After leaving Heaven Dou City, the carriage traveled along the main road for two days, finally arriving in Suotuo City, home of Shrek Academy, on the afternoon of the third day.
Yi Chen didn't stop in the city. He went straight to the entrance of Shrek Academy, having the coachman drive the carriage there. He had just jumped down and hadn't even had time to enter the gate when two figures came sprinting out of the academy.
"Master!"
Ning Rongrong took the lead, her pink skirt fluttering as she ran. Her delicate little face was lit up with surprise and excitement. Xiao Wu followed close behind, her scorpion braid swinging from side to side as she ran, her face beaming with the same bright smile.
Before Yi Chen could say a word, Ning Rongrong threw herself into his arms, wrapped both hands tightly around his waist, and rubbed her head against his chest like a kitten begging for affection. "Master! You're finally back! We missed you so much!"
Xiao Wu was a step behind and had nowhere left to squeeze in, but she refused to be outdone. She hugged Yi Chen's arm from the side and looked up at him with a grin. "Master, Master! You were gone for so many days! Rongrong asked every day when you'd be back. My ears nearly grew calluses!"
"You're one to talk!" Ning Rongrong lifted her head from Yi Chen's arms, her cheeks flushed as she shot back, "You were exactly the same! Every night you asked, 'Will Master be back tomorrow?' Don't think I didn't notice!"
"I was worried about Master!" Xiao Wu defended herself, perfectly self-righteous. "Unlike someone who couldn't even bring herself to play Teamfight Tactics after Master left. She just sat staring at the board all day!"
"You..."
"All right, all right." The two girls were giving Yi Chen a headache, but he couldn't help laughing as he patted them both on the head. "I've only been gone a few days, and you're already making such a racket. If I ever went away for months, you'd probably tear Shrek apart!"
Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu exchanged a glance, then giggled in unison and let go. Still, they stayed close on either side of Yi Chen, like two clingy little tails.
"Master, did everything go smoothly in Star Luo?" Ning Rongrong asked, gazing up at him with concern. "Was Zhuqing's engagement really called off?"
Yi Chen nodded. "Everything went smoothly. The Star Luo Emperor issued the decree himself. Dai Mubai and Zhuqing have nothing to do with each other anymore."
"That's wonderful!" Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu cheered together, then slapped their hands together, their faces filled with sincere delight.
"Then where's Zhuqing? Why didn't she come back with you?" Xiao Wu craned her neck to look into the carriage. Finding it empty, she asked in confusion.
"She stayed in Star Luo City," Yi Chen explained. "She and her older sister, Zhu Zhuyun, finally put their long-standing grievances to rest, so I let her stay a few more days and spend some time with her family. Besides..."
He paused, a smile curling his lips. "I gave the Zhu Family exclusive rights to distribute Golden Spatula in the Star Luo Empire. As a legitimate daughter of the Zhu Family, Zhuqing can help oversee the construction of the branch halls."
"Wow!" Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up. "Master, you're incredible! You went to break off an engagement and managed to close a business deal on the side!"
Xiao Wu nodded repeatedly, her face full of admiration. "When Master steps in, he's worth two!"
The praise from his two disciples had Yi Chen feeling rather pleased with himself, though he kept his expression composed and gave a light cough. "All right, no need to flatter me. Come on, let's head back. I brought you some specialties from Heaven Dou City."
"Really? That's wonderful!" Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu cheered again, each hooking an arm around Yi Chen as they escorted him into the academy.
People passing by cast curious and envious looks at the sight. Yi Chen hadn't been at Shrek for long, but his reputation had already spread through the academy: a powerful man who had taken Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing as his disciples; the mysterious creator of Teamfight Tactics; a man whom even Headmaster Flender treated with great courtesy.
The three chatted and laughed all the way to the old tree in the back hills. It was where Yi Chen usually taught the three girls, and had become their private training ground.
Yi Chen sat on a stone bench beneath the tree, took two paper-wrapped parcels from his Storage Soul Tool, and handed them to his disciples. "Here. Osmanthus Cake and candied fruit from an old, famous shop in Heaven Dou City. I had to wait in line for quite a while to get them."
Ning Rongrong took a parcel and opened it. The golden Osmanthus Cake gave off an enticing sweet fragrance. She couldn't resist taking a bite, and her eyes immediately lit up. "Delicious! You're the best, Master!"
Not to be outdone, Xiao Wu grabbed a piece of candied fruit and popped it into her mouth. Her cheeks puffed out like a little squirrel caught stealing food. "Mmm... delicious! It's so much better than the pastries in Suotuo City!"
Seeing how happily his two disciples were eating, Yi Chen couldn't help smiling.
He took a sip of tea, then suddenly remembered something. "By the way, I also met two people while I was in Heaven Dou City."
"Who?" Ning Rongrong asked curiously, her mouth full of cake.
Dugu Bo's granddaughter, Dugu Yan. And her friend, Ye Lingling.
"Dugu Yan? Ye Lingling?" Xiao Wu tilted her head, thinking. "I think I've heard of them. Dugu Yan's a student at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, right? Is Ye Lingling too?"
Yi Chen nodded. "That's right. They both play Teamfight Tactics, and they're pretty good at it. I'm thinking of holding a small friendly tournament sometime soon and inviting them to join."
"A tournament?" Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu exchanged a glance, a fighting spirit kindling in both their eyes.
"Master, how good are they?" Ning Rongrong asked, a hint of defiance in her voice. "Are they better than us?"
Yi Chen glanced at her and smiled. "Their skill is about where yours is now. But they started later than you did and still reached this level, so they're clearly talented."
Ning Rongrong gave a huff and clenched her little fists. "Then when the tournament comes, I'll show them what I can do!"
Xiao Wu nodded enthusiastically, brimming with confidence. "That's right! We'll show them that Master's personal disciples aren't to be messed with!"
Seeing his two disciples fired up and eager to compete, Yi Chen felt both gratified and amused.
"All right, it's good to have ambition," he said, setting down his teacup and standing up. "But talk is cheap. Come on, let me see if you've been slacking off while I was away."
Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu exchanged a glance, immediately put down their pastries, and sat up straight in front of the board.
"Don't worry, Master. We haven't been slacking off!" Ning Rongrong said with confidence. "Xiao Wu and I trained on schedule every day, and we've even worked out several new team compositions!"
Xiao Wu nodded in agreement. "That's right! Come take a look, Master. Have we improved?"
Yi Chen clasped his hands behind his back and walked behind the two girls. As he studied the team composition taking shape on the board, a glimmer of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.
The two girls really hadn't been slacking off.
In fact, they had improved even faster than he'd expected.
It seemed that by the time the tournament rolled around, they'd be able to give Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling a few "surprises."