Utterly Ashamed and Furious! Utterly Ashamed and Furious!

Jin Da ignored the reactions of the five, his voice icy as he stated, "The five of you, run around this tree for me."

"You may only stop when the sun rises."

"No... don't! Senior! Please, spare us!" Ma Hongjun wailed, begging for mercy.

Oscar was so terrified that snot and tears streamed down his face.

Although Tang San and Dai Mubai remained silent, the resistance and despair in their eyes were obvious.

Jin Da frowned and added, "You don't want to run around the tree? Fine. Then run around this entire town for the whole night."

"Make your choice."

Run around the town for the whole night?

Wouldn't that mean being seen by everyone in town and becoming a massive laughingstock?

By comparison, running around the tree was humiliating, but at least the audience would be smaller...

A chill washed over the five; there was no room left for wishful thinking.

Under the gaze of a crowd that grew larger by the second, pointing and roaring with laughter, and under the "supervision" of a golden soul power whip that flickered in and out of existence.

Led by Zhao Wuji, with Dai Mubai, Tang San, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar following close behind, the five naked figures began to run around the great tree, moving with difficulty in an incredibly humiliating and bizarre posture, lap after lap.

The onlookers were stunned for a moment, then erupted into earth-shattering laughter and jeers!

"Hahaha! Serves them right! From Shrek Academy? Is this all they've got?"

"Tsk tsk, that blond kid... so he really was 'all show and no go'! No wonder his walking posture looked so weird earlier!"

"That fatty is so sleazy! And that sausage uncle is so scared he's about to wet his pants!"

"The black-haired kid has such a fierce look in his eyes, but he looks pretty ridiculous right now too..."

"That teacher is the most shameful one! A Soul Saint! Stripped naked and running around a tree, hahaha!"

"Shrek? I think they should be called 'Shit' Academy! Not a single decent person from top to bottom!"

The mockery, the jeers, and the disdainful gazes were like a tide, nearly drowning the five men running around the tree.

Zhao Wuji's face was ashen, Dai Mubai was consumed by shame and fury, and Tang San's eyes burned with hatred he could only suppress with all his might.

Ma Hongjun and Oscar wore mournful expressions, their legs moving mechanically, praying only for this nightmarish night to end quickly.

Inside the hotel, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing had cleared a clean table, and Zhao Linchuan had ordered a few light midnight snacks.

Listening to the bursts of laughter and faint wailing from outside, Ning Rongrong patted her chest, looking at Xiao Wu with a mix of lingering fear and relief.

"Xiao Wu, thank goodness you stopped me... otherwise... eww~~" She made a disgusted face. "If I had really seen it, I might have actually gotten a stye! It's too disgusting!"

Xiao Wu handed her a cup of hot tea and smiled helplessly.

Zhu Zhuqing ate in silence, her eyes calm and unruffled, as if everything happening outside had nothing to do with her.

Only occasionally would a faint, almost imperceptible glimmer of relief flash in the depths of her eyes.

Zhao Linchuan sipped his tea leisurely, listening to the "commotion" outside with a playful smile on his lips.

Outside the hotel, under the great tree, that absurd and humiliating "night run" continued under Jin Da's expressionless supervision.

The night deepened, but this corner of the town became even more "lively" than it had been during the day, all because of this unprecedented "spectacle."

After tonight, Shrek Academy's reputation would likely become "widely known" throughout this entire region.

As for the resentment and humiliation in Tang San's heart that threatened to burst from his chest, no one cared, and no one noticed.

And so, the five from Shrek ran naked around that lush, leafy tree in the open space of the town for the entire night.

Jin Da stood in the shadows not far away, arms crossed, like an iron-hearted, merciless overseer.

If anyone slowed their pace, fell behind, or tried to slack off to catch their breath, that golden whip would "whoosh" through the air like a viper.

It didn't break bones, but it stung with a fiery pain, leaving distinct red welts on their skin—and more importantly, it was a lash against their spirit and dignity.

What made Zhao Wuji and the others feel most ashamed, wishing they could die on the spot, were the onlookers.

After the initial shock and laughter, some people even brought tables and chairs out from the hotel, ordered drinks and snacks, and sat down not far away, openly and brazenly "enjoying" their unprecedented "naked run show."

"Hey, Old Wang, look at that Soul Saint; his muscles are quite solid, but the way he runs... hahaha!"

"Tsk tsk, that fatty, all that blubber shaking is making me dizzy."

"That blond kid... heh, it was true after all; no wonder he had that attitude earlier."

"Look, look! That sausage soul master almost tripped again and got whipped! Ouch, that expression!"

"This trip to the edge of the Star Dou Forest for supplies was worth it! Who would believe this 'spectacle' if I told them? A Soul Saint and four soul masters, running around a tree with their butts bare! I can brag about this for the rest of my life!"

"Exactly, exactly! When I'm old and telling stories to my grandkids, I'll tell them about the 'Shrek Naked Night' of tonight! Hahaha!"

The unbridled discussion and laughter were like sharp blades, slicing away at the dignity and sanity of Zhao Wuji and the others over and over again.

They felt less like human beings and more like monkeys or wild beasts trapped in a cage for others' amusement.

Zhao Wuji kept his eyes tightly shut, attempting to block out everything from the outside world, but those sounds were inescapable.

Tang San's eyes were bloodshot, his fingernails digging deep into his palms until they bled, yet he felt no pain.

Ma Hongjun and Oscar were already a mess of tears and snot, their legs moving mechanically as they were filled with immense regret.

It was not until the eastern horizon turned a pale fish-belly white and the rising Dawnlight dispelled the final remnants of night that the small town began to stir from its slumber. Only when more early risers were drawn to the "lively" scene did Jin Da finally move.

As soon as Jin Da left, the terrifying pressure and sense of restraint that had weighed upon the five of them like a mountain vanished completely.

Zhao Wuji was the first to snap out of it, scrambling away on his hands and feet toward the distance, his head kept deathly low the entire time, not daring to look at anyone.

Dai Mubai, Tang San, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar also jolted awake as if from a dream, scrambling after Zhao Wuji in a panicked retreat.

Their frantic, humiliated, and desperate appearance made it seem as if they were being chased by ferocious beasts; they only hated that their parents hadn't given them an extra pair of legs, and wished they could dig a hole in the ground right then and there to hide in forever.

The crowd of onlookers let out one final round of lingering laughter and jeers before slowly dispersing.

However, the explosive news of the "Shrek Academy quintet running naked around a tree all night" had already sprouted wings, spreading rapidly throughout the town and the surrounding areas.

Stop scolding me, I actually play Kai too.

Really.

Without my permission, you are not allowed to leave!

See, I remember the lines perfectly.