Chapter 76: Jiang Nannan
"We've finished registering. We'll head in now. We'll be in touch later, you two." Furina turned with effortless grace, her lake-blue hair stirring gently in the breeze. She offered Bei Bei and Tang Ya a soft smile, her eyes—those eyes that seemed to hold entire galaxies within them—shimmering with a warm, gentle light.
Bei Bei and Tang Ya nodded in unison. A measure of deep respect lingered in Bei Bei's gaze, while Tang Ya could barely contain her excitement, her hands unconsciously curling into fists.
"Perfect timing. It's about time we headed back to class anyway," Tang Ya said, her eyes sparkling. "And then I want to properly test out my third soul skill!" She imagined the scene of unleashing it in real combat, the corner of her lips rising unbidden. What she looked forward to even more was the Heavenly Wood Tome that Furina had bestowed upon her—this cultivation technique was, for a Bluesilver Grass soul master like herself, a treasure practically tailor-made.
Just then, a sudden inspiration struck Tang Ya. She clapped her hands together and said, "You two, there's still plenty of time before evening. Why don't we share a meal together? After registration, we still have to wait for the class placements. We could use this time to enjoy some good food." As she spoke, her gaze drifted involuntarily toward Huo Yuhao, and she unconsciously swallowed.
This subtle gesture naturally did not escape the notice of those present. Bei Bei suppressed a laugh and gently patted Tang Ya on the shoulder. "My dear Teacher Xiao Ya, I suspect you're simply craving young brother Huo Yuhao's grilled fish and roast rabbit again, aren't you?"
Tang Ya instantly flushed crimson and snapped in mock fury, "Shut it! Even if that's exactly what I was thinking, you're not supposed to just blurt it out like that!" She stamped her foot in indignation, drawing laughter from everyone.
Bei Bei hurriedly apologized with a placating grin, "Alright, alright, my fault. I was far too blunt."
Huo Yuhao warmly picked up the thread. "No problem at all. Beyond barbecue, my skills in other areas of cooking are fairly decent too. I'd be happy to show you." Now that Tang Ya and Bei Bei had both joined the Church of the Water God—making them, in essence, family—he was naturally more than willing to bring out his full repertoire to entertain them. Besides, their friendly, welcoming attitude when they first met had left a very favorable impression on him.
Furina inclined her head gently, her sleeve swaying with the motion. "We have more than enough ingredients prepared. Perhaps you could invite some friends to join as well."
Tang Ya's eyes widened with delight. "Really? Then I'll go get Jiang Nannan! This is the perfect chance to convince her to join our Church of the Water God too." She said the words "our Church of the Water God" with such natural ease, completely unaware of how seamlessly she'd already integrated herself into this new collective.
Bei Bei couldn't help a rueful laugh and shook his head. He'd thought Tang Ya was going to invite Jiang Nannan to join the Tang Sect—only for it to turn into the Church of the Water God in the blink of an eye. But on second thought, now that the Tang Sect had been absorbed into the church, there was really nothing wrong with saying it that way. Still, the speed at which Tang Ya had switched her phrasing was truly something between laughable and admirable.
Huo Yuhao was equally surprised by Tang Ya's adaptability, but when he thought of the staggeringly generous terms Furina had offered, he understood completely. After all, who could refuse such treatment?
"Would that be alright?" Tang Ya looked hopefully toward Furina.
Furina made an elegant gesture of welcome. "Of course. The students of Shrek Academy are all rare talents. I am always pleased to see fresh blood join the Church of the Water God."
She paused, then added, "Moreover, if the invitation proves successful, this can also be counted as a contribution from the Tang Sect. Working alongside familiar faces always makes everything more pleasant."
"Very true. Thank you, Furina." Tang Ya's gratitude was entirely genuine.
"No need for thanks." Furina waved a light hand. "Since you have become members of the Church of the Water God, as its Pope, it is only natural that I arrange suitable positions for every member, allowing each person to develop their fullest potential." Her gaze was warm as she spoke, yet it carried an undeniable, persuasive authority.
Tang Ya once again marveled that her decision had been the right one. Furina was not only immensely powerful, but understood how to make the best use of people's talents. A leader like this was truly worth following.
"In that case, let's find a spacious spot and let Yuhao show off his skills," Furina proposed.
"Yes!"
The group found a relatively quiet patch of open ground where few passersby wandered. Green trees cast ample shade, and the occasional bird flitted past the branches overhead with crisp, clear calls. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, dappling the ground with shifting patterns of light and shadow.
Huo Yuhao retrieved an array of cooking utensils and ingredients from his storage ring and began setting everything up with practiced, skillful efficiency. Furina waved a hand lightly, summoning the three members of the Salon Solitaire. These small, water-element creatures immediately set to work with cheerful diligence—one helped wash ingredients, another arranged the tableware, their coordination seamless and effortless.
Watching the lively bustle, Tang Ya suddenly remembered something. "I'll go call Jiang Nannan right now!" And with that, she bounded off with a skip in her step.
Huo Yuhao had already begun preparing the ingredients. His hands moved with practiced mastery—scaling and deboning the fish, cubing and marinating the rabbit meat, every step executed with meticulous, painstaking precision. Watching from the side, Bei Bei couldn't help but praise him. "Brother Yuhao's culinary skills look truly professional."
"You flatter me." Huo Yuhao smiled modestly. "I've simply enjoyed studying these things since I was young."
Before long, Tang Ya returned—but Jiang Nannan was not with her. "Nannan said she had something to attend to first. She'll come over in a bit. I've already told her where to find us."
Seizing the waiting time, Tang Ya eagerly began cultivating the Heavenly Wood Tome. As the technique circulated through her, a faint green luminescence began to glow around her body. Her Bluesilver Grass martial soul manifested unconsciously, its leaves seeming noticeably more vibrantly green than before. She could clearly feel the profound resonance between this technique and her martial soul, and her gratitude toward Furina deepened yet another layer.
Not far away, Bei Bei also sat cross-legged, circulating the complete Mysterious Heaven Technique. Compared to the truncated, incomplete version he had trained in before, the circulation pathways of the complete technique were far more exquisite and refined. His soul power flowed through his meridians at nearly thirty percent greater speed. A shiver of awe ran through him—the hidden depths of this Church of the Water God were indeed unfathomable.
Furina stood quietly to one side, her gaze drifting over the passersby. She keenly noted several familiar figures—characters mentioned in the original story. She silently calculated how best to create opportunities to approach them and draw these talents into the fold of the Church of the Water God. Yet she also understood that such matters couldn't be rushed. She would need to wait for the right moment.
The charcoal fire had burned down to a perfect, glowing red. Huo Yuhao began grilling. His hands moved with practiced ease as he turned the fish and rabbit meat on the rack, sprinkling his special blend of seasonings from time to time. An irresistibly tantalizing aroma quickly spread across the open ground. Even Bei Bei and Tang Ya, still deep in their cultivation, unconsciously inhaled the scent.
"It smells amazing!" Tang Ya couldn't resist drawing closer, her eyes fixed longingly on the sizzling, glistening food on the grill.
Huo Yuhao smiled and handed her a skewer of grilled mushrooms. "Try these first. The main dishes need a little more time."
Tang Ya accepted the grilled mushrooms and took a careful, cautious bite. Her eyes instantly lit up. "Incredible! Yuhao, your skill is absolutely astounding!"
Just at that moment, a gentle voice drifted from a short distance away. "Xiao Ya, I'm here."
Everyone turned to look. A young woman with golden hair was walking toward them. Her steps were light and graceful, her features delicate and refined—it was none other than Jiang Nannan.
Tang Ya hurried over to greet her with delight. "Nannan, you're just in time! Yuhao's skewers are ready to eat!"
Jiang Nannan nodded politely to everyone present. When her gaze passed over Furina, it paused for just a fraction of a second, as if drawn by the other woman's uniquely striking presence.
Furina returned a warm, gentle smile. Inwardly, she had already begun plotting how to persuade this lovely young lady—one of the future Shrek Seven Monsters—to join the Church of the Water God. But for now, the most important thing was to savor this rare, delicious meal, and this stretch of easy, pleasant companionship.