Zhu Zhuqing!

They walked into Shrek Academy!

The three of them saw a long line of people waiting to register!

"See? The academy might be a little shabby, but it's still pretty good!" Tang San said from the side, seemingly trying to salvage a little dignity!

Although plenty of people registered, very few were admitted—almost none, in fact!

Watching the people ahead register one after another, only to leave one after another, Tang San grew puzzled! "None of them got in? Out of so many people, not even one?"

"The admission standards must be pretty high!" Yang Que said!

"The standards are that high at such a run-down academy? Can they even recruit any students?" Xiao Wu's face was full of displeasure! Clearly, the academy's appearance had disappointed her beyond measure!

"Hey! Come this way to register!" Just then, a voice came from beside them!

All three turned to look. Wasn't that Dai Mubai, whose face Yang Que had beaten into a pig's head the other day?

"It's you!" Tang San said in surprise!

"Well, well! Isn't this the lecherous tiger our Brother Que beat into a dead cat the other day?" Xiao Wu clearly still held a grudge over that incident, and her tongue spared Dai Mubai no mercy!

Dai Mubai nodded awkwardly and looked at Yang Que beside them with some fear. After all, that beating had scared him senseless. It had been terrifying—a twelve-and-a-half-year-old had beaten his face into a pig's head without even using his Martial Soul!

"What? Is the academy out of people? They sent a weakling like you to greet everyone?" Yang Que asked disdainfully!

"Uh! Well... the academy's been short on funds lately! So..." Dai Mubai looked embarrassed!

"I'm not actually weak, you know? I just can't beat a freak like you!" Dai Mubai muttered.

Tang San and Xiao Wu snickered beside them!

"He's got a point. Brother Que really is freakishly powerful! He's clearly the same age as us, but his strength leaves us far behind!" Tang San whispered!

"..."

Seeing their reactions, Yang Que shot Dai Mubai a vicious glare!

Dai Mubai looked utterly innocent. I was being serious!

"All right, stop laughing. Dai Mubai, take us to the registration desk!" Yang Que waved a hand, interrupting the pair's snickering and signaling for Dai Mubai to lead them there!

Damn it! He actually dared to order me around!

Forget it. I can't beat him... I'll endure it for now! Once I'm stronger than him, I'll give him a beating in return! Yeah, that's the plan!

Dai Mubai thought to himself!

The four arrived at the registration desk and heard a burst of noisy commotion!

"Refund! Give us a refund! How can a lousy academy have such high standards? My son's first soul ring is a hundred-year one! And he isn't even twelve yet, but he still didn't get in? If you won't admit him, give us our money back!" a plainly dressed middle-aged man shouted!

"A refund? What refund? Didn't you read the notice? It says registration fees are nonrefundable!" An old man sitting in a chair lazily pointed at several lines of almost unreadably tiny print at the bottom of the noticeboard!

Looking at the old man, Yang Que wasn't fooled in the slightest by his lazy appearance. This was a genuine Soul Emperor-level expert!

"What? This... this is fraud! Give me my money back!" The middle-aged man's face filled with anger!

"Dai Mubai, someone's causing trouble here. Deal with it!" the old man said!

"You want a refund? Beat me! I'll repay you tenfold!" As Dai Mubai spoke, he revealed his Thousand-Year Soul Ring!

"What...!" The middle-aged man had never seen anything like this! His legs went weak!

"Hmph! Everyone waiting to register, please read the noticeboard carefully. Our academy only accepts monsters, not ordinary people! If you haven't reached level twenty before turning twelve, don't bother registering! Don't waste your gold coins!" the old man told the long line!

After all, Shrek's teaching staff was exceptionally strong!

"Oh! This academy's a little interesting. It only accepts monsters, not ordinary people?" Xiao Wu began to show some interest!

"Right? Teacher's advice wasn't wrong, was it? There must be a reason this academy exists!" Tang San said!

"Hmph, that's all it has going for it!" Xiao Wu turned her head away, clearly still rather unimpressed!

"I'd like to register! Can I pass the test?" Just then, a girl in an elegant white dress spoke softly. She was petite, but her slightly curvy figure showed that she was developing well!

"...Does your family know you're here?" The old man frowned!

"Education should be open to everyone! If I pass, I can join the academy. You have no reason not to accept me!" the girl said!

"Dai Mubai, take her inside!" the old man told him!

Dai Mubai grunted in acknowledgment, put on a cool expression, and led the girl into the academy!

Just then, a gentle breeze swept past! The old man, Yang Que, and Tang San all sensed that ripple of Soul Power at the same time!

What's this? Yang Que was the first to recognize that familiar presence!

Something suddenly occurred to him! This is...

Zhu Zhuqing!

That presence flashed past and vanished toward the forest!

Yang Que instantly unleashed Thunderclap Sword Shadow Steps and chased after her!

"Hey! Brother Que!" Tang San moved to follow Yang Que!

"Get lost! Just register!" Yang Que's voice came from far away!

"..." Tang San looked speechless. I was only worried about you!

"Ah! It's good to be young!" the old man handling registration remarked!

Zhu Zhuqing, I can finally see you again. You won't get away...

Two figures, one fleeing and one pursuing, soon rushed into the forest!

"Zhu Zhuqing! How long are you going to hide from me?" Yang Que suddenly shouted!

The figure ahead briefly faltered, but she still didn't stop and continued sprinting with all her strength!

Hah! Woman! You're really forcing me to get rough!

Yang Que suddenly unleashed Thunderclap Sword Shadow Steps at full power! Five figures converged on the figure ahead!

Thud!

Yang Que pinned her firmly to the ground!

"Let go of me! Yang Que, you bastard! Get off me!" Zhu Zhuqing struggled fiercely, striking Yang Que's body!

Yang Que ignored her, held her firmly with both hands, and kissed her without a word!

"Mmph... mmph!" Zhu Zhuqing struggled with all her strength!

After a long while, Zhu Zhuqing stopped struggling and began responding to Yang Que instead!

A little later, their lips parted!

Yang Que stood, scooped Zhu Zhuqing into his arms, and leaped up into a tree!

Yang Que carefully cradled Zhu Zhuqing in his arms as he reclined in the tree!

Neither spoke. They quietly embraced, breathing in each other's scent, sharing the longing they had felt for each other over the past year!

After a long while, Yang Que broke the silence. "Why were you hiding from me?"

"I..." Zhu Zhuqing hesitated!

"You put your pants back on and refuse to acknowledge your own husband! What an irresponsible woman!" Yang Que said half-jokingly, clearly just trying to lighten the mood!

"!!! Yang Que, you bastard!" Zhu Zhuqing struck him hard in the chest!

"Ow!" Yang Que promptly toppled toward the ground and went silent!

"Huh? Yang Que!" Zhu Zhuqing's face suddenly filled with panic. She leaped down and rushed to his side!

"Yang Que, are you all right? Don't scare me!" Zhu Zhuqing's face was full of anxiety and concern!

Suddenly, Yang Que opened his eyes and chuckled. He wrapped one arm around Zhu Zhuqing's waist, caught her hand with the other, and kissed her again!

"Mmph! Mmph! Mmph!"

Another long while passed before their lips parted!

"Yang Que, you bastard! I'm never trusting you again!" Zhu Zhuqing pretended to be furious!

"Darling! If you don't trust me, who will you trust?" Yang Que shamelessly came over and took Zhu Zhuqing's hand!

Zhu Zhuqing's whole face turned as red as an apple, clearly mortified! She said nothing! Her hand made a few tentative attempts to pull away, then she let Yang Que hold it!

The two walked through the forest without speaking, simply strolling hand in hand!

Then Zhu Zhuqing said, "Actually..."

Before Zhu Zhuqing could finish, Yang Que said, "I know. I know everything. Isn't it just your engagement to Dai Mubai? Give me a few years. I'll personally go with you to break it off, beat up everyone in your family who bullied you, and then ask for your hand!"

"You! How did you know?" Zhu Zhuqing's face filled with surprise!

Yang Que pulled Zhu Zhuqing into his arms. "Who are you? You're my future wife! Of course I'd investigate everything about you!"

"But..."

"No buts. Have faith in your future husband!"

Zhu Zhuqing murmured her agreement and nestled into Yang Que's arms, deeply moved! "Then... do you know where I've been this past year?"

"..."

Oh no! I've crashed and burned! The original story never explained that, and my arrival must have changed its plot!

Indeed, everything Yang Que had just said was based on the original story's plot!

"Uh! Well..." Yang Que scratched his head awkwardly!

Zhu Zhuqing's expression suddenly turned cold. "You don't even know where I've been living this past year? And you claim you care about me?"

"Hey, that's not it! I've spent this past year running all over the place to learn about your past, and I just overlooked where you were living. I'm sorry, Zhu Zhuqing!" With nearly thirty years of experience, Yang Que easily bluffed his way past Zhu Zhuqing!

"Hmph! I've been staying at the Rose Hotel this whole year!" Zhu Zhuqing said!

"Huh? The Rose Hotel?" Yang Que's eyes widened!

"Yes!" Zhu Zhuqing nodded.

"...Then doesn't that mean..." Yang Que looked embarrassed!

"That's right. I watched the entire time you were beating up Dai Mubai!" Zhu Zhuqing said, blushing!

"Uh! I mainly did it to vent your anger for you!" Yang Que said awkwardly!

"I know!"

Yang Que chuckled. "That guy might have been a bastard for running away from the engagement, but it worked out nicely for me! It let me meet the best of you at the best age!"

How could Zhu Zhuqing withstand sweet words like those? Her face grew even redder, right up to her ears! After all, she was only a twelve-year-old girl!

Through a series of unexpected circumstances, the two had become intimate ahead of time!

"Hmph, lucky you!"

"Hehe!"

"So you came here now to see me?" Yang Que asked, holding Zhu Zhuqing!

"Yes! I originally wanted to find somewhere secluded to live in hiding, but I met you at the Rose Hotel that day and learned you were only twelve. I knew you'd come to Shrek Academy, so..." Zhu Zhuqing was rather embarrassed. After all, she was a girl, and traveling such a long way to see her boyfriend felt embarrassing!

It was just like a modern couple: knowing her boyfriend's itinerary and making a special trip to find him still felt a little embarrassing!

Yang Que held Zhu Zhuqing even tighter, shaken by what might have happened. If he hadn't decided to watch the show and teach Dai Mubai a lesson back then, he might never have seen Zhu Zhuqing again!

"Zhu Zhuqing!"

"Yes?"

"You're wonderful!"

As Yang Que spoke, he kissed Zhu Zhuqing's forehead!

"How about we skip Shrek Academy and roam to the ends of the earth? Give me a few years, and I'll go to your family openly and honorably to ask for your hand and marry you!" Yang Que said!

"Are you serious?" Tears glimmered in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes! She was deeply moved that a man would give up the chance to make his name known across the seas for her!

"Of course! I mean it!" After all, Dai Mubai was still at Shrek Academy. For Zhu Zhuqing, he was willing to give up entering Shrek and abandon his chance at fame!

"There's no need! He and I haven't really had much to do with each other. At most, we were childhood playmates!"

"Don't waste your talent for my sake. I want my other half to be a powerful man renowned across the continent!" Zhu Zhuqing said softly in Yang Que's arms!

"But..." Yang Que wanted to say more, but Zhu Zhuqing pressed a finger to his lips!

"No buts. I'm willing to wait for you, until you're strong and renowned across the continent, and you come to marry me!"

"Zhu Zhuqing!" Yang Que gazed at her tenderly!

"Yes?" Zhu Zhuqing raised her head to look at him!

Yang Que kissed her once more...

With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?