When Shrek Academy left Spirit City, dawn had barely broken.
Flender shoved the two Soul Bone cases into the deepest part of the carriage and covered them with three layers of old blankets. Even then, he was uneasy. He planted himself by the carriage Gate, his eyes wider than when he used Martial Soul Possession with his Cat Owl.
"Headmaster, if you keep staring, you'll wear holes through the blankets," Oscar whispered.
"What do you know?" Flender lowered his voice. "There are two mountains of gold under there."
Ma Hongjun touched his right arm and swallowed.
"One of them will be mine soon."
Flender glared at him. "If the absorption fails, you're paying your own medical bills."
A soft laugh came from outside the carriage.
Bai Jin sat on the roof with a lollipop in his mouth. He had traded his torn coat for a clean white shirt. His legs dangled over the edge, swaying with the wheels, and he looked more relaxed than someone out for a spring outing.
Ning Rongrong poked her head out. "You really came to see us off?"
"A job the Pope arranged personally." Bai Jin leaned back. "I was so moved I couldn't sleep all night."
Chen Xin rode alongside them and snorted. "You just got back from the Valley. You didn't have time to sleep."
"Uncle Jian, exposing people like that makes you seem terribly lacking in tact."
Ning Fengzhi heard their bickering from the carriage ahead, and at last a trace of a smile returned to his face.
Tang San and Xiao Wu's sudden departure weighed on everyone's hearts. No one knew where they were now, and no one could be sure Spirit Hall wouldn't continue the pursuit. Even Ma Hongjun was much quieter on the road.
The convoy passed through the