Zhu Zhuqing Falls

The next morning, at dawn.

Rose Hotel, top floor, noble suite.

Inside the bedroom.

Sunlight squeezed through the gaps in the curtains, spilling warmth across the bed.

Suddenly, Zhou Chen, who had been sleeping, stirred slightly and opened his eyes. His star-bright gaze seemed to contain the entire universe.

His Heavenly Vision Earthly Hearing Technique had already detected that there was an extra person in the suite's living room.

Fortunately, it was one of his own.

Throwing back the covers, Zhou Chen carefully propped himself up, afraid of disturbing Zhu Zhuqing, who was still sleeping peacefully beside him.

The events of last night had left them both physically and emotionally exhausted, yet from that moment on, they had become inseparable, with no distinction between them.

Seemingly sensing movement beside her, the sleeping Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly. Her long lashes trembled as though she were about to wake up the next instant.

Fortunately, she merely turned over and fell asleep again.

After tucking the blanket around Zhu Zhuqing once more, Zhou Chen lightly leaped from the bed and washed up in the attached bathroom.

Then, he quietly opened the bedroom door and entered the living room.

"Palace Master."

The moment he saw Zhou Chen, Xiao Chenyu, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately dropped to one knee and said respectfully, "This subordinate came without permission. Please punish me, Palace Master."

"No matter."

Zhou Chen waved a hand, then walked to the balcony in the living room and opened the window, allowing the crisp, fragrant morning air to flow into the room.

With his hands clasped behind his back, Zhou Chen faced the sunlight with his back to Xiao Chenyu and said blandly, "How did the matter go?"

"Dai Mubai has been dealt with."

Xiao Chenyu rose to his feet and replied quietly.

"Good."

Zhou Chen nodded. Turning to look at Xiao Chenyu's pale face and mysterious aura, he suddenly raised a brow. "Your strength seems to have grown considerably since yesterday. You appear to have reached level 53... Did you drink human blood?"

"This subordinate deserves death!"

At Zhou Chen's question, cold sweat instantly streamed down Xiao Chenyu's back. He dropped to one knee again and said, "Since cultivating the Blood Demon Art, this subordinate has mostly subsisted on deer blood, cow blood, and duck blood. Only after killing enemies of Purple Micro Palace do I make use of the waste and drink some human blood... This subordinate would never slaughter innocents indiscriminately."

"It seems Dai Mubai's bloodline, inherited from the million-year quasi-divine beast Evil Eye White Tiger, was put to use by you."

Zhou Chen looked at him with some amusement. "I'm not some rigid moralist. Drinking an enemy's blood is fine, but do not harm the innocent. Do you still remember the creed of Purple Micro Palace?"

"I remember."

At those words, Xiao Chenyu's expression immediately turned solemn, and a hint of fervor entered his voice. "Purple Micro Palace shall employ the heavenly canon to unfold the stars, wield the earthly latitude to command heaven and earth, spread the righteous path, and bring prosperity to all under heaven!"

"Correct."

Zhou Chen nodded and said slowly, "Purple Micro Palace stands firm for the righteous path and carries out the will of Heaven. I hope you will not lose your way because of this cultivation method."

"You may leave. You have worked hard following me these past days."

With that, Zhou Chen waved his hand. Xiao Chenyu immediately rose and jumped straight out of the window, quietly departing.

"Dai Mubai is dead..."

Zhou Chen sighed. He truly did not want to kill anyone, but there were always people seeking death themselves.

If the Star Luo Royal Family had not repeatedly sent people to kill him, and if Dai Mubai had not been so domineering and cold-blooded, attacking him the moment they met, Zhou Chen would not have so swiftly cut him down and killed Dai Mubai.

After all, Zhou Chen was a kind and lovable boy.

Knock, knock!

Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Immediately afterward, Tang San's voice came from outside. "Chen Ge, Xiao Wu and I are going to register at Shrek Academy. Are you coming with us?"

"We're going!"

The door to one bedroom flew open, and Ning Rongrong's cheerful figure immediately flashed out. Who knew when the little girl had awakened? Hopefully, she had not heard the conversation between him and Xiao Chenyu just now.

The bedroom Zhou Chen had just left also slowly opened, and Zhu Zhuqing walked out while rubbing her eyes, still drowsy.

"Get ready to leave," Zhou Chen said gently.

"Okay."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded and returned to the bedroom to get dressed.

Very soon, the group of five went downstairs, boarded the luxurious carriage specially provided by the hotel for its distinguished guests, and headed for Shrek Academy.

The carriage left Suotuo City through the south gate and traveled southward. Vast stretches of farmland lined the road; after all, its reputation as the City of Grain was not undeserved.

"Why are we outside the city? Is Shrek Academy outside the city?"

Xiao Wu was somewhat puzzled. Logically speaking, an elite institution like a soul master academy should be located in one of the city's most prosperous areas.

"Young miss, Shrek Academy is in the village ahead. There's no mistake."

The coachman, who had been driving outside the carriage, replied.

He was a local and knew everything inside and outside Suotuo City like the back of his hand.

He could not understand why such a wealthy group of children wanted to attend Shrek, that poor and run-down soul master academy which the locals avoided like the plague.

Perhaps that was just how outsiders were.

Over an hour later.

Everyone in the carriage was nearly asleep when it suddenly came to a stop. Then the coachman's voice sounded again. "Young masters and young ladies, we've arrived."

"We're here!"

"Get out, quick!"

Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong, the two little rays of sunshine, eagerly jumped out of the carriage. Then they froze in confusion.

Not far ahead stood a small village that appeared to be packed with people.

The houses in the village looked quite dilapidated. Above the wooden archway at the village entrance hung a tattered signboard. On its left was the head of a green humanoid monster, while five crooked characters were carved in the center:

Shrek Academy.