Zhu Zhuqing Leaves Dai Mubai! Coward!

Why?

Why could the version of me in that world be so happy?

Tears streamed down her face despite her best efforts to hold them back.

"Zhuqing..."

Xiao Wu wanted to comfort her, but she didn't know what to say.

Just then.

Dai Mubai, who had kept his head lowered, suddenly erupted.

He jerked his head up, his eyes bloodshot, and pointed at the Sky Screen as he shouted:

"Fake!"

"It's all fake!"

"He's acting! This has to be an act!"

Like a madman, Dai Mubai rushed up to Zhu Zhuqing and grabbed her shoulders, shaking her.

"Zhuqing, don't believe that!"

"That guy's just putting on an act!"

"He's a playboy! He's lying to you!"

"Only me! Only I'm real!"

His voice was loud, almost hysterical.

Spittle sprayed all over Zhu Zhuqing's face.

Zhu Zhuqing didn't move.

She simply stared quietly at the man before her.

At his face, twisted with jealousy and fear.

They were clearly the same person.

So why was the difference so great?

The one on the Sky Screen was confident, strong, and gentle.

This one was cowardly, selfish, and ugly.

"Let go."

Zhu Zhuqing spoke coldly.

"What did you say?"

Dai Mubai froze for a moment, then tightened his grip.

"I'm your fiancé! You're telling me to let go?"

"You were staring at that pretty boy, weren't you?"

"Do you want to go find him in that world too?"

"Slap!"

A crisp slap cut off Dai Mubai's tirade.

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her hand.

Her gaze was cold as ice.

"Dai Mubai, you disgust me."

"Take a good look."

"The one up there is protecting me."

"And you."

"All you can do is take your anger out on me."

Zhu Zhuqing shoved Dai Mubai away.

She took a deep breath, as though she had made up her mind.

"Starting today."

"I, Zhu Zhuqing, have nothing more to do with you, Dai Mubai."

"You take your road, and I'll take mine."

With that.

She turned and walked out of the Shrek Seven Devils' ranks without looking back.

Her retreating figure was resolute.

"Zhuqing!"

Tang San tried to stop her.

But when he saw the icy distance in her eyes, his outstretched hand froze in midair.

Dai Mubai covered his face and stood there in a daze.

He watched Zhu Zhuqing walk away.

Just like that rainy night, when he had turned away the old soldier.

Once again, he had personally driven away the one person who could have saved him.

The people around them watched, but not one of them felt sorry for him.

Instead, scattered applause broke out.

"Good for her!"

"She should've dumped that scumbag ages ago!"

"You go, girl! Don't waste your life on that crooked tree!"

Listening to them, Dai Mubai felt the world spinning around him.

He spat out a mouthful of blood.

Then his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

White World.

Imperial Garden.

Seeing Black Dai Mubai faint in such a sorry state on the Sky Screen, everyone burst into laughter.

"Serves him right!"

Xiao Wu laughed so hard she doubled over, nearly dropping the huge fan in her hand.

"Someone like that deserves to die alone."

"Our Zhuqing really has good taste."

As she spoke, Xiao Wu sidled up to Dai Mubai and deliberately teased him in a sulky tone:

"Brother, remember how obedient our Zhuqing was back then?"

"She let you touch her face as soon as you met."

"Unlike me. When we first met, I got into a fight with you."

Dai Mubai smiled helplessly.

"Was that a fight?"

"That was a shakedown."

"You just had to fight me for that Carrot Doll."

At that moment, Qian Renxue walked over too.

She looked at Zhu Zhuqing, who was still blushing in Dai Mubai's arms, and a mischievous glint flashed in her eyes.

"But seriously."

"Someone once said that as long as she was safe, she'd do anything."

"Looks like she ended up giving herself away too."

Zhu Zhuqing was so embarrassed that she couldn't lift her head.

She buried her face in Dai Mubai's arms and spoke in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz:

"That was... repayment for saving me..."

"Repayment?"

Dai Mubai raised an eyebrow, teasing her on purpose.

"That's quite a long repayment."

"How many years has it been?"

"Are you going to keep repaying me for the rest of your life?"

Zhu Zhuqing suddenly lifted her head.

Her clear eyes stared straight at Dai Mubai.

This time, she didn't look away.

"For the rest of my life."

"Not a day less, not even an hour."

Her sudden confession caught Dai Mubai off guard.

Then.

His smile grew even brighter.

He held the girl in his arms tightly and glanced at Xiao Wu and Qian Renxue nearby.

"Good."

"Then it's for life."

"None of you are getting away."

Xiao Wu and Qian Renxue exchanged a look. Though they sounded annoyed, they couldn't hide the smiles in their eyes.

Laughter filled the Imperial Garden.

The Sky Screen didn't give the people of the Black World much time to catch their breath.

The scene shifted.

Golden light gathered across the Sky Screen, drawing everyone's attention back to the era known as the "White World."

This time, the scene wasn't in the Star Dou Great Forest. It had shifted to the Star Luo Imperial Family's magnificent Soul Fighting Arena.

The enormous platform was built from sturdy granite, with banners fluttering all around it.

The Star Luo Empire's emperor sat in the stands, surrounded by members of the imperial family and a host of ministers.

Two youths stood in the center of the arena.

One was White World's Dai Mubai, now a little older.

The other was Dai Weisi, a few years his senior.

At that moment, Dai Mubai had just obtained his First Spirit Ring.

This was the moment the imperial family valued most, and the key point at which to assess a prince's talent and potential.

Black World.

In the area where the people from Shrek Academy stood.

Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back. His usually stiff face now carried a hint of scrutiny.

He watched the Sky Screen, speaking with absolute certainty:

"The Star Luo Imperial Family's White Tiger Martial Soul is a top-tier Beast Martial Soul."

"Based on the theory of the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul and the White Tiger Martial Soul's characteristics, the best choice for a First Spirit Ring must be a defensive Spirit Skill."

"In other words, the White Tiger Protection Barrier."

As he spoke, Yu Xiaogang turned to Tang San beside him, as though giving him a lesson on the spot.

"Xiao San, remember this."

"Power Attack System Soul Masters focus on offense, but at low levels, their ability to survive is especially important."

"You have to stay on your feet before you can deal damage."

"This is an ironclad rule of the Soul Master World, and the optimal approach proven by countless predecessors."

Tang San nodded, his eyes full of trust in his teacher.

"Teacher, you're right."

"Without a defensive skill, you can easily be put at a disadvantage if an enemy gets close or launches a surprise attack."

Many of the Soul Masters around them nodded in agreement at Grandmaster's lofty pronouncement.

After all, though the title "Grandmaster" was a joke to certain high-ranking figures, he still carried some weight among low- and mid-level Soul Masters and ordinary people.