Balak Kingdom, north of Suotuo City, Shrek Academy.
Half a month had passed since Shrek Academy opened for the year. Much like in the original story, on the second day of enrollment, Ning Rongrong was chewed out by Flender for slacking off. On the third day, Oscar broke through to level thirty that morning. On the fourth day, Zhao Wuji led the group to the Star Dou Great Forest.
Not long after, they encountered the Titan Giant Ape. Tang San absorbed a Man Faced Demon Spider Soul Ring that was two thousand years beyond the limit and obtained an External Soul Bone. Everything was more or less the same as in the original story.
As for Zhu Zhuqing, because of Dai Mubai's twin affair, she had attacked Ning Rongrong. On top of that, she realized that Lan Si had already left an indelible impression on her heart. So she decided to take advantage of this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest to leave Shrek Academy and go to Blue Tyrant Academy to find Lan Si.
But after Zhao Wuji had risked his life to face the Titan Giant Ape, she ultimately decided to stay.
There were two reasons.
First, she wasn't someone who feared death. Zhao Wuji had risked his life to hold off the Titan Giant Ape so that she and the other students could escape. If she simply left after that, she wouldn't be able to forgive herself.
Second, safety.
Although Shrek Academy's accommodations were poor and it had no cultivation resources, it could still provide her with a relatively safe environment to cultivate in. If they dared to step forward and protect their students against the Titan Giant Ape, what could the Zhu Family, all the way over in the Star Luo Empire, do to her? Besides, Zhu Zhuyun couldn't stand in for the Zhu Family.
With two Soul Saints and several Soul Emperors protecting her, there was no need to worry about Zhu Zhuyun coming after her.
At the same time, she had also calmed down.
If she went to Blue Tyrant Academy to look for Lan Si now, the Star Luo Empire and the Zhu Family would surely find out. At that point, the two of them, still so weak, wouldn't be able to withstand the wrath of the Zhu Family and the Star Luo Royal Family.
If she stayed, she could leave the Star Luo Empire with a false impression. At least, it would keep Lan Si from being targeted by the empire.
Morning sunlight bathed the earth, bringing warmth, dry air, and renewed life. All things stirred beneath the bright sun, and a new day began.
"Zhuqing, it's time to get up and have breakfast." A clear voice echoed through the room, rousing Zhu Zhuqing from her meditation.
She slowly opened her eyes and looked up to see a young woman with long brown hair.
The girl was called Ning Rongrong. She was about the same age as Zhu Zhuqing and wore a simple tea-green dress that gave her a neat, fresh look. At around a meter sixty-five, she was a little shorter than Zhu Zhuqing. Her delicate little face and skin, as tender and white as a peeled lychee, made even Zhu Zhuqing marvel at what a beauty she was.
"Wait a moment. I'll wash up first." A rare smile appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's cold, pretty face. She got up and walked to the washstand, leaving Ning Rongrong with a graceful view of her back. The two of them were clearly on very good terms.
Watching Zhu Zhuqing wash up, Ning Rongrong's cheeks flushed as she took in the alluring curves revealed by her every movement. Her cheeks puffed out. From every angle, Zhu Zhuqing was perfect. That particularly wicked pair on her chest, especially, felt like a full-on taunt.
A mischievous thought came to Ning Rongrong, and she got up and hugged Zhu Zhuqing from behind. She could clearly feel Zhu Zhuqing's body stiffen, only relaxing again after a moment. Ning Rongrong smiled. "Hey, Zhuqing, there's something I want to ask you."
"Go ahead." Zhu Zhuqing struggled slightly, then gave up as if she were used to it. She wrung out the towel and washed her flawless face.
"Hehe." Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing didn't mind this time, Ning Rongrong's eyes curved into two little crescent moons. She giggled. "I've noticed that you don't seem willing to get close to anyone at Shrek Academy. Can you tell me why? Xiaowu has asked me several times whether she did something to offend you. Whenever she talks to you, you never seem very willing to respond."
"No, you're overthinking it. I just like being alone and having some peace and quiet." Zhu Zhuqing had never been one to gossip behind people's backs.
But if she had to give a reason, she did have a few. Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun went without saying; those two brothel regulars were already on her blacklist.
As for Oscar, she simply didn't like men, especially someone like Oscar, who couldn't take his eyes off a pretty woman. When he first saw her and Ning Rongrong, he'd practically been drooling.
Of course, Lan Si was an exception. When he saw her, he couldn't take his eyes off her, and that made her very happy. But if Lan Si acted that way toward other women too, she'd have to consider using Hell Hundred Claws and Hell Stab on him.
But Lan Si clearly wasn't that kind of person. Her older sister, Zhu Zhuyun, was no less beautiful than she was, and her figure was even better. Yet back then, he had still chosen to save Zhu Zhuqing.
As for Tang San and Xiao Wu, besides the fact that she'd once seen the two of them getting a room together, there was another, more important reason: Lan Si disliked them.
The only one left was Ning Rongrong. Their relationship had started to improve after the Soul Fight on the night of the second day of enrollment, when Dai Mubai had struck Ning Rongrong and sent her flying. Zhu Zhuqing couldn't stand seeing him use his strength to bully the weak, so she caught Ning Rongrong. Then, when they encountered the Titan Giant Ape in the Star Dou Great Forest, Zhu Zhuqing had protected Ning Rongrong again.
That was how the two of them gradually grew closer.
"Oh." Ning Rongrong let go of Zhu Zhuqing, her face full of suspicion. She guessed that something must have happened to Zhu Zhuqing before she came to Shrek. Otherwise, she wouldn't have distanced herself from Xiao Wu right from the start.
"Let's go." After washing up, Zhu Zhuqing straightened her clothes and checked herself in the mirror. When she was sure there wasn't a single flaw, the corner of her mouth lifted in a faint smile. Then she left the dormitory with Ning Rongrong.
The two beauties arrived at the cafeteria. To their surprise, the academy seemed to have had a change of heart. Instead of just cabbage, steamed buns, and rice soup, there was quite a bit of meat on offer.
"Wow, what day is it today? The food's actually this good! Lord Fatty was getting sick of eating the same old stuff." Brothel Phoenix Ma Hongjun wolfed down his food. When he saw Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong arrive, he wiped his greasy mouth and stood up to greet them. "Hey, Zhuqing and Rongrong are here too. Go get some food. You won't see a spread like this even once in ten years!"
Zhu Zhuqing gave a slight nod in response, never once sparing him another glance, then headed for the serving counter. Ning Rongrong gave an awkward smile and followed her.
Watching Zhu Zhuqing walk away, Ma Hongjun pursed his lips and said to Oscar beside him, "I'm telling you, Xiao Ao, Zhuqing is way too cold. No wonder Boss Dai, who thinks he's some master lady-killer, still hasn't won her over. Rongrong's gotten a lot better, though. Compared to her first day here, she's reined in that young-lady temper quite a bit."
"Of course. Just look at who she's got her heart set on." Oscar looked smug, his grin practically stretching from ear to ear.
Ma Hongjun's eyes widened. He clicked his tongue in disbelief. "I'm telling you, Xiao Ao, you're planning to start pursuing Ning Rongrong again, aren't you?"
Oscar nodded, perfectly pleased with himself. "If she's already started to change, why shouldn't I give it my best shot?"
Ma Hongjun patted Oscar on the shoulder. "All right, good luck. If you ever manage to latch onto the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, don't forget Lord Fatty!" He said it, but in his heart, he didn't think Oscar had a chance. Never mind whether he could win Ning Rongrong over—even if he did, would the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect ever take an interest in poor guys like them?
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