Chapter 201: Call Me Senior Sister, Let's Hear It
Stepping out of the Spirit Arena district, the sunlight outside washed over them, warm and soothing.
Bei Bei stopped walking, turned to face Huo Yuhao, and said with genuine seriousness, "Thank you, Yuhao."
Jiang Nannan nodded in agreement, her voice soft. "Yeah, we really owed you one today."
Xu Sanshi crowded in and clapped Huo Yuhao on the shoulder. "Exactly, exactly. Yuhao, all of us owe you a proper thanks."
Standing off to one side, He Caitou grinned his simple, honest grin and bobbed his head twice in affirmation.
Huo Yuhao was a little baffled by all the gratitude coming his way. He blinked. "Thank me? Thank me for what?"
Bei Bei smiled and explained, "In a chaotic brawl like that, raw strength isn't enough to win. The four of us are all four-ring. We were bound to get targeted and teamed up on."
He paused, then continued, "The reason we pulled it off so smoothly was all because of you. That Spiritual Detection Sharing of yours is practically a divine skill—it was a massive help in the fight. And that martial soul fusion technique between you and Wang Dong—you guys directly blocked two fusion techniques from the other side. If not for you two, taking a hit like that head-on... we probably wouldn't have gotten off lightly. All of that combined is what won us the match."
After hearing him out, Huo Yuhao waved a hand. "Senior brother, you're treating me like an outsider. We're all friends, aren't we? It was only right. Besides, Senior Brother Bei Bei and Senior Sister Jiang Nannan are members of the Church of the Water God, same as me. And Senior Brother He Caitou, you helped us hold off the people behind us. Everyone pulled their weight."
He was still unaware that Xu Sanshi had already decided to bring the Black Tortoise Sect into the Church of the Water God. That was something only Furina and Xu Sanshi had discussed in private, and with Jiang Nannan nearby, Xu Sanshi certainly wasn't about to bring it up on his own.
Xu Sanshi waved a hand, speaking in his usual carefree manner. "Alright, alright, let's stop standing around complimenting each other. We're the new Shrek Seven Devils reserve team now. Since we've been brought together, none of us are allowed to fall behind over the next five years. When the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Spirit Dueling Tournament comes around, we'd better make the academy proud."
As he spoke, his eyes sneakily flicked to the side.
Jiang Nannan was standing a little way off, head lowered, gaze fixed on her toes, lost in who knew what thought. The sunlight fell on the curve of her cheek, and her lashes cast a small shadow beneath her eyelids.
Xu Sanshi was absolutely delighted inside. Getting into the reserve team alongside Jiang Nannan—this was an opportunity heaven-sent. From now on, he could openly and honorably spend time with her. How could he possibly miss his chance?
Bei Bei caught the expression on his face and knew exactly what was going on, but he didn't expose him.
Xu Sanshi pulled his gaze back, cleared his throat, and added, "Right. We're the new Shrek Seven Devils, so we've got to have a ranking, don't we? Just like those seniors back in the day."
Bei Bei played along. "So what did you have in mind, Sanshi?"
Xu Sanshi let out a sly chuckle and rubbed his hands together. "I think the simplest way is to rank by age. Who's older, who's younger—it's clear at a glance. From now on, we'll call each other senior brother, junior brother, all that. It'll roll right off the tongue."
Bei Bei couldn't help but laugh at that. "Don't tell me you're just trying to take advantage of the situation?"
Xu Sanshi rolled his eyes. "What advantage could I possibly take of you? Your birthday's earlier than mine. You're the oldest. How exactly am I supposed to get one over on you?"
He remembered it perfectly clearly—Bei Bei's birth month was before his. There was no hiding that.
Bei Bei grinned. "Well, you've got a point there."
Huo Yuhao nodded. "Sounds good. I've got no objections."
Deep down, he knew he wouldn't be staying at Shrek for long. He was a member of the Church of the Water God, after all, and in the future, his priorities would have to center around Furina's side of things. But during this time he'd spent with Bei Bei and the others, he'd truly grown reluctant to part ways.
Growing up in a place like the White Tiger Duke's Manor, he'd found something like friendship to be a rare luxury. In his eyes, Bei Bei and the others were all good people. Xu Sanshi might be unreliable at times, but he wasn't a bad guy.
Wang Dong, meanwhile, had gotten genuinely excited, her eyes sparkling. "Yeah, yeah! Let's see who's the oldest!"
The seven of them gathered together, a jumble of voices calling out birthdays.
The eldest was, naturally, Bei Bei. He, He Caitou, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan were all just a month apart from each other, much like the trio of Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao.
After Bei Bei came He Caitou, then Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, Xiao Xiao, Huo Yuhao, and as for Wang Dong... she was the youngest.
Wang Dong froze.
She blinked, double-checked everyone's birthdays, and then her face fell.
The youngest.
She was the youngest.
Xiao Xiao immediately struck the pose of a head senior sister, hands on her hips, chest puffed out. She beamed. "Oh my, Junior Brother Wang Dong, come on, call me Senior Sister. Let's hear it."
Huo Yuhao caught on just as quickly and chimed in to tease her. "Right, and there's me too. Your senior brother is also waiting."
Wang Dong glared at them and stubbornly retorted, "On what grounds?!"
Xiao Xiao's smile curved her eyes into crescent moons. "Wasn't there someone who was so excited to rank us just a moment ago? Now that it's sorted out, why so unwilling? Come on, don't drag it out. Just say it."
Huo Yuhao backed her up from the side, grinning. "Yeah, saying it won't kill you."
Wang Dong bit her lip, her face flushing a little. Only after a long pause did she mutter under her breath, "...Hello, Senior Sister. Hello, Senior Brother."
It was as quiet as a mosquito's whine.
Xiao Xiao and Huo Yuhao exchanged a glance, and with perfect, silent coordination, they both cupped their ears and leaned in, speaking in unison. "Say it again? A little louder?"
Wang Dong flared up in exasperation and raised a hand as if to strike them. "You two have had enough!"
Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao burst out laughing.
"Just a joke, don't take it so seriously." Huo Yuhao dodged backwards.
Xiao Xiao chimed in, "Exactly, exactly. Just teasing you."
Xu Sanshi watched from the side, laughing so hard he slapped his own thigh. "Alright, alright, see? Doesn't this make everyone feel closer?"
He paused, and then suddenly seemed to recall something. His eyes lit up. "Hey, I'm ranked third. Isn't that the same ranking as the ancestor, Tang San, back in his day?"
Bei Bei cast him an unamused sidelong glance. "What use is having the same ranking? Is your ability the same?"
He then smoothly changed tack, his voice turning cheerful. "If you were to join my Tang Sect, then maybe you'd be a little more alike."
He added, "Though now, the Tang Sect has already joined the Church of the Water God. If you want into the Tang Sect, you have to join the Water God Church. It's all down to whether you're willing or not."
Xu Sanshi nodded frantically, his head bobbing like a chick pecking at grain. "Willing, willing! Do you even need to ask?!"
Bei Bei knew perfectly well in his heart. The kid was agreeing so readily, ten to one, because Jiang Nannan was already in the Water God Church. Still, he didn't expose the truth, only smiling as he said, "Asking me won't do you any good. If you want to join the Water God Church, you've got to ask Furina or Yuhao."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than He Caitou, who had been standing silently by the side, suddenly spoke up.
He scratched his head, his expression simple and honest. "Yuhao—no, Junior Brother. I'd also like to join the Water God Church. Would... would that be okay?"
Huo Yuhao was momentarily taken aback.
Furina had indeed given him instructions before to interact more with He Caitou and look for an opportunity to recruit him. He Caitou had enormous potential—a Class 4 Soul Engineer at such a young age, and a twin martial soul wielder to boot. Someone like that was exactly the kind of person any force would scramble to claim.
Huo Yuhao snapped out of it and nodded emphatically. "Of course! If Senior Brother He can come, we'd be more than happy to welcome you!"
"Oh? Am I late to the party?"
A familiar voice drifted over from behind them.
Everyone turned. Furina was strolling slowly towards them, hands clasped behind her back, a smile on her face. She walked up to the group and swept her gaze across them all, her eyes resting briefly on He Caitou.
"It looks pretty lively over here."