As soon as Zhu Zhuqing asked to become Su Zui's disciple, the atmosphere eased a little.
Beside her, Dai Mubai's heart had been in his throat, and his whole body had gone stiff as a zombie.
Whew... she only wanted to become his disciple. What did I think it was? I wasn't cuckolded after all...
But the next second, Dai Mubai seemed to remember something, and his expression turned ugly again.
Wait... become his disciple?!
Dai Mubai quickly realized the crucial point.
If... Zhu Zhuqing really becomes Su Zui's disciple, Su Zui will be a generation above her.
And as Zhu Zhuqing's fiancée, wouldn't I end up a generation below Su Zui for no reason?
Su Zui is my enemy! He's beaten me up twice already!
If I really let Zhu Zhuqing become Su Zui's disciple, I'll be a whole generation below my enemy for no reason!
We see each other all the time here at Shrek Academy, and I'd be a head shorter than him at every turn. Who could stand that?
Dai Mubai wasn't the only one taken aback. Su Zui, too, stared at the girl before him in disbelief, his face full of astonishment.
Su Zui had lived two lives, but this was the first time he had encountered anything like this.
"You want to become my disciple?"
Su Zui looked Zhu Zhuqing over in surprise.
The girl looked only eleven or twelve, a little younger than him, even a little younger than him, yet he actually wanted to become his disciple.
Wouldn't that throw their generations into disarray?
Su Zui's mind was a mess as he tried his best to sort it out.
Zhu Zhuqing and he were both students at Shrek Academy, and both called Flender their teacher.
If Zhu Zhuqing became his disciple as well, wouldn't that put him in the same generation as Flender?
That wasn't even the most outrageous part. The most outrageous part was that if he and Flender were of the same generation, wouldn't Ning Rongrong be a generation below him?
He and his little girlfriend would be forced into the relationship of an elder and a junior. Wouldn't that be a little too perverse?
Su Zui hurriedly shook his head, driving the absurd thought away.
No! Absolutely not!
Ning Rongrong, standing nearby, also looked surprised. Her big, watery doll-like eyes blinked as her gaze flicked back and forth between the two of them.
She simply couldn't imagine Zhu Zhuqing following Su Zui around and calling him Master.
An odd silence fell over everyone, and the atmosphere slowly grew delicate.
When Su Zui didn't answer for a long time, a trace of loneliness welled up in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes, and her voice dropped softly.
She lowered her head, her long eyelashes concealing the emotions in her eyes.
The girl bit her lip hard and raised her large, cool eyes to look at Su Zui cautiously.
"Do you... not want to teach me?"
No one knew how much struggle and obsession lay hidden in the heart of this girl, who usually seemed cold on the surface and had a strong character.
He had been bound by the Star Luo Imperial Family and the Zhu Family from birth, promised in an arranged marriage since childhood and destined to spend his life as a tool for his family's interests.
To escape her fate, she had fled her family and traveled a thousand miles to Shrek, wanting only to take control of her own life.
At first, Zhu Zhuqing had still harbored hopes for Dai Mubai.
Zhu Zhuqing had been especially naive then. He thought Dai Mubai was also cultivating diligently out there and, like him, wanted to escape his fate.
But fate seemed especially fond of toying with this girl.
Only after he came to Shrek did he discover that his fiancé had completely rotted away! Rotten to the bone.
He had spent years frequenting pleasure quarters, and his decadent bearing left Zhu Zhuqing feeling suffocated.
At that moment, Zhu Zhuqing felt as though her life had suddenly gone dark.
She seemed able to see her future already: an ending in which she was discarded.
Until... she met Su Zui.
Su Zui was powerful to an outrageous degree.
Though he was likewise only eleven or twelve, Su Zui could defeat all six of them alone, and had done so in just over ten seconds.
It was at that very moment that a flame rekindled in Zhu Zhuqing's once lifeless heart.
Since she couldn't rely on Dai Mubai, she would defy the heavens and change her fate herself.
She wanted to cultivate alongside Su Zui, become his disciple, and, like Su Rui, use her own strength to sever her shackles.
But Su Zui... didn't seem willing to teach her.
Seeing the disappointment the girl could barely conceal in her eyes, Su Zui's heart softened a little.
He couldn't understand what an eleven- or twelve-year-old girl could have gone through to have such a lonely look in her eyes.
Su Zui had never considered himself a saint, but he did have the ability to teach this girl.
When poor, one should tend to one's own virtue; when prosperous, one should help the world.
Though Su Zui couldn't yet help the whole world, he could still protect this girl without any trouble.
Su Zui took a few steps toward Zhu Zhuqing and said softly, "Don't overthink it. It's not that I'm unwilling to teach you. It's just that we're about the same age, so it feels strange for you to call me Master."
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing pressed her lips together slightly, as though she might burst into tears at any moment.
Seeing her expression grow more downcast, Su Zui changed tack and said seriously, "But it doesn't matter if we aren't master and disciple. I can still teach you how to cultivate. We're both here at Shrek Academy, so whenever I have time, I can spare some to teach you."
Those words instantly set Zhu Zhuqing's once lifeless heart ablaze.
She jerked her head up, and her previously cold gaze suddenly came alive, like a flame that had been lit, dazzling even in the sunlight.
Seeing the hope instantly kindled in the girl, Su Zui suddenly felt a touch of accomplishment.
At that moment, Ning Rongrong also walked over lightly and took Zhu Zhuqing's hand.
Since her Xiao Zui had accepted Zhu Zhuqing, that made Zhu Zhuqing one of their own.
Besides, Zhu Zhuqing was very talented and strong-willed. This was just the right time to win her over!
As the saying went, adding flowers to brocade was not as good as sending charcoal in the snow.
Ning Rongrong intended to tie Zhu Zhuqing to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's chariot once and for all.
Ning Rongrong had never been some silly, naive girl. She had followed Ning Fengzhi around since childhood and had plenty of tricks up her sleeve.
What was more, Ning Rongrong had now given herself the additional identity of Spirit Hall's future "matriarch," so naturally she had to put on a fitting display.
Holding Zhu Zhuqing's hand, Ning Rongrong said openly, "Zhu Zhuqing, from now on, we're good friends. My Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has your back!"
Su Zui watched Ning Rongrong with a smile, his heart sweet.
How can my little girlfriend be so cute? She's so small, yet she talks so boldly, and she looks especially domineering when she's protecting her friends. She's just too lovable.
He couldn't resist wrapping his arms gently around Ning Rongrong's waist from behind. He rested his chin on top of her head and rubbed against his hair.
As Su Zui nuzzled Ning Rongrong's hair, he looked up at Zhu Zhuqing, his tone lazy yet radiating absolute dominance.
"Since my boss has spoken, you're under my protection from now on. No matter who bullied you before or what troubles you have, from today on, no one can touch you."
Su Zui's words were thoroughly domineering, and he did indeed have the ability to back them up.
After all, Su Zui's words represented more than just his own position. As Spirit Hall's young master, what he said was equivalent to the highest order issued by Spirit Hall.
Even leaving aside the fact that all of Spirit Hall stood behind Su Zui, his current strength alone was enough to protect Zhu Zhuqing.
Hearing Su Zui and Ning Rongrong's domineering words, Zhu Zhuqing felt as though something had struck her heart hard, and a warm current spread through it.
Her nose tingled, and she nearly burst into tears.
Dai Mubai, however, had been listening in from the side, and he scoffed at them.
He looked at Su Zui mockingly, thinking the two of them far too naive. They simply didn't know how high the heavens were or how deep the earth was!
He really wanted to know what Su Zui would do when he learned that the one bullying Zhu Zhuqing was the entire Star Luo Imperial Family.
What oppressed Zhu Zhuqing was not one person or a few insignificant figures, but the Star Luo Imperial Family's rules, which had been deeply rooted for a thousand years!
Dai Mubai admitted that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was indeed formidable, but what did that matter? Wasn't it just a sect?
The Star Dou Empire was a vast empire, not something any old cat-or-dog sect could challenge for attention.
So what if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had Titled Douluo? Could they defeat the Star Luo Empire's thousands upon thousands of troops?
Even if Titled Douluo were powerful, if the Star Luo Empire's army swarmed them, could the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Titled Douluo really kill the entire Star Luo army?
If the Star Luo emperor were really that easy to deal with, he wouldn't have been forced to run away himself.
But neither Su Zui nor Ning Rongrong paid any attention to Dai Mubai.
Held in Su Zui's arms all this time, Ning Rongrong gradually grew hot all over. Her little face turned bright red, and her whole body was stiflingly hot.
The girl struggled a couple of times and finally escaped the palm of the great demon king Su Zui.
Ning Rongrong glared at Su Zui, puffing out her cheeks. Stinky Su Zui, clinging to me in the middle of summer, hot as a furnace. So annoying!
Sweet-smelling, soft Zhu Zhuqing is much better.
Ning Rongrong grabbed Zhu Zhuqing's hand and ran ahead, leaving Su Zui behind.
"Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Zui and I were just going to take the cat for a walk. Come with us..."
Watching the two of them act so close, Su Zui suddenly felt left out.
He hurried after them and shouted helplessly, "Hey, Rongrong, wait for me..."
Ning Rongrong turned back and stuck her tongue out at Su Zui, her eyes curving into crescents.
"Nyah, nyah, nyah, I won't wait! Come chase me..."