Not Very Sweet, but Definitely Sugary!

"Xiang Jun, please wait!"

Xiang Jun had barely left the Arena when a clear voice suddenly rang out behind him. It was the Lan Sisters from earlier.

"Can I help you two?" Xiang Jun blinked, feeling a little puzzled.

"Xiang Jun, we wanted to ask... what do you usually use to take care of your hair?" Lan Susu's face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head, not daring to meet his eyes. Lan Luoluo huddled behind her older sister, secretly studying Xiang Jun's silky, flowing blue hair.

How did I take care of my hair?

Lan Susu's question left Xiang Jun rooted to the spot. This wasn't the first time he had noticed the Lan Sisters sneaking looks at his hair.

He had seen people obsessed with faces, hands, and even feet, but this was his first encounter with... hair fanatics?

"Ahem. Stankong is the only hair oil I use," Xiang Jun said with a light cough, his expression utterly solemn.

Stankong?

The Lan Sisters exchanged a glance. Neither had ever heard of that brand.

Could it be some miraculous secret formula lost to the world?

"This might be a little presumptuous, Xiang Jun, but could you let us touch your hair?" Lan Susu fought down her embarrassment, her gaze landing squarely on his hair.

What?

They came here to pull my hair!

A wary look crossed Xiang Jun's face. Just as he was about to politely refuse, a figure suddenly darted out of a corner and planted herself right between the three of them.

That familiar waft of fragrance—it could only be Tang Wutong.

"Hey, you two! What are you sneaking around trying to do?" Tang Wutong put her hands on her hips like a little kitten with its fur standing on end.

How long has this princess even been away from Xiang Jun? And someone with ulterior motives has already come to flirt with him? Ptooey!

They're practically courting death!

Tang Wutong's sudden appearance startled the Lan Sisters, and they hurriedly explained, "We only wanted to ask how Xiang Jun usually takes care of his hair!"

"Please forgive us if we've disturbed either of you."

After bowing slightly to Xiang Jun and Tang Wutong, Lan Susu hurriedly dragged her reluctant little sister away.

"Hmph!"

Tang Wutong gave a haughty snort before turning back to Xiang Jun and earnestly lecturing him. "How many times has this princess told you? Boys have to protect themselves when they go out. Besides watching out for Brother Jie, you need to stay away from bad women like those, too."

Xiang Jun: ...

I understand the bad women part, but what the hell does Brother Jie have to do with this?

Don't tell me the story of 'No Escape from Jie' has already spread to the Douluo Continent?

"They really did come to ask how I take care of my hair. Maybe they wanted to touch it while they were at it?" Xiang Jun couldn't understand why the Lan Sisters were so interested in his hair.

"They're touching your hair this time. Who knows what they'll be touching next!"

Tang Wutong sounded a little jealous. Then she took a cup of juice from behind her back and shoved it into Xiang Jun's hand. "Here. That shop had a buy-one-get-one-free offer. This princess can't finish both, so I suppose you get to reap the benefits."

Wait, where did you pull that out from?!

Feeling the lingering warmth on the juice cup in his hand, Xiang Jun looked stunned.

He gave it a gentle sniff. Thankfully, there was only the fresh scent of juice, with no trace of three-delicacy instant noodles.

"I have a feeling you're thinking something extremely rude." Tang Wutong narrowed her eyes and gave Xiang Jun a death stare.

"How could I? I'm an outstanding young man who swore as a child to become a scientist and an astronaut!" Without blushing or missing a beat, Xiang Jun calmly sipped his juice.

It tasted surprisingly good.

"Speaking of which, where are Yuhao and Xiao Xiao? What did they go off to do?"

"After the match, a woman claiming to be the dean of the Soul Guidance Department called Yuhao away. Xiao Xiao was worried about him, so she went along to keep him company."

The dean of the Soul Guidance Department?

Xian Lin'er?

Xiang Jun nodded lightly and quietly drank his juice.

Although every team in the freshman assessment had to finish all their round-robin matches within three days, there was only one match on the first day. Having secured their victory, Xiang Jun and Tang Wutong walked quietly along Sea God Lake, enjoying this hard-won peace.

Tang Wutong bit her straw, her face slightly flushed. Seeing that Xiang Jun's juice was almost gone, she grew bashful. "Hey, could you let me taste yours?"

Taste mine?

Is it really the juice you want to taste? I'm almost too embarrassed to expose you!

"If you want to kiss, just say so. Why beat around the bush?"

"C-can I really?" With her little scheme exposed, Tang Wutong immediately blushed.

"Of course not!"

Xiang Jun gave a crooked grin, caught Tang Wutong's smooth chin, and forcefully shoved the straw into her little mouth. "Since you want a drink, you'd better finish every last drop. Otherwise, I'll get angry!"

"Mmph~"

Xiang Jun's sudden thrust made Tang Wutong's eyes roll back, but she obediently drank every last drop of the remaining juice.

"Ptooey, ptooey! Are you trying to get yourself killed? Why did you shove it in so deep?" Tang Wutong covered her little mouth and looked at Xiang Jun with utter resentment.

"No reason. Just helping you get used to it ahead of time."

There was something cryptic in Xiang Jun's tone. Stroking Tang Wutong's pink-and-blue hair, he continued, "How did it taste?"

"Average."

Tang Wutong licked her lips and offered a very fair assessment.

"I thought it was pretty average, too. And I strongly suspect you kept the better-tasting cup for yourself."

"No way! Try it if you don't believe me!"

Tang Wutong held her juice up to Xiang Jun's lips, a flicker of anticipation appearing in her eyes.

Xiang Jun hesitated. He could even see the distinct bite marks on the straw.

What's that supposed to mean? This princess didn't turn her nose up at you, but now you're turning yours up at me?

Seeing that Xiang Jun still wouldn't budge, Tang Wutong wrinkled her little nose and simply decided to repay him with his own medicine!

"Here comes the little flying stick~ Drink up for this princess!"

Xiang Jun: ...

"Heehee! This princess didn't lie to you, did she?" Having avenged herself, Tang Wutong laughed like a flowering branch trembling in the breeze. Even the weight on her chest bounced a few times.

Xiang Jun smacked his lips. "It tastes a lot like you."

Xiang Jun's words instantly turned Tang Wutong's little face bright red. Fighting down her embarrassment, she said, "You mean it's as sweet as this princess? Tch, since when did you get so cheesy?"

Although she looked disdainful, Tang Wutong felt a sugary sweetness inside.

"You misunderstood. I didn't mean it was sweet like you. I meant it was sugar-brained like you."

Tang Wutong: ?

Inside the Shrek Outer Court's Soul Guidance Research Laboratory.

Huo Yuxi blinked in bewilderment. Looking at the strongly technological decor surrounding her, she felt that her entire worldview had suffered a tremendous blow.

Beside her, Xiao Xiao, who had been born into a Soul Master family, felt much the same. Never mind the Sun Moon Empire—even compared with Shrek Academy, the three original nations of Douluo still lagged far behind in Soul Tool technology.