Subjugation

As Chu Mo walked along and read the reply, he looked utterly helpless. If there had really been something wrong, wouldn't he have stayed there? Why say he was on his way back? The other person seemed kind of dim.

[Chu Mo: It's fine. I'm on my way back now. I'll pick up some herbs along the way and have Xiao Lu refine them tonight. Nannan can take them over tomorrow.]

[Ice Frog is Stronger than Poison Frog: That's so thoughtful! Does this count as saving your future mother-in-law?]

[Revenge Girl: I think so too.]

[Ice Frog is Stronger than Poison Frog: As long as he wins over her mother-in-law, this beauty named Jiang Nannan will be his for the taking.]

Sun Moon Imperial Academy.

Back in the classroom, class was in session, but Meng Hongchen wasn't paying attention to the teacher at all. Of course, she was busy in the Chat Group.

She opened the Chat Group's image history and tapped the picture of Jiang Nannan that Wang Dong'er had posted.

"The clothes are ugly, but her face and figure really are beautiful. Practically perfect. Still, she's just a little bit behind me."

After looking at the picture, Meng Hongchen muttered narcissistically.

"Hmph. Just wait until the Soul Master tournament. I'll make sure he can't resist me!"

Ever since she'd watched the recording last time, she'd noticed how handsome Chu Mo was. As a complete face-con, she believed that good looks were everything.

[Chu Mo: How am I supposed to reply to that?]

[Revenge Girl: Just reply normally. Say what you really think, openly and honestly. Don't tell me you don't like Jiang Nannan.]

[Ice Frog is Stronger than Poison Frog: Exactly! If you don't like her, why are you helping her mother? You did it for free, but when we asked you for a pill to help us cultivate, you wanted over 800 gold coins. You can't convince me you don't have other ideas about her.]

Chu Mo froze at the accusation. Did he really have special feelings for Jiang Nannan? It seemed so. Who wouldn't be moved by such a pretty face?

But thinking it over, maybe that wasn't it. They'd met while gathering herbs, and because of his unusual Martial Soul, she'd kept pestering him. She'd even called him a young old-timer, saying he was different from everyone else. Gradually, they'd become friends.

As a young man with aspirations, he couldn't stand seeing this sort of thing. If someone he spent time with didn't mind his Martial Soul and was willing to be around him, he naturally wouldn't hesitate to help them. But no one else had ever done that.

And since Jiang Nannan was his only friend, how could Chu Mo not help her? He'd used the Chat Group's photo feature and Xiao Lu's alchemy skills to make Dew Pills.

They certainly couldn't extend her life as effectively as a divine pill, but they would absolutely help with Jiang Ruowan's illness. Their gentle medicinal properties would nourish her blood and restore her energy. Combined with the treatment pills Xiao Lu had made, which had no side effects, and some Soul Beast meat to strengthen her body, she could recover gradually.

He hadn't thought much of it, but today had hit him hard. Who could have expected there to be side effects?

Worried that something might go wrong, Chu Mo was in such a hurry to see if he could figure out the Black Tortoise Divine Pill.

Of course, Chu Mo knew it wasn't the Mystic Water Pill that had saved her, but the far more precious Black Tortoise Divine Pill. Still, the ingredients probably weren't all that different. He could work out one first, then analyze the other. Maybe he could even improve the Dew Pill using the Mystic Water Pill and save her.

At least the pills were still working. When he'd chatted with her that afternoon, Jiang Ruowan hadn't looked uncomfortable. She'd seemed perfectly relaxed and happy.

And he was happy too.

Were those feelings for a friend, or for a girlfriend?

[Chu Mo: I do have feelings for her. After all, she's the campus belle. It'd be strange if I didn't. Her mother did talk to me today about girlfriends. I think she wants Nannan and me to start spending time together.]

[Revenge Girl: That's so sweet. I thought you'd say you didn't like her and then try to fool us.]

Seeing that, Chu Mo narrowed his eyes. He was going to have a harem of thirty beauties, after all.

[Chu Mo: I'd have said that even if I were trying to fool you.]

[Ice Frog is Stronger than Poison Frog: ...]

[Revenge Girl: ...]

[Dong'er is Not a Girl: ...]

[Ya: ...]

[Grilled Fish Girl: @Dong'er is Not a Girl, @Chu Mo. Dong'er, Brother Chu Mo, tomorrow we'll be assigned to the same class, but Sister Tang Ya said the homeroom teacher for that class has a really bad temper.]

Though Huo Yu'er had just opened the screen and seen such an exciting exchange, she quickly collected herself and explained why she'd opened the Chat Group, tagging them both.

But the first to reply wasn't Wang Dong'er or Chu Mo.

[Ice Frog is Stronger than Poison Frog: Is the teaching at Shrek Academy really that intense? The elimination system might encourage students to improve, but aren't they getting eliminated way too fast?]

[Revenge Girl: Exactly. I think so too. Pressure is one thing, but isn't it too soon? They've only just enrolled.]

[Dong'er is Not a Girl: What kind of weird homeroom teacher is that? How hasn't she been fired?]

[Ya: Her husband is a level-eight Soul Engineer, and I've heard people say he has a chance of reaching level nine.]

[Ice Frog is Stronger than Poison Frog: Holy frog! Then she must be pretty beautiful, right? She's done all that, and her husband still protects her!]

Tang Ya burst out laughing in her bedroom when she saw that.

[Ya: Heh heh.]

[Ya: Beautiful, my foot! She's a wicked old hag, with so many wrinkles on her face they could trap mosquitoes!]

[Revenge Girl: Ugh, that's disgusting. I just spit out my tangerine.]

[Ya: And she loves physically punishing her students.]

Ding Ding Ding!

The Chat Group was very active today, and its level and experience were rising quickly.

Chu Mo nodded with satisfaction at the sight, then turned his attention to the so-called homeroom teacher. After all that discussion, he knew who they meant: Zhou Yi, the expulsion fanatic.

What rotten luck. He'd been assigned to Class One. He'd have been better off in another class. If she expelled him over some remark, that'd be a real problem.

After a little grumbling to himself and a sigh, he turned his attention to the Chat Group. It had already filled up with messages, most of them complaining about Zhou Yi's arrogance and how she liked to use her strength to bully others.

[Ice Frog is Stronger than Poison Frog: Are all the teachers at Shrek Academy like this?]

[Ya: Not really. Most of them are normal. That woman's just in the late stages of menopause.]

[Ice Frog is Stronger than Poison Frog: That figures. The older people get, the more they love hoarding power. Emperors are the same. They look at everyone as if they're trying to steal their throne.]

[Ya: ...]

Tang Ya and Meng Hongchen laughed as they read the messages.

When they'd first joined the group, the two of them had argued fiercely, trading barbs until Chu Mo muted them and they quieted down. And now they were peacefully discussing things?

[Dong'er is Not a Girl: She's that awful? Are they trying to make us switch classes?]

[Chu Mo: The two of us might be able to switch classes, but there's no way you can.]

[Dong'er is Not a Girl: Why not?]

[Ya: For the freshmen tournament, the teachers get bonuses and are evaluated based on their students' advancement rate. Only a handful of students are strong, so you'll definitely be one of the main targets.]

[Ya: And Chu Mo, don't think you can leave either. Our match has been the talk of the school for a whole day. Zhou Yi may be menopausal, but she isn't actually stupid. She'll never let you go. She might even put you and Dong'er on the same team, then add another strong student. As long as you're strong enough, just take first place.]

Tang Ya's analysis covered every angle. When Chu Mo saw it, he suddenly remembered yesterday's match. He smacked his lips. His memory really was getting worse.