With me around, that might change

Blond hair and twin pupils?

How could Zhu Zhuqing fail to recognize such obvious traits of the Star Luo Imperial Family?

What she had never expected was that the man she had fled her family to find-the fiancé she had hoped would stand with her against the imperial family's brutal competition-would be holding a pair of twins in his arms.

And from the looks of it, they had just come out of a hotel.

As for what had happened inside the hotel...

Anyone with a functioning brain could imagine it.

Zhu Zhuqing burned with anger and wanted to march up and demand what he had been doing all these years.

But in the end, she never took that step.

What was the point of asking now?

She turned and left through the other end of the alley, not even noticing that she could no longer sense the Martial Soul resonance from Dai Mubai.

"Ouch! That seemed a little cruel."

Having witnessed the entire scene through Spiritual Detection, Tian Meng felt a pang of sympathy.

Su Mo sighed. "Better to cut through the tangled mess with a swift blade. I hope she can move on. I just don't know whether she'll still go to Shrek tomorrow."

"Didn't you just give her a postcard? Send her a message," Tian Meng urged.

"Good idea."

Su Mo nodded, considering what to send.

Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing walked faster and faster, weaving through streets and alleys, oblivious to the passersby. The resentment in her eyes gradually turned to ice.

If she couldn't rely on Dai Mubai, she would rely on herself.

Just then, Zhu Zhuqing noticed a card suddenly appear out of thin air before her. She stopped and looked around, but the pedestrians paid it no mind. It seemed she was the only one who could see it.

She examined the card closely, and a line of text appeared on it-

"Azure Emperor: Little girl, do not let worldly matters trouble you. If you become strong enough, you can make any rule bend before you."

Azure Emperor? Who was that?

Puzzled, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly remembered the frog that had saved her earlier and thought, Are you that frog?

Yet the words she had thought slowly appeared on the card-

"Zhu Zhuqing: Are you that frog?"

Faced with such a novel sight, she temporarily pushed her troubles aside, found an inn, and ordered a few dishes, eating as she waited for a reply.

Soon, new words appeared on the card.

"Azure Emperor: Froglet is my child."

After confirming that the two were connected, she hurried to express her thanks.

"Zhu Zhuqing: Thank you, Senior Azure Emperor and Big Brother Frog, for saving my life. If you ever need anything of me, I will not refuse."

She meant every word.

After all, if the frog hadn't come to her rescue, she would likely have met her doom. And Senior Azure Emperor had happened to send her close to Dai Mubai, letting her see his true nature.

Still, she had a suspicion.

Perhaps Senior Azure Emperor hadn't sent her near the hotel by coincidence, but had learned about her past and deliberately brought her there.

But what did Senior Azure Emperor stand to gain from that?

"Azure Emperor: Think nothing of it. Such a trifling matter hardly merits mention. I see you have an exceptional constitution. Would you be willing to become my disciple?"

When another message arrived from the Azure Emperor, this time expressing his wish to take her as his disciple, a glimmer of understanding and hope flashed through Zhu Zhuqing's eyes.

So he wanted to take on a disciple.

And she really did need a teacher now.

"Zhu Zhuqing: I would!"

"Azure Emperor: Good disciple! I cannot spare the time to come in person just yet, so we shall keep the formalities simple. You can pay your respects here on the postcard."

"Zhu Zhuqing: Yes! Your disciple, Zhu Zhuqing, pays her respects to you, Teacher!"

"Azure Emperor: Good disciple, I have an introductory test for you. Apply to Shrek."

Huh?

Zhu Zhuqing froze. Apply to Shrek?

She knew Dai Mubai was a student at Shrek Academy, and her original plan had been to enroll there too. But after seeing his true nature, she had abandoned that idea.

Now the teacher she had just accepted was telling her to go to Shrek.

"Zhu Zhuqing: Teacher, may I ask why I should go to Shrek?"

"Azure Emperor: I have plans in motion at Shrek and may need your assistance. Some of the people there may become your companions."

"Zhu Zhuqing: All right, I will go."

"Azure Emperor: Once you have enrolled, I will teach you several of my supreme techniques."

"Zhu Zhuqing: Thank you, Teacher."

At the Rose Hotel, Su Mo heard Xiao Wu calling him to come out for a meal. After exchanging a few more words with Zhu Zhuqing, he went offline.

"Coming!" Su Mo called back, then suddenly froze.

Have I become a master of juggling women?

Pah, pah, pah!

I'm the president of the Animal Lovers Association. I just like taking in homeless rabbits, kittens, and the like.

The two went out for a meal and did some shopping along the way.

Suotuo City truly lived up to its status as a major city. Prosperity was everywhere, with a dazzling array of shops of every kind. Xiao Wu visited several clothing stores in succession.

She bought and bought and bought: a pink jacket, a pink dress, pink over-the-knee socks, little pink leather shoes, carrot pajamas, a carrot cushion...

Su Mo felt positively dizzy.

Fortunately, he didn't have to carry anything. All the clothes they bought went straight into Xiao Wu's storage ring.

Along the way, they also passed Flender's shop.

Neither of them went inside.

But Su Mo remembered the plate crystal Froglet had "picked up" in Flender's shop six years ago. Unfortunately, he still hadn't had a chance to use it.

Still, that was fine. As long as Tang San didn't get that opportunity, he was happy.

Early the next morning.

Su Mo and the other two left the Rose Hotel, headed out through the southern city gate, and made their way toward Shrek Academy.

After leaving Suotuo City, they continued south. Vast fields lined both sides of the main road, and the lush green rice had begun to show faint hints of yellow.

The three walked for a long time without seeing any sign of the academy.

"Tang San, where is Shrek Academy?" Xiao Wu finally asked.

Tang San replied helplessly, "I don't know either. My teacher said it wasn't far beyond Suotuo City's southern gate. We should be going in the right direction."

They walked a little farther and spotted a village.

As they approached, they found quite a crowd gathered at the village entrance. Most were youngsters around their own age, eleven or twelve years old.

Some had their parents standing behind them.

A table stood at the village entrance, with a man in his sixties seated behind it. Behind him was an archway built of wood.

A battered sign hung from it, carved with the words-

Shrek Academy!

Beside the words was a green face that looked like the head of some humanoid monster. It was a vivid, oily green. Some people found it ugly-cute; others thought it looked downright disgusting.

"No way." Xiao Wu looked taken aback.

"Uh..." Tang San was rather speechless too.

Teacher, oh, Teacher, what exactly were you playing at?

This Shrek Academy probably couldn't even compare to Nuoding Academy, could it?

Did this even count as an academy?

"Brother, why don't we go enroll at another academy instead?"

Xiao Wu wore a look of disgust, but there was no way Su Mo would leave. "I already promised to stand by Little San through thick and thin."

Tang San looked deeply moved. "Brother Mo..."

A shudder ran through Su Mo. "Don't say my name with that lovestruck look. I'm not into guys."

Tang San: "..."

Neither am I!

Su Mo: With me around, that might change.