Secret Departure, Setting Up Illusions, Master and Disciple Pursue, Repeatedly Frustrated

The sky was just beginning to brighten, and Nuoding Academy was still shrouded in a faint morning mist. While most students were still lost in their dreams, Lin Chen had already packed his simple belongings and was waiting for Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing downstairs at the dormitory.

Xiao Wu wore a neat, light pink short-sleeved outfit, her signature scorpion braid swaying behind her. Her eyes were filled with anticipation for the road ahead, and she stood close to Lin Chen, showing not a hint of the nervousness that usually accompanies a departure. Zhu Zhuqing remained in her usual cold, black attire, her posture upright. The keen senses of her Hell Spirit Cat allowed her to remain vigilant at all times, yet the gaze she cast toward Lin Chen held a newfound, unspoken certainty.

"Let's go. Before they realize what's happening, we move out." Lin Chen's voice was low. He scanned the surroundings, and after confirming no one was watching, he took the lead toward a hidden path behind the academy.

He had scouted this path a few days prior. The mountain trail was rugged and rarely traveled, leading directly toward the direction of Shrek Academy. It would not only allow them to avoid the crowds at the academy but also completely shake off Tang San and Yu Xiaogang. As for the main road that everyone had to take, he had already left behind subtle traces of soul power, intentionally disguising them as signs that the three had left through the main gate—a first trap set specifically for Yu Xiaogang.

Sure enough, shortly after the three of them stepped onto the mountain path, Tang San and Yu Xiaogang hurriedly packed their bags and snuck toward the academy's main gate. Yu Xiaogang stared at the faint traces of soul power remaining on the ground, believing he had accurately deduced the trio's route. A flash of smugness crossed his eyes as he immediately said to Tang San, "San, they took the main road. We must follow immediately! If we arrive at Shrek first, we can seize the initiative!"

Hearing this, Tang San did not doubt Yu Xiaogang's judgment in the slightest. He clenched his fists, his mind filled with the obsession to surpass Lin Chen, and immediately followed Yu Xiaogang as they sprinted down the main road. He was consumed with the thought of reaching Shrek as quickly as possible to wash away the humiliation he suffered at Nuoding Academy, unaware that he had fallen into Lin Chen's calculations from the very start.

On the mountain path, Lin Chen led the two girls forward at a steady pace. Morning mist swirled through the mountains, and the air was fresh, entirely free from the noise of the main road. He appeared to walk with ease, but in reality, he was constantly monitoring the movements behind them, his fingertips quietly channeling the soul power of his Ink Shadow Spirit Cat to subtly set obstacles along the way.

Thick vines were guided by his soul power to coil around the rugged path, ready to trip anyone who wasn't careful; loose gravel was gently shifted to create slippery slopes on steep sections; he even used his knowledge of low-level soul beast habits to lure a few groups of ten-year soul beasts to wander near the trail's junctions, all to add trouble for those following behind.

He performed these actions with extreme stealth, using only a superficial ten levels of soul power throughout, never revealing a shred of his true strength. Xiao Wu, walking beside him, felt only that the path was smooth and pleasant, skipping along without noticing a thing. Even the observant Zhu Zhuqing assumed the ruggedness of the trail was simply the nature of the mountain, never suspecting it was Lin Chen's deliberate doing.

"Brother Lin Chen, it's so quiet here. It's much more comfortable than the main road, and we don't have to squeeze through crowds." Xiao Wu plucked a small wild flower from the roadside, tucked it into her hair, and skipped along his side, her tone light and joyful. With Lin Chen by her side, she never had to worry about the dangers of the road ahead, her heart filled with stability and reliance.

Zhu Zhuqing followed silently, her cold gaze occasionally falling on Lin Chen's back. He always walked at the very front, his posture upright and his steps steady. Even on the rugged mountain trail, he remained calm and unhurried, as if everything were under his control. Compared to Tang San, who was perpetually sullen and filled with hostility, Lin Chen's composure, wisdom, and understated nature made her trust him even more, confirming her belief that joining forces with him was the right choice.

The two chatted and laughed along the way, the atmosphere light and comfortable, while Tang San and Yu Xiaogang were already in a state of disarray.

Yu Xiaogang had led Tang San on a long, frantic run down the main road. Not only was the journey long, but there was no sign of Lin Chen and the others. The road beneath their feet grew increasingly remote, showing no signs of having been traveled by anyone. Yu Xiaogang's face turned ashen, his inner anxiety growing, yet he forced himself to remain calm, refusing to admit that his judgment had been wrong.

"Teacher, something is wrong. Did we take the wrong road?" Tang San panted heavily, his forehead covered in cold sweat. The long run had already consumed much of his soul power, and the agitation in his heart was becoming harder to suppress.

"Impossible! My theories cannot be wrong!" Yu Xiaogang retorted sharply, though his tone weakened as he looked at the empty road. He gritted his teeth, and in the end, he had no choice but to lead Tang San back in frustration, heading toward the mountain behind the academy.

By the time the two stumbled onto the mountain path, Lin Chen and his companions were already several miles ahead. The moment Tang San stepped onto the trail, he was tripped hard by a coiled vine, crashing heavily onto the rocky ground. His elbow was instantly scraped raw, and he was covered in dust, his already suppressed mood erupting into fury.

Before he could even stand up, several dark shadows lunged from the grass—a few ten-year Wind Wolves, having caught the scent of humans, pounced directly at them.

"Blue Silver Grass, Bind!" Tang San scrambled to his feet and hurriedly summoned his Blue Silver Grass martial soul. As his soul power surged, several blue vines burst from the ground, barely managing to entangle the Wind Wolves. However, his soul power was already severely depleted, making the struggle exhausting. Yu Xiaogang, whose own soul power was meager, could only fret from the sidelines; his wealth of theoretical knowledge was completely useless in such a sudden, life-threatening situation.

After a messy, desperate fight, Tang San finally managed to drive the Wind Wolves away. His soul power was nearly exhausted, his body was a wreck, and his face was as pale as paper. Yu Xiaogang looked at the scene before him, then thought of the ease with which Lin Chen and the others traveled; he was filled with both anger and anxiety, yet he could not utter a single word.

The master and disciple stumbled along the way, forced to deal with both the rugged terrain and the occasional harassment of low-level soul beasts. Not only had they been left far behind by Lin Chen, but the atmosphere between them had become suffocatingly tense. Tang San looked at Yu Xiaogang with a hint of resentment he couldn't hide; if not for his teacher's faulty judgment, they wouldn't be in such a pathetic state.

At this moment, Lin Chen had already led Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing to a flat section of the path and stopped at a clean spot to rest. He sat on a rock, eyes closed in meditation, clearly sensing the two weak and agitated soul power signatures far behind them, struggling in their wake.

Xiao Wu obediently handed over a flask of water, blinking her large eyes at Lin Chen: "Brother Lin Chen, when will we reach Shrek? I'm starting to look forward to it."

Zhu Zhuqing also packed her belongings and stood quietly to the side, her gaze fixed on Lin Chen, waiting for his instructions.

Lin Chen opened his eyes, a cold, sharp smile flashing across them. He looked toward the direction of Shrek Academy, his voice calm but filled with absolute control: "No rush. We walk slowly; someone will be behind us, chasing slowly."

He had never intended to completely shake off Tang San and his teacher from the start. Instead, he wanted them to follow behind, suffer every hardship, and watch helplessly as he seized every opportunity.

The humiliation at Nuoding Academy was merely the beginning.

The misery of this journey was just a small lesson.

Once they reached Shrek, he would completely block every path forward for Tang San, leaving the master and disciple to live forever in his shadow, with no hope of ever rising again.

Sunlight pierced through the mountain mist, warming the three of them. With the two girls by his side, the road ahead was wide and clear.

And the storm of the Douluo world that belonged to him had only just begun.