dying down. "Man, that was awesome! I thought we were done for when it broke my Evil Fire restraint. Hey, mister, you hungry? Oscar's sausages are the best recovery food around!"
Oscar, ever the opportunist, immediately seized the moment. He struck a flamboyant pose, his peach-blossom eyes twinkling. "That's right! I have a big sausage here—wait, no, two big sausages! Recovery and detox, fresh off the spirit incantation!"
He chanted quickly: "First spirit skill—Recovery Big Sausage!"
A thick, steaming sausage appeared in his hand, which he promptly offered to Luo Fang.
Rongrong rolled her eyes. "Oscar, can you not embarrass us in front of a stranger?"
But there was a small smile tugging at her lips—the near-death experience had shaken her usual composure more than she wanted to admit.
Xiao Wu bounced forward, her scorpion braid swinging. She looked at Luo Fang with wide, curious eyes. "Big brother, you're really strong! Are you a Titled Douluo or something? Why don't you have rings?"
Luo Fang chuckled softly. The girl's innocence was genuine, yet he sensed something ancient and protective coiled within her—something not entirely human.
"Not a Titled Douluo," he answered. "And I don't need rings. My path is… a bit unconventional."
Dai Mubai crossed his arms. "Well, unconventional or not, you saved our asses. We owe you one. Name's Dai Mubai. This is Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and you've already met our little princess Ning Rongrong."
Rongrong huffed. "I'm not little."
The group laughed, tension easing. Even Zhuqing's lips twitched slightly.
Tang San inclined his head respectfully. "We're students of Shrek Academy. We came to Star Dou Forest to hunt suitable spirit beasts for our fourth rings. That spider wasn't our target—it ambushed us. Thank you for intervening, Senior Luo."
Senior. The word amused Luo Fang. In his own realm he was ancient beyond counting, yet here he looked barely older than these teenagers.
"No need for 'senior,'" he said. "I'm on… vacation. And I'd rather not stand on ceremony."
"Vacation?" Ma Hongjun blurted. "In the middle of Star Dou Forest? You've got weird tastes, big bro."
Rongrong glanced at Luo Fang, her earlier flush returning faintly. "You said you're a traveler. Do you have a place to stay? Shrek Academy isn't far from the forest edge. Grandmaster and Dean Flender would probably want to meet someone as strong as you."
Tang San nodded thoughtfully. "It's true. If you're willing, we can escort you back. The forest is dangerous at night, even for someone of your strength."
Luo Fang considered. In truth, nothing in this forest could threaten him. But the invitation—and the silver-haired girl issuing it—intrigued him more than he cared to admit.
"I'd like that," he said finally. "Lead the way."
As the group gathered their things and began moving toward the forest outskirts, Rongrong fell into step beside Luo Fang. The others walked ahead, chatting and occasionally glancing back curiously.
"You really don't have to babysit me," she said quietly, though her tone lacked its usual sharpness. "I'm not as spoiled as they think."
Luo Fang glanced sideways at her. Up close, he could see the faint tremble in her fingers as she tucked a strand of silver hair behind her ear. The battle had scared her more than she let on.
"I never thought you were," he replied softly. "You stood your ground when that spider charged. Boosting six people at once while keeping your composure—that's not something a spoiled princess could do."
Rongrong blinked, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. Warmth spread through her chest, unfamiliar and a little frightening.
"…Thanks," she murmured. "Most people only see the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan name and assume things."
"I see you," Luo Fang said simply.
The words hung between them for a long moment. Rongrong's heart skipped. She quickly looked away, pretending to scan the trees for danger.
Behind them, Oscar whispered loudly to Ma Hongjun, "Hey, did you see that? Our little auxiliary princess is blushing!"
"Shut up, sausage man," Rongrong snapped over her shoulder, but there was no real venom in it.
The group laughed again, the sound carrying through the twilight forest.
Hours later, as the sun dipped below the horizon, they reached the edge of Star Dou Forest. A small village came into view—simple buildings, soul masters coming and going. And beyond it, the unmistakable silhouette of Shrek Academy's quirky, run-down structures.
Flender stood at the gates with Grandmaster and Zhao Wuji, having sensed the intense spirit power fluctuation earlier. When the seven devils returned with an unknown young man radiating unfathomable energy, the teachers' expressions turned grave.
Grandmaster's rigid face showed rare surprise. "Little San, explain."
Tang San stepped forward and recounted the events calmly. Flender's eyes widened comically behind his glasses, while Zhao Wuji whistled low.
"Killed an eight-thousand-year Man-Faced Demon Spider with two finger flicks?" Zhao Wuji muttered. "Kid, you sure you're not pulling our legs?"
Luo Fang smiled politely. "I assure you, it happened."
Grandmaster studied him for a long moment, analytical mind racing. "Your energy signature is completely foreign. Would you be willing to demonstrate a small portion of your power? Purely for academic interest."
Rongrong unexpectedly spoke up. "Grandmaster, he just saved our lives. Maybe we can offer him dinner first?"
Flender's merchant instincts kicked in immediately. "Dinner! Yes! A powerful expert visiting our humble academy—how could we be so rude? Come, come, young friend Luo Fang. Tonight you are our honored guest!"
As they walked toward the academy cafeteria, Rongrong stayed close to Luo Fang's side. She didn't say it aloud, but something about his presence made the world feel… steadier.
And Luo Fang, ancient wanderer that he was, felt the first genuine spark of interest in a new world—not just in its mysteries, but in the proud, beautiful girl walking beside him.
Little did any of them know that this night would mark the beginning of a legend that would echo through the ages of Douluo Continent.