Friends

"Zhao Wuji! What are you trying to do!?"

Just then, Ning Rongrong suddenly darted out from behind him. Zhao Wuji was so startled that he quickly stopped what he was doing. Beating that brat Feng Xinglie a couple of times was one thing, but he couldn't lay a hand on the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

"Looks like Rongrong and I are thinking alike."

The Soul Rings he had summoned around his feet faded away. Feng Xinglie couldn't help feeling relieved. All that effort he'd spent earning her favor these past few days hadn't been wasted—this had saved him a lot of trouble.

"You... Just you wait! I'll settle the score with you when we get back to the academy!"

With Ning Rongrong protecting him, Zhao Wuji couldn't attack them outright anymore. After tossing out a few threats, he stomped back up to the second floor and slammed his room door shut.

"Thanks, Rongrong. If you hadn't stepped in, I'd probably have been beaten to a pulp today."

"It... It was nothing."

Faced with Feng Xinglie's sincere thanks, Ning Rongrong felt a little embarrassed and looked away.

"At least that big bear was right about one thing: teammates should help each other. You just happen to be a teammate I'm willing to help, that's all."

"Mm. Then thanks to my teammate for saving my life."

Looking at the bright eyes in his smile, free of any ulterior motives, the usually proud young lady was at a loss.

"Who cares! I'm not eating anymore. I'm going to bed!"

Watching Ning Rongrong hurry up the stairs, Feng Xinglie couldn't help reflecting: Sincerity really was the ultimate killer move...

"Sorry, I..."

A faint voice suddenly came from behind him. He turned around and saw Zhu Zhuqing looking miserable. She seemed to want to meet his gaze, but lowered her head timidly.

"Zhu Zhuqing? What's wrong?"

Hadn't she been fine just a moment ago? Why did this icy beauty suddenly look as if she were about to cry?

"You saved my life the first time we met. Later, you told me there was more than one way to become stronger. You encouraged and comforted me, and even taught me your own fighting techniques. But... when you were in danger, I couldn't do anything for you..."

So that was what this was about...

Seeing the girl clench her fists and bite her lip, Feng Xinglie felt moved, too. He placed his hands on Zhu Zhuqing's shoulders, bent down slightly, and met her eyes.

"That's right, so you'd better get stronger quickly. Then, if you run into danger again, you'll be able to protect me. Don't worry. As long as you're willing to learn, I'll teach you all the moves that suit you. After all, you're an important teammate I believe in, too."

Getting stronger was always the nerve Zhu Zhuqing was most vulnerable about. In an instant, she seemed to remember the days in the Star Luo Empire when Zhu Zhuyun had bullied and crushed her. She could no longer hold back her tears. But before they fell, she quickly turned away, showing Feng Xinglie her back, and said in a forcedly calm voice, "Of course. I'll get stronger. I'll become incredibly strong, strong enough to protect everyone I want to protect."

"Mm, I believe in you. Keep it up."

Those gentle words of encouragement made Zhu Zhuqing cover her mouth tightly. Her shoulders trembling, she ran back to her room.

"Not bad. I thought Boss Dai was the number-one ladies' man, but I never knew you were so good at hiding your skills, Xinglie."

Oscar, who had watched the whole thing from the sidelines, remarked sourly.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

The topic had changed so quickly that Feng Xinglie didn't catch on right away.

"Nothing. Guys like you, who are popular with women, should just drop dead!"

Ma Hongjun cursed viciously. Then he followed Dai Mubai and Oscar back to their rooms. Xiao Wu saw there was no more excitement to watch, so she led Tang San upstairs.

"What... What's gotten into everyone?"

Left alone in the dining hall, Feng Xinglie was utterly bewildered. He shrugged, looked at the table laden with delicious food, and picked up his chopsticks.

"Since everyone's gone, I won't hold back!"

"Little Monsters, get up!"

At the crack of dawn, Zhao Wuji roused everyone with his booming voice. The Shrek group quickly got ready and set out for the Star Dou Forest once more. This time, Feng Xinglie acted very differently from the day before. He eagerly helped everyone, handing out water, pointing out the way, and stopping now and then to survey their surroundings and help find a suitable Soul Beast for Oscar. Before long, the team's mood had improved considerably. Zhao Wuji assumed his lecture the day before had worked, and watched the eight Little Monsters with a pleased smile.

What he didn't know was that Feng Xinglie was only trying to waste time. According to the plot, they would run into the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, which was being chased by Snake Crone Chao Tianxiang and her granddaughter Meng Yiran. After a struggle, Oscar would successfully claim it. But if he led the Shrek group on a few more detours, perhaps Meng Yiran would kill and absorb the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent instead.

After all, in Feng Xinglie's view, the ability to "fly at high speed as a group" was terrifying enough to rival even a seventh or eighth Soul Skill, despite its time limit. It gave a team an enormous advantage in group battles. Since he'd already given up on recruiting them, he had to nip the threat in the bud.

But fate had other plans. It seemed that an invisible hand was pushing the plot forward...

"Wait. There's a snake-type Soul Beast approaching us."

That was what Zhu Zhuqing said as she watched from a tree.

"So it didn't work..."

Just from the description, Feng Xinglie knew it was the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. He frowned, then immediately called out:

"Everyone, be careful. Take the formation we practiced and protect Rongrong and Oscar. I'll lead the charge. Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, cover me!"

He gave the others no chance to discuss it, immediately declaring the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent an enemy. Up in the tree, Zhu Zhuqing naturally supported Feng Xinglie's decision. Relying on her speed as an agility-type Soul Master, she was the first to charge in and attack.

"Second Soul Skill: Hell Hundred Claws!"

Zhu Zhuqing leaped high, dodged the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's head, and struck at its weak point. Scales flew, and blood spilled. The serpent cried out in pain and spat out a cloud of brightly colored mist.

"Careful!"

Dai Mubai still couldn't stop thinking about his beautiful fiancée, the one who could use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with him. He shouted and was about to charge forward, but Feng Xinglie had already reached Zhu Zhuqing's side and pulled her behind him. His right arm suddenly went limp, as if its bones had vanished, and began to swing. As the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent burst out of the mist, he whipped his arm like a lash, slamming it hard into the bright red comb on its head. Though he couldn't use a Soul Skill while airborne, he still put all his strength into the blow. It struck the serpent so hard that its feathers seemed to burst into a thousand peach blossoms. Without even a groan, it crashed heavily into the ground and passed out.

Even so, it was still a thousand-year Soul Beast. Feng Xinglie couldn't kill it with a single blow from one hand. When no Soul Ring appeared, he immediately rushed forward to finish it off.