Tang Yin slumped to the ground, eyes twitching in disbelief.
"Seriously? Those old geezers actually left their granddaughter in my care?! What kind of brain damage are we dealing with here?!"
Before his frustration could boil over, a slender hand reached out to him.
It was Meng Yiran—slightly flustered but composed—as she gently helped him up.
The moment Tang Yin got a clear look at her rosy, delicate face, he fell silent.
"…Eh, whatever," he muttered inwardly. "I was planning to build a harem anyway. One more beautiful girl? Why not."
Still, something bothered him. A thought tickled the back of his mind.
What was it?
Ah. Right.
Meng Yiran still didn't have a soul ring.
That could only mean one thing.
Time to head back to the Star Dou Forest. Again.
Off to the side, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong were exchanging subtle glances at Meng Yiran—glances tinged with just the faintest trace of jealousy. But when they realized she'd be joining their academy too, the tension eased. Soon, the three girls were chatting and laughing like old friends, with Rongrong and Yiran leading the conversation.
Tang Yin watched with satisfaction, one hand propping up his chin like a scheming strategist.
"Perfect. Let the good sisterhood blossom... It'll make things a lot smoother when I eventually win them all over."
As the sisterly bond began to form, Tang Yin activated his telepathy and swept the surrounding area with his mind, scanning for any sign of the Unrivaled Dragon Duo.
Suddenly, a sharp, familiar presence pulsed in his consciousness.
"Huh? Tang Hao?!"
Meanwhile, along the winding trail leading to the dining lodge…
Tang Hao's POV:
"Damn it! What kind of lunatic academy sends students into the Star Dou Forest on their first day?!" Tang Hao growled, storming through the thick underbrush like an angry bear on a mission, hot on Tang San's trail.
"If that little soul beast girl ends up eaten by something else, I swear—ugh." He snarled through clenched teeth. "Ah Yin said soul beasts in human form can boost a beast's cultivation when devoured… And Tang San still needs a hundred-thousand-year soul ring."
His fists clenched, bark cracking beneath his grip.
"Especially after that sorry excuse for a teacher ruined his Blue Silver Grass…"
Back to Tang Yin…
He focused again, and another cluster of familiar presences lit up in his mind.
"Tang San… Grandmaster… and Flender?"
His eyes narrowed as the pieces fell into place.
"So Tang San must've reached level 30. Grandmaster probably dragged Flender along to help him get a soul ring. Tang Hao must've heard about Xiao Wu heading to Star Dou and followed them…"
Tang Yin sighed, his face clouding.
"Alright. Time to keep up the act."
Moments later, the dining lodge's doors opened. Tang San walked in, followed by Yu Xiaogang and Flender.
Yu Xiaogang spotted Tang Yin in the crowd and walked over with a bright smile.
"Hey, Tang Yin! Already done with your soul ring hunt?"
Tang Yin gave a small, dejected nod. "…Yeah."
Sensing something was off, Flender glanced at Ma Hongjun and nudged him, whispering for details.
With a nervous gulp, Ma Hongjun explained everything—the Titan Giant Ape, Xiao Wu's disappearance, and Meng Yiran's arrival. His eyes flicked uneasily toward Meng Yiran, as if she might whack him with a staff mid-sentence.
When he got to the part about Xiao Wu—
"WHAT? Xiao Wu was eaten by the Titan Giant Ape?!" Flender practically shouted.
He turned to the apparently heartbroken Tang Yin, his expression softening. Placing a hand on the boy's shoulder, he sighed.
"Poor kid. Don't let grief eat you alive. Xiao Wu wouldn't want that."
Tang Yin blinked, genuinely surprised by the sympathy.
He hadn't expected Flender to be this emotional. But then again…
"This is the guy who gave up the woman he loved to his useless best friend so she could be happy. Yeah… figures."
In the shadows, Tang Hao seethed.
"Damn it. I should've gone with Tang Yin and Xiao Wu when they left for Shrek. That soul beast girl was perfect. If I'd just killed her, Tang San would've gotten a soul bone at least…"
Tang Yin, still listening in via telepathy, exhaled in relief.
"So… he really believes Xiao Wu's dead. That's one worry off my list."
But even as the tension eased, a spark of anger flared within him.
"You were actually willing to kill her for a soul bone? Bastard."
Just then, Zhao Wuji raised an eyebrow.
"Oh right, this kid mentioned the Titan Giant Ape was scared off by… a cow roar? Something about a loud 'moo' from the forest's core. You know anything about that?" he asked Flender.
Before Flender could respond, Tang Yin sent a telepathic prod to Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward confidently, clearing his throat.
"Ahem. That would be… the Sky Azura Bull Python."
Zhao Wuji side-eyed him with visible irritation. Flender quickly stepped in with a sheepish smile.
"Ahaha, this is Grandmaster—my dear friend. Weak in cultivation, yes, but unmatched when it comes to theory."
Yu Xiaogang straightened, puffing out his chest like a smug encyclopedia.
"The Sky Azura Bull Python is a legendary beast, said to be over 100,000 years old. It's rumored to have slain multiple Spirit Hall Soul Douluos—and even Titled Douluos. Frankly, it's no surprise the Titan Giant Ape ran."
"WHAT?!"
Everyone gawked in stunned silence.
"There are soul beasts that strong in the core area?!"
Flender cleared his throat and clapped his hands to refocus the group.
"Alright, people. With two Soul Saints here, it should be easier to hunt soul rings for Tang San and Meng Yiran. Let's not waste time."
They all turned to Tang Yin, silently asking if he needed a break.
Determined Tang Yin shook his head firmly, jaw clenched, eyes sharp.
"No. I want to get stronger—fast. I need to take down that damn ape. so, Xiao wu's innocent soul can rest in peace""
Zhao Wuji and Flender both nodded in approval.
Meanwhile, Meng Yiran and Rongrong gazed at him with sparkles in their eyes. Even Zhu Zhuqing looked a little dazed, her expression unreadable.