Douluo Dalu 2: You are an Evil Soul Master, but also a good person ?

"Juzi, Do You Want to Go?"

Xu Cheng asked with a warm smile.

"Me?" Juzi's red lips parted slightly.

Yet, her mood turned a little gloomy.

"If it's the Star Luo Empire... I'd better not. I don't want to see him. I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself..."

"Alright then. The Sun Moon Empire can't do without you either. Once I leave, you'll be in charge of everything. If you need help, reach out to Elder Cheng or Elder Jing."

"Alright." Juzi sighed in relief and quickly agreed.

"Then the remaining two slots will go to Yuhao and Shi Xing," Xu Cheng announced.

"Huh? Yuhao?" Everyone was shocked and looked at Huo Yuhao.

The latter's eyes widened.

Looking confused and flustered, he waved his hands, saying, "Brother Cheng, I... I can't do it."

"Ah Cheng, but Yuhao is still just a..." Xiao Hongchen exclaimed in surprise.

"Haha, don't worry," Xu Cheng replied with a sly smile.

"Hiss..." Xiao Hongchen was taken aback.

He leaned in close and whispered, "Are you sure? Shrek Academy will definitely have powerful guardians present..."

"Not to worry. The Supreme Elder of my Holy Spirit Sect has already infiltrated Shrek Academy and even became one of their high-ranking members. According to the information provided, the guardian is most likely the infiltrator," Xu Cheng explained.

"You... hiss." Xiao Hongchen's eyes were full of astonishment.

Even a place as powerful as Shrek Academy had been infiltrated without anyone noticing?

"Just wait and see..." Xu Cheng grinned, saying no more.

The two truly were close friends. Without another word, they exchanged thoughts through their eyes alone.

This left the people around them utterly bewildered.

As for Shi Xing, Xu Cheng had long since recruited him into the intelligence department, granting him full authority to build it.

He provided resources and money.

Although the results weren't stellar yet, Xu Cheng was patient and willing to trust him...

"Time to Float the Paper Boats!"

Someone shouted from the bridge.

Soon, the crowd surged forward.

They all moved toward the edge of the bridge.

"This is the paper boat I made. Here." Nana handed Xu Cheng a white paper boat and then walked off into the distance.

"Brother Cheng, this is mine." Meng Hongchen shyly handed over a pink paper boat before quickly following.

"Hmph." Tang Ya handed over a blue paper boat and skipped away cheerfully.

"This... I made this," Juzi coughed lightly and handed over an orange paper boat.

"Uh..."

Xu Cheng was stunned.

Four paper boats— which one should he use to write his wishes?

Why did this feel... off somehow?

"Sigh, maybe you should change your name," Xiao Hongchen suggested, putting a hand on Xu Cheng's shoulder and looking at the four girls who had joined the crowd. Each was uniquely beautiful, with exceptional talents and strength.

Once they matured...

"I don't want to see your head floating on a paper boat down the river during the next festival," Xiao Hongchen shrugged.

"You...!" Xu Cheng's mouth twitched.

Suddenly, he felt a chill down his spine.

"Do you have to jinx me?"

"Let's go, let's go..."

At the Edge of the Bridge

Many people closed their eyes, silently making wishes.

Standing on the bridge, Xu Cheng looked down at the myriad paper boats, many illuminated by small candles. Their reflections on the water made them look like stars scattered across the sky. The scene was breathtakingly beautiful and awe-inspiring.

Tens of thousands of paper boats drifted with the wind, heading downstream.

Many others along the banks continued to add to this growing fleet of paper vessels.

"My first wish is to return safely from the Extreme North," Xu Cheng thought, looking at the four paper boats.

On the white one, he wrote "Safety."

"My second wish is to successfully heal my teacher..."

On the pink one, he wrote "Health."

"My third wish... is for Tang Shenwang to drop dead soon..."

On the blue one, he wrote "Remove the Scourge."

"And the fourth..."

Xu Cheng clicked his tongue.

"I just wish my romantic troubles weren't too overwhelming. Xiao was right— I need to survive to enjoy them."

So he wrote... "Not Die" on the orange one.

He placed each paper boat in the water, letting them drift away with the wind.

Xu Cheng quietly watched them go.

Suddenly, his shadow seemed to ripple slightly.

A message entered his mind.

"A student from Shrek Academy named Jiang Nannan, a Three-Ring Soul Elder, was victimized by the Xuanming Sect, causing her mother to fall seriously ill. Thanks to a coachman's intervention, she was taken out of the Dou Ling Empire and has now arrived in Mingdu. Awaiting the Holy Son's decision."

Xu Cheng's mouth twitched hard.

Are you kidding me?!

Shrek Academy - In Front of the Student Dormitory Building

"I... get my own room?" Wang Dong'er asked, surprised.

"Yes, the dorm manager said there's an odd number this year, so you get a single room. Young Master, isn't this great? If there was another, you'd have to share..." explained a subordinate of the Clear Sky Sect.

"True. Alright, you all can go now." Wang Dong'er waved them off impatiently.

She then excitedly headed inside.

After a refreshing shower, she made her way to the teaching building.

After spending so long at the Clear Sky Sect, she found it quite boring.

Here, surrounded by peers her age, she hoped to find some fun.

"I'm Zhou Yi, your future homeroom teacher."

An old hag walked into the classroom, and everyone instantly fell silent.

"Now, go to the field and run fifty laps!"

Wang Dong'er: "..."

Four Days Later

Dragging her exhausted body, Wang Dong'er collapsed onto her dorm bed, her eyelids heavy.

She quickly fell into a deep sleep.

The Next Day

Sunlight poured into the room.

Wang Dong'er slowly opened her eyes, glanced at the clock, and was about to go back to sleep when she suddenly jumped up, frantically putting on her clothes.

"Oh no, I'm late! That old hag Zhou Yi will kill me..."

She rushed to the door, only to hear noise from the hallway. She paused.

"Wait, today's the weekend..."

She stopped, then deflated like a popped balloon, slumping into her chair.

Wiping her face, she grumbled, "That old hag... she's just messing with us. If my dads hadn't warned me not to drop out unless absolutely necessary, I would've... Hmph!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

There was a knock at the door.

"Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao asked me to get you. It's the weekend today. Do you want to go hang out in Shrek City…?"

"Oh, oh, I'll be right down."

Wang Dong responded excitedly.

Xiao Xiao was one of the few friends she had made over the past few days.

They got along quite well.

Downstairs.

Xiao Xiao lightly pursed her red lips, her beautiful eyes filled with anticipation.

Wang Dong was just too handsome. Even in all of Shrek Academy, he was one of the top-tier heartthrobs. For an eleven or twelve-year-old girl, his charm was lethal.

Even though Wang Dong had only washed his face, his fair skin and handsome features were already breathtaking.

Feeling shy, Xiao Xiao waved her hand.

At that moment, she even started imagining what their children's names would be.

"Where do you want to go?" Wang Dong walked over, his excitement evident.

"Anywhere's fine, as long as it's with you," Xiao Xiao replied shyly.

"Then... how about we go check out some soul tools? I need to buy one for storage, anyway," Wang Dong suggested thoughtfully.

With that, the two headed straight for the city.

"Wow, look at all these different types..."

In Shrek City, inside a shop selling soul tools.

Wang Dong's eyes sparkled as he swallowed in excitement.

He gently brushed his fingers across the glass display case.

Inside were all sorts of everyday-use soul tools, including storage rings, lighting devices, and heating tools.

Since birth, she had lived within the confines of the Clear Sky School, isolated from the outside world. The only machinery she had ever encountered were Tang Sect's hidden weapons. Though those were indeed intricate, as a "modern" youth, she naturally found soul tools far more fascinating.

Cooler designs, more practical functions.

Watching her classmates use them as if it were nothing special, she couldn't help but feel a bit envious.

Finally, she had her chance! Hahaha!

"Boss, I'll take this one, and that one, and that one too! Wrap them all up!" Wang Dong said boldly.

"Sure thing! Please try them on first. If they don't fit, our store offers free returns," the shopkeeper replied with a grin.

"Alright then..."

After a moment's thought, Wang Dong picked up a storage ring soul tool.

She slipped it on her finger and channeled her soul power...

"Ugh..."

A wave of nausea hit her instantly. Wang Dong grabbed the counter for support, dry heaving.

"Wang Dong, are you alright?"

Xiao Xiao rushed over to help.

"I... I'm fine... Maybe I've just been too tired lately."

After a while, Wang Dong regained her composure, looking curiously at the ring. She then tried on another storage ring.

She channeled her soul power once more, and...

"Urgh..."

Divine Realm.

Billowing clouds rolled across an endless sky.

A magnificent palace stood above them, and before the palace stood a man.

"Strange..."

Tang San frowned.

"Why do I keep getting this uneasy feeling?"

"Could it be... something's wrong with the Child of Destiny?"

The more he thought about it, the more concerned he became. Tang San raised his hand and traced a circle in the air. He decided to check on the lower realm.

Inside the circle, a vortex began to swirl.

An image gradually came into view.

Wang Dong was continuously trying on different soul tools, vomiting each time, his eyes turning bloodshot as if stubbornly refusing to give up.

"This child..." Tang San's brow furrowed. "What's so great about soul tools? Only my Tang Sect hidden weapons are the finest in the world. Oh well, she'll understand someday."

With that, he dismissed the scene and switched his focus.

It was now on Huo Yuhao.

The boy was grilling fish on the street, a long line of customers gathered before his stall.

It looked quite lively.

Tang San let out a sigh of relief.

Just as he had foreseen, the Child of Destiny was living a difficult life, yet remained resilient and undeterred. Selling grilled fish was a necessary hardship he had to endure.

"Teacher Tang Ya!"

Huo Yuhao waved excitedly.

A lively, beautiful girl bounded over, helping to keep the line in order.

Tang San smiled warmly.

No problem here. A disciple of my Tang Sect, the only successor to pass on a watered-down version of the Tang Sect's secrets to Huo Yuhao, who would then spend his life serving the Tang Sect.

This was just the first step in training a loyal dog.

"Brother Xiao! Sister Meng! You two came too! Have a seat!"

Tang San's smile slowly faded...

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