A Grass Chicken Craving Swan Meat

The battle with the Shrek Seven Devils did not excite the Imperial Fighting Team for long. Everyone felt that victory had been only natural, as easy as drinking water. Aside from Tang San, the "Thousand Hand Asura," who had some skill, the other Six Freaks had talents not much different from those of the Imperial Fighting Team, and some were even far inferior.

The Imperial Fighting Team had already completed the goal Qin Ming had set for them at Heaven Dou Royal Academy: every member had successfully obtained a Silver Soul Fighter Badge. Thus, they decided to spend a few more days enjoying themselves in Suotuo City before setting off for Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

However, as a certain great man had once said, people's joys and sorrows were not mutually shared.

In contrast to the Imperial Fighting Team's carefree life, Tang San, who had been unconscious for two days and two nights, spent the next several days seriously questioning his life.

"Why did I lose?! I, Tang San, was an outstanding disciple of the Tang Sect in my previous life, the maker of the Buddha Fury Tang Lotus, a genius the Tang Sect saw only once in a century! In this life, I possess Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power. I even took the renowned Master, whose theories are unrivaled across the continent, as my teacher. I am a peerless chosen son of heaven—so why did I lose to a swan, and lose so miserably?!"

After waking up, Tang San spent every day holed up in his dormitory at Shrek Academy, recovering from his injuries. His arm began to heal slowly after treatment. But what drove Tang San to despair most was that his Eight Spider Lances could never be used again. Xue Ke had pulled every last one of them out.

Tang San had sunk into isolation these past few days. His face was deathly pale, his eye sockets deeply sunken, his gaze hollow and lifeless. Yu Xiaogang felt both heartache and fury at the sight.

"Little San, victory and defeat are commonplace in battle. No one can remain undefeated forever. This defeat is also a precious experience in your life. As long as you learn from it, know shame and strive harder, I believe that in the near future, you will surpass every member of the Imperial Fighting Team in all aspects and become a mighty figure renowned throughout the continent."

"Little San, although you no longer have the Eight Spider Lances, don't forget that you still have your second martial soul! In the future, cultivate your Blue Silver Grass martial soul to the rank of Soul Sage, or even Titled Douluo, then cultivate your second martial soul. By then, the soul rings of your second martial soul will start at least at ten thousand years. A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years. The humiliation Xue Ke inflicted upon you today will surely be washed away by you someday."

Hearing this, Tang San, whose eye sockets were deeply sunken, suddenly brightened. At last, a trace of life returned to his eyes. He summoned the entirely black little hammer from his left hand and stared at it for a long time. Then Tang San clenched his fists and thought hatefully, Xue Ke, just wait! Not only did you hurt Xiao Wu, you also trampled ruthlessly upon my dignity and threw my heart into chaos. You have already earned your death. One day, I will crush you beneath my feet and make you beg for life while unable to die!

Shrek Academy Headmaster's Office.

After catching up with Flender and Zhao Wuji, Qin Ming walked out with a beaming face. Ma Hongjun, who had been waiting nearby for a long time, hurried over. The fat on his face trembled as he smiled obsequiously. "Senior Qin Ming, are you leaving already? Won't you stay a little longer? How about I escort you back today?"

Qin Ming gave Ma Hongjun a puzzled look, then laughed and scolded, "Stop beating around the bush. Tell me, what exactly are you after?"

"Hehehe!" Ma Hongjun awkwardly scratched his fiery red hair, his face flushing slightly.

"Senior, as the saying goes, a graceful lady is a gentleman's fair pursuit. I'm not young anymore. Though I've already had several girlfriends, I've never liked a girl as much as I do now. It was love at first sight. My feelings for her run as deep as the sea, and I simply can't restrain them..."

"Wait, stop! What are you trying to say? What does the girl you like have to do with me?" Qin Ming waved his hand, stopping Ma Hongjun from continuing. Then, as if struck by a thought, he asked with a shocked expression, "Don't tell me you've taken a fancy to one of the girls on our Imperial Fighting Team! Are you serious?"

Ma Hongjun nodded heavily, looking at Qin Ming with a face full of longing.

Qin Ming patted Ma Hongjun on the shoulder and advised him with concern, "Junior, listen to your senior's advice. Dugu Yan isn't someone you can pursue. Her grandfather is Poison Douluo Dugu Bo. He has an unpredictable temper and probably won't think much of you. Besides, she and Yu Tianheng from our team were together for a time. Although I don't know what happened between them to make them so distant lately, she still isn't a girl you can pursue."

Qin Ming looked deeply pained, as though he hated to see iron fail to become steel.

"Uh... Senior, you misunderstood. The one I like isn't Dugu Yan. She's poisonous all over. I can't avoid her fast enough—how could I possibly like her?" Ma Hongjun spread his hands helplessly.

"Could it be Ye Lingling that you like? That's not impossible, though Ye Lingling is rather aloof. She isn't even willing to exchange more than a few words with people. Pursuing her might be just a tiny bit difficult."

Ma Hongjun shook his head again. Lowering his head, too afraid to meet Qin Ming's eyes, he said quietly, "Um, Senior, the one I like is actually..."

"Not the seductive Dugu Yan, nor the aloof Ye Lingling..." A delicate little girl's face immediately surfaced in Qin Ming's mind, carrying both a hint of wicked charm and a hint of wild arrogance. His jaw nearly dropped in shock as he asked with a slight tremble, "Y-you're not telling me that the one you like is Princess Xue Ke, are you?!"

Ma Hongjun nodded seriously and asked tentatively, "Senior, could you tell me which hotel your Imperial Fighting Team is staying at? I want to go find her."

At that moment, Ma Hongjun's idea made Qin Ming's head buzz. A very fitting phrase involuntarily surfaced in his mind:

A toad craving swan meat.

No, it should be a grass chicken craving swan meat.

"My dear junior, you really dare to dream! Why are you so determined to make things hard for yourself?! Of all people, you had to fall for Princess Xue Ke, the 'Little Witch.' Could it be that you have some special fetish?" Qin Ming simply could not understand.

"And with that face of yours... not only are you a pile of fat, you also look like a lecherous pig. Who gave you the confidence and courage to pursue Princess Xue Ke?" Of course, Qin Ming did not dare say such things to Ma Hongjun's face, afraid of ruining his image as a "kind-hearted" senior in his junior's eyes.

Because of the flaws in his martial soul, Ma Hongjun had taken many girlfriends over the years to keep his evil fire from endangering his life. Under the introduction of Dai Mubai, the Evil Eye Silver Tiger, he had also become quite familiar with many older women at the pleasure houses. But deep down, what Ma Hongjun wanted was a girl close to his own age.

That day beneath the Soul Fighting Arena, Ma Hongjun had personally witnessed Xue Ke utterly defeat Tang San, who had even caused Teacher Zhao Wuji trouble, as though a heavenly god had descended to earth.

Looking at her valiant figure atop the Soul Fighting Arena, her silver short hair fluttering in the wind, her deep yet mischievous eyes, the wicked and arrogant air that did not match her age, and her childish, tender fair little face, Ma Hongjun found that strange contrast—seemingly mature yet full of childish innocence—irresistibly captivating. Xue Ke shone with such charm on the arena that Ma Hongjun could not help falling deeply in love with her.

Ma Hongjun had already secretly made up his mind during that match. He would definitely win Xue Ke over. He had never liked a girl this much before.

Xue Ke: Sigh, this damned charm!

I have special plans for the part where I wrote Ma Hongjun pursuing Xue Ke. Please be patient and keep reading.