Obtaining an External Soul Bone

"Zhuqing!"

"Y-You came looking for me, didn't you? Who is he?"

Seeing that Gu Yi and Zhu Zhuqing were about to leave, Dai Mubai blurted out the question in his panic.

But Zhu Zhuqing ignored him. Instead, she linked her arm through Gu Yi's right arm and gently tugged him toward the door.

"Wait!"

When Zhu Zhuqing still refused to acknowledge him, Dai Mubai cried out again. He hurried in front of her and reached for her hand.

But Gu Yi's right hand shot out and clamped down on his.

"What are you trying to do to my friend?" Gu Yi asked coldly, his expression fierce.

His grip was powerful, squeezing Dai Mubai's wrist until it hurt.

"Zhuqing, don't you remember me? I'm Mubai!"

"Why are you here? My elder brother and the others... they didn't do anything to you, did they?"

Dai Mubai ignored Gu Yi and continued questioning Zhu Zhuqing.

Yet Zhu Zhuqing kept a cold expression and refused to even look at him.

"I'm hungry," Zhu Zhuqing said softly again.

Gu Yi instantly understood what she meant. After flinging Dai Mubai's hand away, he immediately used his Third Soul Skill.

In an instant, the two vanished from the hall and appeared on the street.

But Dai Mubai still refused to give up and immediately rushed outside.

Before he could do anything, however, Gu Yi aimed his Second Soul Skill at him.

"My friend doesn't want to see you right now. If you dare take another step closer, I guarantee these bone needles will turn you into a porcupine!" Gu Yi threatened coldly.

"Hmph! You think I'd be afraid?" Dai Mubai asked disdainfully.

"You will be. Didn't you do the same thing before?"

Suddenly, Zhu Zhuqing spoke again. She looked at Dai Mubai expressionlessly and said coldly.

The moment those words left her mouth, Dai Mubai's anger instantly deflated.

He fell silent. Though he tried his best to explain, when the words reached his lips, he had no idea how to say them.

Seeing him like this, Zhu Zhuqing was completely disappointed. She turned to Gu Yi and said gently, "Let's go."

Gu Yi nodded. After dismissing his Soul Skill with a wave of his hand, he left with Zhu Zhuqing.

Watching their retreating backs, Dai Mubai felt as though he had lost something immensely important.

His hands clenched tightly, only to slowly loosen again.

That was right. He had been the one to abandon her first.

Gu Yi and Zhu Zhuqing casually found a breakfast stall and sat down.

After what had happened, the atmosphere between them was somewhat awkward.

"Your injuries have only just healed, so you shouldn't eat anything too greasy. How about plain congee with some corn?" Gu Yi asked gently as he looked over the menu in his hands.

"Alright," Zhu Zhuqing replied softly with her head lowered.

She was still somewhat distracted, secretly watching the expression on Gu Yi's face.

"Aren't you... curious?" Zhu Zhuqing asked again.

"I am, but I feel that asking might hurt you. So I'll wait until you want to tell me," Gu Yi replied with a smile.

"I was being hunted. You saved me—aren't you afraid trouble will come looking for you?" Zhu Zhuqing asked again.

"Even if trouble does come, I couldn't just stand by and watch you get killed, could I?" Gu Yi replied.

Zhu Zhuqing fell silent. With her head lowered, she recalled every little thing Gu Yi had done to care for her over the past two days.

Even a stranger she had only met by chance could treat her so well. In fact, the two of them had not even known each other's names.

And Dai Mubai—the man she had once loved deeply—not only ran away when she needed him most, but was living so freely and happily out here.

Perhaps he had long since forgotten the girl named Zhu Zhuqing in his heart.

"The congee is here! Take your time, you two. If it isn't enough, you can always get more."

Before long, the owner brought over their breakfast and set it before them. After the reminder, he returned to the kitchen.

Gu Yi skillfully served the congee and placed a bowl in front of Zhu Zhuqing. "Eat. Be careful, it's hot," he reminded her gently.

Zhu Zhuqing nodded, then looked at Gu Yi with determination in her eyes.

"Zhu Zhuqing. That's my name. You can call me Zhuqing."

"What's your name?" Zhu Zhuqing asked.

"Gu Yi. It's nice to meet you, Zhuqing," Gu Yi said with a smile.

"Then why did you come here? Judging by your clothes, you don't seem like someone who would come to a place like this." Zhu Zhuqing asked curiously.

"I planned to enroll here. There's a Shrek Academy here, and enrollment starts tomorrow," Gu Yi explained.

"Enroll?" Zhu Zhuqing repeated. She then glanced at Gu Yi again but said nothing more.

"What? Do you think there's something wrong with that?" Gu Yi asked.

Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. "No. I'm going too."

"That's great. Having a friend to go with means I won't have to worry about getting bored." Gu Yi said happily.

He had originally been worried that what had just happened would make Zhu Zhuqing disgusted with Shrek Academy, but now he could finally relax.

"Mm, friends."

A faint smile appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's face, and her mood finally improved somewhat.

Beautiful—truly beautiful. This was the first time Gu Yi had seen Zhu Zhuqing smile because she was happy.

For a moment, Gu Yi stared at her in a daze.

Zhu Zhuqing noticed it too. A blush spread across her cheeks, and she lowered her head shyly.

That movement instantly snapped Gu Yi back to his senses. He coughed twice and scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

To hide his embarrassment, he quickly served himself some porridge and began wolfing it down.

Seeing him like this, Zhu Zhuqing found it rather amusing and secretly laughed for a while longer.

"Ding! Congratulations, Host, you have obtained 40% favorability from Zhu Zhuqing. Reward: External Soul Bone, 'Bone Wings.'"

"External Soul Bone effect: Grants the ability to fly. Every bone spike on the Bone Wings can be controlled at will."

"Ding! Congratulations, Host, you have obtained 5% favorability from Xiao Wu. Reward: The Soul Ring Age of all the Host's Soul Rings increases by one hundred years."

Suddenly, the system notifications rang out in Gu Yi's mind again.

And the moment the voice fell silent, Gu Yi felt as though something had appeared on his back, while the Soul Power throughout his body increased considerably as well.

Gu Yi's mood immediately soared. This was way too easy!

At this rate, in just a few days, he would be able to gather a complete set of Soul Bones for his entire body. The Soul Ring Age of all his Soul Rings might even break past a thousand years!

Before long, the two finished breakfast. For the rest of the day, they stayed at the inn cultivating and preparing for the next day's assessment.

Early the next morning, Gu Yi woke Zhu Zhuqing up early, and the two arrived together at the entrance to Shrek Academy.

Though it was still morning, the entrance was already packed with people, with a long line stretching out before it.

All of this was thanks to Flender's enrollment notice. After all, it had boldly declared, "Graduate, and you'll become a viscount."

Zhu Zhuqing and Gu Yi stood at the end of the line, waiting patiently.

But just then, the observant Gu Yi spotted a familiar figure in the crowd.

"Just as I thought! You came after all, Ning Rongrong."