Chapter 73: A Not-So-Happy Journey

"Star Luo City?" Upon hearing this name, Huo Yu Hao could not help but exclaim aloud.

Xuan Lao looked at him with some confusion, "Is there a problem? The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament is held in the capitals of various countries in rotation. This session has fallen to the Star Luo Empire, and the next session—the one you might participate in as main team members—will be held in the capital of the Sun Moon Empire. At that time, the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy will be fighting on home turf. Therefore, in the next five years, you must put in even more effort."

Huo Yu Hao did not say much more, but Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao, who were standing to the side, could clearly feel the fluctuations in his emotions.

Knowing was one thing, but they would not go asking about it.

After parting ways with He Cai Tou, everyone went back on their own.

After returning to the dormitory, Su Yu was still focused on carving his Soul Guidance Array, leaving Wang Dong aside.

"You clearly have the strength, why are you so dead set against participating in the competition?" Wang Dong asked, looking at Su Yu's focused appearance.

"Oh, got it."

"Are you even listening to me, you jerk!" Hearing Su Yu's reply, Wang Dong always felt that Su Yu was brushing him off.

"I am, what's wrong?" Su Yu put down the Engraving Knife in his hand and caught the pillow thrown at him with one hand.

Looking at Su's absent-minded appearance, Wang Dong didn't know why he just wanted to give him a good beating; from start to finish, Su had been slacking off, and the only time he made a move, he was backstabbed by Chen Zifeng.

Regardless, Su Yu's strength was still plain for all to see. Although Wang Dong was currently unclear about exactly what level Su Yu's strength had reached, his intuition told him that Su Yu's strength was definitely not much different from that of Bei Bei and Jiang Nannan, especially now that Su Yu had his third Soul Ring.

"What's wrong, why is Class Monitor Wang so fired up today?" He sat down by Wang Dong's bed and put the pillow back in its original place.

Looking at Su Yu, who had stopped his work, Wang Dong feigned surprise and asked: "How come you, Su Yu, know how to rest today? You usually never want to rest, afraid of wasting even a second."

Looking at Wang Dong's feigned surprise, Su Yu said helplessly: "Can't help it, if I don't work hard, I'll be surpassed by Class Monitor Wang; I'm under a lot of pressure."

"Hey, look at the sky outside the window, is there something flying?" As he said this, Wang Dong even pretended to lean over to look.

Seeing Wang Dong actually leaning over to look, Su knew this guy was definitely trying to fool him, but he still cooperated and looked over, "What, how come I don't see anything?"

"Oh, I get it, so it was just you bragging." Wang Dong laughed and pulled his head back.

"Too lazy to mess around with you. How about I take you out for a walk? Are you going or not? If not, then forget it."

Straightening the wrinkled collar of Wang Dong's shirt, Su Yu asked.

Wang Dong immediately got up from the bed, put on his shoes nimbly, and pulled Su Yu to go out.

Seeing Wang Dong so overjoyed, Su Yu also knew that he might have neglected this young master for some other reasons during this period, otherwise he wouldn't be so eager, "Let's go, let's stroll around Shrek City."

Holding Wang Dong's hand, they walked through Shrek City, and as they walked, they encountered two familiar people: Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu.

"Young Master Dai, long time no see." Su Yu greeted him symbolically, and Dai Huabin replied as well.

Looking at the two holding hands, Dai Huabin's expression was a bit unnatural. Although he was also holding hands with Zhu Lu, it was still better than two grown men like Su Yu and Wang Dong holding hands, "I didn't expect it; it turns out we met when we were kids. If I hadn't gone to check your background later, I really wouldn't have imagined that the famous direct descendant of the Su Family in the Star Luo Empire would end up at Shrek Academy."

"What, are you still unconvinced because you lost at my hands?" Hearing Dai Huabin's words, Su Yu could clearly feel that Dai Huabin had more or less some resentment.

Dai Huabin did not offer much explanation, only saying indifferently: "I might be unconvinced if I lost to someone else, but don't forget, you were also defeated by me back then."

In Su's memory, there was indeed a memory of being invited by the Dai Family to attend a banquet, but it was too long ago, and the predecessor seemed to have forgotten almost all of it, so Su Yu never expected that he would have any intersection with Dai Huabin.

Now that he had been reminded by Dai Huabin, the memories that had been almost forgotten were intermittently reconnected in his mind.

The two did not talk much. Dai Huabin was not someone who didn't understand the logic of weighing pros and cons. For Su Yu, Dai Huabin really couldn't afford to offend him. In fact, in the entire Star Luo Empire, there were not many people who dared to offend Su Yu. What's more, Su's father doted on Su Yu to an absurd degree, fearing that Su might run into some trouble.

If something happened to Su, the Dai Family might really lose the Su Family as an important cooperation partner. At that point, the entire Duke Mansion couldn't possibly rely on the imperial salary to survive, right...

Taking Wang Dong, they wandered around Shrek City, playing for the whole afternoon. By the time it got dark, Wang Dong was still not satisfied.

If it hadn't been for the sky turning dark, Wang Dong would have really wanted to keep playing with Su Yu for a while longer.

After all, he didn't want to waste this hard-won time...

Early in the morning, a group of people slowly walked out of the main gate of Shrek Academy, which was covered in a layer of morning mist. Judging by their age, they should be students of Shrek Academy, but at this moment, they were not wearing school uniforms. Some wore plain clothes, some wore fine robes, all different.

Fine robes did not necessarily mean they were beautiful, and plain clothes did not mean they were mediocre. The most representative of this were Yao Haoxuan and Jiang Nannan.

Yao Haoxuan, in his fine robes, still looked somewhat wretched due to his thin and small stature, while Jiang Nannan, in her plain clothes, remained peerless in beauty.

Looking at Yao Haoxuan's appearance, Su Yu really couldn't bear it. Sure enough, those who aren't in the protagonist group and aren't handsome have to "collect their lunch box"...

However, they hadn't walked long before they heard the passionate chat between Xu Sanshi and Bei Bei.

Xu Sanshi immediately put his hand down and said angrily: "Are we brothers or not? Still brothers? You just know how to gloat and kick a man when he's down. As soon as Xiao Ya is gone, your true nature is revealed, right."

Bei Bei said with a look of surprise: "You remember to talk to me about brotherhood now? How do I remember you saying that for brothers one would go through fire and water, but for a woman one would stab a brother in the back!"

Xu Sanshi was not ashamed at all, holding his head high, he said: "Can a woman give birth to children for me, can you? Can a woman sleep in the same bed with me, can you?"

Bei Bei had a warm smile on his face and said: "The former, no; the latter, yes."

…………

Anyway, if these two were to start their own families in the future, Su Yu could only say that for Xu Sanshi and Bei Bei, wives are an accident, and they are the true love...

Some things, if not deliberately influenced, the timeline would still not change, because Huo Yu Hao was practicing on his own, and He Cai Tou and Xiao Xiao began to practice the Tang Sect's unique arts.

Sure enough, not long after walking, he was dragged to be a laborer. While Xuan Lao was lamenting about Shrek Academy, Su really didn't want to listen to his nagging, because he had really lost count of how many times he had read this set of lines when he was reading the novel.

During the subsequent journey, Su said nothing and directly took out the Level 4 Flying Soul Guidance Device and the thrusters that Ju Zi had given him.

The thrusters were installed on his waist and legs. Carrying a Wang Dong with the Flying Soul Guidance Device was really not a problem, not to mention that Su Yu had already reached the Three-ring Soul Venerable level.

Extending his hands to support Wang Dong under the armpits, he soared into the air and set off at high speed. Looking at the Soul Guidance Device behind Su Yu that erupted with powerful air waves, everyone finally began to take him seriously.

"Wang Dong, you pig, you should lose some weight, you're so heavy."

Originally, he should have been supporting Wang Dong under the armpits, but to prevent Wang Dong from having any stress reactions, he simply held him directly in his arms.

Su felt secretly delighted, while Wang Dong buried his head in Su Yu's shoulder with a blushing face, refusing to look up at Su Yu no matter what.

Huo Yu Hao and Dai Yaoheng were still chatting hypocritically. Huo was still saying nice things, but in reality, he had long wanted to kill them in his heart.

With the Soul Guidance Device specially made for Su Yu by Ju Zi, Su Yu's soul power consumption was not high. When the journey ended, Jiang Nannan, Xu Sanshi, and Bei Bei were already panting with exhaustion.

Especially Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi, they were both tired like dogs...

Xu Sanshi, with his Mysterious Turtle martial soul, was now truly tired like a turtle, lying on the ground with his four limbs in the air, refusing to move an inch.

Bei Bei, who was on the side, did not forget to mock: "You really look like a turtle flipped over, truly worthy of being a Mysterious Turtle Soul Master! Hahahaha..."

Except for a slightly higher consumption, everything else was as usual for Su Yu. When Ma Xiaotao suggested letting Huo do the cooking, Su Yu had already pulled Wang Dong and He Cai Tou to start a fire.

"Su Yu, where did your Level 4 Soul Guidance Device come from? It doesn't look like our Shrek's technique to me?" He Cai Tou said, looking at the Soul Guidance Device on Su Yu's back.

"Oh, you mean this? When I went home last time, I saw a batch of Sun Moon Empire Soul Guidance Devices, so I just grabbed some while I was at it." Su Yu couldn't very well tell the truth.

Just as everyone had their eyes on Huo Yu Hao, Wang Dong had already started eating to his heart's content, while the death-seeking, sharp-tongued Yao Haoxuan had been hung up in a tree by Xuan Lao.

By the time Su Yu kindly let him down, the stove on Huo Yu Hao's side was already empty.

Su is not such an unscrupulous person; after all, this Support System Soul Master, described as sleazy in the original work, was forcibly killed off by the plot without even having his martial soul clearly explained.

Although Su is not clear about what his martial soul actually is, judging by Yao Haoxuan's performance, it could be something like a lion, or perhaps some rare species.

After putting Gongyang Mo down, Su Yu also kindly invited him to eat some. In fact, Yao Haoxuan was just a bit short; in terms of appearance, he wasn't actually ugly. It was just that the clothes he wore didn't suit him, and the conflict between the two made him appear a bit sleazy.

After everyone finished eating, Su was still leisurely eating skewers and drinking soup with an exotic flavor.

Short on money? Sorry, but whoever robs Su once probably won't have to worry for the rest of their life. Never mind any ordinary Soul Master, even a Title Douluo is the same!

Arrogant?

That's right, Su is just that arrogant.

"Wait, why is someone still cooking?" Sniffing the scent, Xuan Lao looked over to see three people relaxing on the other side.

"Vice Class Monitor, you're biased! You didn't call me when you were eating!" Xiao Xiao looked at Su Yu, pouting.

Su Yu wiped his mouth and said slowly, "You didn't ask. My fault?"

After a simple cleanup, everyone turned their attention to Su Yu. It seemed this seemingly unreliable guy was not simple either.

Dai Yaoheng had originally intended for everyone to use Soul Guidance Devices at the Star Luo Empire's military camp, but those were too bulky and truly couldn't compare to the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Guidance Devices.

So as not to delay the journey, amidst the stunned gazes of everyone, Su Yu directly tossed out over a dozen Third-level Soul Guidance Devices...

"Where did an outer courtyard second-year student like you get so many Soul Guidance Devices? These seem to be produced by the Sun Moon Empire, right?" Wang Yan asked in surprise from the side.

After Su Yu handed out the Soul Guidance Devices, he said, "Actually, Senior Dai Yaoheng knows my family very well. As for these Soul Guidance Devices, I took them from home; you can borrow them for now."

Dai Yaoheng also nodded and said slowly, "Actually, if I talk about Su Yu, you might not feel much, but if I say the richest man in the Star Luo Empire, the Su Family, you might understand."

"Actually, your guesses are correct. Su Yu is the direct descendant of the Su Family and the future heir. I can guarantee this in the name of the White Tiger Duke." Dai Yaoheng was very good at reading the situation and explained Su Yu's identity to everyone.

From other perspectives, it wasn't just the White Tiger Duke who was supported by the Su Family; the vast majority of the Star Luo Empire had received benefits from them. The reason was actually very simple: I give you resources and money, you help me clear obstacles and give me power.

Which noble wouldn't be happy with such a high-return business? As long as your family needs to develop and needs money, you would naturally be willing to help.

Although quite a few people had crooked intentions, not one of them lived past the next day under the protection of the many nobles.

Everyone hates capital, but who doesn't want to become capital themselves?

The reality is cruel and not as noble as we imagine, but the facts are just that bloody.

Even if the Su Family started as commoners, they had to do this to survive. In a world like this, it is impossible to achieve equality for all.

To end the violence in the world, one must first become the greatest violence!

To end the injustice in the world, one must first become the greatest injustice!

After another long journey, for some reason—perhaps because Xuan Lao wanted to try something fresh—he ordered Su to do the cooking.

But Su Yu said very bluntly, "I don't have Huo Yu Hao's skills, go find him."

That made Xuan Lao give up. He was becoming increasingly dissatisfied with this troublemaker, Su Yu.

After finishing the meal, Wang Yan handed a long rope to everyone. "Come, tie this around your waist."

One end of the rope had a special buckle that could be fastened to the chest, abdomen, and thighs. The total length of the rope was over thirty meters.

Su Yu took the rope and tied it on. He knew this type of rope was specifically equipped for using Flying Soul Guidance Devices. When Soul Masters had different cultivation levels, using this rope allowed a higher-level Soul Master to carry a lower-level one, enabling them to fly longer distances together and maintain faster speeds.

It looks like this is going to be an unpleasant trip...

Su Yu was straightforward; he pulled Wang Dong over and released a Soul Guidance Protective Barrier to reduce the massive impact. To protect himself and Wang Dong, Su Yu summoned his Fragment Martial Soul. Under Su Yu's control, the Fragment Martial Soul rotated continuously around him to offset the surrounding airflow impact.

Four hours, flying over three thousand miles, and this old man is actually drunk-driving a plane!

Damn it, drunk-driving a plane and not even caring about how we feel! Do you have any humanity left!

Fortunately, Su Yu was prepared, and his situation was much better than the others. This is the era of Soul Guidance Devices; if you don't know how to use them and insist on relying on your own body to endure it, it's no wonder you bunch of idiots are exhausted.

Even so, Su Yu felt somewhat uncomfortable. After landing, his soul power consumption was quite high.

If there was anyone among them who felt the most comfortable, it was probably only Wang Dong. Under Su Yu's protection, he was well-protected the whole way, and even upon landing, he was full of energy.

When everyone else was groaning after landing, they looked at Wang Dong in surprise.

"Wang Dong, Su Yu, how come you two are completely fine?" Xiao Xiao asked while holding onto a tree trunk to vomit.

Xiao Xiao's words made everyone turn their eyes toward the two of them. In terms of soul power, they were only Three-Ring as well. Everyone else was swaying, either holding onto tree trunks or squatting on the ground, yet these two were perfectly fine—except for Su Yu, whose face was slightly pale due to excessive soul power consumption.

"Look at how pathetic you all are." A hoarse voice sounded. An old man covered in oil stains was holding a large Wine Gourd and pouring wine into his mouth. Without a doubt, it was one of the Sea God Pavilion Elder of Shrek Academy, and Deputy Leader of the Shrek Supervisory Team, Xuan Lao.

"You two brats are not bad. Tell me how you two managed it." Xuan Lao, who had been drunk-driving the plane, was still in that wine-reeking state. It was a good thing the rope didn't break; if it had, Su would not have let this old man off even as a ghost.

"Xuan Lao, what era is this? There are many ways to offset turbulent impact, such as protective Soul Guidance Devices, soul skills, and Flying Soul Guidance Devices that stabilize one's posture." As he spoke, Su Yu put on his Soul Guidance Device.

This scene left Xuan Lao stunned. He truly hadn't expected this troublemaker to come up with such a method.

"What about you? You didn't do the same, did you?" Xuan Lao put down his wine gourd and looked at Wang Dong.

Wang Dong looked at Xuan Lao, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I didn't do anything. It was Su Yu who protected me with a Soul Guidance Protective Barrier..."

Everyone was dumbfounded. What left the deepest impression on Su Yu was the light flickering in Xiao Xiao's eyes; he didn't know if that light was envy or jealousy...

Ma Xiaotao looked at the two holding hands and couldn't help but laugh: "The morals of the world are really declining! You two grown men hugging and cuddling; such young children already have this kind of orientation. I suggest the academy should rectify the school spirit."

"That's right, two grown men hugging and cuddling, what kind of behavior is that? It should be rectified," Xiao Xiao added from the side, agreeing.

She was indeed a bit jealous of the intimate relationship between Wang Dong and Su Yu. Back in New Student Class One, she had tried to integrate into Su Yu and Wang Dong's circle. She used to think that since she was a girl, it would definitely be easier to hang out with boys! But in reality, the closeness between Su Yu and Wang Dong was clearly greater than their friendship with her.

Later, she realized she was wrong—wrong to an outrageous degree.

Su Yu's strength in the class was obvious to all, and his reputation was also very good. Many girls even liked Su Yu; his popularity among the girls in the class was no less than Wang Dong's.

But Su was indulgent toward Wang Dong to the point of spoiling him. Class Monitor Wang had been smooth sailing in class, and no matter what difficulties he encountered, he was always helped. This couldn't help but make Xiao Xiao doubt herself...

"What nonsense are you talking about? I don't have..." Wang Dong's face turned red from everyone's gaze, while Su remained calm and indifferent as he looked at everyone.

He had expected Su to have some big reaction, but Su was surprisingly calm. Nonsense, if I reacted intensely, you guys would definitely have something wrong with your brains and think in the wrong direction!

A farce is a farce after all. Under Xuan Lao's coughing, no one continued to stir up trouble.

"Little Dai!" Xuan Lao called out lazily.

The muscles on Dai Yaoheng's face twitched violently, but he still walked over obediently and called out respectfully, "Xuan Lao."

Xuan Lao said, "The commotion I made when I landed just now was quite large; the military must have discovered it. This place is only about fifty miles from the Star Luo Empire's Western Group Army. Their people should be here soon. You handle it. This old man is going to sleep for a while. Truly, old age means the bones and muscles are no longer up to the task! Fortunately, the food today was good." As he spoke, the old man muttered to himself, his figure flashed, and he vanished without a trace.

Damn it, you drunk-driving old geezer, you still have the nerve to say that...

If it weren't for the fact that he couldn't beat Xuan Lao, Su would also like to seal Xuan Lao's soul power, letting him experience the feeling of being flown around by a drunk driver!

Sure enough, it wasn't long before a household general of the White Tiger Duke Mansion named Du Lei'en arrived. Hearing this name, Su Yu felt a chill; was this really some kind of twisted sense of humor in naming people...

After everyone was settled, Dai Yaoheng felt that his relationship with Huo Yu Hao had eased, and he continued to ask after him with concern. After all, they were both from the Star Luo Empire, and Dai Yaoheng believed that Huo Yu Hao also felt a sense of belonging to the Star Luo Empire.

However, if he knew that the junior standing before him was his own half-brother, what would he think?

Watching the two of them conversing, such a scene emerged in Su's mind.

When the two were drunk, the scene of their conversation might be like this...

Dai Yaoheng: Where are you from?

Huo Yu Hao: Star Luo Empire, and you?

Dai Yaoheng: What a coincidence, me too, let's have a drink! Where in the Star Luo Empire do you live?

Huo Yu Hao: Star Luo Imperial Capital, and you?

Dai Yaoheng: What a coincidence, me too, let's have another drink! Be more specific, let's hear it, maybe we really are neighbors?

Huo Yu Hao: I grew up in the White Tiger Duke Mansion, don't tell me you did too?

Dai Yaoheng: Holy crap, it can't really be that coincidental, I did too, let's have another drink, another one! Wait, what is your father's surname?

Huo Yu Hao: My father's surname is Dai, keep drinking, don't stop.

Dai Yaoheng: What a coincidence, me too...

…………

Thinking of this, Su was already laughing until he was out of breath; the scene was truly absurd. If these two were to be gotten drunk and thrown together in the future, there might really be a surprise.

Of course, what made Su feel the most "crows flying overhead" was yet to come. He had thought that having one named Du Lei'en was already twisted enough, but he didn't expect there to be a Du Leisi later on...

Standing before the current White Tiger Duke, Su Yu carefully observed what this middle-aged man, who had even made Ma Xiaotao's heart flutter, was actually like.

He looked to be only in his thirties, with regular features and deep-set eye sockets; double pupils shone within his deep blue eyes. His face looked slightly gaunt, but his whole person had a metallic texture. Especially his gaze; when it swept over, it flickered like a giant blade, causing the Shrek Academy group to stop in their tracks involuntarily.

Handsome, resolute, upright, and possessing an iron-blooded temperament. Seeing him, even the proud sons of heaven from Shrek Academy felt an urge to submit.

He was indeed worthy of being the current White Tiger Duke; it was no wonder that Huo Yun'er never regretted it for her entire life after bearing him a son.

This kind of masculine beauty, filled with vigor, was something the vast majority of women could not refuse. Of course, those who liked sissies—the greasy, affected types whose every move carried a woman's delicate charm—were a different matter.

After the White Tiger Duke appeared, everyone's gaze fell upon him; no one noticed that Huo Yu Hao was already sobbing uncontrollably at this moment.

A figure kept appearing in Huo Yu Hao's heart: It was him, it was him, the one who ruined Mother's life, yet Mother never forgot him. It was also the father he had never met! It was him, it was him.

It's him, it's him, it's him, our hero, little Nezha!

When the dust settled, everyone sat together chatting idly. Ma Xiaotao's questions were particularly tricky, probing for information about the White Tiger Duke through side remarks.

In truth, to put it bluntly: Dai Yaoheng, this lady wants to be your stepmother!

Su, meanwhile, was quietly eating melon on the side, comforting Huo Yu Hao, as he was truly afraid the child would not think it through and charge up to fight them to the death.

If that happened, it wouldn't be a matter of "father kind and son filial," but a matter of the White Tiger Duke losing all face. This concerned the White Tiger Duke's reputation, so Su had to ensure Huo Yu Hao did not act recklessly, otherwise Huo's future might really end right there.

After all, a prominent family clan cannot tolerate the slightest stain; reputation is more important than anything!