After receiving Tang San's telepathic message, Da Ming and Er Ming didn't dare slack off in the slightest and set off at once.
Since Wang Dong'er had already left for Shrek Academy to register, just as Tang San had originally planned, they needed to get there as soon as possible.
The two of them transformed into streaks of light and sped through the sky.
The wind howled past their ears. As he flew, Er Ming couldn't help mulling things over. He turned to Da Ming, a conflicted look written all over his rugged face.
"Big brother, what's gotten into Tang San? Why would he throw Xiao Qi into a river for no reason? Is That River the variable Tang San mentioned? But if it is, why throw Xiao Qi in? What if something happens to her..."
Da Ming's expression was grave. He kept his eyes fixed ahead and furrowed his brow slightly at Er Ming's words.
"Tang San has always been unfathomable. It's only natural that we can't figure out what he's thinking."
"But... could Third Brother and Sister Xiao Wu have had a fight? Did he take it out on their kid after an argument between husband and wife? That's just low!"
Er Ming still didn't think it made sense. He scratched his head.
Da Ming glanced at him and shook his head.
"Probably not. You know how Tang San feels about Sister Xiao Wu. He treasures her so much he's afraid she'll break if he holds her too tightly or melt if he keeps her in his mouth. Even if they really had a disagreement, he'd never lay a finger on Xiao Qi."
"Not necessarily."
Er Ming pursed his lips, lowering his voice as if he were afraid the one in the Divine Realm might hear.
"Big brother, did you forget? Tang San's training plan for that kid named Huo Yuhao had Xiao Qi 'die' in front of him several times."
"He said it was to bring out that kid's potential, make him feel guilty, and get him to love Xiao Qi even more devotedly... Tsk, only he could come up with such a cruel plan."
"If he dared to stage a whole 'parting between life and death' drama, then just throwing Xiao Qi into a river doesn't seem... quite so hard to accept, does it?"
Da Ming fell silent.
Er Ming's words might have been crude, but they weren't wrong.
For the sake of his so-called foolproof plan, Tang San really would do anything.
In his way of thinking, as long as the final outcome was good, a little suffering along the way—even sacrificing a bit of family affection—was all for the greater good.
"Stop guessing."
Da Ming sighed, cutting off Er Ming's wild speculation.
"Whatever the reason, since it's his arrangement, we'll do as he says. Perhaps... there really is some great opportunity in that river."
Er Ming hunched his shoulders and muttered under his breath.
"Let's hope so... As long as he doesn't decide to put us through some kind of 'trial' too. These old bones of mine can't take much more."
At the word "trial," both of them changed expressions at the same time, clearly reminded of some unpleasant memories.
They said no more and picked up speed, shooting toward Shrek Academy like meteors chasing the moon.
East Gate of Shrek City.
As the continent's number one academy, Shrek Academy was always packed during registration season.
Wang Dong'er was dressed as a boy, her short pinkish-blue hair lending her a spirited look. Her big eyes were full of curiosity and anticipation about life at the academy.
Thanks to her exceptional talent and letter of recommendation, she had just completed her enrollment.
"I wonder how my two dads are doing back home. Do they miss me?"
Wang Dong'er hummed a tune, in an especially good mood.
But just as she stepped through the city gate—
Boom! Boom!
Two terrifying auras descended from the sky, instantly enveloping the entire gate area.
The pressure made the commoners and low-ranked Soul Masters nearby tremble in fear. Even the guards at the gate collapsed to the ground.
Wang Dong'er froze and looked up, only to see two familiar figures standing in front of her like door gods.
"Da dad? Er dad?!"
Wang Dong'er's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What are you doing here? I've only been gone a few days!"
"This was your father's idea," Da Ming said.
The moment she heard it was Tang San's idea, Wang Dong'er's face fell.
Just then, an angry roar suddenly rang out from within Shrek Academy.
"Outrageous! Who dares cause trouble in Shrek City?!"
With the roar came a disheveled figure, reeking of alcohol and meat. Soon, an old man in a wheelchair emerged.
It was Xuan Zi, Shrek Academy's Taotie Douluo.
Xuan Zi glared with his cloudy old eyes. He still had half a chicken leg in his hand as he pointed at Da Ming and Er Ming and started cursing.
"Where did you two come from? Don't you know the rules of Shrek City? You dare release your pressure and disturb the students? Are you tired of living?!"
"Get out of here, now! Otherwise, this old man will teach you a proper lesson and show you what the rules are!"
Da Ming and Er Ming exchanged glances. They both saw a hint of surprise in the other's eyes, which quickly turned to amusement.
Teach us a lesson?
Had the old man drunk himself stupid on counterfeit booze?
They'd been kings of the Star Dou Great Forest before this old man was even born.
And... he was already in a wheelchair, yet he still wanted to pick a fight?
"Big brother, he says he's going to teach us a lesson."
Er Ming pointed at Xuan Zi, looking amused.
"Mm. I heard him," Da Ming replied calmly.
"Then... let him try."
"Sure thing!"
Er Ming had been itching for a fight. He'd spent all his time at the Clear Sky Sect, with no one to spar with, and he was more than ready to stretch his muscles.
Before the words had even left his mouth, Er Ming's mountain-like frame sprang into motion.
He didn't use any flashy Soul Skills. He simply threw a punch, putting the terrifying strength of the Titan Giant Ape behind it as he struck straight at Xuan Zi.
Xuan Zi barely had time to react before an unstoppable force slammed into him. The half-eaten chicken leg in his hand instantly turned to dust.
"BOOM!!!"
With a thunderous crash, Xuan Zi was sent flying like a cannonball. He smashed through half of the city wall and embedded himself deep in the earth.
"What kind of nobody dares run his mouth in front of us?"
Er Ming dusted off his hands, looking disdainful.
He hadn't even used a tenth of his strength in that punch. He'd been afraid he might kill the old man outright.
The crowd fell deathly silent.
One punch... and he'd sent the legendary Taotie Douluo flying?
What kind of monsters were these two?!
Da Ming ignored the terrified gazes around him. He grabbed Wang Dong'er, who was still in a daze, and vanished with Er Ming in a flash.
The outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Beside the ordinary-looking little river.
Da Ming and Er Ming arrived with Wang Dong'er.
As soon as they landed, their expressions turned grave.
"Is this the river?"
Da Ming narrowed his eyes, thinking to himself.
"There's definitely something strange about it."
He couldn't sense what was in the river.
"Da dad, Er dad, why did you bring me here?"
Wang Dong'er looked at the perfectly ordinary little river before them, utterly confused.
"Are we going fishing?"
Da Ming and Er Ming exchanged glances, both looking a little awkward.
How could they tell her that her biological father had asked them to throw her in?
"Your father said there's an opportunity here for you. He told you to jump in."
An opportunity? What kind of opportunity could there be in a little river?
Still, out of trust, Wang Dong'er straightened her clothes and jumped into the river.
Her pinkish-blue figure disappeared beneath the clear water in an instant.
Da Ming and Er Ming stood on the bank, staring fixedly at the surface of the river, their hearts in their throats.
Please let Xiao Qi be all right.
Before you continue