Zhu Zhuqing

The next day

After resting for a day, Tang San and Xiao Wu arrived at the entrance of Shrek Academy full of energy.

Looking at the small village before them and its dilapidated gate plaque, both Tang San and Xiao Wu fell silent.

"Third Brother, is this really Shrek?"

Xiao Wu tugged on Tang San's sleeve and asked uncertainly.

"It should be..."

Tang San was not entirely sure either.

Although Shrek was remote and small, there was an unusually long queue.

After the people ahead of them were eliminated one after another, it was Tang San and Xiao Wu's turn.

"Not bad. Go in."

After undergoing the bone-age examination, Tang San was allowed through as well.

"It's him!"

Tang San thought when he saw Dai Mubai. After all, being knocked down by Ryotaro's punch yesterday had truly sent a chill through him.

"Oh, it's you two. Looks like you passed too. Ryotaro is waiting for you over there, so you can head to the next test together."

Dai Mubai had no idea what Ryotaro had gone through, but the two seemed to have a decent relationship now. Seeing Tang San, he called out to him and told him to proceed to the next test.

Tang San, however, maintained his principle of not acknowledging or caring about Ryotaro, so he paid no attention to the Ryotaro Dai Mubai mentioned.

Instead, the two people nearby caught Dai Mubai's attention.

"Alright, now that I've brought you here, I can leave."

A tall, handsome man spoke to the black-haired girl.

"Mm..."

The black-haired girl was naturally Zhu Zhuqing. Though she verbally agreed, her small hand still tugged at his sleeve.

"I'm kidding. Didn't we agree to fulfill your dream together? I'll stay with you and keep going until the end!"

The tall, handsome man—or rather, Qian Qiao—said sincerely.

Even the normally silent Zhu Zhuqing could not help laughing. After all, Qian Qiao, who had always been like a block of wood, had actually learned to joke.

When Zhu Zhuqing smiled, she was like ice melted beneath the sun, returning to how she was meant to be.

At that moment, the sunlight seemed to magically fall evenly across Zhu Zhuqing's face. In that instant, Qian Qiao's once-unmoved heart stirred again.

"What is it?"

Zhu Zhuqing asked as she looked at the motionless Qian Qiao before her.

"Nothing. I got lost looking at you just now. You should smile more—you're really beautiful!"

Smile gave a thumbs-up.

Qian Qiao's sincere words made Zhu Zhuqing blush.

At that moment, the two looked just like a young couple openly showing off their affection.

Neither of them realized how perfectly matched they looked to outsiders, or how much public affection they were displaying.

"Third Brother, I feel like I'm already full."

Xiao Wu tugged on Tang San's sleeve and complained.

"Mm."

Tang San also felt as though his stomach was full of dog food.

At that moment, someone appeared whom no one but Tang San had expected.

"Zhuqing? You're Zhuqing!"

As Dai Mubai looked at Zhu Zhuqing, his expression went from unfamiliarity to confusion, then suspicion, and finally a hint of anger.

Dai Mubai was now certain that she was his fiancée, Zhu Zhuqing.

Yet Zhu Zhuqing merely shot Dai Mubai a cold sideways glance before no longer paying him any attention.

Zhu Zhuqing's meaning was obvious: I already belong to someone.

To Dai Mubai, who thought he understood Zhu Zhuqing, this was like a bolt from the blue. After all, Zhu Zhuqing's cold pride was famous throughout the Star Luo Empire.

And now, the cold and proud Zhu Zhuqing was standing beside Qian Qiao like a little wife, one arm linked with his. This was something Dai Mubai, who regarded Zhu Zhuqing as his possession, simply could not accept.

Though his strength was mediocre and he was unwilling to work hard, though he wanted to run whenever he encountered setbacks, and though he had truly abandoned his fiancée and fled under countless watchful eyes.

And although he had not endured hardship here, instead spending the money he had brought from Star Luo on wine, women, and pleasure, living freely and comfortably.

But Dai Mubai still believed himself to be a good man, while Zhu Zhuqing was actually getting all cozy in broad daylight with some man he, Dai Mubai, did not even know.

Dai Mubai only felt as though he had been saddled with an enormous green hat.

And after Zhu Zhuqing realized that he had recognized her as Zhu Zhuqing, his fiancée, she still did not seem to want anything to do with him.

Then I, Dai Mubai, would be unhappy again.

"Strange, why 'again'?"

Dai Mubai was puzzled. Kintaros gave a thumbs-up.

"Zhuqing, I advise you to leave that man!"

All in all, Dai Mubai still felt the slightest bit guilty toward Zhu Zhuqing, so his tone was somewhat more restrained.

"You don't deserve to call me Zhuqing!"

Zhu Zhuqing felt only grievance and anger. She had suffered so much, yet the first thing Dai Mubai said to her was to tell her to leave Qian Qiao.

Naturally, Zhu Zhuqing would not agree.

"So he's the Dai Mubai you told me about, Zhuqing?"

Qian Qiao looked at Dai Mubai with utter displeasure. Everything about him rubbed Qian Qiao the wrong way.

"Mm."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded.

Seeing Zhu Zhuqing interacting with Qian Qiao, Dai Mubai stopped thinking altogether.

"Zhuqing, Zhuqing!"

Dai Mubai's mind went completely blank. Whenever he went out before, all he needed to do was display his Soul Rings and lose himself amid cries of "Lord Soul Master." As a result, Dai Mubai himself had poor emotional intelligence and had no idea what he should say at this moment.

So Dai Mubai decided to act directly.

Thus, Dai Mubai made his move, intending to grab Zhu Zhuqing's arm and yank her away from Qian Qiao.

At that moment, Qian Qiao, seeing Dai Mubai move, acted as well.

Like a vise, he tightly gripped the pig hoof Dai Mubai had extended, leaving Dai Mubai unable to move.

"Move!"

Dai Mubai felt as though his hand had been seized by Immovable King Zhao Wuji.

Even using all his strength, Dai Mubai could not break free. Veins bulged across his face.

Seeing that the other man's wrist remained completely unmoved, Dai Mubai began to use his Soul Power.

"Up!"

Dai Mubai used his Soul Power. Even with his strength multiplied several times by its enhancement, he still could not harm the other man in the slightest.

"What?!"

Running into Kintaros had already been humiliating enough, but now, even after Dai Mubai used all his Soul Power, the other man's wrist was completely unaffected.

"It's fine. He's older than me!"

Looking at Qian Qiao's tall figure, Dai Mubai naturally did not think the other man was some thirteen-year-old genius his own age who had come to enroll at Shrek.

After all, this guy was eight? Jiang Wen face.jpg

Dai Mubai consoled himself inwardly.

"What does this have to do with you? This is between Zhuqing and me! Zhuqing, Zhuqing, listen to my explanation!"

Dai Mubai could no longer console himself. Who was he? He was Dai Mubai, Young Master Dai!

Thus, Dai Mubai arrogantly snapped at Qian Qiao. In Dai Mubai's eyes, this was a matter between himself and Zhu Zhuqing, and Qian Qiao had no business getting involved.

This was an internal matter of the Star Luo Empire. This was also the message Dai Mubai was sending Zhu Zhuqing: Qian Qiao was not to interfere in their affairs.

"Qiao, let him go."

Zhu Zhuqing's words carried weight. Qian Qiao immediately released Dai Mubai's hand.

"Dai Mubai, let me tell you this: I came here to join Shrek, not for you. From now on, I don't want to have anything to do with you."

After saying that, Zhu Zhuqing fell silent for a moment before continuing, "Including what's happening there, I'll resolve it together with Qian Qiao!"

As she spoke, Zhu Zhuqing felt Qian Qiao's warm hand clasp hers. It was as though, with that hand in hers, she had gained the courage to face anything.

And so Zhu Zhuqing found the courage to say to Dai Mubai.