Monster Academy

"Thank you."

Dai Mubai said.

"I enrolled before you did, and my Soul Power is one level higher. What should you call me?"

Ma Hongjun's expression remained calm, though a barely noticeable smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Dai Mubai opened his mouth, looking as though he had swallowed a fly.

"I can call you Hongjun."

"That's my name. I'm asking for a form of address."

Dai Mubai fell silent for a moment, then forced out two words through clenched teeth. "Senior."

His voice was so low that it was almost inaudible, like it had been scattered by the wind.

But Ma Hongjun had sharp hearing, and he heard it.

"Didn't catch that."

Ma Hongjun said.

Dai Mubai took a deep breath and raised his voice, though his tone was clearly reluctant. "Senior."

Oscar popped out from the side, sticking his head right in front of Dai Mubai's face.

"And me! I'm a senior too! Hurry up and call me that!"

Dai Mubai looked down at Oscar's grinning face and said expressionlessly, "Keep dreaming."

"Why?! I'm older than him! I'm nine, and he's only seven! Why call him that but not me?!"

"Because he's stronger than me."

"I'm stronger than you too!"

"You're a Food-Type Soul Master."

"What's wrong with Food-Type Soul Masters?! Didn't you get enough of that punch just now?!"

While the two bickered, Zhao Wuji walked over from the office, carrying a paper-wrapped bundle.

"Dai Mubai, this is your school uniform. Try it on first. We can alter it if it doesn't fit."

Dai Mubai took the bundle, his movements pausing slightly before he opened it.

He hugged the bundle to his chest as though he were holding something precious.

"Aren't you going to try it on?"

Zhao Wuji asked.

"I'll try it when I get back."

Dai Mubai's voice was softer than before. It was impossible to tell whether he was embarrassed or something else.

Holding the bundle of uniforms, Dai Mubai followed Ma Hongjun and Oscar toward the dormitories.

As he passed the training ground, he looked once more at the deep-blue flag.

The flag snapped in the evening breeze, its golden crest gleaming in the afterglow of the setting sun.

All of a sudden, he felt that the flag looked even better than it had at first glance.

Perhaps it was because, starting today, that flag belonged to him too.

The dormitory Ma Hongjun arranged for Dai Mubai was next to his and Oscar's, identical to theirs in size and layout.

There was a solid wooden bed, thick and level, covered with a newly made mattress that was neither too soft nor too firm.

The table and chairs were newly made as well, sturdy and stable. An oil lamp and a cup sat on the table.

The windows were tightly shut.

A small stove would be provided in winter. It was not winter yet, so the stove had not been set out.

Dai Mubai placed the paper bundle on the table and opened it.

Deep-blue fabric slid out of the wrapping, giving off a subdued sheen in the oil lamp's light.

He picked up the jacket, draped it over himself, fastened the brass buttons, tightened the belt, and faced the small dressing mirror on the wall—like many inconspicuous details throughout this academy, the mirror had been newly added.

The person in the mirror seemed like someone else entirely.

The deep-blue stand-up collar outlined the boy's jawline. Double rows of brass buttons ran neatly across his chest, while the metal fasteners on his epaulets and collar tabs glimmered faintly under the lamplight.

The belt cinched his waist straight and sharp, making the lines from his shoulders to his waist smooth and clean.

It looked a hundred times better than the lavish gold-and-red uniform of Star Luo Royal Academy.

It looked a thousand times better than the white robes of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Dai Mubai stood before the mirror for a long time.

He thought of the sycophantic ministers in the Star Luo Empire's imperial palace, and the way they had looked at him—mockery, contempt, pity.

He thought of his elder brother Dai Weisi looking down on him from above, and of the killing intent that had felt like thorns against his back.

He thought of Zhu Zhuqing's cold eyes and wondered how she was doing now, whether her family was forcing her until she could barely breathe too.

He took off the uniform, folded it neatly, and placed it beside his pillow.

Then he lay down and closed his eyes.

The bed was hard, nothing like the velvet-covered bed in the palace.

The palace mattress had been stuffed with golden silk, and lying on it had felt like sinking into clouds.

But Dai Mubai had never slept soundly in that bed.

Whenever he closed his eyes, he would think of Dai Weisi sharpening his blade in the neighboring chamber. He would think of ministers whispering among themselves in the council hall, and of those outside the palace walls waiting for him to make a mistake, waiting for him to fall, waiting for him to die.

But tonight, Dai Mubai did not think about any of that.

All that remained in his mind was the golden Light Spear Ma Hongjun's Light Pierce had shot from his palm. It had been as fast as lightning, impossible to dodge.

Then there was Oscar charging in while chanting, "Daddy Has a Strength Sausage." A Food-Type Soul Master throwing punches with that kind of overwhelming force was simply unimaginable.

There was also the deep-blue flag snapping in the wind, the double rows of brass buttons glimmering under the lamplight, and the bold, chiseled characters carved into the bluestone lintel.

Shrek Academy.

Dai Mubai turned over and buried his face in his pillow.

The corners of his mouth slowly curled upward. It was not a broad smile, but it was the first genuine smile he had shown since leaving the Star Luo Empire.

In the next room, Ma Hongjun was not asleep either.

He sat cross-legged on his bed, listening to the rustling sounds next door, from the unwrapping of the package to the trying on of clothes and finally lying down.

Dai Mubai had arrived.

He silently counted in his heart: Ma Hongjun, Oscar, Dai Mubai.

Three.

There were still four more—Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing.

They were scattered across the land, and no one knew when they would finally gather.

But Dai Mubai's arrival meant that the story of the Shrek Seven Devils had officially begun.

Ma Hongjun closed his eyes and began to meditate.

There would be training tomorrow, even more training the day after, and it was time to put obtaining his third Soul Ring on the agenda as well.

The next morning, Dai Mubai was awakened by a knock on the door.

"Dai Mubai, get up."

Flender's voice came from outside, devoid of any emotion.

Dai Mubai's eyes snapped open.

He had slept deeply—deeper than he had at any time since leaving the Star Luo Empire.

A hard bed, a thin mattress, no unnecessary decorations, yet he had slept peacefully.

When he rolled over and sat up, he froze for a moment because he had no idea when he had fallen asleep the night before.

The door was pushed open.

Flender stood in the doorway, holding a brand-new deep-blue school uniform.

The fabric was smooth, the brass buttons shone brightly, and the metal fittings on the epaulets and collar tabs reflected the morning light. It was obviously fresh from the storeroom.

"I already have a uniform."

Dai Mubai said.

"It isn't yours."

Flender handed him the uniform.

"It's Oscar's."

Dai Mubai accepted it, lowered his head to look at the neatly folded uniform in his hands, then looked back up at Flender.

"His was blown apart by your White Tiger Intense Light Wave when he fought you yesterday. The sleeves were scorched, and there was a hole in the chest. He can't wear it anymore."

Dai Mubai opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed the words before they came out.

Yesterday, Oscar had taken a White Tiger Intense Light Wave head-on. Dai Mubai had used all his strength, yet Oscar had stood there as though nothing had happened, not even retreating more than a few steps.

Dai Mubai had thought that attack had caused no damage. He had not expected the uniform to have been blown apart.

The clothes were ruined, but the man was fine. That was what was truly infuriating.