It had been a whole month since the delegation from the Star Luo Empire arrived on the Douluo Continent. The exchange programs that needed to be conducted had basically concluded, and next, it was the Federation's turn to send an inspection group to the Star Luo Continent for exchanges.
On the third day after receiving the news, Huo Yuhao and Gu Yue received official notification to head to Tianhai City to meet up with the Federation inspection group.
Afterwards, the inspection group would depart directly by ship from the port of Tianhai City, crossing the vast ocean to head to the Star Luo Continent. The entire journey was expected to take over two months.
On the day of departure, in the first-floor lobby of the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters, Huo Yuhao and Gu Yue stood side by side in front of Leng Yaozhu, having just said their goodbyes to their teacher.
However, just as the two of them were about to turn and leave, Leng Yaozhu suddenly raised her hand, gesturing for them to wait a moment longer.
Not long after, the heavy soul guidance elevator door deep in the lobby slid open silently, and a tall figure stepped out of the elevator.
Once Huo Yuhao saw clearly who it was, he blurted out, "Teacher?!"
In the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters, the only person Huo Yuhao could call teacher, other than Leng Yaozhu, was Han Tianyi.
Back then, after Huo Yuhao left Donghai, Han Tianyi had also stepped down from his position as the Pagoda Master of the Donghai Spirit Pagoda and returned to the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters.
After returning to the headquarters, he resumed his previous reclusive lifestyle, rarely appearing in public. His appearance today was clearly not just to see them off.
Huo Yuhao was incredibly quick-witted. In an instant, he had already guessed something and asked tentatively, "Teacher, are you coming with us to Star Luo?"
Han Tianyi walked with large strides and stood before Huo Yuhao, glancing at Leng Yaozhu who stood nearby. "It's all because Leng Yaozhu was worried about you two's safety. Since she couldn't leave, she came to this old man's place and badgered me, insisting on troubling this old man to make this trip for her."
Standing to the side, Leng Yaozhu casually added, "Elder Han, you can't say that. You claim it's a trouble, but that day, as soon as I finished speaking, you agreed immediately without even a moment's hesitation. I didn't hold a knife to your throat."
"Besides, isn't Yuhao also your Disciple?"
Huo Yuhao naturally understood in his heart that what Aunt Leng was worried about was never that the Star Luo Empire would act against them; they probably wouldn't go so far as to make a move against members of the Federation inspection group in a diplomatic setting.
What she was truly worried about was the hidden arrows from within the Spirit Pagoda, namely Qiangu Dongfeng.
Han Tianyi clearly had no intention of letting them continue with the emotional display. With a wave of his large sleeve, he cut off the conversation cleanly. "Alright, it's time to set off. If we dawdle any longer, those folks from the Federation won't wait for you."
...
After arriving in Tianhai City, Huo Yuhao, Gu Yue, and Han Tianyi were arranged by the Federation staff to stay at the Tianhai Grand Hotel for the night.
Early the next morning, after having breakfast at the hotel, the three of them were guided by the Federation staff to officially head to the port to board the ship.
It was a giant cruise ship several hundred meters long, with its entire hull painted deep blue. The deck rose seven or eight stories high, and the Federation flag fluttered on the bridge, rustling loudly in the morning breeze.
This time, the inspection group sent by the Federation consisted of over five hundred people, covering various fields.
However, Huo Yuhao noticed that these five hundred-plus people were primarily from the military and political sectors; otherwise, given the Spirit Pagoda's influence, it would have been impossible for them to send only three people.
Just as the three of them stepped onto the spacious and flat main deck of the cruise ship, before Huo Yuhao even had time to take in his surroundings, he keenly caught sight of several familiar figures looking over at him from among the crowd.
Before he could even walk over on his own initiative, those figures came running toward him.
"Yuhao! Gu Yue! You two are participating in this exchange as well?"
The first to rush over was Xie Xie. Over the past half year, he had grown quite a bit taller. His face, which used to carry a hint of boyish childishness, was now much more sharp and defined, though his eyes still held that familiar lively excitement.
Following closely behind were Tang Wulin and Xu Xiaoyan. Tang Wulin was still his usual steady self, and after not seeing him for half a year, he seemed to have filled out a bit more.
Xu Xiaoyan, on the other hand, had changed the most. The little girl who used to always follow timidly behind everyone now had a touch of confidence and composure between her brows.
Looking at these three incredibly familiar close friends, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but let a heartfelt smile blossom on his face. "So the Tang Sect sent the three of you this time?"
Speaking of which, they hadn't seen each other for over half a year. Back when the incident occurred at Shrek Academy, Leng Yaozhu had brought them all back to the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters for protection.
However, Tang Wulin and the others were ultimately not members of the Spirit Pagoda and couldn't stay in the pagoda indefinitely. A few days later, people from the Tang Sect arrived in Shrek City and took them away.
Unlike Shrek Academy, although the Tang Sect also set up its headquarters in Shrek City, the headquarters there was more of a symbolic representation. The halls and branches that truly held the core strength of the Tang Sect were scattered all over the continent.
Therefore, although the Tang Sect Headquarters was destroyed in the artillery fire, it did not severely damage the overall strength of the Tang Sect. Nonetheless, the Tang Sect had been keeping a much lower profile during this period.
Xie Xie raised his chin proudly and patted his chest with his hand. "Of course! We are the outstanding talents of the Tang Sect's younger generation. If they don't send us, who else would they send?"
In an instant, the excitement of their long-awaited reunion settled down slightly. Huo Yuhao's gaze swept across Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Xu Xiaoyan one by one, and he suddenly asked, "Where is Na'er? Didn't she come with you?"
Na'er was not a member of the Tang Sect, but everyone knew that the Tang Sect and Shrek Academy basically wore the same pair of pants.
Thus, after Shrek Academy was destroyed, Na'er did not choose to stay in the Spirit Pagoda, but instead followed Tang Wulin and the others to the Tang Sect.
Seeing Tang Wulin and the other two now, with Na'er being the only one missing, Huo Yuhao naturally had to ask.
Facing this question, Xu Xiaoyan was the first to speak.
"Not long after arriving at the Tang Sect, Na'er left. It's said that she went to join the army."
"Join the army?"
Huo Yuhao was slightly taken aback upon hearing this; this answer was indeed beyond his expectations.
That lively and spirited silver-haired girl had actually chosen to enter the military on her own initiative. This really didn't match the impression of Na'er in his memory.
Seeing the surprise on Huo Yuhao's face, Tang Wulin nodded solemnly. "Yes, she did indeed join the army. However, she didn't go to the ordinary Federation military. I heard she entered a mysterious unit with a very special organization. We haven't heard from her in a long time either."
Just as they were talking, a slender figure walked over unhurriedly from the other side of the deck, stopping silently behind Tang Wulin and the other two.
It was a middle-aged man who looked to be around forty years old, with a lean and refined face and a faint smile playing on the corners of his lips.
However, a sharp, knife-like glint occasionally flashed across those narrow eyes, making it impossible for anyone to dare underestimate him.
Xie Xie quickly stepped aside to introduce him. "This is my teacher, and also the leader of the Tang Sect for this trip, the Hall Master of the Tang Sect's Speed Hall, Liang Xiaoyu, with the title Swift Blade."
Huo Yuhao and Gu Yue bowed slightly at the same time, respectfully saying, "Greetings, Your Eminence."
The Speed Hall was in charge of intelligence and assassination in the Tang Sect. Anyone who could reach the position of Hall Master in the Speed Hall was absolutely not a simple character.
Liang Xiaoyu smiled gently at the two of them in response, then his gaze passed over them and landed on the tall figure standing not far behind them.
A faint trace of surprise flashed through his eyes, and he then took the initiative to speak, "I didn't expect that the Spirit Pagoda would actually have Senior Han Tianyi personally leading the team this time."
Although there was no concrete evidence regarding the attack half a year ago, the people of the Tang Sect, like Leng Yaozhu, believed that Qiangu Dongfeng's hand was behind it.
Since the Illusion Brain Douluo, Han Tianyi, was likely not from Qiangu Dongfeng's faction, Liang Xiaoyu's tone was relatively normal.
If it had been someone from Qiangu Dongfeng's faction who came, Liang Xiaoyu wouldn't have come over to greet them at all.
Han Tianyi remained his usual unsmiling, stern self. He merely nodded slightly in return and said in a flat tone, "This old man doesn't manage affairs and won't get involved in other matters. I am simply tag-along to protect my Disciple."
Hearing this, Liang Xiaoyu's eyes flickered slightly. He could naturally hear the deeper meaning hidden within these seemingly casual words.
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A/N:
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.