"Brother, I'm going to the dormitory to unpack first."
Tang Wulin smiled faintly as he glanced at the dormitory building before them. The rooms for first-year students were distributed in the same block, but his and Tang Luochuan's were located in opposite directions of the same floor.
"Got it," Tang Luochuan replied with a gentle nod and a smile. "I'll come check in on you later."
He already knew that Wulin's roommate would be that mischievous little guy, Xie Xie. But as for his own roommate...
Well, he had no clue yet just what kind of person he was about to live with.
Still, it didn't matter much. In the end, he was sure that he and Wulin would arrange to live together eventually. Brothers under the same roof—it would be far more convenient and natural that way.
Tang Luochuan soon arrived at Room 123.
He pushed the door open with a light hand and found that there were already two boys inside, both about the same age as him.
One of them was very thin—almost too thin. His figure looked so frail and bony that it was hard to imagine him as a soul master at all. His complexion was pale, his body giving off a sickly air, paired with a spiky hairstyle that looked like he'd forced it up for some sense of style.
The other boy, in contrast, was sturdier. He had a short crew-cut, a cheerful grin plastered on his face, and his posture carried the easy familiarity of someone quick to make friends.
"Oh? Looks like we've got our new roommate."
When they saw Tang Luochuan at the door, the two boys exchanged glances before greeting him with welcoming smiles.
"Hello," Tang Luochuan responded politely, stepping into the room with a calm expression. "My name is Tang Luochuan. Please take care of me from now on."
From the way the two had just been interacting, he could tell they weren't strangers to each other. Their rapport seemed natural—likely friends or acquaintances from before arriving.
"Nice to meet you, Tang Luochuan. I'm Zhang Yangzi, and this guy over here is Wang Jinxi. We just got here not long ago." The cheerful boy with the crew-cut pointed at himself and then at his companion as he introduced them.
"Zhang Yangzi… and Wang Jinxi…"
The names triggered a flicker of surprise across Tang Luochuan's face. His eyes briefly widened, and his thoughts rippled with recognition.
The Dark Eagle and the Bone Dragon.
Aren't these the very same two who, in the story he remembered, had later become powerful opponents during Wulin's promotion exams? The pair who could unleash a Martial Soul Fusion technique together—the Dark Eagle Dragon!
And they're my roommates?
Tang Luochuan felt his lips twitch at the revelation. Fate sure had its little jokes. He had imagined countless kinds of roommates, but definitely not these two. For a moment, he couldn't help wondering—would the still-missing fourth roommate turn out to be that petty Grand Soul Master, the annoying one who ended up clashing with Xie Xie?
Well, he would find out soon enough.
"Hello," said Wang Jinxi with a slow nod. Unlike Zhang Yangzi, Jinxi was quiet and reserved, rather monotone. But even as he spoke, his gaze lingered strangely on Tang Luochuan, as if something about him tugged at his focus. His eyes drifted and returned again and again, almost like being held by gravity.
"Don't mind him," Zhang Yangzi quickly explained with a grin, noticing his friend's distracted stare. "Jinxi's always been like that. It's because of his martial soul. He's been a bit distant ever since he was little. But don't let it bother you. Oh—and we're actually both from Donghai City. What about you?"
Tang Luochuan gave a light nod, smiling back in a friendly way. "I'm from Aolai City."
"Aolai City…" Zhang Yangzi tilted his head and muttered, chewing over the name. "Haven't heard much about that place. Maybe I'll visit someday to see for myself."
Then his grin widened as he leaned forward slightly. "By the way, Jinxi and I are both twenty-second rank Great Soul Masters. What about you, Tang Luochuan?" His curious eyes studied him.
For boys their age, already breaking into the Grand Soul Master rank was nothing short of impressive. Zhang Yangzi, who had grown up in Donghai City, knew the pride his own family had felt about that fact. Naturally, he wanted to size up his new roommate as well.
Tang Luochuan blinked in slight surprise—it felt a little sudden to be asked so bluntly—but then nodded without hesitation. "I'm also a Great Soul Master."
That much was true. He'd already reached rank twenty-eight, far ahead of ordinary peers. And yet, because Aolai City had been a smaller, less renowned place, and Hongshan Academy was hardly an elite institution, he hadn't previously encountered same-age Grand Soul Masters like himself. Standing before him now, Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi really were exceptions.
"I thought so!" Zhang Yangzi's eyes lit up as if he'd just confirmed a bet. "I knew it—your aura felt like someone who'd undergone that breakthrough. Which means you're definitely a genius, huh?"
His cheerful tone carried a note of admiration. At their age, anyone with cultivation that high was a prime talent.
"Anyway, the academy will definitely pay special attention to us. We'll probably get assigned for extra training." Zhang Yangzi continued, his enthusiasm bubbling over. "By the way, Tang Luochuan, do you know that teacher here?"
Tang Luochuan raised an eyebrow. "Which teacher are you talking about?"
He had a feeling he already knew. At the name Donghai Academy, only one figure truly lingered in his mind.
"Teacher Wu Changkong!" Zhang Yangzi's voice was filled with awe, and his eyes practically sparkled as he spoke it out loud. His admiration was so nakedly written across his face that Luochuan couldn't help but chuckle quietly.
"Yes," Tang Luochuan answered softly. "I know him."
The image came to his mind instantly—blue hair fluttering, a white robe trailing like fresh-pure snow. A longsword slashing cold arcs through frozen skies, ice dancing everywhere.
Wu Changkong, one of the most unforgettable characters in the history of the Douluo Continent. A tragic man with a heartbreaking past. A melancholy god who radiated charisma beyond measure.
Even back in his previous life, Tang Luochuan had admired that teacher immensely. He was the archetype of coolness—stoic, graceful, lonely, yet unshakably powerful.
"You're not from Donghai, so you probably don't know the whole story," Zhang Yangzi said suddenly, his tone brimming with energy. He leaned in eagerly as though sharing a secret. "I'll tell you what I've heard…"
He straightened his shoulders dramatically before launching in. "Teacher Wu used to be the headteacher of the best advanced class at the Senior Section. But because a certain leader in the academy did something that went against his morals, he outright resigned in anger. Walked away just like that."
Tang Luochuan simply smiled faintly, letting him talk with such excitement.
"He even got into a fight with that higher-up!" Zhang Yangzi exclaimed, his words almost tumbling over each other now. "Can you imagine? He was injured, but still chose to walk his own path. He's so cool! Honestly, he's the kind of teacher you can't help but admire…"
Beside him, Jinxi remained quiet, clearly uninterested in such gossip, though his eyes flickered slightly as if he were still watching Tang Luochuan in the corner of his vision.
But Zhang Yangzi—his face was practically glowing. He looked exactly like a crazed fan talking about his idol.
"Teacher Wu Changkong is so amazing. And get this—he's not even thirty years old yet, but he's already a rank sixty-nine Soul Emperor! A Soul Emperor, at his age! Can you imagine how much of a genius he must be?" Zhang Yangzi's words carried so much respect that they almost sounded like worship.
Tang Luochuan could only sigh inwardly. Yes… Wu Changkong's talent was monstrous, no doubt. But what made him unforgettable wasn't just sheer power—it was his bearing, his dignity, his tragedy.
Still, to see his roommate fanboying like this was both funny and oddly refreshing.
The quiet dorm room now buzzed with Zhang Yangzi's endless chatter, Jinxi's silent observation, and Tang Luochuan's calm composure. Three pieces of a puzzle waiting for the last roommate to step in.
And so, the stage was set.
The Dark Eagle and the Bone Dragon had already entered his life—not as future enemies, not as fleeting opponents in a competition—but as people he'd share the same room, same air, same days with starting now.
What kind of ripples would this small twist of fate cause in the grand river of destiny?
Tang Luochuan's lips curved ever so slightly. He was more than ready to find out.