Exposure of Dai Mubai's Private Life, Tang San's Partiality Backfires

"You guessed right, Miss. That road leads to Soto City, and it also passes near Shrek."

After the caravan got back on the road, Ning Chuan rode his horse closer to the carriage window and handed in a thin, sealed report.

Inside the carriage, Xiao Wu was holding down the corner of the curtain, while Ning Rongrong sat opposite her, her luggage taking up half of the cushioned seat.

Brother Su Hang took the report, scanned it, and placed it on the small table.

Ning Rongrong reached out to grab it, but after reading only a few lines, she slapped the paper onto the table.

"Dai Mubai frequents those kinds of places in Soto City?"

Xiao Wu immediately leaned in.

"What kind of places?"

Ning Rongrong pushed the paper toward her, her fingertip tapping on those few lines.

"Brothels, the back courtyards of taverns, the street next to the Spirit Fighting Arena, and he's always seen coming and going with a pair of twin sisters."

After hearing this, Xiao Wu put the snack she was holding back onto the plate.

"This guy is really something. His fiancée is being suppressed back at the Zhu Family, and he's out in Soto City playing around?"

Ning Rongrong placed the Seven Treasures Token on the table, the weight of it making the paper rustle.

"Is this the character of a Star Luo prince? He lets Zhu Zhuqing shoulder the engagement and bear the pressure, while he hides away to live it up."

For once, Xiao Wu didn't bicker with her and simply nodded.

"People like this should be beaten up the moment we see them."

The guards outside heard this, and the one driving the carriage slowed his hand slightly.

Another guard nearby muttered in a low voice.

"Things sound a bit chaotic over at Shrek."

Ning Chuan shot that guard a look, and the guard immediately sat up straight.

But the words had already reached inside the carriage.

Ning Rongrong let out a cold snort.

"The first impression is terrible, absolutely terrible."

Xiao Wu lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, then quickly let it fall back down.

"Brother Su Hang, do you think Zhu Zhuqing might have already been caught?"

Brother Su Hang spread out the map, his fingertip resting next to a mountain road marker.

"She is fast, but her pursuers are also familiar with the route. She won't be able to shake them off in the short term."

Ning Rongrong immediately chimed in.

"Then let's speed up. The Seven Treasures caravan shouldn't be crawling along."

Ning Chuan responded from outside the window.

"Miss, we are changing horses at the post station ahead. Any faster and the carriage will overturn."

Xiao Wu raised her hand and pushed Ning Rongrong's bag further inside.

"You heard him. Don't rush, Miss, or Brother Su Hang will have to fish you out if we flip."

Ning Rongrong snatched her bag back.

"I never asked you to fish me out."

Xiao Wu immediately retorted.

"Then don't go screaming when it happens."

Brother Su Hang tapped on the table.

"Save your energy for arguing; you'll have plenty of time for that once we reach Shrek."

Ning Rongrong picked up the report again, getting angrier the more she read.

"What Dai Mubai owes Zhu Zhuqing is worth far more than just an apology."

Xiao Wu crossed her arms and leaned against Brother Su Hang.

"If he dares to put on airs as a prince, I'll make sure he can't step down from the stage."

Brother Su Hang put the map away.

"Let's hear how Zhu Zhuqing chooses for herself first."

Ning Rongrong paused.

Xiao Wu didn't rush to reply either.

A moment later, they both spoke almost at the same time.

"Fine."

The caravan arrived at a small post station in the afternoon.

Upon seeing the Seven Treasures Mark, the shopkeeper hurriedly cleared out the backyard and replaced all the tea and refreshments with fresh ones.

Su Hang had just entered the courtyard when footsteps sounded from outside.

Tang San arrived at the entrance with a pack on his back, his sleeves neatly tucked, followed closely by Yu Xiaogang.

Xiao Wu wrinkled her nose on the spot.

"Why are you two following us again?"

Tang San stopped outside the courtyard gate, nodding first to Ning Chuan before turning his attention to Su Hang.

"We are all heading to Shrek; it is only natural to take the same road."

Ning Rongrong tucked the secret report into her sleeve.

"You go your way, we'll go ours. Don't get too close."

Yu Xiaogang walked into the courtyard with his hands behind his back.

"Rongrong, Shrek does not care about background, only talent. Once you go there, you are all just students."

Ning Rongrong lifted her chin.

"I haven't even enrolled yet, and I'm already deducting points from that old acquaintance's academy of yours."

Yu Xiaogang paused.

"Why?"

Xiao Wu threw the words directly at him.

"Dai Mubai is living it up in Soto City while Zhu Zhuqing is being hunted and pressured by the Zhu Family. If someone like that can still thrive at Shrek, tell me, shouldn't I deduct points?"

Upon hearing the names Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, Tang San remained silent for a moment before speaking.

"The circumstances of the betrothal are complex; it is not for outsiders to judge lightly."

Ning Rongrong stood up abruptly.

"Tang San, you certainly know how to pick your moments to say something like that."

Tang San calmly straightened his sleeves.

"Family arrangements have their own reasons. The betrothal between the Dai and Zhu families concerns the succession of the Star Luo Empire. Outsiders only hear one-sided information, which easily leads to misjudgment."

Xiao Wu stepped forward, placing herself directly in front of Su Hang.

"So a girl should just endure being dragged to death by a betrothal? Being suppressed by her sister and pressured by the prince's side, all while having to be understanding of a fiancé who ran away first?"

Tang San looked at her.

"Xiao Wu, that is not what I meant."

Xiao Wu cut him off immediately.

"Don't act so familiar; we aren't that close."

Ning Rongrong slammed the Seven Treasures Token onto the table.

"You just said it's not for outsiders to judge, so let me ask you: if Zhu Zhuqing's suffering is a 'family arrangement,' then what do you call Dai Mubai's reckless behavior?"

Tang San pressed his fingertips against his cuffs.

"Dai Mubai fleeing Star Luo may have been out of necessity."

Xiao Wu sneered.

"Necessity led him to a brothel? That's a very convenient excuse."

Ning Rongrong followed up.

"Zhu Zhuqing has no choice but to risk her life, yet he has no choice but to go find pleasure? You certainly know how to distribute your version of fairness."

The caravan guards stood at the edge of the courtyard, passing teapots to one another, but none dared to interject.

Ning Chuan gave a light cough.

"Young Miss, Dai Mubai's status involves the Star Luo imperial family, after all."

Ning Rongrong turned back.

"Uncle Ning Chuan, the Seven Treasures values accounting in business. Today, I'm marking this debt against him."

Ning Chuan lowered his head.

"Understood."

Seeing the situation leaning in Ning Rongrong's favor, Yu Xiaogang steered the topic back to Shrek.

"Shrek's educational resources focus on practical combat. Although Flender has a peculiar personality, his eye for talent is sharp, and Zhao Wuji is capable of putting sufficient pressure on the students."

Su Hang finally spoke.

"Grandmaster, are you going to cover for Dai Mubai as well?"

Yu Xiaogang's sleeves stilled.

"I am speaking of the academy, not private matters."

Su Hang picked up his teacup.

"Who the academy admits, what they teach, and the extent of their supervision—all of it is part of the academy."

Ning Rongrong immediately chimed in.

"Exactly. If Dai Mubai is going to run wild while carrying the identity of a Shrek student, then Shrek shouldn't pretend to be innocent."

Xiao Wu sat back down to Su Hang's left and pushed the snack plate toward him.

"When we get to Shrek, we'll first see if Dai Mubai is even worthy of being a classmate."

Ning Rongrong sat to Su Hang's right and folded up the secret report.

"That's what I think, too. If he dares to use their betrothal to pressure Zhu Zhuqing, I'll smash his face with the Seven Treasures Token first."

Xiao Wu tilted her head.

"I agree with you this time."

Ning Rongrong didn't snap back at her.

"Rare. You finally know how to stand on the right side."

Xiao Wu pushed a piece of pastry toward her.

"Here, to celebrate you actually having your wits about you today."

Ning Rongrong picked up the pastry without arguing back.

"If Zhu Zhuqing really shows up, we should listen to her choice first."

Xiao Wu nodded.

"If she wants to break off the engagement, we'll back her up."

Su Hang set down his teacup.

"Helping someone change their fate doesn't mean making decisions for them."

Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu both fell silent for a moment.

Then, the two of them sat on either side of Su Hang and spoke in unison.

"Scum prince."

The guards in the courtyard nearly dropped their tea.

Tang San stood by the doorway, his words catching in his throat for a moment.

Yu Xiaogang didn't try to smooth things over any further.

Just then, Ning Chuan hurried in from outside the courtyard, a new slip of paper in his hand.

He stopped in front of Su Hang and Ning Rongrong.

"Miss, Young Friend Su, traces of Star Luo agility-type tracking were spotted outside Soto City last night."