Learning that these people had just enrolled today, Ma Hongjun lost some of his nerve.
They'd all be classmates from now on.
If things went badly today, he'd probably get targeted at the same academy.
He could clearly see that Lin Ye was giving him a strange look.
It was as if the word "threat" had been written all over his face.
And what Teacher Zhao had said—why did it sound so strange?
"Teacher Zhao, they were the ones who attacked first. I..."
Zhao Wuji raised a hand and cut him off. "Enough. You think I don't know what you're up to?"
"You were definitely harassing a female student, and now you're trying to play the victim, right?"
"If you've got that much free time, run fifty laps around the academy. You're not allowed to eat until you finish!"
He'd had enough.
That damn fatty had no sense at all.
He knew they were fellow students, and that he was weaker than them. Couldn't he just keep his head down?
If he said another word, things might get a lot worse than running laps!
After all, Lin Ye was a terrifying kid.
If he really angered Lin Ye, Zhao Wuji couldn't guarantee that Ma Hongjun wouldn't get beaten half to death.
Lin Ye might be young, but a strong person's dignity was not to be challenged.
How could an uneducated, woman-chasing fatty like Ma Hongjun dare offend a monstrous powerhouse like Lin Ye?
"Teacher Zhao, isn't fifty laps a bit much?"
Ma Hongjun's face crumpled. He knew there was no way he could talk Zhao Wuji around.
He had absolutely no credibility at the academy.
He'd been there for years. Who didn't know what he was like?
"Too much? Then make it a hundred laps!"
"No, no! Fifty is fine!"
Ma Hongjun shuddered. He could tell Zhao Wuji was truly angry, so he hurried off.
If he didn't finish all fifty laps, he really wouldn't get any food.
At the same time, his heart was filled with bitter outrage.
He was the one who'd been beaten! His little brother had already lost all its drive, and now he even had to run laps?
If he ran all those laps, wouldn't he be completely ruined?
Meanwhile, Lin Ye and the others hadn't received any punishment at all.
In other words, he'd taken that beating for nothing!
He really couldn't understand where those people had come from. Teacher Zhao was practically protecting them!
Over on the scene, Zhao Wuji cleared his throat.
"That kid Ma Hongjun went too far. I'm sorry you had to put up with that."
"Ning Rongrong, could you stop crying now?"
Seeing that Ning Rongrong was still shedding tears, Zhao Wuji felt a little overwhelmed.
How could she cry so much?
Sure enough, girls who looked soft and sweet would cry nonstop if you upset them. They really were made of water.
"I've already punished Ma Hongjun. He'll remember this lesson, so stop crying and wipe away your tears."
Ning Rongrong's eyes were red from crying.
If someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect saw this, wouldn't they blow Shrek Academy to smithereens?
Ning Rongrong sniffled a few times, still speaking through her tears, with a hint of helplessness in her voice.
"Sorry, Teacher Zhao. I've already worked myself up into this, and now I can't stop."
"I'll be fine in a bit."
Everyone: "..."
What the hell did she mean, she couldn't stop?
So once she started crying, she couldn't stop?
That was quite a talent.
Anyone who didn't know better would really think she'd suffered some terrible injustice.
After a while, Ning Rongrong finally managed to control her tears and let out a long breath.
The moment she'd decided to cry, she'd thought of every unhappy thing that had ever happened to her.
Then the tears had naturally started falling.
But after thinking of all that, she couldn't stop them.
It was all Lin Ye's fault. "Fight magic with magic"—what a terrible idea!
He'd made her embarrass herself!
But when she saw Lin Ye discreetly give her a thumbs-up, the resentment in her heart vanished.
It was praise for her acting skills!
At least he had good taste!
Lin Ye really was impressed. If Ning Rongrong didn't win a Little Gold Man for that performance, it would be a crime.
Other young actors had to use eye drops to cry on cue—or even chili water!
And her?
She could cry in a second, like a dam bursting.
"If there's nothing else, you can look around the academy."
Zhao Wuji finally relaxed.
That girl's tears were truly frightening.
More terrifying than any weapon of mass destruction—they were a mental assault. He didn't even know what to say.
As for Ma Hongjun's tears?
Those were just eye discharge. Disgusting!
"Teacher Zhao, since we haven't started training yet, can we go explore Suotuo City?"
Ning Rongrong made her request.
Zhao Wuji had wanted to refuse, but when he saw her reddened eyes, he couldn't bring himself to.
Besides, who knew when Flender would bring Dai Mubai back? Tang San was injured too and needed time to recover.
Training wouldn't start right away.
There wasn't much to do if they stayed at the academy.
"Fine, go have a look around. But be back in the dormitory tonight."
"Thank you, Teacher Zhao. You're a good person!"
Was that a good-person card?
Zhao Wuji scratched his head. Why did that feel so weird?
Whatever. He'd better get back to work.
"Rongrong, you're amazing!"
After Zhao Wuji left, Xiao Wu couldn't help praising her.
She couldn't cry like that!
Even if she could, she wouldn't do it.
It felt kind of embarrassing.
But when Ning Rongrong did it, it seemed completely natural.
After all, she had the image of a sweet, gentle girl.
"Hehe~ At home, this trick never fails!"
"I just overdid it a little today."
Ning Rongrong looked pleased with herself.
Back at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she'd used this trick to protect her two Titled Douluo grandfathers.
Even her father couldn't withstand it.
He knew she was faking, but he still couldn't bring himself to be harsh with her.
Lin Ye sighed.
So acting skills really were honed through practice!
As expected of the Little Demoness. Her underhanded tricks are incredible!
With skills like that, if someone gave her a Big Slap, she could probably cry for ages, right?
Ning Rongrong: "!!!"
This guy!
He'd called her the Little Demoness again, and now he was thinking about hitting her?
That was too much!
"Rongrong, calm down."
Zhu Zhuqing took Ning Rongrong's hand and gently comforted her.
Lin Ye's inner commentary was often so irritating that it made people want to beat him up.
So she wasn't surprised at all to see Ning Rongrong lose her temper.
"I-I'm calm."
Ning Rongrong clenched her fists until her knuckles cracked.
"What's wrong?"
Lin Ye noticed something was off and gave her a concerned look.
"Nothing!"
Ning Rongrong replied, then marched outside in a huff.
What a jerk!
He'd been making fun of her in his head, yet he still pretended to care?
Lin Ye scratched his head, completely baffled.
"What's wrong with her? Is it that time of the month?"
"N-no, nothing."
Xiao Wu's mouth twitched. A Ye, oh A Ye, stop mocking girls in your head all the time! It makes people hate you!
"Maybe she remembered something upsetting."
Zhu Zhuqing said calmly, then followed Ning Rongrong.
"A Ye, let's go explore Suotuo City."
Xiao Wu took Lin Ye's hand and hurried after them.
They didn't often get the chance to go out and have fun. They couldn't let it pass them by.
Lin Ye didn't mind either way. He'd already used up his daily check-in at the Rose Hotel.
He'd have to wait until tomorrow to check in at Shrek Academy.
He hoped this important place in the story would give him a decent reward—preferably one that would make him a Titled Douluo in a single leap.
He wasn't afraid of biting off more than he could chew!
Before you continue