socalfunplaces Chapter 120 Star Luo City
Chapter 120 Star Luo City
After several days of trekking, the Shrek Academy team finally came into view of the magnificent city that was famous throughout the continent.
In the distance, the outline of Xingluo City resembled a sleeping behemoth lying on the horizon.
The closer they got, the smoother and wider the road became, and the crowds flowed in an endless stream, all converging on that majestic city.
The city walls of Xingluo City are as magnificent as mountains, and the bricks and stones are as thick as stacked history books, exuding a profound and majestic aura that has withstood the test of time.
Xuanzi led the group forward in a grand procession. Wang Yan handed over the academy's travel pass, and after the soldier checked it, his eyes suddenly filled with respect, and he solemnly allowed them to pass.
Faint whispers came from behind: "As expected of Shrek Academy..."
Only upon entering the city can one truly appreciate the grandeur of a national capital.
The buildings stand side by side, with soaring eaves and stone and wood carvings that all display solemnity and craftsmanship.
With the Soul Master Tournament approaching, the long street was teeming with people, and the hustle and bustle did not diminish the city's inherent elegance and majesty.
Afterwards, Xuanzi led them to the Star Emperor Hotel.
The hotel's exterior is dazzling, with its crystal-clear windows reflecting the sunlight and gold-embellished doors, exuding an aura of luxury even before entering.
The lobby was paved with marble and had crystal lamps hanging from the ceiling. Members of various academy teams and teachers were coming and going. As their eyes met, many people turned their attention to the Shrek Academy group. They were especially surprised when they sensed the faint fluctuations of soul power around Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng.
After registration, everyone took the elevator directly to the top floor. The entire floor was exclusively for Shrek Academy, featuring spacious and bright guest rooms, as well as a private conference room with a panoramic view overlooking half of the bustling Star Luo City.
"I have room keys here, please choose according to your preference." Wang Yan presented a stack of exquisite room keys.
Huo Yutong, Biji, and Ziji naturally chose adjacent rooms, and everyone was quickly assigned – the girls' rooms were next to each other, and the boys' guest rooms were opposite each other, all in an orderly manner.
"Kids, take a good rest today." Xuanzi's voice was steady and powerful. "At the opening ceremony in three days, show the spirit of Shrek Academy."
"yes!"
"We'll have a tactical meeting in the conference room at nine o'clock tomorrow morning," Wang Yan added.
"yes!"
Everyone returned to their respective guest rooms and took out changes of clothes and daily necessities from their storage soul tools.
Huo Yutong hung the clothes into the wardrobe one by one, sorting them neatly. She glanced at the clock in the room; it was already dinnertime.
Stepping out of the room, I found several companions already gathered on the sofa in the small hall outside, chatting idly.
"The hotel's barbecue is absolutely amazing. The charcoal-grilled beef is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I heard they use locally selected Wagyu beef..." Dai Yueheng introduced enthusiastically.
"Yutong, let's go eat together," Xiao Xiao said with a smile as she turned her head.
"Let's call everyone over," Dai Yueheng said, then got up and went to knock on the other doors.
Before long, the group walked together toward the hotel restaurant.
The restaurant is buffet style, and several elegant square tables are set up in the spacious hall, where many team members from other colleges can already be seen dining.
As soon as they entered, it was as if a pebble had been thrown into a still lake, drawing all eyes to them.
The group found an empty table and sat down. The waiter immediately handed them the menu, which was a thick, beautifully bound book that felt heavy in their hands.
"You can take the menu with you. Just have them bring whatever you want to us," Dai Yueheng said softly.
As soon as he finished speaking, one exquisite dish after another was served.
Amidst the fragrant aroma, the table was constantly surrounded by veiled gazes, making Huo Yutong and the others feel somewhat uncomfortable.
However, Ma Xiaotao and the others were already used to such attention and continued to enjoy the dinner while chatting and laughing.
After dinner, everyone gathered in their private living room on the top floor, enjoying the desserts and fruits provided by the hotel, chatting about past events and experiences in a relaxed atmosphere.
Huo Yutong spoke very little, simply listening quietly, her gaze occasionally drifting absently to the dazzling lights of countless homes outside the window.
As night deepened, everyone returned to their rooms.
Huo Yutong slowly washed away her fatigue in the bathroom, and the hot water relaxed her tense nerves slightly.
She dried her hair, changed into soft pajamas, but felt a cold emptiness in the quiet room.
She stood there for a long time before finally gently opening the door, walking next door, and knocking on Sister Biji's door. Then, she knocked on Sister Ziji's door.
The door opened, and the concerned faces of the two older sisters appeared before them.
"I... want to sleep with my sisters tonight, is that okay?" Huo Yutong's voice was soft, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"Of course." Brigitte gently stepped aside, and Murasaki reached out and pulled her inside.
The door closed, shutting out the outside world. In the warm light, Huo Yutong sat on the edge of the bed, head down, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her pajamas.
"Sister..." she began, her voice slightly hoarse, "Dai Hao... is my blood father."
These words were like a key, unlocking the door to her heart that had been tightly locked.
She began to speak intermittently, initially incoherently, but gradually becoming clearer, each word imbued with the salty bitterness of tears.
She spoke of the cold, enormous ducal mansion, and of the secluded courtyard where she and her mother lived, a place rarely seen by the sun.
Her mother was very gentle and always smiled at her, stroking her hair with her hands, which were not delicate but incredibly warm.
But in my mother's eyes, there was always a lingering sadness and weariness.
They lived cautiously, avoiding the sharp edges of the mistress and the second son, like inconspicuous dust in a corner.
"My mother has always been in poor health, due to old ailments and years of emotional distress."
Huo Yutong's tears rolled down silently. "That day, she coughed terribly, her face was as white as paper, and her forehead was frighteningly hot... I was terrified and ran to beg Madam, kneeling outside the courtyard, kowtowing until my head bled... I just wanted to call a doctor, an ordinary doctor would be fine..."
"The lady said... that we were bad luck, that Mother was faking illness, and that it would be better for her to die so as not to waste the manor's food... She had me dragged away..."
When I got back into the house, my mother had already fainted.
I brought cold water and wiped her body again and again, but it didn't work...it didn't work at all...her breathing grew weaker and weaker, so hot, yet her hands were so cold...I held her and kept calling her name. She would wake up occasionally, look at me, unable to speak, just shedding tears..."
"Later... Mom stopped coughing, and her fever subsided... She became so cold, and I couldn't warm her up no matter how much I tried to make her feel warm... When I called her, she wouldn't look at me anymore..."
"They didn't give my mother a coffin...not even a mat...I wrapped her up with all my old clothes...on the back hill, under a very old tree, I dug a hole with my hands...there were stones and tree roots in the soil, my fingernails were torn, and it was all blood and mud...but I didn't feel any pain at all..."
"When I put my mother inside and covered her with soil... soil fell on her face... I kept covering her with soil and tried to wipe it off with my hands... but I couldn't get it clean..."
Huo Yutong could no longer speak, and suppressed sobs broke out from her throat. Biji and Ziji embraced Huo Yutong tightly from either side.
Brigitte gently patted her back, as if soothing a cub, while Murasaki's arms were firm and strong, encircling her within her protective range.
"Cry, Yutong, cry it all out." Biji's voice was choked with sobs but gentle. "Your sister is here. From now on... I will never leave you alone again."
"Those who cause you pain, one day..." Murasaki didn't finish her sentence, but she had already conveyed everything.