A/N: Sorry I couldn't post yesterday. I had to go out yesterday for a family thing and by the time i came back I was too tired to edit and post the chapter. I'll be posting yesterday's chapters and today's at once.
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The suggestion not to participate in the competition was approved by the homeroom teacher, Zhang Lexuan, and Huo Yuhao originally intended to leave at that point.
However, Zhang Lexuan's subsequent words caused his body to stiffen slightly for a moment.
Dai Huabin.
This name was all too familiar to him.
Familiar to the point of being etched into his bones, familiar to the point that every time he thought of it, an indescribable emotion would well up in his heart.
He abruptly looked up, staring directly at Zhang Lexuan, and asked, "Teacher, who is this Dai Huabin?"
Zhang Lexuan was slightly taken aback by his sudden reaction, but she still answered truthfully, "He comes from the Duke of White Tiger's lineage of the Star Luo Empire, and his Spirit is the Evil Eyes White Tiger."
"Among this year's freshmen, aside from you, his strength should be the greatest."
Huo Yuhao's hands clenched tightly at his sides.
A complex light flashed in the depths of his eyes as he thought to himself, 'It really is him!'
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, making an effort to calm his emotions.
He looked up, meeting Zhang Lexuan's gaze again, and said, "Teacher, I want to participate in this Freshman Assessment."
"Ah?"
Zhang Lexuan's mouth hung open slightly, a flash of surprise crossing her beautiful eyes.
She didn't quite understand why Huo Yuhao had suddenly changed his mind.
He had just looked completely uninterested a moment ago, so why the sudden change of heart?
However, her surprise lasted only a moment.
Huo Yuhao was a freshman to begin with; participating in the Freshman Assessment was only natural.
The reason she hadn't let him participate before was because he didn't want to himself, and as his homeroom teacher, Zhang Lexuan respected her student's choice.
But now that Huo Yuhao wanted to participate, she naturally had no reason to stop him.
Zhang Lexuan snapped back to her senses and nodded.
"Since you want to participate, go back and form a team. Just remember to report the roster to me tomorrow."
"Alright, Teacher."
After saying this, Huo Yuhao turned and walked toward the classroom.
Zhang Lexuan stood where she was, her brow furrowing slightly as she watched his receding figure.
The one who made him change his mind must be this Dai Huabin person.
But is there... some connection between them?...Huo Yuhao walked toward the classroom with steady steps.
Every step was firm and stable, but only he knew what kind of waves were surging within his heart at this moment.
Childhood memories involuntarily surfaced in his mind.
The past that had been deliberately suppressed deep in his heart now surged out like a flood breaking through a dam.
He remembered that grand manor, those cold gazes, and how weak and helpless he once was...The current him was no longer the young boy who had no power to fight back when bullied as a child.
The Dai Huabin who could once bully him at will had ceased to be his match as early as when he was six years old.
Back then, he hadn't even used his full strength, only giving a slight punishment to make that arrogant and overbearing boy suffer a hidden loss, but at that time, he didn't even dare to reveal that he was the one who had acted.
Because back then, he wasn't strong enough.
Because back then, he still had his mother with him, and they had to escape that cage.
Because back then, if he had exposed himself, what awaited them would have been the Duchess's frenzied revenge.
So he endured it.
He took his mother and left quietly, traveling far away and living under an assumed name.
But now...Hearing this name again, he hadn't expected that he would still be this angry.
That fire of rage had been buried in his heart for so many years and had never been extinguished.
It was merely being suppressed, pushed down to the deepest depths, waiting for a certain moment to break through the soil.
And now, that moment had arrived.
After learning that Dai Huabin was also a freshman at Shrek Academy, a thought uncontrollably surged into his mind.
He wanted to participate in the Freshman Assessment.
Not for that first place, not for some honor, and certainly not to prove how strong he was.
He simply wanted to defeat Dai Huabin fair and square!
He wanted to tell that boy who had once wantonly bullied him, in front of everyone...The current you is no longer worthy of being my opponent.
The current you doesn't even have the qualification for me to spare you a second glance.
This was not just his revenge against Dai Huabin, but also his declaration of war against the Duchess!
Many things would not be forgotten with the passage of time.
Those injuries and humiliations were forever etched into his bones, never to be forgotten.
There was some justice that he would eventually have to reclaim personally, bringing his mother along!
His current cultivation and strength might not yet be enough to contend with the Duchess.
But now that he was at Shrek Academy, he already had the confidence to publicly reveal his identity!
Stepping into the classroom again, the students of Class 1 were still running around, chattering and discussing.
Zhang Lexuan hadn't directly announced the team groupings based on the students' Spirit characteristics, but instead chose to let these freshmen form their own teams.
For these children who had only been together for three months, wanting to form a team that satisfied all three people was not that easy.
Some were arguing over who would be the captain, some were agonizing over whose Spirit was better suited for cooperation, and some were already red-faced from arguing...
"Where did you go?"
As soon as Huo Yuhao walked into the classroom, a voice sounded in his ear.
Wang Dong ran over, his exquisite face carrying a hint of curiosity.
Huo Yuhao glanced at him; because he had suddenly heard news of Dai Huabin, his mood was still low.
Those memories were surging up, difficult to suppress like a tide.
His tone lowered slightly as he answered briefly, "I went to talk to the teacher about some things."
Wang Dong didn't think too much about it. He blinked and suddenly leaned in a bit closer, asking, "For the Freshman Assessment, do you want to be on a team with me?"
An expectant light sparkled in those beautiful eyes.
With Huo Yuhao's strength, even if he were alone, he could easily defeat a three-person team.
So it didn't matter to him who his teammates were.
However... if this teammate was his current roommate and future "wife," it did seem much better.
Huo Yuhao looked at Wang Dong, and the gloom on his face finally dissipated a bit as he asked, "What about the other person? Is there a choice?"
Wang Dong didn't reply.
Because at that moment, a figure darted over from not far away, appearing in front of Huo Yuhao with a hop and a skip.
"It's me!"
The voice was crisp and cute, with a hint of playfulness.
Huo Yuhao turned his head to look.
In front of him was a little loli with a round face, large eyes, and two cute braids, showing two little tiger teeth when she smiled.
She wasn't very tall and wore a long white dress, making her look like a porcelain doll stepped out of a painting.
Huo Yuhao's brow twitched; so it was Xiao Xiao.
Huo Yuhao was naturally very familiar with Xiao Xiao.
Of course, this "familiarity" didn't refer to the present, but rather what he had learned from the historical records of the future.
Even though Huo Yuhao was the class monitor and was stronger, Xiao Xiao's gaze at this moment was clearly glancing toward Wang Dong most of the time.
Those round, large eyes would occasionally steal a glance toward Wang Dong and then quickly look away, pretending as if nothing were happening.
But before long, she couldn't help but glance over again.
That little expression and those little thoughts were practically written on her face, impossible to hide.
Huo Yuhao took all of this in, knowing that this little girl was clearly here for Wang Dong.
Children on the continent were indeed very precocious.
At the age of eleven or twelve, they had already begun to openly discuss love.
Huo Yuhao's gaze involuntarily drifted toward Wang Dong beside him.
That exquisite face appeared even more fair and jade-like under the classroom lights.
With features like a painting, red lips, and white teeth, his facial features were as delicate as a carefully carved work of art.
At this moment, Wang Dong was saying something to Xiao Xiao with a faint smile on his face. That smile, falling into Huo Yuhao's eyes, actually made his mood inexplicably better.
The expression on his face couldn't help but soften a bit, revealing a heartfelt smile.
The agitated emotions and surging memories in his heart seemed to be smoothed over at this moment.
He knew that Wang Dong, this boy who was pretty to a fault, was actually a girl in disguise!
The corners of Huo Yuhao's mouth curled up slightly into a meaningful arc.
When he looked at Xiao Xiao again, a hint of... sympathy couldn't help but appear in Huo Yuhao's eyes.
This cute little girl's little thoughts were destined to be in vain.
Huo Yuhao silently "mourned" for her in his heart for a few seconds.
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.