Dai Mubai Kept Running into Polite Rebuffs

"And she's nothing but a paper character. I'm a Transmigrator, born with a golden finger—I'm the chosen one."

Shi Yang muttered to himself. It was hard to tell whether he was trying to hypnotize himself; saying it once clearly wasn't enough.

"She wasn't even mentioned in the original novel. She must be some unimportant character who dies halfway through."

"So what if she's impressive and powerful now?"

"I'm different. Since I came here, I'm destined to become one of the Shrek Seven Devils and ascend to the God Realm."

He instinctively ignored another possibility: that he was not the only Transmigrator in this world. Chu Zhao had also transmigrated here and shattered the predetermined course.

Shi Yang absolutely refused to accept that possibility.

Meanwhile, Chu Zhao had no idea that someone had already regarded her as a target and a formidable rival. She was using cultivation in place of sleep, competing against every second in the ultimate rat race!

Just as Tang San had said, others could cultivate for at most five or ten hours a day, while Chu Zhao cultivated for more than twenty hours almost every day.

Her talent was already far from poor, and she worked this hard. Without any achievements to show for it, she would be letting down all her effort.

Xiao Wu and the others never disturbed Chu Zhao while she cultivated, so she did not wake from meditation until the bell rang.

When she stepped outside, she happened to run into Zhu Zhuqing. The two of them encountered Dai Mubai halfway there.

"I was just about to come get you, and here you are. How did you rest yesterday? Are your injuries better?"

The moment he saw Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai immediately showed his concern.

But his concern was completely wasted. Zhu Zhuqing merely glanced at him indifferently and said nothing, cold as ever.

Having run into a polite rebuff, Dai Mubai could not help darkening his expression. Thinking of what Shi Yang had said, he found it quite reasonable. Perhaps he should leave Zhu Zhuqing alone for a while.

Then he noticed Chu Zhao beside him, with her lovely features and the sweet smile she always wore. His heart stirred, and he struck up a conversation with her.

"Zhao Zhao, I heard Tang San and Xiao Wu call you that. Is it alright if I call you that too?"

Dai Mubai asked gently, smiling. Combined with his handsome appearance, it would have been difficult for most people to refuse him outright.

But Chu Zhao was not most people. She immediately shook her head, her tone equally gentle. "Not really."

Her answer left Dai Mubai at a loss for words.

Fortunately, Dai Mubai was very experienced. Before long, he had reorganized his thoughts, forgotten what had just happened, and regained his composure.

"You already knew Tang San and Xiao Wu, and you know Zhuqing as well. You also have dealings with Spirit Hall. I'm just curious where you're from, Junior Sister Chu, to know so many people."

"Tang San and I awakened our martial souls together. Didn't I say that yesterday? Is it really so hard to tell where I'm from? Naturally, wherever Tang San came from is where I came from."

Chu Zhao admitted that she had said it on purpose. She disliked fickle men, so she simply could not speak pleasantly to Dai Mubai. The fact that she had not cursed at him was already the result of considerable restraint.

Dai Mubai had intended to flirt with Chu Zhao to make Zhu Zhuqing jealous. He had not expected to receive two polite rejections from Chu Zhao in a row, and now his expression truly became ugly.

He came from a noble background and was a prince of Star Luo. Though fleeing to Heaven Dou had been rather cowardly, he was still the Star Luo Emperor's biological son. The Star Luo Emperor even feared that his son might suffer hardship, regularly sending him funds and money.

Thus, even in a foreign land, Dai Mubai had suffered no real grievances and lived quite comfortably.

Now, being ignored by women he had never regarded highly filled him with both anger and humiliation. He had already begun to resent Zhu Zhuqing and Chu Zhao, secretly swearing to make them pay.

"Zhao Zhao, we're over here!"

Xiao Wu had been looking around everywhere and was the first to spot Chu Zhao. She immediately waved excitedly at her. Once Chu Zhao came over, Xiao Wu began teasingly scolding her.

"You already know your talent isn't bad, so why are you still working so hard? Don't tell me you want to... what was that word you used before?"

"Rat race."

Tang San reminded her.

"Right, don't tell me you want to grind us all to death. I won't stand for that."

As Xiao Wu spoke, she nodded vigorously.

She was lazy by nature and rarely cultivated seriously. Her cultivation rose quite naturally. But when she saw how serious Chu Zhao was, she sometimes felt a great deal of pressure as well.

"Of course not. I'm not trying to grind you all down. I'm cultivating hard so I can increase my strength sooner and find my family. You know that."

Her background was no secret among the people from Notting City. Chu Zhao liked using her search for her family as an excuse for many things, and it worked remarkably well.

Because they all believed her. Some even began reflecting on themselves.

For example, when Xiao Wu heard Chu Zhao mention finding her family again, she could not help thinking of her own family. Her thoughts drifted, and she barely noticed when Flender appeared.

Have I been too irresponsible? I should cultivate hard as well and raise my strength sooner, so I can avenge Mom and protect myself without dragging my friends down...

I had actually forgotten the pain from back then. Have I really forgotten the pain once the wound healed?

Xiao Wu, you can't forget Mom's vengeance. You can't forget that your true identity is a ticking time bomb. You need to cultivate twice as hard.

"Xiao Wu? Xiao Wu! What's wrong, Xiao Wu?"

It took Tang San calling her several times before Xiao Wu snapped out of her daze, and he could not help worrying.

"I'm fine, Xiao San."

By the time Xiao Wu came back to herself, Flender had already finished speaking and was assigning tasks to Ning Rongrong and Oscar.

Meanwhile, Chu Zhao poked at her fingers and muttered softly:

"One hundred Gold Soul Coins for tuition... That's way too expensive. It's really expensive..."

Although one hundred Gold Soul Coins were but a drop in the bucket for her now,

Chu Zhao, stingy by nature, truly could not bear to part with them!

"Don't you have enough money on hand?"

Although Chu Zhao had spoken very quietly, Tang San's exceptional hearing had caught every word.

He asked in confusion, "Can't Soul Grand Masters receive a monthly subsidy of ten Gold Soul Coins from Spirit Hall? That's one hundred and twenty Gold Soul Coins a year. How could you have no money?"

"I never took Spirit Hall's subsidy. Taking from others puts you in their debt, and I don't like owing anyone."

That was the truth. Chu Zhao had never accepted a single coin of subsidy.

But her words made Tang San, who had wanted to lend her money, hesitate for a moment before he tentatively said:

"Then... how about I give you an early birthday present?"

A birthday gift of one hundred Gold Soul Coins—surely no one disliked money, and this should not count as owing money, Tang San thought.

His tone and his words nearly made Chu Zhao laugh out loud.

But there was always someone determined to spoil her mood.

"If you're poor, don't come here to study. You weren't born for it! I don't know who you think you're fooling—too poor to even afford tuition, yet unwilling to take Spirit Hall's subsidy."