In the Tian Yuan Pavilion lobby, after He Caitou left, only Zhu Ziyang and the various elders remained.
"Ziyang, for this Soul Master Competition, Bei Bei and Tang Ya will represent the Tang Sect, and Huo Yuhao will most likely join them," Xuan Zi said.
"This means the Academy's team will need you to re-select members. Although we have the three little girls, Nannan, Qian Lingyi, and Fifth Huan'er, to avoid any mishaps, it would be best to choose a few more members from the Inner Courtyard Disciples."
"Alright," Zhu Ziyang nodded and said, "How about we set it for the day after tomorrow? It's right after tomorrow's event, and it's a rare chance to gather all the Inner Courtyard Disciples."
"Okay, I'll go inform Ruo Ruo shortly and have her compile a list of suitable disciples," Yan Shaozhe interjected.
"Oh, Ziyang, speaking of the event, aren't you planning to attend tomorrow?" Xian Lin'er asked with a smile.
"I..." Zhu Ziyang was startled. Before he could speak, Old Lin Huiqun chimed in from the other side.
"You should still attend," Old Lin said with a kind smile. "No matter what, you're still a young man. It's good to participate in more activities like this, so you don't become as gloomy as us old folks."
"Yes, it's good to relax once in a while," Old Zhuang Qingzhai echoed. "You're all young people; it's good to interact and deepen your relationships."
"You don't need to worry about the event; us old folks will handle it for you," Xuan Zi said, also smiling broadly.
"Alright, since you've all gone this far, how can I refuse?" Zhu Ziyang reluctantly agreed, muttering to himself that these old folks definitely wanted to watch a show. They knew Ma Xiaotao and Jiang Nannan were both at the Academy, yet they encouraged him to attend that blind date event. It was truly speechless.
However, did he truly not want to participate in this blind date event at all? Perhaps not, because if he truly didn't want to, no one could force him, could they? Ultimately, he still wanted to participate.
Firstly, Ma Xiaotao and Jiang Nannan's names were on the list of female disciples drafted by Cai Meier. For that reason alone, he couldn't not go. Secondly, he also wanted to use this opportunity to thoroughly resolve his relationships with Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao. As for how to resolve them, he hadn't thought it through yet; he would just adapt to the situation.
Sea God's Fate Blind Date Event. This was currently one of only two things at Shrek Academy that still retained the name 'Sea God.' Since it was an event held on Sea God Lake, there was no need to change the name. If it really had to be changed, Zhu Ziyang felt nothing would be more suitable than'Shuraba.'
After the meeting, Zhu Ziyang returned to his room, only to find Jiang Nannan had been waiting for a long time.
"Nannan!" Zhu Ziyang said, a little surprised. "Coming to find me at this hour, is there something wrong?"
"Of course!" The girl walked up to him with a beaming smile after seeing Zhu Ziyang and said, "Brother, you'll also be attending Sea God's Fate tomorrow, right?"
"Mm!" Looking at the girl's expectant eyes, Zhu Ziyang nodded helplessly, reached out, and ruffled her little head, saying, "Do we still need this event between us?"
"Oh, come on!" The girl hugged Zhu Ziyang's arm and pouted, "I want to experience it! Don't you think this event is very interesting?"
"Alright, then we'll participate," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile. "By the way, you didn't specifically come to tell me about this, did you?"
"Of course not," Jiang Nannan shook her head and said, "Actually, I was entrusted by Wang Dong'er to ask you to keep it a secret from Huo Yuhao for now!"
"That's it? I will," Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but shake his head with a smile upon hearing this. "However, Wang Dong'er has certainly gone to great lengths, but she might not be able to hide it from Huo Yuhao. That kid isn't a blockhead."
"You mean, Huo Yuhao already knows Wang Dong'er is a girl?" Jiang Nannan's eyes lit up as she asked.
"It was hard to say before, but now, perhaps," Zhu Ziyang showed a mysterious smile. He recalled the book he had given Huo Yuhao back then. If that kid had finished reading that book, he should have realized that Wang Dong'er was a girl.
"Oh!" Jiang Nannan nodded, then, as if remembering something, she said excitedly, "Oh, right, Brother, do you know? Xiao Xiao actually likes Huo Yuhao too. She said she originally planned to confess to Huo Yuhao at this Sea God's Fate, but..."
Jiang Nannan trailed off, waving her hand helplessly.
"Xiao Xiao?" Zhu Ziyang was startled, then said, "I remember that girl was initially interested in the male version of Wang Dong'er, wasn't she? Why is she interested in Huo Yuhao now?"
"Brother, you don't understand a girl's thoughts," Jiang Nannan covered her mouth and chuckled softly, but still explained, "Xiao Xiao was initially interested in Wang Dong, but that was because Wang Dong was good-looking! Who doesn't like high Appearance? However, as they became more familiar, she felt that while Wang Dong was handsome, his personality was frivolous and arrogant, like a girl... Uh, her feeling was actually quite accurate, I'm getting off-topic. As for Huo Yuhao, he is steady and calm. Compared to the two, Huo Yuhao became increasingly outstanding in her eyes, so..."
"Good heavens, a love triangle, is it!" Zhu Ziyang exclaimed, calling it professional, but he was still curious about Xiao Xiao's plans. He asked, "So what is she planning to do now?"
"Compete!" Jiang Nannan said without hesitation, her tone very resolute. "Why not compete? Although Wang Dong'er, having restored her true appearance, is indeed very beautiful, our Xiao Xiao isn't bad either, right? For her own happiness, why not compete?"
Zhu Ziyang heard other implications in Jiang Nannan's words and felt she was hinting at something, so he could only give an awkward smile and say, "Alright, alright."
"That's all for now, Brother, I'm leaving," Jiang Nannan said with a triumphant smile on her pretty face. "We'll see each other tomorrow night."
With that, the girl left Zhu Ziyang's room with light steps, leaving behind a wisp of fragrance.
"Lord Ziyang, I feel there was a deeper meaning in Nannan's words," after Jiang Nannan left, Xingcai leaned close to Zhu Ziyang and offered her opinion.
"You don't need to remind me, I can hear it," Zhu Ziyang said, looking a little flustered and annoyed.
"Nyah nyah nyah ~" Xingcai playfully stuck out her tongue at Zhu Ziyang, then took a step and rushed out of the room to entertain herself.
"Sigh! What a headache," Zhu Ziyang massaged his forehead, groaning in pain.
In the evening, Zhu Ziyang went to the dining hall and happened to meet Huo Yuhao, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and He Caitou. So he joined them.
"Senior Brother, I... I want to represent the Tang Sect in this Soul Master Competition," Huo Yuhao said a little shyly.
When he learned from Tang Ya and Bei Bei that this Soul Master Competition actually allowed Spirit Master Sects to participate, he was as excited as Tang Ya. Then, when Tang Ya asked if he was willing to represent the Tang Sect, he agreed without hesitation.
However, at this moment, telling Zhu Ziyang about it, he also felt the same guilt as Tang Ya and Bei Bei.
"Alright, I agree," Zhu Ziyang replied with an unchanging smile. He had long guessed Huo Yuhao's choice.
"Ziyang, thank you!" Bei Bei was also very excited to thank Zhu Ziyang after he agreed to Huo Yuhao's request. Now, their Tang Sect team was formed. With the several people Huo Yuhao brought back, they even had a few substitutes. This time, they couldn't guarantee a top-two finish, but a spot in the top four was definitely a sure thing!
The top four in the Soul Master Competition would be enough for the Tang Sect to make a name for itself. As for taking first place, Bei Bei wasn't a fool; he knew very well the strength of Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, and the others. How could he dream such a pipe dream?
"Ziyang, are you also participating in tomorrow's event?" Xu Sanshi asked, a mischievous smile on his face. "Don't you already have Nannan, Sister Xiaotao, and that Qian Lingyi? Why are you still snatching senior sisters and junior sisters from the Inner Courtyard brothers?"
"Bullshit! Don't you also have Xue Weiwei? Didn't you also participate?" Zhu Ziyang immediately cursed with a smile upon hearing this. "Don't think I don't know, you and Xue Weiwei are already engaged!"
"Ahem... Isn't this for the sense of ceremony?" Xu Sanshi said, scratching his big head and laughing.
"Huo Yuhao, do you have a girl you like?" Bei Bei asked Huo Yuhao at this moment. He was on a mission and had to do it well, otherwise, it would be difficult to explain to Xiao Ya.
"I... I guess so!" Huo Yuhao's face showed a hint of confusion, as if remembering something, and his tone became hesitant.
"What do you mean 'I guess so'? Do you or don't you?" Zhu Ziyang saw Huo Yuhao's reaction and understood that the kid hadn't read the book he gave him. But this was good too. He felt that what Jiang Nannan told him was still somewhat useful. He said with a smile, "If not, then I know a good girl who has a crush on you."
"Oh? Who? Who?" Xu Sanshi showed a curious expression and egged him on. Bei Bei, however, looked worried, thinking Zhu Ziyang was going to say Wang Dong'er.
"Who is it, Senior Brother!" Huo Yuhao looked up, his face full of bewilderment. The girls he had known well over the years were only a few; who would fancy him?
"Fool! Of course, it's Xiao Xiao!" Zhu Ziyang said with a smile.
"Xiao Xiao?!" Hearing Zhu Ziyang's words, Huo Yuhao's body trembled, and He Caitou, who was sitting on the outside, also showed an unusual expression.
Zhu Ziyang was very satisfied with Huo Yuhao's reaction. He had carefully sorted things out that afternoon and realized one thing: Wang Dong'er was most likely a chain used by Sea God to tie down Huo Yuhao, the Child of Fortune. Therefore, he naturally couldn't let Sea God Tang San have his way. At the very least, he couldn't let Huo Yuhao's heart be entirely devoted to Wang Dong'er.
He wanted to send a message to Sea God: Sea God's brilliant scheme governs the world, losing the Tang Sect and giving away his daughter!