Lost... Happy...

"Who killed my Man Faced Demon Spider?"

The newcomers were none other than Snake Matriarch Chao Tianxiang, Meng Yiran, and a tall, thin old man.

The old man held a bright silver dragon-headed cane, and eight soul rings pulsed around his body; he was the Dragon Duke, Meng Shu.

Meng Yiran's eyes turned red. "We've been tracking it for an entire day!"

"It was me."

Tang San steadied himself against a large tree. "It appeared suddenly, and I was merely defending myself."

Meng Shu said in a deep voice, "The Man Faced Demon Spider is extremely rare, even more precious than the Cockscomb Serpent. I will give you two choices: either join my family, and this matter will be forgotten—I will even help you absorb the soul ring—or leave behind an arm, and you may go."

[I Am Not Yanzi: Damn! This family is here again?]

[Fire-Breathing Dragon: Is that the Dragon Duke?]

[6G Sky Wing: He wasn't there last time, but he is now. How will Tang San and the others manage to keep this soul ring?]

In the video, Tang San raised his Black Box. "If you want to fight, I'll keep you company."

Just then, Zhao Wuji arrived with Dai Mubai and the others. Seeing Meng Shu's eight soul rings, Zhao Wuji cursed inwardly; he had just used his Martial Soul Avatar, and his strength was at only fifty percent.

"Senior Dragon Duke, this junior is Zhao Wuji."

Zhao Wuji cupped his hands and leaned in to whisper:

"Tang San's father is that Clear Sky Douluo. I ask that you show some leniency for his sake."

Meng Shu's expression shifted upon hearing this.

So, he was that man's child.

"Hmph, for the sake of you juniors, this seat will spare you this time."

"Grandfather, we can't just let it go like this!"

Meng Yiran was unconvinced.

"I want to compete with him again! We'll throw Soul-Breaking Blades at tree leaves. Each of us gets eighteen blades; whoever hits the most leaves and leaves the blades embedded in the trunk wins. If you lose, you aren't allowed to absorb the Man Faced Demon Spider's soul ring; if you win, the ring is yours."

Oscar stepped forward and said, "That's not fair. Tang San killed the Man Faced Demon Spider. If you lose, you should pay a price—how about you give him a kiss?"

Meng Shu actually smiled and agreed: "Fine, it's settled."

[Begonia Blossoms: Pfft! There's such a bet? This Dragon Duke is too impulsive!]

In the video, Meng Shu raised his hand and flung his dragon-headed cane, striking a tree twenty meters away, causing leaves to fall like rain.

Meng Yiran let out a sharp cry, her hands moving in unison as eighteen Soul-Breaking Blades flew out one after another. Each blade hit a leaf with precision, some even piercing through two.

However, when she turned her head, she saw Tang San with his back to the tree. As she had made her move, he had flicked his cloth pouch, and eighteen cold glints flew out simultaneously, all tracing an arc.

After the leaves landed, Meng Yiran rushed over to inspect them. She saw her own eighteen flying blades neatly embedded in a small area of the trunk, each holding a leaf. But Tang San's eighteen blades, adorned with blue silk ribbons, were neatly arranged in three rows forming the character "Three." Each blade had pierced through ten leaves, and the depth of the blades in the wood was perfectly uniform.

"He was facing away from the tree and didn't even look!" Meng Shu's voice rang out. "Such technique is truly miraculous."

Meng Yiran walked back, looking dejected. Tang San stepped forward, picked up the fallen Soul-Breaking Blades, and handed them to her: "Miss Meng, your blades."

He even took the initiative to explain the techniques of hidden weapons: "Your flying blades are a bit too bulky; changing them to flying needles would be more suitable. I'll give you a set of training methods for hidden weapons. Identifying positions by sound is a basic skill..."

Meng Yiran, initially harboring resentment, gradually became engrossed in his explanation. Finally, she took a long look at Tang San, leaned in, and kissed him on the cheek: "Little brat. That settles the bet. If you cause trouble again, I won't spare you."

Afterward, the Dragon Duke and Snake Matriarch took her and turned to leave.

[Galaxy Baseball Bat Hero: Time for the ultimate roast!]

[Galaxy Baseball Bat Hero: Dragon Duke Meng Shu, an old scoundrel who bullies the weak and fears the strong, changing his attitude based on background—he's better at that than anyone! As for Meng Yiran, she refuses to accept defeat and demands a contest, purely asking for trouble. As for Tang San, he's a confirmed hypocrite! He clearly crushed her with hidden weapon techniques, yet he insists on acting magnanimous to teach her, and then accepts the kiss with a clear conscience. He wants to have his cake and eat it too—disgusting!]

(Disdainful emotion points from all female group members +1000)

The video ended there, and the condemnation of Tang San and the others in the group reached its peak.

Ye Qiong watched the surging emotion points, his mouth curling into a wide grin.

He had made a killing.

[Galaxy Baseball Bat Hero: Alright, the story is over. The relevant commission tasks have been released to the group announcement. @First Cute Bunny @Pagoda Suppresses River Demon @No Petting Cats, please take note and check.]

[Ding! Group task announcement updated!]

[Task Name: A Special "Invitation" in the Star Dou Forest]

[Task Content: After entering the Star Dou Forest tomorrow, you must take the initiative to be "captured" by the Titan Giant Ape alongside Xiao Wu. There is no need to resist during this time. Completing the core objective of being captured will grant a reward of 3200 Stellar Jade.]

[Task Restrictions: Only @First Cute Bunny (Xiao Wu), @Pagoda Suppresses River Demon (Ning Rongrong), and @No Petting Cats (Zhu Zhuqing) may accept. Mandatory trigger, cannot be refused.]

As soon as the group message landed, three messages popped up in succession in Ye Qiong's private chat interface.

[First Cute Bunny (Xiao Wu): Group Owner brother, this task is so strange! Actually... I know the Titan Giant Ape. His name is Er Ming, and he is my little brother. I'm not worried about being captured by him, but why drag Rongrong and Zhuqing along? They don't know Er Ming at all; this is too dangerous!]

[Pagoda Suppresses River Demon (Ning Rongrong): Group Owner! It's one thing for Xiao Wu to know it, but Zhuqing and I are just ordinary students. There's no reason for us to be captured too! What exactly does this task mean?]

[No Petting Cats (Zhu Zhuqing): It's a mandatory trigger that can't be refused, yet you don't explain why we have to be captured as well. And according to the plot you revealed, originally only Xiao Wu was captured. Why change it so that all three of us are taken?]

Ye Qiong looked at the three messages filled with confusion, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Only by having the three beauties captured together could he completely disrupt Shrek's rhythm, and only then would he have the opportunity to leave this secret realm and head to the outside world.

However, he did not reply immediately, choosing instead to close the private message interface first.

Aedes Elysiae.

Ye Qiong closed the Chat Group and, looking at the final number frozen on the system panel, let out a laugh.

[After a triple boost to emotional points, a total of 31,500 emotional points have been obtained this time.]

"I'm rich, I'm rich! Mimi, we finally have a chance to get out of this godforsaken place!"

Ye Qiong excitedly scooped up the little pink ball in his arms and planted a kiss on her furry head.

"Mimi! Mimi-mimi!"

Mimi seemed to sense Ye Qiong's joy as well, chirping happily in his arms and waving her tiny paws.

She let out a long string of crisp "mi" sounds, but within that string of chirps, there was a faint yet incredibly clear, childish syllable mixed in.

"Mi... hap... py... Mimi..."

The smile on Ye Qiong's face froze instantly.

He abruptly lowered his head, staring at the little creature in his arms in disbelief.

"Mimi... what did you... just say?"