Settling In

In fact, after Dai Mubai's introduction, they discovered that Shrek Academy was even more run-down than they had imagined.

No one knew why it had fallen into such disrepair, but from what they already knew, they understood that life here was likely to be difficult.

The academy had rented a third of a village as its campus at an extremely low price, practically half sold and half given away. They had heard that a large part of the reason was that the villagers felt safer with several Soul Masters nearby, though they had never seen such a destitute group of Soul Masters.

"Hm? What? You said our academy only has three students?"

As Dai Mubai led them toward the dormitories, he explained the situation. When he mentioned that Shrek Academy had only three students, everyone looked as though they had seen a ghost. Hermione, whose family ran an academy, could not help crying out in surprise.

"That's right. Including me, there are only three students in the entire academy. This year will probably be the year with the most new students in the academy's history." Dai Mubai spoke helplessly. Even he found it unbelievable. How could an academy with so few students stay open?

Zhao Xuan's expression shifted as he asked in surprise, "So there are more teachers in this academy than students?"

"That's right." Dai Mubai shrugged.

"..."

When they reached a wooden cabin, Dai Mubai said to the girls, "You girls will sleep here. There happen to be four beds inside."

The cabin before them looked extremely old. The wooden boards on its outer walls bore the weathered marks of many years, and there was even a layer of lush green moss growing along the bottom.

The girls froze on the spot. Then Ning Rongrong, as if she had seen something terrifying, asked tremblingly, "Th-this is... our dormitory... from now on?!"

"That's right. The academy's conditions are just like this, and complaining won't help. These cabins were left behind by the villagers. Although we didn't expect so many people to come this year, we did ask the villagers to clean them up a few days ago." Dai Mubai, acting as their guide, explained.

The girls stood stunned outside, while Tang San, who had recovered somewhat, carried Xiao Wu inside.

Zhao Xuan stood at the doorway and craned his neck to take a furtive look inside.

The furnishings were simple—or rather, shabby would have been more accurate. The four empty beds were arranged in two pairs, two on the left and two on the right, with a cabinet at the head of each bed.

The floor was covered with wooden planks. Zhao Xuan looked up at the roof. No light shone through, so it probably would not leak when it rained.

"Xiao Xuan, come help me make Xiao Wu's bed," Tang San called from inside.

"Coming, coming." Zhao Xuan quickly answered and walked in. Tang San was still somewhat weak, his face pale.

Yet when Zhao Xuan had offered to help carry Xiao Wu earlier, this guy had been stubborn as ever.

Tang San summoned Xiao Wu's belongings from his Soul Tool. A large pile of pink bedding and quilts fell onto the bed, and Zhao Xuan hurried to help lay them out.

Once Zhao Xuan had finished making the bed, Tang San settled Xiao Wu in and finally let out a sigh of relief.

Zhao Xuan glanced at Tang San. Was there really any need? Damn siscon!

The others silently watched the three of them. When Zhao Xuan turned around, their gazes startled him, but the next moment he relaxed. Those strange looks were all directed at Tang San.

But there seemed to be one exception...

"Why are you staring at me? Tang San's the damn siscon, not me." Zhao Xuan walked out the door and asked in bewilderment as he faced Hermione's fixed brown eyes.

"Nothing!"

Hermione pressed her lips together. Seeing Zhao Xuan's baffled expression, she suddenly turned her head away, her thick, beautiful golden hair brushing across his face.

The others quietly glanced at Zhao Xuan. Big Brother, the smell of jealousy is this obvious. Can't you smell it?

Dai Mubai suddenly felt stifled. Damn it! When had Young Master Dai ever had to watch someone else flaunt their romance? And why did all these new students come with partners already?!

As if thinking of something, Dai Mubai secretly glanced at Zhu Zhuqing. Sensing his gaze, Zhu Zhuqing tilted her head slightly to look at him. Then her delicate, jade-like face frowned, and a flash of disgust appeared in her eyes.

Dai Mubai froze at first, then anger surged through him. His fists clenched instinctively, but for some reason, they loosened again. He said coldly, "Zhao Xuan, Tang San, I'll take you to see your dormitory next."

Zhao Xuan and Tang San followed Dai Mubai out. The disgust on Zhu Zhuqing's face suddenly vanished completely. Watching Dai Mubai's retreating figure, she seemed to let out a quiet sigh of relief. Her gaze was somewhat vacant, as though she were thinking of something, but she soon put that cold expression back on.

Ning Rongrong watched everything unfold from the side. As she looked at the wooden cabin, a deeply hidden trace of disdain and contempt appeared in her eyes. As the others left, a hint of loneliness and desolation that she herself did not notice suddenly appeared about her.

Dai Mubai led Zhao Xuan and Tang San to a wooden cabin not far from the girls' dormitory.

When he pushed open the door and entered, the cabin was not as deserted as they had imagined. On the contrary, it had a little life to it. From the look of things, someone else lived there.

"Besides you two, there's another student living here—the one who was selling sausages earlier. I live elsewhere with another student."

Zhao Xuan looked around the room and said in surprise, "It looks pretty clean."

Dai Mubai nodded. "Although Xiao Ao looks a little unkempt, he can't help it. His hair grows too fast, and over time he simply became too lazy to take care of it. But in daily life, he's actually quite clean."

"That's good."

Zhao Xuan nodded in satisfaction. Though he was rather lazy himself, he did not want to live in a pigsty.

When he turned and saw Tang San's pale face, Zhao Xuan was startled. He hurried over to support him. "Xiao San, you should get some rest early today."

"That's right. Tang San, you should rest early. The dean will probably be back tomorrow."

"The dean? Right, where is our academy's dean?" Zhao Xuan asked with great interest. A dean capable of running an academy like this had to be quite an odd character.

"Uh... because we were almost out of money for food, the dean went out to open a shop and earn money." Dai Mubai scratched his head and answered awkwardly.

Zhao Xuan's expression stiffened. This dean really was quite an odd... oddball.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going."

"Oh, right. The academy cafeteria is several hundred meters to the east. It's the dining hall of the village school. They prepare meals for us at six in the morning, twelve noon, and six in the evening every day. Remember to get there early, or you'll have to go hungry." Dai Mubai, who was about to leave, seemed to remember something and turned back to remind them.

"Thank you."