Drowning Sorrows in Drink Only Deepens Them

Zhu Zhuqing panted heavily, her tense body finally relaxing as a faint smile touched her lips.

At least she had gotten to participate instead of being a useless bystander like Xiao Wu the whole time.

The host raised his microphone high, his impassioned voice ringing throughout the arena:

"The winners of this two-person Soul Fight are! Hell Spirit Cat! Motherland Guga!"

Thunderous applause and cheers swept through the entire Great Soul Arena. On the stage—

Two figures stood side by side, calmly accepting the victory that belonged to them.

"Motherland Guga, it was all thanks to you."

Motherland Guga patted Zhu Zhuqing on the shoulder, her tone earnest.

"No, this was the result of our combined efforts, my friend. You're the true hero, Guga."

A faint smile appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's face as she returned to the stands with her.

The moment she sat down, Motherland Guga went looking for Xiao Wu.

She raised her little face and deliberately drew out her words, her tone dripping with mockery:

"Wow~ Look who it is? A little rabbit Guga who was a useless bystander the entire time."

Xiao Wu puffed up her cheeks, planted her hands on her hips, and angrily turned away, unwilling to pay her any attention.

But Motherland Guga refused to let it go. She flew to Xiao Wu's ear and kept repeating herself.

"Zhuqing personally knocked a Soul Ancestor off the stage, but what about you, Guga?"

It was as if she wanted Xiao Wu to understand just how wrong she had been not to choose her.

"Not listening, not listening! A turtle chanting scriptures!!"

Xiao Wu grabbed her rabbit ears and pulled them down, shaking her head desperately.

Yet no matter which way she turned, that voice followed right after her.

At that moment, Flender arrived carrying a large bag, accompanied by the rest of Shrek.

"Little monsters, today's Soul Fights have concluded perfectly. Time to head back!"

After they left the Great Soul Arena—

Ma Hongjun rubbed his hands together and said with a grin.

"Dean, look how much you made. Could you maybe, hehe..."

Flender shot him a glance.

He pulled out a handful of gold coins from the bag and stuffed them into Ma Hongjun's hands.

"Spend it sparingly. Don't go anywhere too fancy."

With that, he activated Martial Soul Possession and vanished into the distant sky.

Ma Hongjun held the pile of gold coins in his hands, and his tiny eyes instantly lit up.

His face blossomed into a grin. He immediately turned and sidled up to Oscar, waggling his brows.

"Hehehe~ Little Oscar, I have money now! Want to go have some fun together?"

Oscar shook his head like a rattle drum and hurriedly waved him off.

"I'm not going. I've never been, and I don't like going either."

Ma Hongjun froze, his face full of confusion.

"Huh? Didn't you say some time ago that you wanted to take a look once you had money?"

Oscar anxiously kept signaling at him with his eyes.

But Ma Hongjun's brain failed to catch up, and he completely missed the hint.

He turned toward Dai Mubai nearby and shouted:

"Boss Dai, are you going? It's the perfect chance for me to challenge your title as Young Lord of Seven Women in One Night! I'll book nine at once!"

Dai Mubai stiffened slightly at his words and instinctively glanced at Zhu Zhuqing in the distance.

Zhu Zhuqing's cool gaze happened to fall upon him. She gave him a casual sweep of her eyes, and disgust shone within them.

"Disgusting."

"Lecherous Tiger, you really are impressive. Every time, I think I've already underestimated you enough, yet you still manage to break through a new bottom line and surprise me. Impressive, impressive."

Ning Rongrong applauded in admiration.

Those words were undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire. Dai Mubai hurried forward, wanting to explain himself.

"Zhuqing, listen to my explanation, I..."

"Hiss!"

Motherland Guga flew in front of Zhu Zhuqing, red light blazing in her eyes.

"Now! Back off! Guga!"

Dai Mubai's throat bobbed as he swallowed. Oppressed by that imposing aura, fear rose in his heart, and he involuntarily backed up two steps.

Lin Xiao raised a hand and gently stroked Di Guga's head.

Di Guga immediately understood his intention. A layer of soft white light enveloped everyone.

The sphere of light slowly rose into the air and shot through the sky toward Shrek Academy.

The crimson glow in Motherland Guga's eyes gradually faded. Then, with a whoosh!

Her figure transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the night alongside the sphere.

The more Dai Mubai thought about it, the more aggrieved he became.

Why? Why was he never given a chance to explain himself?!

He glared viciously at Ma Hongjun.

It was all that fatso's fault! If he had not spouted nonsense and brought up that Young Lord of Seven Women in One Night nonsense, Zhuqing would not have come to hate him.

"It's all your fault!"

Dai Mubai let out a low roar and raised his foot to kick Ma Hongjun again.

Bang!

Caught off guard, Ma Hongjun staggered forward from the kick, and the gold coins clenched in his hand scattered across the ground with a clatter.

"Ah! Boss Dai, why did you kick me?"

He was in pain and panic. Just as he was about to yell, Dai Mubai raised his hand and swung at him.

"Ahhh!! Don't hit my face! My money! My money!"

He hurriedly covered his head with his arms, dodging while painfully gathering the scattered gold coins.

Dai Mubai threw punch after punch at him, occasionally mixing in a few kicks.

Ma Hongjun was beaten into a frantic retreat, clutching his head and howling.

Oscar watched from the side, baring his teeth.

Fatso, fatso, who told you to let your mouth run wild?

You knew Boss Dai had feelings for Zhuqing, yet you still said that. If he doesn't beat you up, who else would he beat?

Late at night.

Inside Shrek Academy's villa.

Lin Xiao gently pushed open a bedroom door.

Ning Rongrong was already asleep. She had kicked off her blanket with one foot, exposing most of her body.

She was still hugging Cute Little Guga in her arms.

"Mmm... Brother Lin Xiao... hehe..."

Hearing Rongrong call his name even in her sleep—

Lin Xiao smiled and tucked her blanket back around her.

In another room, Xiao Wu lay sprawled across the bed, her blanket having long since fallen to the floor, drool even trickling from the corner of her mouth.

Lin Xiao reached out to straighten her body and casually covered her with the blanket as well.

Just as he was about to return to his room and continue sleeping, he noticed that the living room lights were still on.

Curiously, he walked over.

There, he found Zhu Zhuqing sitting beside the counter in the lounge area, pouring drink after drink down her throat.

Meanwhile, the bartender Guga was holding a cocktail shaker and shaking it wildly.

"Guga~ Romantic Feili~"

After shaking it, she flicked her wrist, poured the mixed drink from the shaker into a wineglass, and pushed it toward Zhu Zhuqing.

"Thank you."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the purple drink and slowly began sipping it.

Lin Xiao walked over and caught a faint scent of alcohol in the air, causing him to frown.

He sat down beside Zhu Zhuqing and snatched the wineglass from her hand.

"You're already trying to drown your sorrows in drink?

And you, Guga, didn't I say you couldn't give them alcohol before they came of age?"

Zhu Zhuqing was briefly stunned. Is he worried about me?

Then a faint smile tugged at her lips.

"It's fruit juice. It just smells like alcohol."

The bartender Guga hurriedly nodded hard, still clutching the cocktail shaker to her chest.

"Boss, heaven knows I'm innocent! I'm a good goose! I'd never give alcohol to minors.

This is liquor bought from Gazi Livestream. It only has the taste of alcohol, no alcohol content, Guga."

Only then did Lin Xiao relax and place the glass back on the table.

"It's the middle of the night. Why did you suddenly want to taste alcohol? Because of Dai Mubai?"

"Mm..."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded, took back the glass, and swallowed another mouthful. Yet the alcoholic taste still made her frown.