Shrek Academy (Part 1)

After spending several days in Suotuo City, the day Shrek Academy opened finally arrived.

Lin Qing, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing set out together to register at the place Lin Qing had inquired about.

Xiao Wu's complexion was visibly much better than it had been a few days ago, and she had almost fully recovered. At the very least, her entire body was no longer sore and aching.

The reason was that Xiao Wu had refused to let Lin Qing touch her these past few days. To stop Lin Qing from forcing the issue, she had even moved into Zhu Zhuqing's room to sleep.

Lin Qing found this utterly helpless. Wasn't his stamina only a little better? Wasn't he only a little more enduring? Was there any need to be so scared? In any case, Lin Qing figured he would not be able to touch Xiao Wu again for at least half a month.

After leaving the city, they walked along an uneven, muddy road. It was entirely dirt, without even a single stone slab laid upon it.

Not only was it impossible to move quickly along this road, but it was terribly hard on the feet.

"Lin Qing, are you sure that Shrek Academy is this way?" After walking for a long time, even Xiao Wu, with the strength of a Soul Elder, was getting tired and could not help complaining.

"The location I asked about really was in this direction. Hang in there, Xiao Wu. We should be there soon," Lin Qing could only reassure her.

At that moment, Xiao Wu suddenly spotted a couple beside the road. The man crouched down, the woman climbed onto his back, and then he carried her onward.

Seeing this, Xiao Wu immediately rubbed her ankle and stared at Lin Qing with wide eyes as she coquettishly said, "Lin Qing, my feet are so sore. Can you carry me?"

Seeing Xiao Wu like this, Lin Qing could not bear to let her suffer any longer. He walked in front of her and crouched down. "Get on, Xiao Wu."

"Yay! Lin Qing, you're the best!" Xiao Wu pounced onto Lin Qing's back, wrapped her arms around his neck, and happily swung her head from side to side.

Lin Qing was equally helpless. They had already done that, so why was she still like a child? But on second thought, if one day Xiao Wu no longer had the personality of a child, then perhaps she would no longer be Xiao Wu.

And so, Lin Qing carried Xiao Wu on his back as he and Zhu Zhuqing continued toward Shrek.

The sun gradually climbed to its highest point, and it was now the brightest time of day.

"Lin Qing, look, there's a village ahead. Do you think Shrek is in that village?" Xiao Wu asked.

"Probably. There's no other possibility in this direction," Lin Qing said.

"Then let's go in! Lin Qing, speed up!" Xiao Wu held Lin Qing's shoulder with her left hand, raised her right hand high, and shouted as she waved her fist.

Lin Qing merely patted her butt in annoyance before quickening his pace toward the village.

Not long afterward, the three arrived at an open area, where a long line had already formed.

At the very front of the line stood an archway made of wood. It was badly decayed and covered with tree fungus and moss. At the very top were several large words carved from wood: "Shrek Academy." The crooked wooden characters were nailed precariously atop the archway, looking as though they might fall at any moment.

Beneath the archway stood a wooden table. An old man sat in front of it, while beside it stood a blond man whose mouth was still somewhat swollen.

Although Lin Qing had expected Shrek Academy to be rundown, this was a little too rundown!

"Is this really an academy?!" Seeing Shrek in such a shabby state, Xiao Wu jumped down from Lin Qing's back, her face full of shock.

"It should be. Doesn't it say so right there?" Lin Qing pointed at the words on the sign.

"But since we're already here, let's take a look," Lin Qing said.

"Fine." Xiao Wu nodded, and the three joined the line.

More people continued arriving behind Lin Qing's group, lining up to register.

At that moment, a teenager stepped up to the table to register. The old man lazily said, "The registration fee is ten Gold Soul Coins. Just put them in that box."

The boy's father hurriedly took out ten Gold Soul Coins and placed them into a box nailed together from several wooden planks nearby.

"Hold out one hand."

The boy did as he was told and extended his hand before the old man. The old man pinched it twice, then shook his head. "Your age doesn't meet the requirements. You can leave."

The boy froze for a moment and turned to look at his father. There were not many teenagers as mature as Tang San.

His father hurriedly put on a smile. "Teacher, my son only just passed his thirteenth birthday. Couldn't you make an exception?"

The old man said impatiently, "Don't hold up the people behind you. Don't you know the academy's rules? We only accept children under thirteen. Anyone over thirteen will not be accepted. You can leave."

The boy's father said, "Then our registration fee..."

The old man answered bluntly, "Once paid, registration fees will not be refunded."

Even a clay figure had some temper. The boy's father could not help roaring, "You're clearly scamming people out of their money! Return our registration fee, or we won't leave. If we had known this so-called Shrek Academy was such a dump, we never would have come."

The old man glanced at him and said mildly, "Mubai, someone wants their registration fee back. Handle it."

A figure suddenly sprang up from the ground beside them. "You can have your registration fee back if you beat me. I'll return all of it."

The person was none other than Dai Mubai. He looked somewhat different from a few days ago, mainly because his face was swollen, making him seem as though he had gained a whole round of weight.

Dai Mubai did not waste words. He directly activated his Soul Power and released all three of his Spirit Rings—two hundred-year Spirit Rings and one Thousand-Year Spirit Ring. Surging Soul Power created an invisible pressure in the air as cold light flashed repeatedly in his evil eyes, fixed upon the father and son.

Among Soul Masters, Spirit Rings were always the best measure of authority. Seeing Dai Mubai's three Spirit Rings, including a Thousand-Year Spirit Ring, the boy's father's expression changed drastically. Throwing out the words, "Our bad luck," he grabbed his son and prepared to leave.

"Wait!" A voice rang out from the line, stopping the father and son.

"You just said that as long as someone defeats you, you'll return their registration fee, right? Then can someone else help them?" the voice continued.

"Of course. As long as you can defeat me, no matter who you are, I'll return the registration fee," Dai Mubai answered the question without thinking.

"Then fine. Little Tiger, are you ready to get beaten up again?" At last, the owner of the voice stepped out from the line. With his arms folded across his chest, he looked at Dai Mubai with a teasing expression. That person was Lin Qing.