Jiang Siming glared at Ma Hongjun. He freed one hand and casually waved it. Meng Shenji's pressure vanished in an instant.
The four Soul Douluos stared at Jiang Siming in disbelief.
"Zhuqing, could you get down first? I don't think I can take much more of this!" Jiang Siming gritted his teeth as he spoke. If he said it, everyone would probably tease him. But if he didn't, he really wouldn't be able to hold it in, and that could be even more embarrassing.
Zhu Zhuqing murmured her assent and let go of Jiang Siming's neck. Her left hand clasped his tightly.
Her slender hand was soft, almost boneless. Their fingers entwined, tenderly interlaced.
"Could you two stop it? If you're going to show off your affection, at least pay attention to where you are!" Flender finally couldn't hold back. He spread his hands helplessly.
"How did you do that?" Meng Shenji finally asked.
Before Jiang Siming could answer, a boastful voice shattered the calm.
"Uncle, it's them! Get them all out of here!" a wildly arrogant young man said to the splendidly dressed middle-aged man beside him.
"So you're the ones..." The middle-aged man was only halfway through his grandstanding when the old man behind him abruptly cut him off.
"Little Monster?" The old man was none other than Dugu Bo.
"Old man, hahahaha!" Jiang Siming couldn't help bursting into laughter. Was this going to turn into a classic case of someone getting put in their place?
The Shrek group had just tensed up, but they relaxed again at once. They hadn't expected the other side to bring a Titled Douluo—but even less had they expected Jiang Siming to know him so well.
Meanwhile, Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing had tried to show off and ended up thoroughly humiliated.
"What are you laughing at, kid?" Dugu Bo crossed his arms over his chest and asked indignantly.
"Come on, old man. When did you become someone's hired muscle? You're a Titled Douluo, and you're picking on kids?" Jiang Siming teased, winking at Dugu Bo.
"Hmph!" Dugu Bo snorted. He turned to Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing. "Fourth Prince, Prince Xue Xing, could I ask you to do me a favor and let this matter go?"
"Senior Dugu, these people have offended the dignity of the imperial family. I hope you'll punish them severely." Xue Beng spoke earnestly, making himself sound like the victim.
Dugu Bo ignored him.
The two of them immediately felt their faces burn, and their expressions darkened. Though they held noble positions, Dugu Bo was still a Titled Douluo. What's more, he was an imperial guest elder and had a voice with Emperor Xue Ye.
"Old man, don't make things difficult for them. We weren't planning to stay at Heaven Dou Royal Academy anyway," Jiang Siming said calmly.
"Little Monster, are you sure?" Dugu Bo asked, puzzled.
Grandmaster, standing nearby, grew anxious. After all, they had come here for Heaven Dou Royal Academy's excellent facilities.
The four Soul Douluos were anxious too. They could tell that Jiang Siming was the one who could speak for the group.
"Young friend, don't be hasty. Heaven Dou Royal Academy very much hopes you'll join us," Meng Shenji hurriedly said.
Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing looked even more sour. Wasn't this a blatant slap in the face?
"You can't force a melon to be sweet. Why stay somewhere we're not wanted? Thank you for your kind offer, instructors. Besides, President Flender should have a solution, right?" Jiang Siming winked at Flender and smiled meaningfully.
Everyone looked at him in confusion. Only Flender gave an awkward smile, astonished. How does this kid know?
"Old man, I'm sure. Come with us. We can take care of that problem of yours." With that, Jiang Siming took Zhu Zhuqing's hand and headed out. He casually unleashed his Aura of Hegemony, exuding an unmistakable air of swagger.
The four instructors tried to stop them, but the others followed Jiang Siming out. Compared with a few well-meaning but unfamiliar Soul Douluos and two arrogant imperial family members, they were more willing to trust their friends and family.
Dugu Bo followed them out as well, ignoring Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing, who stood off to one side. No one noticed the resentment and fury gradually fading from their faces.
Insight Beneath the Morning Sun
The group left Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
"Siming, what do you have in mind?" Grandmaster asked, puzzled. From what he knew of Jiang Siming, he wasn't one to act rashly.
"Teacher, you'll have to ask President Flender about that. I doubt he ever expected us to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy." Jiang Siming immediately shifted the blame to Flender.
"Flender, what's going on?" Grandmaster felt as if everyone had been keeping him in the dark.
"Xiaogang, don't rush. I'd already picked out another advanced academy." Flender quickly waved his hands, then glared at Jiang Siming, who was acting as if he had nothing to do with it.
"Little Monster, you should be able to fix my problem now, right?" Dugu Bo couldn't help speaking up.
"You're asking the wrong person. Ask Tang San." Jiang Siming nodded toward him.
Tang San could only smile wryly at that. Free labor, and no pay.
After discussing it, the group decided that Jiang Siming, Tang San, and Dugu Bo would go to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Everyone else would go with Flender.
On the way to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"Little Monster, you've become quite famous. Someone in the Tiantou Imperial Family is interested in you," Dugu Bo said curiously. Jiang Siming knew he was referring to the M4a1.
"I should warn you: the Spirit Hall has probably noticed you by now. If you take part in this year's Spirit Master Tournament, you could be in serious danger!" Dugu Bo cautioned him. The Spirit Hall might want Jiang Siming alive for now, but if he revealed his true strength and proved impossible to control, they might eliminate this unpredictable threat.
"Ah, being too handsome really is a difficult burden to bear." Jiang Siming spoke narcissistically.
Seeing how unconcerned Jiang Siming seemed, Dugu Bo shook his head helplessly. In his eyes, Jiang Siming was certainly a genius. But if a genius died young, that counted for nothing.
"San, I have something here. Take a look for me." Jiang Siming took an M4a1 and two bullets out of his Soul Tool. It was the same M4a1 he had given Ning Fengzhi. When he left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he had made a point of taking the original with him.
After all, the copies were just imitations, made by copying the original. The Douluo World didn't place much importance on weapons, and firearms were intricate devices. Jiang Siming couldn't really trust those copies.
Tang San, who had been thinking about the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, glanced at the M4a1 in Jiang Siming's hands, curious.
"Brother Siming, what is this?" Tang San instinctively sensed it was a weapon. His keen spiritual power picked up a warning signal from the M4a1.