What a Fine Kid—How Did He End Up Simping?

Since Ah Yin still did not want to fully face reality, Yun Feng could only continue.

Early the next morning, the four left the Rose Hotel, exited Suotuo City through the south gate, and headed for their destination.

After what had happened yesterday, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing had gotten acquainted. Especially after learning that Zhu Zhuqing was also heading to Shrek Academy to enroll, Xiao Wu became even happier.

"Benefactor, do you know where Shrek Academy is?"

After leaving Suotuo City, they followed the road south. Vast stretches of farmland lined both sides of the main road. Suotuo City's reputation as the Balak Kingdom's grain capital was well deserved.

Yet aside from the sprawling fields, there was not a single building within sight that looked anything like an academy.

According to the passersby, Shrek Academy should have been visible not far from Suotuo City's south gate.

But the four had already walked for quite some time and still had not seen the academy, making them question their lives.

Was this really a proper academy?

"I'm not entirely sure about the details either. Let's keep heading south. We'll find it eventually."

"And you don't need to call me benefactor anymore. It sounds weird. Just call me Yun Feng from now on. We're friends."

After hesitating for a moment, Zhu Zhuqing nodded.

She now knew Yun Feng's real age, so calling him benefactor felt strange to her as well. She had simply been too embarrassed to change how she addressed him.

When Xiao Wu saw Zhu Zhuqing talking with Yun Feng, she did not know why, but her heart began to feel sour again.

After thinking for a moment, she took a running start and suddenly pounced on Yun Feng.

Sensing the presence approaching from behind, Yun Feng was helpless. He supported her with both hands and leaned slightly forward, already carrying Xiao Wu on his back.

It had been like this back at Notting Academy too.

Xiao Wu was very light, so she placed no burden on Yun Feng at all.

Naturally, Xiao Wu's cultivation meant that walking would not tire her out, but she still never got tired of making Yun Feng carry her.

She happily pointed at things around them from Yun Feng's back, her bell-like laughter echoing through the air.

After climbing up, she even deliberately glanced at Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing's expression did not change. Years of repression had long made her reject such unnecessary things from the bottom of her heart.

Besides, she truly had no thoughts about Yun Feng. She wanted to live, and she did not want to drag Yun Feng into the struggle that belonged to her.

When Xiao Wu saw that Zhu Zhuqing did not react, she pressed herself even closer against Yun Feng.

But Yun Feng noticed Tang San's expression.

It was so gloomy it looked as though water might drip from it.

Even Yun Feng felt sorry for Tang San right now.

What a fine kid. How had he ended up simping?

After a while, Tang San finally withdrew his gaze. Xiao Wu's sweet, sunshine-filled smile and heartfelt happiness constantly touched his heart. No matter how tedious cultivation was, the moment he saw Xiao Wu smile, all the irritation in Tang San's heart vanished at once.

Even if that happiness was not brought to her by him, but by Yun Feng.

After a long while, Xiao Wu suddenly shouted excitedly from Yun Feng's back:

"Look, everyone! There's a village up ahead!"

Everyone looked in the direction Xiao Wu pointed. About a li away stood a small village. Thanks to his Soul Power, Yun Feng could clearly make out that it had around a hundred households, making it even smaller than Holy Soul Village.

A wooden fence surrounded the village, apparently meant to keep out wild beasts.

Quite a few people seemed to be gathered at the village entrance, though it was unclear what was happening.

As soon as Tang San heard Xiao Wu speak, he immediately chimed in:

"Let's go over and ask. Maybe the people in this village know where Shrek Academy is. A Soul Master Academy should be quite famous."

Xiao Wu pointed ahead, wrapped her arms around Yun Feng's neck, and wriggled restlessly a few times. She giggled.

"Yun Feng, speed up."

Yun Feng gave her pert backside a light slap with the back of his hand in annoyance, then pushed off lightly with his feet and quickly headed toward the village.

As they approached, Xiao Wu and the others immediately realized something was off. There really were many people gathered at the village entrance, most of them youths around their age, and many were accompanied by their parents.

Yun Feng said nothing. Though he knew what was going on, it was better not to speak when he did not have to.

A table had been set up at the village entrance, and behind it sat an old man in his sixties. What left Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Tang San dumbfounded was the shabby-looking plaque hanging from the wooden archway at the village entrance. Five simple words were carved into it: Shrek Academy.

Before those five words was a green portrait that looked like the head of some humanoid monster.

The old man behind the table also wore a similar round green badge on his chest.

It should have been Shrek Academy's school emblem.

"No way."

Xiao Wu jumped down from Yun Feng's back and stared at the plaque in shock. Then she looked back at Tang San as if asking, This is the academy you recommended?

Are you kidding me?

Even Notting Junior Soul Master Academy was much larger than this place. This obviously looked like an ordinary little village. Not only was the entrance arch made of wood, it was not even a third as large as Notting Academy's.

This could be called a Soul Master Academy?

"Tang San, could your teacher have gotten it wrong? No matter how I look at it, this doesn't seem like an academy. Could it be a scam?"

Even Zhu Zhuqing beside them was somewhat confused. Was this really a Soul Master Academy?

Dai Mubai had studied in a place like this?

Had he fallen this far?

Tang San gave a bitter laugh. Unable to meet Xiao Wu's eyes, he muttered softly:

"We're already here. Let's take a look first."

Tang San had no confidence at all when he said that.

He simply could not understand why Yu Xiaogang had set him up!

Was he no longer Yu Xiaogang's most beloved disciple?

At this moment, roughly a hundred applicants stood in line ahead of them. Quite a few were frowning, clearly harboring the same thoughts as Xiao Wu and the others.

Only Yun Feng was familiar with Shrek's whole deal, so he was not surprised in the slightest.

"Is this a joke? This is the so-called Soul Master Academy? The academy that claims its graduates can become imperial viscounts?"

While they were lost in thought, they suddenly heard the parents of a boy who had come to enroll whispering up ahead.

The boy's father said uncertainly:

"This is what the people from Spirit Hall said, so it shouldn't be wrong, right? But this academy really is a little too rundown."

The boy said with a wronged expression:

"Dad, I don't want to study here. It's too embarrassing. I'd rather go to Suotuo Intermediate Soul Master Academy. At the very least, I was considered a genius back at the junior academy."

The boy's father frowned and said:

"Since we're already here, let's wait a little longer. Maybe this is some kind of test. The real academy might not be here."