Uncle Great Sausage

A rare smile appeared on the old man's face. "He really is a little monster. Mubai, take him inside."

"Yes." Dai Mubai came forward and smiled at Tang San, though his gaze still seemed fixed on somewhere behind him.

Led by Dai Mubai, Tang San entered Shrek Academy—the village itself—with him.

Dai Mubai said, "I knew you'd pass easily. The later tests shouldn't be a problem either." As he spoke, he could not help glancing back toward the academy entrance.

Tang San laughed. "What are you looking at? Thinking of preying on another girl?"

Dai Mubai said, "No. I sensed that the aura around that girl is very similar to mine. Not merely similar—it also feels like we complement each other. Among Martial Souls, it is extremely difficult to encounter one that complements your own. But once you do, if you join forces, the power of your Martial Souls can multiply. That is what they call a Martial Soul Fusion Skill."

Tang San assumed a thoughtful expression. "Then does that mean that girl's Martial Soul might also be a White Tiger?"

A trace of embarrassment appeared on Dai Mubai's face. "Maybe."

After entering the village, all they could see were wooden buildings. Simple and plain were the most fitting words to describe the architecture here.

Before long, Dai Mubai led them to an open area surrounded by wooden houses. It was roughly five hundred square meters in size and lay right at the center of Shrek Academy.

The candidates who had passed the first test were up ahead. Distinct Soul Power fluctuations made the air tremble irregularly.

Dai Mubai pointed at the candidates waiting in line ahead. "You'll take the second test here. The teacher will tell you what to do. I still need to go back outside and take a look. If that girl's Martial Soul truly is compatible with mine, then no matter what, I have to win her over."

With that, Dai Mubai hurried off. Tang San followed his instructions and went to line up behind the other candidates.

Just then, a soft, limp-sounding voice rang out.

"Sausages for sale, sausages for sale! Come take a look, don't miss out as you pass by! Oscar Brand Sausages—delicious and sweet! Cheap prices and generous portions! Only five copper coins each! Eat an Oscar Brand Sausage, and I guarantee you'll have an easier time passing the entrance exam."

Tang San turned his head and saw someone nearby pushing a cart and calling out his wares. Waves of meaty fragrance drifted from the cart, and some of the students in line had already gone over to buy some.

The man standing behind the cart wore simple gray clothes and had neatly cropped hair, along with a face full of thick beard. Yet he had a pair of large, amorous eyes that kept drifting toward the girls among the candidates. It was hard to believe that such a soft, limp-sounding voice came from the mouth of such a rugged-looking man.

Tang San walked toward the cart. Up close, he could see that the sausage seller was about the same height as himself. A wooden board was nailed to the cart, carved with four words: Sausage Specialty.

The seller immediately greeted him warmly when he saw someone approach. "Want a sausage? Oscar Brand Sausages—fair prices for young and old alike. The taste is absolutely guaranteed."

Tang San smiled. "Uncle, could I have one?"

The seller's expression suddenly stiffened. "Y-You... what did you call me?"

Tang San was stunned as well. "I called you uncle. Is there a problem?"

The seller smiled bitterly. "Of course there's a problem. A huge problem. Brother, I'm only fourteen this year, yet you called me uncle?"

"Uh, you're only fourteen?" Tang San stared at the man before him in surprise.

The seller answered firmly, "That's right. My name is Oscar, I'm fourteen years old, and I'm a first-year student of Shrek Academy. You can't call me uncle just because I have a little more body hair, can you?"

Tang San was speechless. Looking at Oscar's thick beard, he thought to himself, That is far more than just a little extra hair.

"Are you really only fourteen?" Tang San could not help asking.

Oscar nodded firmly. "Of course. I'm a student here. Ask anyone, and they'll tell you I'm fourteen."

Tang San thought to himself, It really is an academy for monsters. A fourteen-year-old boy whose beard has grown to this extent is definitely an oddity.

Oscar took two bamboo skewers from his cart and handed Tang San two sausages, each a full ten centimeters long. They had been roasting over the charcoal brazier on the cart, giving off a rich aroma.

Tang San took out a silver coin and handed it to him. "Senior, I'm really sorry. I was rude just now."

Oscar replied in his soft voice, "It's fine. Just come visit my Sausage Specialty more often in the future."

Tang San agreed readily. "No problem."

"Tang San, what are you doing?" Dai Mubai came over with the last two students to register—the cold girl he had been staring at for quite some time earlier, and another girl.

The moment Oscar saw Dai Mubai, his face immediately filled with misery. "Boss Dai, want a sausage?"

"Get lost." Dai Mubai shot him an annoyed glare. "You're embarrassing the academy. I seem to have warned you more than once not to sell sausages inside the academy. Do you want everyone to throw up? Tang San, you can't eat that sausage."

Tang San asked in confusion, "Why not?"

The expression on Dai Mubai's face became somewhat strange. "Xiao Ao, make a fresh sausage."

Oscar's expression immediately turned awkward. "Boss Dai, there's no need, right? We've been classmates for years. You'll make the new junior brother resent me like this."