Ning Rongrong: Scarface, Go Take Care of Ma Hongjun! Shrek Was Stunned: Where Did the Fatty Go?

"Xiao San, are you going alone?"

Flender asked worriedly.

"The place is heavily guarded. We didn't exactly leave things on good terms with the royal family."

"We don't have time to worry about that."

A look of resolve flashed through Tang San's eyes.

"Even if I have to beg, I'll bring Ye Lingling back.

If the Shrek Seven Devils fall apart here, that would be the real joke."

Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong walked along the chilly streets of Heaven Dou City.

Feeling the passersby's furtive glances through her mask, the twisted rage in her heart grew more intense.

"Save him?

Heh..."

Ning Rongrong let out a low, crazed chuckle, her nails digging deep into her palm.

"Ma Hongjun, you ruined my face, and now you expect me to beg someone to save you?

I want to watch the Evil Fire burn through your meridians bit by bit, until you become a complete cripple!

Only when you're suffering ten thousand times worse than I am will the fire in my heart die down, even a little..."

Ning Rongrong's gaze was icy.

"Huang Yan, I can't afford to provoke you, but I can watch the people around me go to hell one by one because of you!

I'll settle this score with everyone, slowly!"

Heaven Dou City, Seven Treasure Pavilion.

Ning Rongrong avoided the sect's core members and went straight into one of its properties.

She lowered her mask and slapped a gleaming, translucent token onto the table.

"Miss?

Why are you dressed like this..."

The pavilion master recognized the token and was so frightened he nearly lost his soul.

"Don't waste your breath, and don't inform my father, or I'll tear this pavilion down."

Ning Rongrong's voice was hoarse.

"Do two things for me.

First, find an agility-type Soul Saint. Tonight, have him go to that inn south of the city and capture someone.

Second, find me a thug. The more depraved, the better."

The pavilion master froze, cold sweat pouring down his face.

"Miss, what... what do you need a thug for?"

"Isn't that fat bastard Ma Hongjun burning up with Evil Fire?"

Ning Rongrong gave a string of hair-raising, low chuckles.

Half an hour later, a bald man with a broad face and a scar was brought into the side hall.

"Heh heh, what can I do for you, my lady?"

Scarface rubbed his hands together, his gaze leering.

"When it comes to this sort of 'refined pleasure,' I'm your man."

Ning Rongrong looked at him with disgust and said coldly,

"Tonight, a fat man will be sent to you.

He has a powerful Evil Fire in him, so you'd better 'take good care' of him. Don't let him die, understand?"

"Understood, understood!

I'll make sure he enjoys every second of it."

The bald man grinned from ear to ear.

Night fell at the inn where the Shrek group was staying.

Tang San had already set out for Heaven Dou Royal Academy, while Dai Mubai and Oscar dozed in the next room.

A shadow slipped through a crack in the window and into Ma Hongjun's room, as silently as a ghost.

"Mm—!"

Ma Hongjun, still unconscious and crying out in pain, had his voice instantly sealed by a surge of formidable Soul Power.

The shadow hoisted him up like a sack and disappeared into the night.

Ning Rongrong stood atop a distant pavilion, watching the shadow leave as her fingers gently stroked her cold mask.

"Ma Hongjun, enjoy yourself.

When you come back tomorrow, I'll see if you still have the nerve to sneer at me..."

In a dim cellar south of Heaven Dou City,

Ma Hongjun was roughly thrown onto the straw-covered floor.

The charred scars covering his body stank in the damp air.

The seal on his Soul Power remained in place. He could barely move a finger, and all he could manage was a muffled whimper.

"Heh heh, awake?"

Scarface crouched down and patted Ma Hongjun's swollen face with his rough palm.

Two equally shifty-eyed men stood behind him, their eyes brimming with excitement.

"Mm... mmph!"

Ma Hongjun's pupils contracted. He struggled desperately to move backward, but his body wouldn't obey.

"My benefactor said you've got a powerful Evil Fire in you, so we need to 'take good care' of you."

Heaven Dou Royal Academy, VIP Reception Room.

Tang San sat upright in a guest chair as Ye Lingling listened to his request without expression, then gently shook her head.

"Mr. Tang, the Nine Heart Begonia clan has never involved itself in outside conflicts.

My father has been in seclusion for three years and pays no attention to worldly affairs."

"Miss Ye, I'm willing to trade Hidden Weapon designs and century-old medicinal herbs.

Just save his life, and you can name your price."

Tang San's grip on his teacup tightened slightly.

Ye Lingling glanced up at him for a moment, her tone as flat as if she were discussing the weather.

"Your companion was injured by Ultimate Fire.

Even if the Nine Heart Begonia can repair his meridians, the part that was destroyed can never grow back.

Even if we save him, he'll be crippled."

"That's still better than letting him die!"

Tang San sprang to his feet.

"Besides, your Ye Family has always been on good terms with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Rongrong..."

"Ning Rongrong?"

Ye Lingling cut him off, a trace of scorn flashing in her eyes.

"If something really happened to her, she should come ask me herself.

But here you are, an outsider, speaking up on her behalf?"

Tang San was at a loss for words.

Ye Lingling picked up her teacup, making it clear she was seeing him out.

"Mr. Tang, I suggest you save your breath.

What your 'companion' needs right now isn't a doctor, but... never mind. Go back and see for yourself."

With that, she rose and left the room, leaving Tang San frozen in place.

South City Inn, just before dawn.

Dai Mubai was jolted awake by a burst of frantic knocking.

He shoved the door open and rushed into Ma Hongjun's room. All he found was an empty bed and a half-open window.

"Where's the fatty?!"

Oscar's face was deathly pale. He pointed at the bloodstains left on the bed.

"I-I don't know... I thought I heard something while I was half asleep. When I came to look, he was just..."

"Damn it!"

Dai Mubai punched a crack into the wall, his Evil Eyes blazing with fury.

"Teacher Zhao!

Dean Flender!"

Flender came stumbling in. The instant he saw the empty bed, all color drained from his old face.

"Hongjun... Hongjun was kidnapped?

H-how is that possible?

I clearly set up a warning Soul Tool..."

"Dean, did that broken contraption of yours even make a sound?"

Dai Mubai asked coldly.

Flender opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Zhao Wuji leaned in through the window and took a look, then said gravely,

"The other side is at least a Soul Saint. They were clean, and left no trace of Soul Power.

At this hour, it's probably too late to go after them."