"You..."
Wang Dong stared blankly at the young man in front of him, speechless for a moment.
Ever since he could remember, he had been hailed as a genius by those around him, and he had always firmly believed this, thinking he was much more powerful than others his age.
He hadn't expected to be taught such a harsh lesson on his very first day at Shrek Academy.
Thinking back, it was the first time he had been defeated by a peer with such an overwhelming advantage, a crushing defeat. This feeling of disparity made it difficult for him to accept for a moment.
Just then, Huo Yuhao suddenly took the initiative to speak to him.
"You're really amazing!"
"Huh?"
His voice was full of enthusiasm, making it hard to imagine that this was the same young man who had just mercilessly crushed Wang Dong.
Facing him like this, Wang Dong was naturally stunned and couldn't respond.
Huo Yuhao's eyes sparkled as he asked excitedly:
"How did you manage to reach the thousand-year level with just your second soul ring? I've never seen anything like you before!"
Wang Dong subconsciously said:
"My family is quite wealthy, so I often took medicines that helped strengthen my body since I was young, which resulted in my physique being far beyond ordinary people."
"I see, I'm so envious!"
"It's, it's okay, I'm not *that* amazing."
Wang Dong rubbed his nose, his face slightly flushed, and his previously dejected expression began to brighten.
Huo Yuhao struck while the iron was hot and asked:
"Then, can I be your friend?"
"Hehe, well..."
Wang Dong hummed twice.
"As long as you're willing to be my follower, it's not impossible for me to look out for you."
Huo Yuhao tilted his head in confusion.
"Huh? You were clearly just defeated by me? There's no such thing as a big brother who can't beat his little brother."
Wang Dong's face instantly turned bright red.
"Ca-can you stop mentioning that! And hurry up and get off, how long are you planning to sit on me!"
He abruptly pushed Huo Yuhao off him, stood up, and brushed the dust off his clothes.
Looking at Wang Dong, whose expression had completely relaxed, a flicker of light flashed in Huo Yuhao's eyes, difficult to detect.
To accomplish his revenge, connections were an indispensable part.
However, within the Duke's Mansion, the Duchess had placed many obstacles in his way, both openly and secretly. Even if she didn't dare target him directly, it was enough to restrict him everywhere.
Huo Yuhao risked being secretly harmed by Dai Huabin and Dai Yueheng to come to Shrek Academy precisely to build connections.
As the continent's number one academy, what Huo Yuhao truly valued about Shrek Academy was not its teaching level or knowledge reserves, but rather the platform for interaction it provided.
About eighty percent of the continent's most outstanding young people were here. As a concubine's son with no support base in the Duke's Mansion, the attraction of the talent resources here was self-evident to him.
A genius like Wang Dong, who could absorb a thousand-year soul ring with his second soul ability, was the best target for him to win over.
Furthermore, judging by what Wang Dong said, his family background should also be quite good, and he might become a strong backer for him in the future.
After the initial conversation, Huo Yuhao had actually seen through Wang Dong's character. This kid clearly belonged to the type who wasn't very bright and was easily fooled. Therefore, after the battle ended and Wang Dong's arrogance was curbed, he immediately gave the other party a way out, thereby closing the distance between them.
Even when taming a pet, you need to use both sticks and carrots, let alone interacting with people.
At least for now, after this combination of moves, Wang Dong was a bit dizzy, the effect was very significant, and it was a good start.
The next step was to further develop their relationship based on this foundation.
Huo Yuhao extended his hand towards Wang Dong, who had tidied his clothes, and smiled:
"I'm planning to go stroll around Shrek City next. As friends, do you want to come with me?"
"Ugh... well..."
Wang Dong looked at Huo Yuhao's extended hand, then at his smiling face, and finally, blushing, he held his hand.
"Then... please take care of me."
"Mm."
Huo Yuhao nodded, but felt a trace of strangeness in his heart.
Not only did this guy look like a girl, but even his hands were soft, not like a man's. How strange.
"Wh-what's wrong?"
Perhaps feeling a bit uncomfortable under Huo Yuhao's gaze, Wang Dong's face turned even redder.
Huo Yuhao snapped back to attention and shook his head with a smile.
"No, nothing, let's go."
He must just be overthinking it.
No prominent family would possibly send their young lady to a male dormitory. That would be like a lamb entering a tiger's den; only a fool would do such a thing.
Resolutely casting aside the conjecture that had just arisen, Huo Yuhao took Wang Dong's hand and ran towards Shrek City.
The two had a great time playing in Shrek City all day. As for the result, Huo Yuhao's strategy was very successful.
At first, Wang Dong was clearly unable to adapt to his pace, but as time passed, he gradually relaxed and chatted about quite a few things with Huo Yuhao.
His martial soul was the Bright Goddess Butterfly, he was almost eleven years old, his soul power level was twenty-one, he had no friends his age before, and he had a slight cleanliness fetish... With careful planning against a lack of intention, Huo Yuhao basically managed to extract all the information about Wang Dong that could be obtained.
When he learned that this effeminate guy had barely cultivated seriously, Huo Yuhao's mood was very complicated.
People really couldn't be generalized. He dared say he had never been negligent in his cultivation, yet his soul power level was still similar to Wang Dong, who was a lazy dog.
He didn't know if it was because this kid's talent was truly too good, or if his family background was much stronger than the Duke's Mansion, or perhaps both.
The sun gradually set. Huo Yuhao said to Wang Dong, who was happily eating cotton candy:
"Oh right, I have a friend I've known since childhood who's arriving soon. I'm going to pick her up. Do you want to come with me?"
"Hmm?"
Wang Dong finished the cotton candy in his mouth and asked:
"Boy or girl?"
"Girl."
"I want to go."
Wang Dong immediately said decisively.
Huo Yuhao blinked in surprise and laughed:
"You're not trying to court her, are you?"
Wang Dong snorted and turned his face in another direction.
"None of your business."
After speaking, he took another bite of the cotton candy Huo Yuhao bought for him.
Huo Yuhao sighed helplessly and said:
"Let me give you a piece of advice, don't have any improper thoughts about her, okay? She's already taken."
Wang Dong's body stiffened. Ignoring the cotton candy still in his mouth, he quickly asked:
"Huh? Really? Who?"
Huo Yuhao pointed to himself and showed Wang Dong a bright smile.
"This humble one, is precisely her fiancé."
"Fi... an... cé...?"
Wang Dong mechanically repeated Huo Yuhao's words.
Then he let out a scream.
"Eh—?!"