Zhu Zhuqing (1 / 2)

The next day, at Shrek Academy's training ground.

Li Hanqiu had tidied himself up and dressed in a plain robe, arriving at the edge of the grounds early that morning.

This would be his first theory lesson at Shrek and, officially speaking, his first meeting with the girls.

First impressions were especially important, so Li Hanqiu had prepared thoroughly.

The sun climbed above the treetops, and before long, the students began trickling in.

Tang San and Xiao Wu arrived first. They chose seats right at the front and sat ramrod straight, one on either side.

Tang San had even brought a notebook, ground his ink, and laid his brush out neatly.

Zhu Zhuqing arrived fairly early. She chose a corner and sat hugging her knees. Without saying a word, she simply fixed her catlike eyes on Li Hanqiu.

Oscar arrived late with a pot on his back and sat beside Ma Hongjun.

Ma Hongjun still had a piece of sweet potato in his mouth, hidden away who knew when, and was eating it with relish.

Ning Rongrong was the last to arrive.

She strolled over slowly, a breeze trailing behind her, her skirt and pink hair fluttering together with a unique beauty all their own.

Yawning, she chose the spot farthest from Li Hanqiu that also happened to catch the warm sunlight.

Ning Rongrong propped her chin in her hand, her eyelids half closed, looking utterly indolent, as though to say, "This young lady is only here to listen. Do whatever you like."

Everyone waited a good while longer, but Dai Mubai alone had yet to arrive.

By the looks of it, he had no intention of coming.

Li Hanqiu did not mind. Honestly, he had expected both Dai Mubai and Ning Rongrong to skip class, yet one of them had actually shown up.

It really was a pleasant surprise.

Seeing this, Li Hanqiu cleared his throat. There was no thick textbook in his hands.

Instead, he held one hand behind his back and raised three fingers with the other, an easygoing smile on his lips.

"Make yourselves comfortable in my class. Lessons can be long or short-it all depends on my mood."

As soon as Li Hanqiu finished, Ma Hongjun was the first to raise his little hand.

"Then, Teacher, will this lesson be long? I'm so hungry. Will we miss breakfast?"

As he spoke, Ma Hongjun pressed a hand against his growling stomach. His face fell, making him look adorably dopey.

"Heh, today's lesson will be very short. I'll just say a few words."

Li Hanqiu smiled, then added, "Oh, right, Hongjun. If you get hungry during class and want something to eat, you're welcome to."

Li Hanqiu looked perfectly relaxed. "As I said, there aren't many rules in my class. Just make yourselves comfortable."

Ma Hongjun was the first to get excited. He grabbed Oscar beside him and shook him. "Aozi, did you hear that? We can eat in class! Teacher Li is so nice, even nicer than the dean."

"In the dean's class, forget eating-he won't even let us drink water. Says it's disrespectful to him or something."

Ma Hongjun shook Oscar until his head spun and his vision blurred, leaving him dazed.

Ning Rongrong lifted her chin high and smoothed the loose pink strands over her forehead. "Now that's more like it. If that's how things are, this princess might grace a few of your lessons with her presence, Li Hanqiu."

Li Hanqiu smiled, paying no mind to Ning Rongrong's "rudeness."

Only Tang San gritted his teeth and stared coldly at Ning Rongrong, looking ready to strike at any moment.

Fortunately, he remembered that Li Hanqiu was beside him, so he reined in his temper and turned his head away, telling himself not to act rashly, not to act rashly.

Li Hanqiu coughed twice and formally began his first lesson at Shrek. "Everyone, I'll keep this brief."

"First, you're currently at the ideal stage for laying your foundations. There's no need to rush your Soul Power cultivation. You'll have plenty of time to cultivate later."

His gaze swept over Xiao Wu, then settled on Oscar.

"Second, we're a team. Battle isn't about fighting alone; coordination matters. A team that can't coordinate well will lose, no matter how outstanding its members are individually."

As he said this, Li Hanqiu looked at Ning Rongrong. "Ning Rongrong, what do you think?"

Ning Rongrong had not expected Li Hanqiu to ask her. Folding her arms and lifting her chin, she said, "I-I suppose you're right!"

"Heh, one last thing: don't treat your lives lightly. Fight to the death for victory, but don't win by dying."

Tang San raised his head and met Li Hanqiu's gaze.

His heart trembled. Somehow, he found himself remembering the scene at the Rose Hotel, when he had tightened his grip around Dai Mubai's neck.

But Li Hanqiu had already looked away. With a slight smile, he said, "Class dismissed."

"Huh?"

"That's it?"

Ma Hongjun's mouth hung half open. He even forgot to chew his sweet potato, which fell to the ground. Oscar was just as dumbfounded.

Xiao Wu, on the other hand, sprang to her feet. "Yay! Now that's what a teacher's lesson should be like!"

Tang San lowered his head and scribbled something rapidly in his notebook, though the corners of his mouth curved upward despite himself.

Over those five years in Nordin, he had long since grown used to Li Hanqiu's teaching style.

The more shocked the other girls around him looked, the smugger Tang San felt.

Heh, go on, be shocked, every last one of you! That's my teacher! Tang San's teacher!

Everyone was thrilled, cheering and jumping for joy at being dismissed early.

Only Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly, a trace of displeasure crossing her eyes. Clearly, she disliked how casually Li Hanqiu had ended the lesson.

After everyone dispersed, Li Hanqiu did not return to his quarters.

Instead, he headed for the little hillside behind the academy.

Sure enough, just as he had expected, Zhu Zhuqing was there.

She had taken off her outer robe and wore only the close-fitting, narrow-sleeved training clothes beneath. Her feet moved, her figure twisting, darting, and leaping without pause.

Every time the girl stretched and turned, her slender, supple waist showed off her beautifully proportioned figure to the fullest.

Zhu Zhuqing was like a black cat, slipping soundlessly through the shadows of the trees, sometimes doubling back, sometimes springing into the air, every movement crisp and clean.

When she saw Li Hanqiu approaching, she stopped.

"T-Teacher Li," she called, her voice neither warm nor cold. "Did you need something from me? I still need to keep training."

"Zhu Zhuqing, you seem very eager to grow stronger." Li Hanqiu did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point.

Zhu Zhuqing raised her eyes and looked at him quietly.

"Yes."

"Why?"

She did not answer. A few seconds passed before she said softly, "Teacher Li, did you need something from me?"

Li Hanqiu smiled.

"If I said yes, that I needed your help, would you help me?"

Zhu Zhuqing remained silent for a long time before gently shaking her head.

"I-I'm not strong enough yet. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to help you, Teacher Li."

"Then when do you think you would be?"

"I-I don't know..." She lowered her head, the loose strands over her forehead hiding her eyes. "Besides, if it's something even you find difficult, Teacher Li, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to help."

Li Hanqiu shook his head. He stepped closer and pointed at a rock nearby. "Sit down. During class earlier, you seemed a little unhappy that I dismissed everyone early?"

"I-I..."

Zhu Zhuqing's little face flushed. She had not expected him to see through her thoughts with a single remark. Picking at her nails, she looked utterly at a loss.

Seeing this, Li Hanqiu patted the stone seat beside him and said gently, "Relax. I'm not here to call you to account."

Zhu Zhuqing still stood where she was, biting her lip without moving.

"Hmm... there were some serious problems with your posture and footwork just now. Why don't you sit down and let me teach you properly?"

At those words, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes lit up. Her little head bobbed rapidly, making her look charming and lively.