Shrek's traditional ritual-running! Zhou Yi sets out to surpass Gangzi

"Ahem."

Mu Jin cleared his throat twice, drawing everyone's attention back to him.

"In that case, Tang Qi and Ning Tian will serve as Freshman Class Nine's class president and vice president. Any objections?"

The classroom fell silent. The students looked at one another, but no one spoke.

"Objections are fine, too."

Mu Jin smiled, his tone encouraging. "At Shrek, strength has always ruled. Fair competition is allowed.

"Since Ning Tian is a support-type Soul Master, any challenge will be two against two. You can choose your own partners."

With that, he fell silent and gave the students time to think.

"Teacher, I'd like to compete for class president!"

A clear voice broke the classroom's stillness.

Ning Tian rose slowly. Her short golden hair gleamed in the sunlight, and a composed smile rested on her pretty face.

Every student turned to look at her.

That's the way, Young Master!

Wu Feng clenched her fists, her heart surging. She gazed at Ning Tian with feverish adoration.

She wanted to rush over, pin that pink-and-blue-haired guy to the floor, and let the Young Master sit comfortably on top of him.

"Ning Tian, who will your partner be?" A flicker of surprise crossed Mu Jin's eyes.

"Me! Me, me, me!"

Wu Feng sprang out of her seat, waving her raised hand.

An invisible dog's tail might as well have been wagging wildly behind her. Excitement was written all over her pretty face.

I finally get to fight beside the Young Master! Haki Qi, you're the challenger! Just wait until you show me and the Young Master your defeat CG!

Ning Feng glanced at Wu Feng, who looked ready to take flight, and gave a helpless little smile. Then she tilted her head.

Her rose-red eyes fixed on Tang Qi, a restless gleam stirring in their depths.

"Tang Qi, you wouldn't mind, would you?"

She spoke softly, putting a deliberate sweetness into her voice. "As class president and vice president, this is the perfect chance for us to get to know each other and learn to work together. Then we can serve our classmates better. What do you think?"

Tang Qi gave her a half smile. "You want to be class president?"

"How would I know unless I tried?"

Ning Tian did not answer directly. She merely smiled at him, her eyes curving.

"Not a bad idea."

Tang Qi nodded gravely. Then, under Ning Tian's expectant gaze, he abruptly changed tack. "But—"

"I refuse!"

"Huh—?"

Ning Tian's beautiful eyes widened. Surprise flashed across her face again.

Things had always gone her way, yet Tang Qi had thrown her off twice in this short span of time.

That shouldn't be happening.

The girl pressed her lips together. Weren't boys their age supposed to be eager to win? Especially when two beautiful girls had openly challenged them?

As the young master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, she had secretly read plenty of romance stories while searching for a fine husband for her sect.

The most classic plot had the hero and heroine meet through a fight or misunderstanding, forging an inseparable bond from then on.

She had thought her plan flawless: use the challenge to draw closer to Tang Qi, build a friendship through their match, then naturally form a bond with him.

So why wouldn't Tang Qi take the bait?

You innately wicked Seven Treasures brat. Such impure intentions! It seemed I, Tang Qi, really ought to investigate her true motives!

"If you want to be class president, you can have it." Tang Qi leaned back against his chair with his hands behind his head and looked up at Ning Tian, utterly unconcerned.

"I'll be vice president, then."

He could not understand why everyone was fighting over the two positions anyway.

Ning Tian: "..."

Huo Yutong and Xiao Xiao looked as though they wanted to speak.

They exchanged a glance, both intending to turn and ask Tang Qi why. Neither believed he was afraid of a fight. But Mu Jin kept watching them, so they let it go.

Mu Jin fell silent too.

In all his years of teaching, he had seen laid-back students before. Most simply lacked the strength to act bold. But Tang Qi was an eleven-year-old Soul Elder at rank thirty-seven. What was he being so laid-back for?

Did he even understand Shrek's school motto?

Those afraid to cause trouble are mediocrities!

Forget it.

Mu Jin sighed and clapped his hands. "Since no one objects, stop sitting around. Assemble downstairs."

Shrek Square.

The students of Freshman Class Nine had already lined up. Huo Yutong and Xiao Xiao stood on either side of Tang Qi, sandwiching him in the middle of the formation.

Behind them, Wu Feng watched Ning Tian stare unblinkingly at Tang Qi's back. She could not resist poking the girl's soft lower back.

"Young... Ning Tian, he's no suitable match! Look at him. Other than his handsome face, tall figure, and formidable strength, what does he have going for him?!"

"That's where you're wrong, Sister Feng."

Ning Tian drew back her gaze and shook her head. "You're too biased when you judge people. I'm certain there's something extraordinary about Tang Qi."

Something extraordinary?

Wu Feng blinked. Her eyes slid involuntarily down Tang Qi's back, and her expression turned strange.

"Ning Tian, you..."

"Wu Feng!"

Everyone turned to look at Ning Tian. A blush colored her pretty face, but she offered them a polite smile.

"Sorry."

Mu Jin finally strolled to the front of the formation. He began with a rousing speech full of useless nonsense.

Only then did he get to the point.

"Next, you'll experience firsthand a glorious tradition Shrek Academy has passed down for ten thousand years."

He paused, the corners of his mouth lifting.

"Running!"

Tang Qi's mouth twitched.

Holy Chovy, had Gangzi's influence soaked right through Shrek?

Mu Jin seemed to have expected the array of expressions on the students' faces. He chuckled and added,

"Back then, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang—the Teacher of Gods, a founder of Shrek Academy, and the creator of the Ten Core Competencies—used nothing more than a few baskets of stones and some running to bring the original Shrek Seven Devils together."

"Today we're revisiting a classic. The point is to experience it, so just do what you can. I'm not like a certain class's old hag, using this to throw her weight around in front of her students."

As he spoke, Mu Jin cast a pointed glance into the distance.

On the other side of the square, a stern-faced woman past fifty stood with her hands on her hips, bellowing at the students of Freshman Class One with full-throated force:

"Run! Didn't any of you eat? Anyone who fails to finish their laps today can pack their bags and get out! Shrek doesn't need trash!"

Zhou Yi did not know why she was so furious today.

Perhaps it was because, before class, she had learned that her class had no Soul Elders at all, while her old rival Mu Jin had two in his.

She looked toward the other classes in the square. Some were running too, but most stopped after twenty or thirty laps. Others were so leisurely they might as well have been out for a stroll.

She had even used her connection with Fan Yu to bring in a Plant-Type Soul Saint, planning to show the students her "sharp tongue but soft heart" once they finished running.

Now it seemed unnecessary. The other teachers had already made her look harsh enough by comparison.

If they thought she was strict, she might as well be strict to the bitter end.

Ten thousand years ago, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang had raised Sea God Tang San through running. Zhou Yi did not want to become Yu Xiaogang. She wanted to surpass him.

And so she had devised a motto of her own: "There are no disobedient students, only teachers who aren't strict enough!"