First Hearing of Shrek Academy

A week passed quickly.

During that week, Zhu Zhuqing ate and slept every day, then slept and ate, recovering from her injuries exceptionally well. She just felt that she had gotten a little "fatter." Of course, that was only Zhu Zhuqing's own impression, not Yang Ming's, because after speaking with Yang Ming on the first day, she had not seen him again.

Throughout the week, Zhu Zhuqing spent most of her time resting in bed. Occasionally, when she left her room, she still did not see Yang Ming. It was not that Yang Ming was deliberately avoiding her. Zhu Zhuqing had barely left her room, and the two of them rarely spent time in the common areas. Yang Ming was either practicing with his spear and studying cultivation in the hotel's backyard, or cultivating and reading in his own room. If Zhu Zhuqing did not look for him, Yang Ming would not disturb her either. Under such circumstances, it was only natural that they never met. Zhu Zhuqing could only determine that he was in the suite most of the time by sensing the Soul Power fluctuations he deliberately allowed to escape.

That week had also convinced Zhu Zhuqing that Yang Ming truly had only been acting out of kindness. Otherwise, how could he have ignored her so completely?

Thanks to her peaceful recovery over the past few days, Zhu Zhuqing's injuries had improved considerably. After all, she was a Beast Spirit Soul Master. Aside from the wound at her waist, the other wounds on her limbs had all healed.

Inside Zhu Zhuqing's bedroom.

"Knock, knock!"

Sensing the familiar Soul Power fluctuations outside the door, Zhu Zhuqing replied calmly.

"Come in!"

The person outside entered the room.

After an entire week, Zhu Zhuqing finally saw Yang Ming again. This time, he was accompanied by a female physician whom he had specially found to examine Zhu Zhuqing's injuries.

Back in the Star Dou Great Forest, the conditions had been limited, and the situation had been genuinely urgent. Yang Ming had had no choice but to knock Zhu Zhuqing unconscious before treating her. Now that they had reached Soul Hunting Town and had access to proper facilities, Yang Ming naturally found a female physician to treat Zhu Zhuqing.

Yang Ming explained to the somewhat puzzled Zhu Zhuqing,

"So many days have passed. It's time for you to have a thorough examination."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded at that. Yang Ming left the room, giving the two women their privacy.

Half an hour later, Zhu Zhuqing's door opened, and the female physician stepped out. Yang Ming went forward and asked,

"How are her injuries?"

The female physician replied with a faint smile,

"Young Master, there's no need to worry. Her wounds have almost completely healed. She should recover fully in two or three days."

This young man is handsome and considerate. He'll definitely be devoted to his wife in the future!

After hearing the female physician's words, Yang Ming nodded. He paid the consultation fee and then saw the physician out of the suite.

"Creak~"

Not long afterward, the door to Zhu Zhuqing's room opened, and Zhu Zhuqing walked out.

After seeing the female physician off, Yang Ming turned around and saw Zhu Zhuqing, who had only just finished treatment and still had a faint flush on her face. He found her rather stunning and pleasing to the eye. He then spoke gently.

"The physician said you'll be completely recovered in two or three days."

"Congratulations! Your serious injuries are nearly healed!"

Zhu Zhuqing replied as well.

"Thank you!"

Her gratitude was clearly more sincere than the last time, probably because she had seen Yang Ming's attitude toward her: a strange combination of indifference and concern. He had not shown himself for seven days, yet he had found a female physician to treat her, even though Yang Ming himself could have treated her.

Yang Ming merely said "You're welcome" again and began speaking of serious matters.

"The week is up. There are two things I'd like to ask you about."

Zhu Zhuqing said nothing and quietly waited for him to continue.

"The first concerns what we discussed before—your older sister sending you away. Do you still need me to explain it to you?"

When Yang Ming mentioned Zhu Zhuyun, a complicated look appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's cool face. This time, however, her eyes were no longer lifeless. They held a trace of gratitude and helplessness: gratitude that her sister had allowed her to survive until now, and helplessness at being born into the powerful Zhu Family yet living like a prisoner.

After Yang Ming's guidance, Zhu Zhuqing began to reevaluate the love and hatred between herself and Zhu Zhuyun over the years. Looking at it from the perspective of a third party, she reinterpreted the cold life she had once believed she was living. To her surprise, beneath that coldness, she discovered a hidden warmth she had never noticed.

Ever since Zhu Zhuqing had been conferred the title of Imperial Consort, she had no idea how many times Zhu Zhuyun had tried to assassinate her. Yet every time—even when Zhu Zhuqing herself had despaired and believed death was certain, in situations more dangerous than this occasion when she had been shot and lost a great deal of blood—she would somehow find a flaw in Zhu Zhuyun's arrangements or receive help from some "benefactor," escaping certain death.

In the past, Zhu Zhuqing had simply thought that she was lucky. She had believed that Zhu Zhuyun's assassinations were solely intended to secure the position of Crown Princess and kill her younger sister for the sake of her own life. But looking back now, those assassinations seemed more like attempts to temper Zhu Zhuqing's character, help her adapt to the cruelty of the Soul Master World, and make her see the darkness of the world clearly.

With the sisters' talents being roughly equal, Zhu Zhuyun was seven years older than Zhu Zhuqing. Since they had received the same education, Zhu Zhuqing would have found it extremely difficult to defeat her sister, and the eventual outcome could almost be predicted. If both sisters wanted to survive, one of them had to leave.

After understanding everything, Zhu Zhuqing looked toward Star Luo City with a complicated expression. Then she sighed and said to Yang Ming,

"No need. I understand what Big Sister meant now."

Hearing Zhu Zhuqing's form of address for Zhu Zhuyun—Big Sister—Yang Ming thought, She's figured it out, then. Seeing this, he asked Zhu Zhuqing about the second matter.

"Is that so? You understand now?"

"If that's the case, what are you planning to do next? If you need my help, just ask."

Zhu Zhuqing was somewhat lost when she heard the question. The reason she had originally fled the Star Luo Empire was to find the fiancé who had abandoned her and saved himself, to see whether he had cultivated properly over the years and whether the two of them could fight their way to survival together. But now that she understood Big Sister's intentions, did she still need to find that man?

Zhu Zhuqing did not know. She answered Yang Ming's question while also wanting to hear what this outsider thought of the matter.

"I originally intended to go to Shrek Academy."

Boom!

When he heard the words "Shrek Academy," a sudden clap of thunder exploded in Yang Ming's mind. He seemed to see the apocalyptic scene from when the Atlas Spear had awakened once more, and this time, he saw a few more fragmented details that had been absent before. Yang Ming saw that, within that scene, the golden figure he had possessed—a radiant figure clad in golden armor and resembling a god of war—seemed to have said something to someone at the end, something like, "For the sake of Shrek Academy, live on." Yang Ming could also sense that Shrek Academy and that person were both extremely important to "him" and to himself!

When Yang Ming thought of this, it felt as though his entire emotional system had completely lost control. Guilt, longing, sorrow, profound love, and countless other emotions surged forth all at once, instantly breaking through Yang Ming's defenses and causing two clear tears to slide unconsciously from the corners of his eyes.

Yang Ming found these inexplicable emotions unfamiliar. Before this, he had not even heard of Shrek Academy, yet this academy had stirred his heartstrings.

He did not know where these emotions had come from, nor where they would take him!

When Zhu Zhuqing saw Yang Ming suddenly shed tears, she was also stunned and could not continue speaking for a moment.

P.S. For a sentimental person like Yang Ming, if he isn't going to marry her, he shouldn't flirt with her. He should keep his distance! His memory awakening is connected to Shrek and that person—Ya Li!

The female lead has been decided as Ya Li, but Guantou wants to change her Martial Soul. Is she bound to the Angel of Hope? I'd like to hear what all you esteemed readers think.

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