Know your place

That night, Qin Ye returned to Shrek's boys' dormitory.

Given how close Qin Ye had become to Xiao Wu and the other girls, they would not have minded him moving in, as long as he agreed.

But Qin Ye was not a stud. He was a man with ambition.

Everyone would set off for the Star Dou Great Forest tomorrow. Before then, Qin Ye had to make certain people in the academy understand their place.

A creak rang out.

The wooden door swung open.

Inside the dormitory, Ma Hongjun sat on his bed, seething with resentment as he complained to Oscar.

"I'm so damn angry! That Qin Ye deserves to die! He actually dared to ignite my evil fire yesterday. If Dean Flender hadn't acted fast, I would've burned to death in the arena."

"Just let me see that bastard again. I won't let him off!"

"Oh? Who won't you let off?"

Qin Ye happened to push open the door, meeting Ma Hongjun's eyes.

Qin Ye looked down at everyone in the room.

Tang San and Dai Mubai were absent. They had probably gone out for night training again.

Oscar and Ma Hongjun had been chatting face-to-face from their respective beds, and Qin Ye had caught their conversation red-handed.

"You've got the nerve to show up!"

Ma Hongjun sprang to his feet.

"We haven't settled yesterday's score! You're not getting away today!"

Ma Hongjun immediately released his Martial Soul. A phoenix wreathed in flames slowly rose.

"First Soul Skill: Phoenix Fire..."

"Heart Demon Interference."

Before Ma Hongjun could finish calling out his move, Qin Ye had already activated his Martial Soul.

The heart demon's attacks were always instantaneous mental attacks. In Qin Ye's eyes, the windup of Ma Hongjun's Soul Skill was like slow motion, posing no threat whatsoever.

A thud rang out.

Ma Hongjun's vision went black, and he passed out, leaving only Oscar where he stood.

"Qin Ye, what are you doing?" Frightened by Qin Ye's imposing presence, Oscar kept backing away. "I-I'm not afraid of you. This is Shrek. If you try anything, Dean Flender won't let you off."

Oscar's back pressed tightly against the wall. He had nowhere left to retreat.

"Are you scared?"

Qin Ye pulled out a stool and sat down, studying Oscar with a relaxed expression.

"I haven't even done anything yet, and you've already lost the courage to face me, Oscar."

"Do you think a piece of trash like you is worth my lifting a finger?"

"You..."

Qin Ye's cutting words left Oscar speechless.

Even Ma Hongjun, with his evil fire phoenix, had been brought down in a single encounter. How could a food-type Soul Master like him possibly be Qin Ye's match?

"Heh. Relax, Oscar."

Qin Ye tossed Oscar a stool.

"I actually don't like getting physical. As long as no one deliberately provokes me, I quite enjoy talking to people."

At Qin Ye's urging, Oscar nervously took a seat.

"What exactly are you after?" Oscar looked at Qin Ye solemnly.

"You call me trash, then get me to sit down and talk. Just what medicine are you hiding in that gourd?"

Oscar truly could not fathom Qin Ye's actions. The man before him seemed shrouded in a faint mist, always presenting himself to others as someone who held every move in the palm of his hand. Yet that was often indeed the case.

"I'm curious. What exactly do you like about Ning Rongrong?"

Snap!

With a snap of his fingers, Qin Ye pulled Oscar into a dark space.

An illusory image of Ning Rongrong appeared beside Qin Ye, looking like a perfect replica.

"Rongrong!"

Oscar shouted.

"Don't get excited. This is just an illusion created with Soul Power, not Ning Rongrong herself."

Qin Ye gently raised his arm, and Ning Rongrong moved, obediently bringing her chin toward him and nuzzling him like a docile little kitten.

"Behind Ning Rongrong stands the continent's strongest support sect, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"Oscar, do you like her because you've set your sights on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's resources and prestige?"

"Of course not!"

Oscar reacted vehemently.

"I like Rongrong herself! Even if she weren't the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, I'd still like her!"

"Oh? Then what do you like? Her arrogant, overbearing personality that looks down on everyone? Or do you just like her face?"

Qin Ye displayed Ning Rongrong's face to Oscar.

"If there's anything this world has no shortage of, it's beautiful women. Since you don't want fame or fortune, why do you keep clinging to Ning Rongrong? Is she the most beautiful woman under heaven?"

"Well, I..."

"No, Rongrong isn't that kind of person. She's a lively, adorable girl who dares to love and hate. It's true that I like her looks, but I also like her mischievous wit. Rongrong is nothing like you say she is."

"That's because you don't know her well enough, idiot."

With another snap of his fingers, Qin Ye revealed Ning Rongrong's true side to Oscar.

Ning Rongrong folded her arms across her chest and scrutinized Oscar with a scornful gaze.

"So you're the one who likes me?"

"Rongrong, is that you?"

"Yes, but I don't like you."

Ning Rongrong rejected him without the slightest hesitation.

"Huh? But I'm-I'm sincere, Rongrong! I really love you!"

"So? Should I give you an award?"

Ning Rongrong frowned.

"The people who like me could form a line stretching from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to Shrek Academy's front gate. They all like me, so does that mean I have to like them back? I've seen plenty of people like you. Let me make this perfectly clear: I'm not interested in you."

"Wh-what?"

"I said, I'm not interested in you," Ning Rongrong repeated. "And your sausages don't taste good at all. If Brother Ye weren't converting their Soul Power, I wouldn't swallow a single bite. Your Martial Soul is truly disgusting. Just looking at it makes me want to vomit."

"No, that's not how it is. This isn't real. How could this happen?!"

Oscar sank into profound self-doubt, falling to his knees and clutching his head with both hands.

"See? Ning Rongrong doesn't like you. If you don't believe me, you can ask her in the real world, but I don't think you'll get a different answer."

"Besides, how many times have you even met? How many words have you exchanged? Are you really that close to Ning Rongrong?"

Qin Ye dismissed Ning Rongrong's illusory image and walked over to Oscar.

"Oscar, you've only ever seen Ning Rongrong's good side. Once you truly start getting to know her, you'll understand why she's called the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Little Demoness."

"If you really want to find love, I can help you. You'll just have to pay a small price."

Qin Ye extended his right hand to Oscar.

"Now, you can take my hand. I can give you power, and even help you find the love you've longed for. There are countless girls in this world waiting for you. If you insist on hanging yourself from the one tree called Ning Rongrong, I can only feel that it isn't worth it."

Qin Ye bent down and whispered softly into Oscar's ear.

"You were indeed trash before, but follow me, and you'll no longer be an Oscar who can only sell sausages. You can get everything you want: dignity, love, and status."

"Sooner or later, the entire world will revolve around you."

"Your sausages will leave everyone utterly enthralled."

"So, what's your choice?"