Chapter 57: Shocks and Worm?
--- Chapter 57 ---
After meeting with the Shrek Academy's Students, Huo Yuhao defused the situation and explained the Dragon Nest's Student Exchanging Program to them because the Shrek Academy's representatives seemed not to announce it.
For a short time, the mood lightened, and Huo Yuhao even offered to have lunch together. And Even though they are wary of Huo Yuhao's groups, The Shrek Academy students still sit around a bonfire while eating grilled fish.
"God, you're scaring the living shit out of us!" The red-haired young man named Xu Sanshi complained while biting on a grilled fish Huo Yuhao made. "By the way, this is so delicious~!"
The leader of the group, the pale purple-haired young man from earlier, called Bei Bei. "Sanshi, please keep your manners." He laughed weakly and prepared an antidote for the worst scenario possible, eating the grilled fish with a surprised expression.
"It is good."
The cheerful young lady Tang Ya had a cat-like expression the whole time and even devoured nine grilled fish already. She stared at Huo Yuhao with blinking star eyes like he was true humankind's savior with his cooking skill, which left Huo Yuhao amused inside.
"Huo Yuhao, if you open a restaurant in the future and let me eat for free, I'll go there every day!" She said while giving him a thumbs up.
"That's a big IF because my life can't be simple even if I wanted to." Huo Yuhao shook his head gently.
Jiang Nannan, the last member of Shrek Academy's group, had an intrigued face when eating Huo Yuhao's grilled fish. She has been observing the mysterious blue-haired young man since meeting with him.
'His cooking skill is bizarre. How could a regular river fish be this good? He doesn't even use any spices besides some sprinkle of salt.' Jiang Nannan thought to herself. She wanted to know the secret of Huo Yuhao's recipe, but he never showed anything special in the cooking process.
Jiang Nannan gradually frowned and appeared apathetic in others' eyes while staring at Huo Yuhao's back solemnly. "What's his secret..?" She muttered silently.
Qianye Ying'er sat on a flat rock and said, "This looks familiar for some reason, like a certain Spirit Engineer/Blacksmith at the Dragon Nest's Labs. That guy achieved his dream last year and still wanted to make a more powerful weapon."
Scathach squealed happily after eating her disciple's food and became interested in Qianye Ying'er statement. "Are you talking about Xiao Chen?" She asked naturally.
"Obviously. There is only one Weapon Maniac in the Dragon Nest." Qianye Ying'er shrugged her slender shoulders. She giggled because Xiao Chen was probably doing something wild in his workshop.
"Poor Kaela, her teacher is one of a kind."
"Well, It's not like everyone in the Dragon Nest is normal."
Scathach nodded and added, "That's true."
While eating the grilled fish and having a casual lunch, Tang Ya peeked into Huo Yuhao's mask when he was eating the grilled fish. She witnessed a bit of Huo Yuhao's face and became curious about his looks.
Qianye Ying'er smirked and teased, "Do you want to see Yuhao's face~? It's not that big of a secret because you can ask him to lift it, you know."
"Really?" Tang Ya gave Huo Yuhao a hopeful look.
"Haha, Ying'er trapped you." Scathach gently chuckled while hearing her disciple's defeated sigh. "I know you can ignore it, Yuhao. However, that pride of yours won't allow it."
Huo Yuhao watched everyone staring at him and slowly grasped the White Ogre Mask. He lifted the mask slowly, revealing his face to them.
Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi's eyes widened like they were about to pop out of their sockets. The red-haired youth slapped his friend's shoulder and shouted, "Oh my fucking god! There is someone more handsome than you, Bei Bei!"
...
The lunch ended with several twists, and the Shrek Academy's students became closer to Huo Yuhao's group, despite the shocking parts. Tang Ya's face was pale from the excessive twist of Huo Yuhao's personal information, which was only surface level.
'What kind of face would they make if I revealed that I was Dragon Nest's leader, but then... I can't let them know about that, especially with Tang San's influence around here.' Huo Yuhao thought while closing his eyes.
"Yuhao?"
"Yuhao??"
Huo Yuhao opened his eyes and replied, "Yes."
"What are you going to do after this? Our group will hunt in the Star Dou Forest for one more day because Jiang Nannan needs her fourth spirit ring." Beibei questioned while tying his shoe's laces.
"We have another objective in the Star Dou Forest too, but the location is probably out of reach for you guys. It's not going to take a day, but let's separate from here." Huo Yuhao stretched his neck a little.
"Soft Bone Rabbit? Here, a little gift from me." A purple rune stone flew to Jiang Nannan.
"See you guys later."
Huo Yuhao waved his hand and disappeared from their visions alongside Qianye Ying'er and Scathach, leaving a group of speechless youngsters.
"T-This is..." Jiang Nannan's hand trembled violently.
Tang Ya recognized the infamous item in Jiang Nannan's hand and shrieked in shock, "RUNE STONE!"
"Just who are you, Huo Yuhao!?"
After leaving the Shrek Academy's group, Huo Yuhao led Qianye Ying'er and Scathach to a specific area on the Star Dou Forest's outer layer. They arrived in five minutes, and Huo Yuhao told his companions to hide their presence.
"Wait here..."
Huo Yuhao gradually activated the Eyes of the Lord and added Haoshoku Haki, creating a spiritual energy storm in the area. He waited for a few seconds and sensed a "sudden." movement underground.
Cracks!
The ground burst out with brilliant white light and a thin layer of frost, revealing a spirit beast. A plump yet round head appeared off the destroyed ground and connected to a slender meaty body over 7 meters. This spirit beast's body possessed white jade color, sparkling with brilliant light under the shadow of a lush forest.
A pair of eyes sparkling with golden light on its round head. And The most peculiar thing is that from half a meter away from its head at every segment, a circle-shaped gold pattern could be seen clearly. There are ten gold patterns from head to tail, signifying the cultivation stage of this spirit beast.
"Finally~!" An excited feminine voice comes from the Spirit Beast.
"Oh, Heavens! Finally, I found a human with a Spiritual-Based Martial Soul. Little brother, this beautiful sister's name is Tian Meng. I'm 1.000.000 years old spirit beast. Do you want to accept me as the first-ever intelligent Spirit Ring?"
"Don't be afraid. Big sister won't bite you." Her voice somehow sounds desperate.
Huo Yuhao smiled and replied, "Sure."