Zhu Lu

"Mm~"

An indistinct murmur startled Xiang Jun awake. He glanced at Huo Yuxi, who was still deep in meditation beside him, and suspicion flashed through his eyes.

"Tang Wutong, what are you doing?"

"N-n-nothing... I'm sleeping!"

Tang Wutong sounded distinctly flustered. Soft rustling came from her bed.

Xiang Jun didn't believe her. He got up and pulled back the curtain, only to find Tang Wutong curled up beneath her blanket with nothing but her little head showing.

By the moonlight streaming through the window, he could just make out a lingering blush on her pretty face.

"What are you doing?" Tang Wutong jumped at his sudden appearance, but she still tried to act as if nothing had happened.

"Nothing."

Xiang Jun shook his head. "I'm warning you, don't do anything weird. You know what I'm capable of."

His words made Tang Wutong blush. She couldn't help remembering how thoroughly he had pinned her down not long ago.

"Hmph, I know!" Tang Wutong tucked her head beneath the blanket and wrapped herself up tight.

The rest of the night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, Xiang Jun woke from meditation. After he and Huo Yuxi enjoyed a hearty breakfast in the cafeteria, they returned to find Tang Wutong still lost in a pleasant dream, a thin trail of drool at the corner of her mouth.

"Hehe, Xiang Jun, you smell so good~"

Xiang Jun: ...

"Wake up, sleepyhead. The sun's almost on your backside." Xiang Jun pinched Tang Wutong's dainty nose, sounding helpless.

"Mm~ Let me sleep a little longer, just a little..." Tang Wutong swatted his hand away and rolled over, showing no sign of waking up.

Xiang Jun shook his head and turned to Huo Yuxi with a smile. "Never mind her. Let's go ahead."

"Mm-hmm!"

At the thought of spending time alone with Xiang Jun, Huo Yuxi's face lit up with genuine delight.

Xiang Jun left breakfast for Tang Wutong, then quietly took Huo Yuxi out of the dormitory.

As one of the largest cities on the Douluo Continent, Shrek City had every kind of entertainment one could ask for.

After helping Huo Yuxi disguise herself, Xiang Jun headed straight for Splendid Street and its clothing shops. Now that he'd confirmed little Huo Yuxi was a girl, how could he leave out the essential maid outfit?

Huo Yuxi's eyes sparkled at the dazzling array of beautiful clothes, but the steep prices stopped her in her tracks.

"Yuxi, let's shop here. Pick anything you like. No need to save money for Brother Xiang Jun!" He winked and led her into the store by the hand.

Xiang Jun hadn't come from a great power, but he had no shortage of Gold Soul Coins. Out at sea, whenever he needed money, he could simply rob a few pirates.

"Welcome!"

A shop assistant showed them around. Huo Yuxi remained visibly uneasy, though. Any one of those outfits cost as much as she could earn from selling grilled fish in more than half a year.

"Brother Xiang Jun, maybe we should forget it. The clothes here are so expensive..." Huo Yuxi lowered her head and gently tugged his sleeve.

"Wrap up these, and those over there too."

Xiang Jun paid no heed to her protest and bought more than a dozen outfits in different styles.

"Go try them on. You can't wear your school uniform and those ragged old clothes all the time." He brought Huo Yuxi to the fitting room, leaving no room for argument.

Looking at the beautiful clothes in her hands, some unlike anything she had ever seen, Huo Yuxi suddenly found her vision blurring.

"Brother Xiang Jun..."

"Go on. I'll wait here."

Xiang Jun watched Huo Yuxi enter the fitting room, then nodded in satisfaction.

As he waited, an unexpected figure dressed in black entered the clothing store.

She had long, straight black hair and a pair of small, lifelike cat ears atop her head. Her fitted black outfit showed off every curve of her graceful figure.

She carried herself with cool pride, rather like the God of Speed from ten thousand years ago.

And her ample chest showed the Zhu Family's bloodline to equally striking effect.

Zhu Lu?

What's she doing here?

While Xiang Jun was studying Zhu Lu, the keen senses granted by her feline Martial Soul led her to notice him as well.

"Class monitor? What are you doing... here?" Zhu Lu froze, her expression turning peculiar.

After all, this store sold women's clothing exclusively.

"Ahem. I'm buying a few things for a friend." Xiang Jun cleared his throat without a trace of embarrassment.

As long as I'm not embarrassed, she's the one who has to be.

Zhu Lu gave a slight nod, then stepped aside to browse the clothes. Still, her gaze kept drifting back toward Xiang Jun.

The Zhu Family descended from the God of Speed, one of the First-Generation Shrek Seven Monsters. It was among the few families with a substantial understanding of the gods.

Curious as she was, Zhu Lu barely knew Xiang Jun and decided against asking him anything.

Thinking of her fiancé, who was still recovering from his injuries, she felt a shadow pass over her heart.

Ever since his loss to Tang Wutong, Dai Huabin's personality had changed so drastically that even she, his fiancée, found him unfamiliar.

Zhu Lu looked at Xiang Jun. After hesitating again and again, she finally walked over.

"Is something the matter, Zhu Lu?" Xiang Jun asked, puzzled by the silent cat-eared girl before him.

Zhu Lu's gaze wavered. What she was about to do was little different from betraying Dai Huabin.

But to pull her fiancé back from the brink, she gathered her courage. "Class monitor, Shrek City hasn't been very safe lately. Please tell Tang Wutong not to spend too much time outside the academy."

Shrek City isn't safe?

How unsafe are we talking? Is the city going to take off and fly?

Recalling what Dai Huabin had done in the original story, and how Zhu Lu had specifically mentioned Tang Wutong, Xiang Jun's expression turned distinctly strange.

That blockhead Dai Huabin isn't planning to hire a killer like he did in the original story, is he?

An assassination attempt on Tang Wutong? Seriously?

Xiang Jun could barely keep a straight face. He looked at the cat-eared girl and asked, "Why are you telling me this?"

Zhu Lu's expression turned pleading. "Class monitor, whatever Huabin has done wrong, could you ask Tang Wutong to spare his life? If she lets him live, I'll do anything you ask!"

Huh? What kind of thing is that to say?

You're making me sound like one of those creepy club presidents who threaten married women.

"You should talk to Tang Wutong about that. It's not my decision."