Hey, That Girl's Pretty Cute

Early morning, on Shrek Academy's training grounds.

A lingering chill hung over the grounds as seven people stood in a loose, scattered line. Xiao Wu had pulled Ning Rongrong aside to chat, while Lin Yuan stared into space out of boredom. Guga squatted beside his feet with half a straw in Guga's mouth, occasionally sucking at the bottom of a cup.

Flender stood before the group and swept his gaze over them, his brows knitting.

"Where's Oscar?"

No one answered.

Flender's expression darkened. "Sleeping in again? That brat—"

He turned toward the dormitories, but had barely taken a step when hurried footsteps sounded in the distance.

"Dean! Dean!"

Oscar came sprinting from the dormitories, his hair a mess and his shirt still improperly buttoned. Yet his face shone with wild delight. He charged up to the group as though pumped full of adrenaline, nearly failing to stop in time.

"I—I broke through! Level thirty! I'm level thirty!"

His shout startled Guga so badly that the straw fell out. Guga sprang up beside Lin Yuan's feet, nearly sending the cup flying. "You scared Guga to death, guga!"

Flender stopped short and whipped his head around.

"What did you say?"

Oscar panted, his chest heaving, but he couldn't suppress the grin on his face. "Level thirty! Dean, I broke through to level thirty!"

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!"

Flender repeated the word three times, his wrinkles spreading into a broad smile. Just as he was about to speak—

"I broke through too."

Everyone turned toward the voice at once.

Tang San stood where he was, yet to say anything more.

Lin Yuan suddenly glanced at him and said with a smile, "Not bad. You won't have to sit at the same table as Grandmaster anymore."

Tang San's face darkened, and he gritted his teeth. "...I also broke through to level thirty last night."

Silence fell over the training grounds for a moment.

Flender looked at Oscar, then at Tang San. His smile grew wider and wider until he burst into a hearty laugh.

"No training today! Get ready. Tomorrow, we're going to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt Soul Rings for you two!"

Dai Mubai's eyes lit up. "The Star Dou Great Forest? Great."

Xiao Wu perked up too, leaning beside Lin Yuan to whisper, "We get to go out and have fun again."

Flender's gaze swept over everyone before settling on Zhao Wuji. "Old Zhao, you'll lead the group."

Zhao Wuji stepped forward from the back, a stalk of grass between his teeth, and nodded lazily. He glanced at Tang San and Oscar, then at Lin Yuan. Suddenly, his face twitched.

"Old Flender, are you sure you want me leading them?"

"Of course. Who else would go if you don't?"

Zhao Wuji pointed at Lin Yuan. "With this Little Monster around, do I even need to go?"

Lin Yuan looked up at Zhao Wuji, not bothering to respond.

Flender glared at Zhao Wuji. "Enough nonsense. You're leading them. Keep an eye on things along the way."

Zhao Wuji shrugged and said nothing more.

On the night before their departure, darkness lay quiet and deep over Suotuo City.

In Lin Yuan's room, a map covered in densely packed red circles lay spread across the table. Five Gugas crowded beside the bed.

Yang Wudi pointed at the map. "We've bought shops in all the major cities across the country, and the materials are ready too. All that's left is finding somewhere to build an assembly line."

Lin Yuan leaned back in his chair, lightly tapping the tabletop. "There's no rush. Take your time."

Bai He looked pained beside him. "No rush? Think how much money we lose every day without an assembly line. Just thinking about it makes my heart ache."

Lin Yuan waved a hand. "As long as we have enough to spend."

Bai He's eyes widened. "Enough to spend? Who ever complains about having too much money? Do you have any idea—"

"All right, all right," Yang Wudi interrupted. "If he says there's no rush, there's no rush."

Bai He opened his mouth, then closed it again, but the pained look on his face didn't fade in the slightest.

Lin Yuan rose and walked to the window, looking out at Suotuo City's lights in the darkness.

"We'll talk about it after we get back from the Star Dou Great Forest."

Little Moon rolled back and forth on the bed until Starry Guga held Little Moon down. "We have to travel tomorrow. Hurry up and sleep, guga."

"Just a little longer, guga—"

"No."

Starry Guga's voice was gentle. "Be good, Little Moon. Go to sleep, guga. I'll buy you candy on the road tomorrow, guga."

Only then did Little Moon settle down, burrowing beneath the blanket with only two eyes showing. Xuanwu Guga was already asleep, sprawled across the middle of the pillow. One stubby leg kicked as Xuanwu Guga mumbled in a dream.

"So tasty, guga... another cup, guga..."

Lin Yuan glanced back and shook his head.

Early the next morning, the Shrek group set off.

Seven students and Zhao Wuji, eight people in all, headed north along the main road. Little Moon lay on Lin Yuan's shoulder, while Xuanwu Guga nestled inside his clothes, half a head poking out to look curiously around. After walking for most of the morning, they reached a small town at noon.

The town was small, but it stood along the route everyone had to take to the Star Dou Great Forest, so plenty of Soul Masters passed through. A restaurant stood in the town center, a faded sign hanging outside its entrance. Voices clamored within, and the fragrance of food drifted out.

Zhao Wuji led the seven inside and found a table beside a window on the ground floor. Lin Yuan took Xuanwu Guga out of his clothes and set Xuanwu Guga on the table. Little Moon jumped down from his shoulder and plopped onto the stool beside him.

"Have something to eat. We'll keep moving this afternoon."

Guga stretched out a neck to inspect the menu, but unfortunately couldn't read a single word. Guga could only poke Lin Yuan. "Is there anything sweet, guga?"

The dishes arrived, and everyone had just picked up their chopsticks.

Dark Gold Guga squatted on the table and surveyed the food. "Too little. This isn't enough to eat, guga."

Lin Yuan patted Dark Gold Guga's head. "Order whatever you want."

A group walked in through the entrance.

There were seven or eight of them, wearing matching blue-green academy uniforms with strange badges embroidered on their chests. Their leader was a young man who looked to be in his early twenties. With an arrogant expression, he surveyed the dining hall. His gaze paused on the Shrek group, a trace of disdain crossing his face before he looked away.

"They're from Canghui Academy," Dai Mubai said quietly, a hint of contempt in his voice.

Ma Hongjun's gaze landed on a girl among the group opposite them. His eyes lit up, and he whistled.

"Hey, that girl's pretty cute."

The girl heard him. Her expression darkened, and she turned to glare at Ma Hongjun.

Rather than restraining himself, Ma Hongjun grinned and winked at her.

"Ma Hongjun," Lin Yuan warned quietly, frowning.

But it was already too late.

The young man leading the Canghui Academy group suddenly turned cold. He put down his chopsticks, stood, and walked toward the Shrek table.

"What did you just say?"

Ma Hongjun looked up at him, his face innocent. "What did I say? I said she's pretty cute. Am I not allowed to give someone a compliment?"

The young man's expression grew uglier. "Try saying that again."

"Fine, I will." Ma Hongjun stood and stiffened his neck. "I said she's good-looking. What the hell does that have to do with you?"

The atmosphere in the restaurant instantly grew tense.

Dai Mubai put down his chopsticks and slowly stood. Tang San set his down too, fixing his gaze on the young man.

The young man sneered and instantly released his Martial Soul—two yellow Soul Rings and one purple lit up.

"A level thirty-two Soul Elder."

Several companions behind him released their Martial Souls as well, each with two yellow rings.

Dai Mubai snorted coldly and released his White Tiger Martial Soul. Two yellow rings and one purple likewise lit up.

"A Soul Elder? What a coincidence. So am I!"

Ma Hongjun shouted as his Evil Fire Phoenix possessed him. Crimson flames rose from within his body, sending a wave of heat rolling toward them.

Tang San stood too. Blue Silver Grass spread from his palm and wound around his arm.

"Just you three?" The young man sneered. "Five against three. Do you think you can win?"

"Why not try and find out?" Before Dai Mubai finished speaking, he was already moving.

White Tiger Fierce Light Wave!

A white beam shot from Dai Mubai's mouth, whistling through the air straight at the young man's face. His expression changed, and he dodged sideways. The beam skimmed past his shoulder and struck the pillar behind him, sending fragments flying and making the entire restaurant shake.

The battle erupted in an instant.

Dai Mubai went straight for the leader. His White Tiger Protection Barrier flared, covering his entire body in white light, and every punch carried a tiger's roar. He activated White Tiger Vajra Transformation at the same time. His body swelled, his strength surged, and a punch slammed into his opponent's Martial Soul, driving him back three steps.

Ma Hongjun faced another student. His Phoenix Fire Line traced a crimson streak, burning the opponent's ice-attribute Martial Soul into steady retreat. Shards of ice evaporated into white mist before they could fall. Waves of heat rolled through the restaurant, rattling the bowls and plates on the tables, while several frightened customers huddled in a corner.

Tang San took on the remaining three. Blue Silver Grass spread across the floor as he used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to weave between them.

The blades of grass bore pale purple poisonous markings. Blue Silver Grass caught one student's ankle and jerked hard, throwing him off balance. Tang San struck his chest with a palm, sending him flying.

Another student charged in from the side with a long black staff Martial Soul in hand, bringing it down toward Tang San's head. Tang San dodged sideways. Blue Silver Grass sprang from the floor and coiled around the student's legs like a python, then yanked hard. He screamed and slammed into the floor, his staff flying from his grasp.

The last student panicked, releasing his Martial Soul at full strength and slashing at Tang San. Tang San sidestepped and caught the blade with his Mysterious Jade Hand. The student felt as though his weapon had been caught in iron pincers; no matter how he pulled, it wouldn't budge. Tang San turned his wrist and flung both the student and his blade away, overturning a table.

The three fought in perfect coordination. In less than five minutes, all five Canghui Academy students had been knocked down and lay strewn across the floor.

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