Three Months

"Xiao San, what's wrong?"

Dai Mubai stopped as well, looking at Tang San in confusion.

"Ten laps is no short distance. Hurry up and run."

Tang San said, "Mubai, do you remember? Before we set off, Teacher said that we are a whole. He wants us to complete this punishment together.

"In terms of stamina, perhaps you and I can endure it, but they might not.

"Still, everyone must complete this trial together. Fighting alone isn't realistic."

Dai Mubai slowly nodded. "That's probably true. Once they catch up, let's discuss it first."

Before long, the five behind them caught up. Tang San explained his thoughts on today's punishment once more.

Oscar gave a bitter smile. "I'm probably one of the people whose load exceeds their limits. Rongrong too."

They had only run two kilometers, yet he could already feel the bamboo basket on his back growing heavier. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and with such a long distance still ahead, Oscar knew he definitely would not be able to endure it.

The fat Ma Hongjun said carelessly, "Why don't we cheat?

"Let's secretly eat one of Xiao Ao's Recovery Sausages. What's there to fear about lacking stamina?"

"Very good! Ma Hongjun attempted to cheat. Everyone, one hundred push-ups!"

Bai Ge wore camouflage fatigues, sunglasses on his face, and carried a large metal loudspeaker in one hand.

Since this outfit did not include a gun, it counted as everyday supplies. Like cola and other such things, it could be bought with Gold Coins through the system. Bai Ge had gotten himself a full set; life needed a little sense of ceremony.

"Xiao Bai, you can't be serious, can you?" Dai Mubai's face was full of bitterness.

"Brother Xiao Bai~~" Ning Rongrong called out in a sugary voice, sweet enough to make one sick. She hugged Bai Ge's arm and pressed her whole body against him, wriggling about.

"Damn!" Ma Hongjun and Oscar gaped, while Dai Mubai's eyes widened as well. "Who could withstand that?!"

Unfortunately, Bai Ge had inherited the Golden Saint Cloth, and his Spiritual Power was powerful enough to interfere with physical reality and perform Teleportation. How could such a minor scene possibly shake his resolve?

Besides, with Ning Rongrong as flat as she was right now, Bai Ge truly felt nothing.

It might have worked if it had been Qian Renxue instead.

Seeing that her beauty trap had failed, Ning Rongrong retreated dejectedly.

The seven obediently began doing push-ups.

As Xiao Wu worked, she glared at Ma Hongjun through gritted teeth. "You damned fatty, you've gotten us killed this time!"

The others also fixed Ma Hongjun with looks that nearly killed him!

Meanwhile, Bai Ge lounged in a chair with one leg crossed over the other, drinking iced cola in complete comfort.

After they finally finished, Bai Ge added, "Continue. Two hundred sit-ups.

"Tang San and Xiao Wu, one pair. Rongrong and Zhuqing, one pair. Fatty, hold Oscar's feet. As for Brother Dai... Teacher Zhao, I'll have to trouble you."

"Hehe, don't worry, Xiao Bai. Leave it to me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Wuji leaped out from the bushes nearby.

Dai Mubai could not take it anymore. "Xiao Bai, are you even a brother?

"Why do Xiao San and Xiao Wu get to be a pair, while I can't be paired with Zhuqing?"

"What nonsense are you spouting? Do you have some complaint against me?"

Before Bai Ge could speak, Zhao Wuji flew into a rage. Then, he dragged Dai Mubai into the small woods nearby...

Once the sit-ups were done, it was followed by two hours of horse stance training.

Squats, frog jumps, pull-ups, weighted swimming drills, crunches...

In short, over the course of three months, Bai Ge put the Shrek Academy Seven Devils through every training exercise for special forces and assassins that he had seen in television dramas, movies, and military-channel documentaries in his previous life—except for unnecessary things like SERE training and eating bugs.

And the worst part was that they had dug the mud pit for training themselves.

Still, Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong had Tang San and Bai Ge use their inner strength or Cosmos to massage them every night, so they had it comparatively much better.

Bai Ge had also contributed Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid for medicinal baths.

Only Zhu Zhuqing was left alone in an empty room.

Fortunately, after three days, Dai Mubai finally caught on. He studied under Tang San for a week and grasped some basics.

His technique was rough, but it was still better than nothing.

As a prince of Star Luo, Dai Mubai had been willing to put aside his pride and give so much for Zhu Zhuqing. That was enough to prove his sincerity. Under the influence of Bai Ge and Tang San, he had gradually begun to change.

Douluo Continent was not Earth. Here, it was common for princes of every nation to have multiple wives and concubines.

By their moral standards—indeed, by the moral standards of the entire Douluo Continent—this was not wrong.

The former Dai Mubai could not see the slightest hope of surpassing his elder brother. He would not live past thirty, so it was understandable that he had given himself over to indulgence.

Even Zhu Zhuqing only hated that Dai Mubai had left her behind without saying goodbye, instead of taking her with him.

She had even traveled thousands of miles in search of her husband, pursuing him all the way to Shrek Academy.

Awake, he wielded the Murdering Sword; drunk, he lay in a beauty's embrace. He would not betray the carefree freedom of this life.

Bai Ge had never claimed to be a good man.

It was simply that the woman he loved was Qian Renxue. As for Ning Rongrong, after she became Sword Douluo's disciple, their frequent interactions led him to treat her like a younger sister and spoil her constantly. Over time, Ning Rongrong developed feelings for him, and with several elders fanning the flames, their sibling-like affection eventually changed.

Meng Yiran had been even more unexpected. Yet Bai Ge would certainly take responsibility for her to the end.

Who could ever make sense of matters of the heart?

Could Bai Ge really stand by and watch Meng Yiran and Ning Rongrong become mere piles of yellow earth a hundred years from now?

The three months finally passed.

Oscar buried himself in bed and slept in.

Bai Ge and Tang San continued meditating and cultivating as usual.

Since Zhu Zhuqing insisted on continuing to train her physical foundation, Dai Mubai voluntarily asked to accompany her.

Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong had been exhausted long ago, so they decided to take advantage of these seven days to rest properly.

Only Ma Hongjun could not sit still. He had complained the most during the devilish training, but the moment the break began, the fatty immediately slipped out of the academy and went to Suotuo City to deal with his personal needs.

That was why Bai Ge had never thought highly of him.

In terms of perseverance, he was actually inferior even to Rongrong and the other three girls.

Before they knew it, night had fallen. Tang San and Bai Ge were preparing to head to the cafeteria when they suddenly spotted a sneaky figure on the road.

"Huh? That's not right!" Bai Ge looked closer. Wasn't that the fatty?

Why was he covering his face and walking so quickly?

"Fatty, why are you walking so fast?"

Bai Ge strode over and slapped Ma Hongjun on the shoulder.

When Ma Hongjun raised his head, Bai Ge was so startled that he took a step back. "Wait, who the hell are you?"

Ma Hongjun, whose face was swollen like a pig's head, spoke in a muffled voice. "Brother Xiao Bai, it's me, Ma Hongjun."

"Wait, Fatty, is that really you?"

Tang San spoke up tentatively from the side. It was nothing else—the man's face was so swollen that they truly could not tell what he had originally looked like.

"It really is me," Ma Hongjun said with a mournful face.