Shrek's Miserable Escape!

Tang Chen retracted the Eight Spider Lances and gave Tang San an indifferent glance.

He knew clearly that Tang San had always been secretly protected by Tang Hao.

If they continued this confrontation today, they might very well draw out that Clear Sky Douluo.

"Zhao Wuji, take your people and leave."

Tang Chen looked at Zhao Wuji, who was still kneeling on the ground.

"Shrek is not welcome here."

Zhao Wuji immediately rose to his feet.

"Move."

He turned to Tang San and the others.

"Everyone, leave the Star Dou Great Forest immediately."

Dai Mubai and the others did not dare hesitate and promptly packed their things.

Tang San glanced at the Soul Ring left behind by the Man Faced Demon Spider.

That purple Soul Ring had already begun to dim.

He looked at Tang Chen again.

He engraved everything that had happened today deep into his heart.

This man had taken the Soul Ring that should have belonged to him, as well as the External Soul Bone.

Tang San did not know why, but he always felt that he had lost something immensely important.

But he had no right to stay now.

Tang San turned and followed the Shrek group.

After taking a few steps, Dai Mubai stopped again.

His gaze fell upon Zhu Zhuqing.

"Are you Zhu Zhuqing?"

Zhu Zhuqing raised her eyes to look at him.

"You are Dai Mubai?"

Joy appeared in Dai Mubai's eyes.

"It's me."

He quickly stepped closer.

"Zhu Qing, since you already recognize me, come with me."

"We are engaged."

Zhu Zhuqing stood at Tang Chen's side, her expression unchanged.

"I won't go with you."

Dai Mubai froze where he stood.

"Why?"

"Since you know who I am, you should also know about our engagement."

"So what?"

Zhu Zhuqing looked at him.

"When you fled alone to the Heaven Dou Empire, did you ever think about what I would have to face?"

Dai Mubai opened his mouth.

Zhu Zhuqing continued.

"The Star Luo Imperial Family sent people to hunt me down."

"I fled all the way here."

"You appear now, yet all you want is for me to leave with you."

"I will not leave Tang Chen."

Dai Mubai's expression gradually darkened.

"Did he say something to you?"

"Shut up."

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze turned cold.

"How I choose has nothing to do with you."

Dai Mubai looked at Tang Chen.

He wanted to question him badly, but then he glanced at Tang Yuan beside him.

Those eight Soul Rings still placed immense pressure on him.

Dai Mubai could only suppress the anger in his heart and turn away.

The Shrek group soon vanished into the forest.

Only after they had completely left did Meng Yiran relax.

She put away her Serpent Cane and turned toward Tang Chen and Tang Yuan.

"Tang Chen, thank you for what you did just now."

She cupped her hands toward Tang Yuan.

"And thank you as well, Senior Tang Yuan, for helping me."

Tang Yuan waved his hand.

"It was nothing."

Meng Yiran raised her eyes toward Tang Chen.

His white robes made his figure appear tall and straight, while his handsome face stood out especially clearly amid the shifting forest light.

Her gaze lingered on Tang Chen's face for a moment before shifting to his side.

"What are you planning to do next?"

"Search for Soul Beasts,"

Tang Chen answered.

"My grandfather and Zhu Qing will accompany me."

Meng Yiran nodded lightly.

Gripping her Serpent Cane, she took a step forward.

"Then would you be willing to spend some time alone with me?"

Tang Chen looked at her.

Meng Yiran did not explain immediately.

She stood before Tang Chen, her blue-violet short skirt swaying gently with her steps.

Her slender legs appeared straight beneath the sunlight, and her toes slowly turned half a circle in the mud.

She lifted her chin, a trace of amusement appearing in her eyes.

"I just want to talk to you."

"You saved me just now, and I have not properly thanked you yet."

Noticing her approach, Zhu Zhuqing immediately stepped between them.

"The matter is already over."

"If you have nothing else to do, you can leave."

With her line of sight blocked, Meng Yiran frowned slightly.

She sized up Zhu Zhuqing.

"And who are you?"

Zhu Zhuqing's expression remained calm.

"My name is Zhu Zhuqing."

"I am talking to Tang Chen."

Meng Yiran glanced at her, then looked toward Tang Chen.

"I am talking to Tang Chen too."

The two stood before Tang Chen, neither willing to step back.

The atmosphere in the forest gradually tightened.

Tang Chen raised his hand, blocking each of them.

"This is the Star Dou Great Forest."

"If you keep arguing, it will be easy to attract Soul Beasts."

"Whatever it is, discuss it after leaving the forest."

Zhu Zhuqing pressed her lips together and stepped half a pace aside.

Meng Yiran also put away her Serpent Cane.

"Since you say so, I will not argue with her."

Zhu Zhuqing glanced at her without replying.

Just then, two sets of footsteps sounded in the distance.

A tall old man was the first to emerge from the dense forest.

His hair and beard were entirely white, and he held a dragon-headed cane in his hand.

Beside him stood an elderly woman with graying hair.

The old woman leaned on a Serpent Cane, her gaze sweeping over the surroundings before quickly landing on Meng Yiran.

"Yiran!"

"Grandmother!"

Meng Yiran immediately hurried over.

The old woman caught her by the arm and inspected her from head to toe.

"Are you hurt?"

"The Soul Power fluctuations here were too intense just now. Your grandfather and I were afraid something had happened to you."

"I'm fine."

Meng Yiran shook her head.

"Tang Chen and Senior Tang Yuan saved me."

She turned and pointed at Tang Chen.

"Grandfather, Grandmother, he is Tang Chen."

"Tang Chen, this is my grandfather, Meng Shu, and my grandmother, Chao Tianxiang."

Tang Chen cupped his hands in greeting.

"Greetings, Dragon Duke and Serpent Grandmother."

Meng Shu returned the gesture.

"So you are young friend Tang."

"Thank you for looking after Yiran today."

Chao Tianxiang also looked toward Tang Chen.

Her gaze lingered on him for a moment before she quickly noticed the two Soul Rings beneath his feet.

The first was deep purple.

The second was pure black.

Meng Yiran immediately said,

"Grandfather, Grandmother, Tang Chen only has thirty levels of Soul Power, but his first Soul Ring is two thousand years old, and his second is even ten thousand years old."

"Senior Tang Yuan is also a Soul Douluo."

Meng Shu's gaze settled on Tang Chen.

"With only thirty levels of Soul Power, you already possess a ten-thousand-year second Soul Ring."

"Young friend Tang, to possess such talent at such a young age, your future achievements will be immeasurable."

Tang Yuan stroked his beard, his face full of smiles.

"Dragon Duke, you flatter him."

Meng Shu shook his head.

"This old man has traveled the continent for many years, yet I have never seen such a genius."

Chao Tianxiang pulled Meng Yiran closer and said in a low voice,

"Yiran, you cannot let a genius like this slip away."

Meng Yiran's cheeks grew warm.

"Grandmother, don't say it so directly."

Chao Tianxiang glanced at her.

"When you meet someone suitable, you naturally need to be more proactive."

Zhu Zhuqing stood nearby and heard every word clearly.

She looked at Meng Yiran, then at Tang Chen, and the calmness in her eyes gradually faded.

The next moment, Zhu Zhuqing reached out and linked her arm through Tang Chen's.

"Since you have already met Miss Meng, we will be leaving first."

Tang Chen's body stiffened slightly.

Zhu Zhuqing leaned very close, her black sleeve pressed against his arm.

A faint scent of grass and wood drifted from her body.

Watching this, the smile on Meng Yiran's face immediately vanished.

She stepped to Tang Chen's other side and linked her arm through his right arm.

"What harm is there in staying a little longer?"