Reunion with Shrek, Dai Mubai's Jealousy of Tang San

After shuttling through the forest for a while, Ye Yunxi tapped her toes lightly and landed beneath a tree.

Ye Yunxi rubbed her still-numb backside, leaning lazily against the trunk as she muttered under her breath:

"I never expected to run into Hu Liena and Yue Guan. Who knows what kind of shady mission Bibi Dong has assigned them."

Though curious, she thought better of it; that was Martial Soul Hall business, and it had absolutely nothing to do with her.

Just as she was pondering where to spend her seven-day vacation, a burst of noisy human voices drifted over from nearby.

"What's going on? Is tonight some kind of special day? How are there people in a godforsaken, remote place like this?"

Ye Yunxi's gaze flickered. She hunched her back, darted into the bushes in a single bound, and peered toward the source of the firelight.

Beside the campfire, the Shrek Seven Devils were sitting in a circle.

"Tell me, what exactly is the background of that Imperial Concubine?"

Dai Mubai took a long swig of strong liquor, his Adam's apple bobbing.

"At the Moonlight Pavilion banquet that day, that smile of hers—even I couldn't keep my composure. She's a devastating beauty!"

"And how!"

Ma Hongjun rubbed his chubby hands, his fat face flushed bright red, drool nearly dripping down to his chin.

"That figure, those eyes... if I could get her to smile at me just once, I'd be willing to lose ten years of my life!"

Oscar chimed in from the side, "She's better looking than any girl I've ever seen! No wonder the Crown Prince treats her like a precious treasure; if it were me, I wouldn't be able to let go either!"

Tang San sat on the far edge, his expression complex, remaining silent throughout.

Xiao Wu tugged at his sleeve, glaring at him indignantly with puffed-out cheeks:

"Tang San, you are not allowed to think about her!"

Just as the group was chatting heatedly, a light chuckle suddenly drifted from behind them, clear and cold yet laced with bone-deep allure.

"You all seem to be having a lively conversation."

As soon as these words fell, the area around the campfire turned deathly silent.

The seven of them whipped their heads around.

Ye Yunxi leaned against the tree trunk, her smoky pink gauze dress fluttering in the breeze. Her dark hair was loosely pinned up, with a few stray strands clinging to her fair cheeks.

The firelight reflected in her watery peach-blossom eyes, which were curved into faint smiles.

The wine flask in Dai Mubai's hand hit the ground with a "clatter," spilling liquor all over him, yet he didn't even notice.

Ma Hongjun was completely stunned, drool trailing down his chin onto his clothes, soaking a large patch.

The sausage in Oscar's hand dropped into the fire with a "plop," and he didn't even react.

Tang San's pupils constricted, his heart pounding uncontrollably; he didn't even feel Xiao Wu's tugging.

Ning Rongrong covered her mouth, her eyes filled with shock.

Even Zhu Zhuqing's typically cold face had a rare, faint flush of red.

The scene was silent, save for the sound of their racing heartbeats, each one faster than the last.

At that moment, a playful mechanical voice rang out in Ye Yunxi's mind.

[Ding! Triggered side quest: Shrek's Heart-Racing Challenge]

[Quest Requirements: Make at least three of the Shrek Seven Devils lose their composure with a single sentence (choking, stuttering, or dropping things all count). You may not use soul power for charm.]

[Quest Reward: Soul power +0.5 levels, bonus "Fox Shadow Invisibility Talisman" ×2 (can conceal one's figure for a quarter of an hour; undetectable by those below Soul Douluo level)]

A glimmer of craftiness flashed in Ye Yunxi's eyes. She walked over slowly, nudging the fallen wine flask with her toe. Her peach-blossom eyes curved into crescents, her voice laced with mockery:

"What's this? Were you all missing me so much you couldn't sleep, so you ran out to this wilderness just to discuss me?"

The effect was immediate.

Dai Mubai snapped back to reality, his throat catching as he began to cough violently, his face turning beet red.

Oscar opened his mouth, unable to form a complete sentence for a long time, stuttering, "N-no... we were just chatting casually!"

Ma Hongjun was so agitated he tripped over his own feet, falling into a mud pit beside the fire with a "thud" and splashing mud all over himself.

With the three of them losing their composure in succession, the other four stood frozen, their expressions a colorful display of shock.

[Ding! Quest successfully completed! Rewards have been issued!]

A warm current surged through her limbs and bones, and her soul power rose steadily by half a level.

Ye Yunxi was in a great mood. She leaned down to pick up Dai Mubai's wine flask, shaking it against the moonlight.

"It's the middle of the night. Why aren't you all at the academy preparing for the Soul Master Tournament instead of running off to a place like this?"

Ye Yunxi gave a light, provocative smile, batting her watery peach-blossom eyes at them. She sat down by the campfire as if she were visiting her own backyard, her tone casual.

"Since we've run into each other, we might as well chat."

She was bored anyway; seeing what these little ones were up to was quite amusing.

Her gaze shifted, landing on Ning Rongrong, who was blushing and looking shy on her left, and she raised an eyebrow:

"Why is the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect here? Someone as precious as you shouldn't be in a place like this, should you?"

"Master had us conduct night training here, and we just stayed behind to rest after it finished."

Ning Rongrong clutched her pounding heart, looking at the Crown Princess who was smiling sweetly at her, a strange flutter rising in her chest.

They were both girls, so why did she feel this way? If she could become close friends with the Crown Princess, would they be able to see each other often?

"The way you blush, little Princess Ning, is actually quite cute—much more likable than that spoiled, willful look you had back in the Heaven Dou Empire," Ye Yunxi teased.

"Imperial Concubine, you're talking nonsense! I am not rude or unreasonable!"

Ning Rongrong hurriedly retorted, though her cheeks turned even redder.

As the two conversed, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar gathered around, their eyes full of curiosity.

"I wonder why the Imperial Concubine is here? At this hour, you should be in the imperial palace."

Dai Mubai couldn't help but ask; after all, she was the Crown Prince's woman, the future Empress, and it wouldn't look good if word got out that she was running around in the middle of the night.

"If this lady wants to come out and play, do I need to look at anyone else's face? Besides, that fellow Xue Qinghe—he's perfectly happy with it."

Ye Yunxi waved her hand, looking completely indifferent.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is truly brave!"

Ma Hongjun clicked his tongue, forced to admire the Crown Prince's boldness. Wasn't he afraid that such a stunning beauty might be snatched away in the middle of the night, leaving him wearing a green hat?

During the conversation, Ye Yunxi's peach-blossom eyes turned toward Tang San on the right. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly as she winked at him, her tone coquettish:

"We meet again?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's gaze shifted toward Tang San.

Tang San felt his heart tremble from that look, his pulse racing uncontrollably.

Beside him, Xiao Wu puffed up her cheeks in anger, tugging at Tang San's collar as she scolded him:

"What kind of look is that! That's the Crown Princess over there!"

Dai Mubai clenched his fists, his heart filled with resentment.

Why? Tang San hadn't done anything, yet he could receive the special attention of the Imperial Concubine?

Even with all his dissatisfaction, he dared not vent it. With the Soul Master Tournament right around the corner, he, as the team captain, absolutely could not openly disrupt the harmony of the group.

Just then, a voice carrying a hint of authority rang out:

"What are you all arguing about here? If you don't rest properly, do you still want to train tomorrow?"

Everyone looked toward the source of the voice and saw Flender walking over, wearing his glasses, with Yu Xiaogang and the burly Zhao Wuji following close behind.

"Dean, and teachers, we were just chatting with the Imperial Concubine."

Ma Hongjun climbed out of the mud pit and said foolishly.

"Imperial Concubine?"

Flender was stunned for a moment. In the middle of the night, in this desolate forest, how could the Crown Prince's Imperial Concubine be here?

But when his gaze landed on Ye Yunxi, he froze instantly.

That peerless, breathtaking appearance was indeed the Imperial Concubine he had caught a glimpse of at the Moonlight Pavilion banquet.

Ye Yunxi stood up and offered the three of them a faint smile, her tone carrying a touch of playfulness:

"Dean, we were just chatting idly. We haven't disturbed your cultivation, have we~"