Night had fallen outside the dormitory at Shrek Academy. A pair of deep-set eyes watched Feng Xinglie as he lay on his bed.
"His talent really is impressive. He could become a powerful arm for Xiao San in the future."
Tang Hao, who had secretly protected Tang San all along, had naturally witnessed the entire battle that day. Even he couldn't help praising Feng Xinglie's performance. With talent like that, Feng Xinglie had to be tied to his ship, made into a sharp blade for the fight against Spirit Hall in the future. Tang Hao wondered whether he should show himself and threaten him into swearing loyalty and servitude by his Martial Soul. But when he recalled how well the two had worked together against Zhao Wuji, he put the thought aside.
"Very well. It would be better if he became a friend and willingly assisted Xiao San."
After giving Feng Xinglie one last long look, Tang Hao faded into the darkness. A moment later, Feng Xinglie suddenly opened his eyes on the bed.
Strange. Tang Hao didn't go looking for trouble with Zhao Wuji?
Unaware that he'd nearly become Zhao Wuji's sacrificial lamb, and seeing that there was nothing more to watch, he closed his eyes again and fell into a deep sleep.
He listened with his eyes closed. Only when he heard movement outside his door did Feng Xinglie open his eyes and come out of his meditation. After a brief stretch, he pushed the door open.
"Good morning, Lie!"
Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Tang San, and the others were heading toward the dining hall. When they saw Feng Xinglie, they naturally invited him along.
"Oscar said breakfast is being served in the dining hall. You must be hungry, too. Want to come eat with us?"
Feng Xinglie smiled and agreed. Before long, they arrived at a shabby, large-tiled house. A few tables and benches stood inside, and the place looked extremely bare.
"This is what we're having for breakfast...?"
Ning Rongrong, accustomed to fine delicacies at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, eyed the steamed buns and pickles on the table and curled her lip in distaste.
"Boss Dai said yesterday that Shrek Academy is short on funds, so there's not much they can do about the food. Just think of it as a chance to toughen up and learn to endure hardship."
After saying that, Tang San picked up a steamed bun and began eating. The others hesitated, clearly reluctant, but swallowed nervously all the same. Just as they were about to make do with the meal, Feng Xinglie suddenly stood and strode outside.
"Hey, Lie, where are you going? Aren't you going to eat?"
At Xiao Wu's question, Feng Xinglie replied without looking back.
"No. I'm going to find something more nutritious in the village."
Tang San sounded slightly displeased.
"There's no need for that, is there? The academy set up a dining hall for us, so we shouldn't disregard the teachers' kindness. Everyone's ready to eat. Do you have to be so different?"
Feng Xinglie chuckled at Tang San's reproach.
"Tang San, we're at an age when our bodies are growing, and this is the golden period for cultivating Soul Power. We need to get enough nutrition. If malnutrition affects our growth or Soul Power cultivation, will you take responsibility?"
Tang San was left speechless. With Feng Xinglie leading the way, Ning Rongrong, who hadn't wanted to eat the food in the first place, was the first to agree.
"I'm in! For the sake of our health, we have to eat something tastier—no, more nutritious. It's my treat. Let's all go!"
With that, she grabbed Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu and ran outside. Tang San frowned, but seeing that Xiao Wu had already gone ahead, he followed. The group wandered through the village, looking for smoke rising from chimneys so they could buy something to eat. But they hadn't gone far when they spotted a red-haired, chubby boy tugging at a rural girl of about fourteen or fifteen.
"Cuihua, haven't I treated you well? Why do you want to break up with me?"
Oh? Ma Hongjun. Was he letting off his Evil Fire again? Watching the scene unfold right on schedule, Feng Xinglie rubbed his chin and pondered briefly. In the meantime, Ma Hongjun had already pulled Cuihua toward a house.
"I really don't understand what you women are thinking. Fine, we can break up—but come with me one more time, and I'll break up with you. Otherwise, no way."
"Stop!"
Seeing that the girl was about to be dragged away, Xiao Wu couldn't hold back. She rushed forward and shouted.
"You little hooligan! You're so young, and you're already up to no good. In broad daylight, are you trying to abduct a woman?"
Interrupted while he was in the middle of things, Ma Hongjun turned around in annoyance. But when he saw three beauties standing before him, he nearly drooled.
"What gorgeous girls! Do you all want to take her place as my girlfriends? Great, I agree!"
As he spoke, his gaze settled on Zhu Zhuqing, roaming up and down over her sensitive areas.
"Heh heh, not bad at all. Looks like I'm in for a lucky day."
"You filthy pervert! I'll teach you a lesson!"
As the big sister of the Star Dou Forest and Notting Junior Academy, Xiao Wu wasn't about to put up with that. She summoned her Martial Soul and charged at him. Seeing this, Feng Xinglie couldn't help turning to Tang San.
"Aren't you going to stop her?"
"No. I trust Xiao Wu's strength."
Is this the butterfly effect? Since Xiao Wu hadn't been seriously injured during the entrance exam, Tang San was still letting her go around picking fights...
Feng Xinglie turned his gaze away from Ma Hongjun and Xiao Wu, who were already fighting, and looked at Cuihua standing to the side, fretting. She wanted to stop them, but didn't dare approach.
"Miss, you don't seem to want your friend, Ma Hongjun, to get hurt. Is there some misunderstanding between you?"
Cuihua turned toward the voice and saw Feng Xinglie looking at her with a kind smile. At once, she seemed to have found someone she could rely on.
"Sir, please help me talk them down. Hongjun... he really has been good to me. I just can't take it anymore and want to break up peacefully, so..."
"Mm, I understand."
Feng Xinglie waved a hand reassuringly, then turned toward Xiao Wu and called out.
"You heard her. They really are a couple. There's just been a bit of a misunderstanding during their breakup, and Miss Cuihua doesn't want you fighting over this. Stop for now!"
At that, Xiao Wu stiffened and leaped back, breaking away from the fight.
"Huh? Really? You two are..."
Seeing that they had finally stopped, Cuihua hurried over and said,
"Hongjun, you're a good person. But we really aren't right for each other. Let's break up."
Then, blushing, she ran off into the distance. This time, Ma Hongjun didn't chase after her. He simply slumped, crestfallen.
"Xiao Wu, standing up for what's right is commendable, but you can't just jump into a fight without knowing what's going on. Acting without understanding the whole story often makes misunderstandings worse. If you really have to fight, you need a proper reason. Remember what I told you at the Rose Hotel?"
Though Xiao Wu hadn't had enough of the fight and was still burning with anger, she remembered Feng Xinglie's earlier advice and reluctantly canceled her Martial Soul Possession.
"And as for a reason to fight, I happen to have one. Now that you've settled things between this young couple, it's time to settle the score for trying to molest my friend."
Just as everyone thought the matter was over, Feng Xinglie abruptly changed his tune and fixed Ma Hongjun with an unfriendly stare.
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