Chapter 21: Huo Yuhao's Muscular Roommate, Long San
"Sure~"
Wang Dong agreed without hesitation, but quickly furrowed his brow. "Wait a minute, aren't all dorms assigned two people each? What about your roommate? Would he even agree? I don't think switching rooms is allowed…"
"Don't worry," Ye Chen said with a faint smile. "Anything can be negotiated if the price is right. I'll just compensate my roommate for the trouble. If he agrees, the academy won't care. If he refuses, we can just train somewhere else."
He smirked. "Still, I think the dorm is best—it's private, and after training we can directly rest."
"That makes sense! Let's go quickly," Wang Dong said eagerly. "It's just after class, right? Your roommate should be back now. We'll ask him first."
Even though he was actually a she, the idea of sharing a room with Ye Chen—a charming, handsome powerhouse—had Wang Dong secretly thrilled.
It was definitely better than rooming with dull, sweaty Huo Yuhao.
Sure, Huo Yuhao was tidy and hardworking, but after training, he always smelled awful. Nothing like Ye Chen, whose scent was… well, addictive.
And more importantly—sleeping in the same room meant he could piggyback off Ye Chen's "secret technique"!
Tenfold cultivation efficiency. One hour of training equaled ten.
For someone as lazy as him, that meant an hour could save him four or five days of work. Just thinking about it filled him with excitement.
The two left the rest hall together.
Around them, students were dispersing as the physical training session ended. The field gradually emptied. Ye Chen and Wang Dong walked side by side toward the dormitories.
"By the way," Wang Dong said lightly, tilting his head, "we're not even in the same class. Aren't you worried I'll surpass you after practicing with your technique?"
Ye Chen gave him a sidelong glance, smiling faintly. "If that happens, I'll look forward to facing you in the freshman tournament."
"N-no, don't joke like that! Promise you won't hit me—I… I bruise easily…" Wang Dong stammered, shrinking his head like a scolded kitten.
He could handle fighting a Soul Grandmaster, maybe, but not Ye Chen.
He hadn't seen Ye Chen's infamous battle personally, but the rumors alone were terrifying enough.
One punch from the guy, and Wang Dong's pretty face would be done for.
Unacceptable.
"Hahaha~"
Ye Chen couldn't help laughing.
Wang Dong's temperament was still unmistakably feminine—soft voice, delicate movements, faint fragrance. And despite the disguise, that figure didn't lie.
One look was enough for Ye Chen to see through the "boy's" true identity.
Only dense, oblivious Huo Yuhao hadn't caught on.
…
At the same time.
Room 108, Shrek Academy Dorms.
"Wang Dong? You back yet?"
Huo Yuhao pushed open the door. The room was empty.
A small pang of loneliness struck him. It felt like something precious was slipping away.
He recalled Wang Dong chasing after that newcomer, Ye Chen, earlier. The two had disappeared after that.
Meanwhile, he'd been too exhausted to keep up—his stamina had failed him halfway through, leaving him dizzy and barely conscious.
He figured Wang Dong would have gone home first; he'd even planned to treat him to grilled fish today. But now, hours later, there was still no sign of him.
"Where did he go?"
Huo Yuhao scratched his head, confused.
Unable to make sense of it, he shrugged it off. Tang Ya's voice was already shouting from downstairs—it was time for his shift at the food stall.
"Maybe he's just off doing something weird again," Huo Yuhao muttered. "Wouldn't be the first time."
Wang Dong was mysterious like that. He often disappeared for hours without explanation.
What, was he changing dorms? Impossible.
Pushing that thought aside, Huo Yuhao quickly grabbed his things, cheerfully humming as he jogged down the stairs. "Teacher Xiaoya, I'm coming! Wait for me!"
…
Moments after he left, Ye Chen and Wang Dong arrived at the dormitory area.
Thankfully, the familiar old man, Mu En, wasn't around this time.
Good.
Otherwise, persuading anyone to switch would've been troublesome.
Ye Chen knew that Mu En definitely understood Wang Dong's true identity as a girl. If the elder caught wind of them sharing a room, he might try to intervene.
Without Mu En lurking around today, things became much easier.
The two walked toward Ye Chen's assigned dorm—Room 112—to check whether his roommate was in.
Negotiating with Huo Yuhao, however, was clearly impossible.
Huo Yuhao, in Ye Chen's eyes, was the definition of straight-laced: loyal, stubborn, and absolutely incorruptible. There was no way he'd take a bribe—especially to leave Wang Dong.
And if Ye Chen tried to force the issue, that idiot's hero complex would probably kick in, and things would escalate into a fight. Sure, Ye Chen could beat him bloody… but it'd be more headache than it was worth.
That was the problem with "Son of Destiny" types—too righteous, too stubborn. Not afraid of pain, always convinced their way was just.
In other words: incurably hard-headed.
He'd throw himself into danger without hesitation, as long as he thought it was "right."
Just remembering the things Huo Yuhao would pull in the future made Ye Chen shake his head.
Between nearly dying with a sacred beast at Icefire Yin-Yang Well and later throwing himself into suicidal situations for love—yeah, he guessed consistency counted for something.
Except he did crumble under one thing: his wife.
Obedient to the point of leashing himself, literally…
…
Soon, Ye Chen reached Room 112—his own dormitory.
It was, in fact, the first time he'd bothered to visit since enrolling.
Click.
The key turned, the door swung open—and a strong, musky scent greeted them. Not necessarily foul, just… potent.
Inside, a tall, broad-shouldered young man sat cross-legged on one of the bunk beds, wearing nothing but a sleeveless training shirt. His bulging muscles looked like they were carved from stone.
Unlike common dorm lads, most Shrek boys were from noble families—rich, clean, and disciplined. The room, though masculine, was surprisingly tidy.
With the door open, the large man turned his head.
"Hm? Roommate?"
He stood up, curiously assessing Ye Chen. The key in Ye Chen's hand made things clear enough.
So this was the mysterious roommate who hadn't shown up all semester.
But what caught Ye Chen off guard was the sheer size of this guy.
The man rose from his bed—towering well over two meters tall. His shadow practically swallowed the small dormitory.
"Holy—he's huge…"
Wang Dong instinctively tilted his head up. He stood at a respectable 1.75m himself—Ye Chen, around 1.8—but this man dwarfed them both.
What did they feed this guy, spirit beast meat every day?
"Nice to meet you. I'm Ye Chen," Ye said with his usual disarming smile, extending his hand.
"Heh, same here," the giant said, grinning warmly as he clasped Ye Chen's hand in a firm shake.
"The name's Long San."
(END CHAPTER)
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