I saved you, so why are you trying to hurt me?

After leaving Shrek Academy, Qin Xiao wandered aimlessly.

Shrek was small, and the village around him was in decline, yet there was a sense of peace about it that soothed the heart.

Without realizing it, Qin Xiao entered a mysterious state.

Truth be told, in the dozen or so years since coming to the Douluo Continent, he had rarely enjoyed such leisure. He had spent all those years keeping his head down and improving his strength.

And so he kept walking.

Dawn broke.

The morning light spilled down like a pair of warm hands gently stroking his cheeks.

Qin Xiao came back to his senses then.

"Not bad. This insight actually stabilized my cultivation completely. It won't interfere with any future progress now."

Sensing another change in his strength, Qin Xiao felt pleasantly surprised.

He glanced around and confirmed that he was in the village beside Shrek.

However.

Just as he was about to leave and return to Shrek, two figures came into view.

"Cuihua, if you want to break up with me, fine. Just do it with me one more time. Otherwise, no chance!"

A sleazy fat boy with a large, round face, small eyes, short hair, and two wisps of mustache above his lip clutched an ordinary-looking girl's arm as he spoke.

Cuihua pleaded, "No, not again. Please let me go. Are you even human?"

Huh?

Qin Xiao found it rather amusing. With such classic lines and that sleazy appearance, this had to be Ma Hongjun, the sleaziest fellow in Shrek.

Still, before leaving, he had heard that Zhao Wuji would be training Tang San, Xiao Wu, and the others. They probably couldn't come to the rescue.

As for whether he would intervene?

Dream on.

He really had no interest in getting involved with people and matters that had nothing to do with him.

After all, far too many injustices happened in this world every day. Having seen so many, he had long since grown numb.

Tap, tap, tap...

He withdrew his gaze, stopped looking at Ma Hongjun and Cuihua, and walked straight off into the distance.

[Ding. Side quest issued.]

[The greatest heroes serve their country and their people. Rookie Soul Master, though your strength is lacking, you must not lose your pure heart. You should contribute to the fight against criminal forces.

Quest: Defeat the criminal force before you and rescue the girl in need of help.

Quest reward: First soul ring age +100 years.]

Qin Xiao: "???"

You damned system, aren't you sticking your nose into a little too much?

"I'm abandoning this quest." Qin Xiao couldn't be bothered with any of this.

[Ding.]

[Abandoning a side quest will prevent you from triggering any further side quests. Do you still wish to abandon it?]

If I abandon this quest, I won't be able to trigger any future ones either? Qin Xiao believed that even future side quests would offer decent rewards.

Giving up an entire forest for one tree doesn't seem worth it.

"Fine, I won't abandon it. I accept this quest. Just this once, I'll be a good person."

Qin Xiao decided not to abandon the quest after all.

[Ding. Side quest accepted.]

[Warning: Your opponent is powerful and evenly matched with you. Proceed with caution.]

Evenly matched with me? Qin Xiao was speechless. I could crush him with one finger, all right?

"System, is there any reward that can make you normal?" he asked inwardly.

The system, however, did not answer.

Qin Xiao knew the system was beyond saving. It had completely given up on treating itself.

"Ma Hongjun, I'm begging you, let me go. I really can't take it anymore..."

Meanwhile, Cuihua was still struggling.

"Heh heh, go on, struggle. The more you struggle, the more excited I get."

Ma Hongjun held Cuihua's arm and chuckled.

"Let her go..."

Suddenly, a cold shout rang out, startling Ma Hongjun.

"Fuck, where did this brat come from? You dare ruin my fun?"

Ma Hongjun's anger flared three feet high, and he turned to glare at Qin Xiao with hostility in his eyes.

As he spoke, he released Cuihua. "If you want to play the hero and save the beauty, you'd better have the strength for it."

The next instant, he charged at Qin Xiao like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Soul power flowed over his fleshy fist. He was determined to make the fellow who had interrupted his fun pay.

Qin Xiao's response was simple: he lightly flicked his index and middle fingers, striking Ma Hongjun squarely on the fist.

Ma Hongjun felt an irresistible force surge through his fist, sending him flying.

Thud!

At last, Ma Hongjun landed more than ten meters away.

He immediately rolled over and scrambled to his feet.

But a sharp pain in his right hand twisted his face.

"It's probably broken..."

Ma Hongjun knew he was in bad shape.

When he looked at Qin Xiao again, his gaze had changed. His eyes were filled with wariness and shock.

He was certain that the youth before him was stronger than he was, very likely a power attack system Soul Elder like Boss Dai.

As for anything above a Soul Elder, he hadn't considered it...

After all, the other boy's age was plain to see. How could he have become a Soul Elder?

"Good. Very good. Absolutely wonderful."

"Brat, if you've got the guts, wait right here."

Without waiting for Qin Xiao to reply, he turned and took to his heels.

Qin Xiao: "..."

As expected of Flender's disciple, his brain could be pretty sharp at times.

[Ding. Side quest completed. Reward delivered.]

As the mechanical voice sounded, Qin Xiao felt his strength improve a little more.

"Th-thank you."

Cuihua finally recovered from her shock and spoke to Qin Xiao with gratitude written all over her face.

"It was no trouble."

As Qin Xiao spoke, he took a money pouch from his soul guidance space and tossed it over. "There are ten Gold Soul Coins in here. Leave this village and make a life somewhere else."

If you help someone, see it through. If you escort someone... pfft, escort the Buddha all the way to the Western Paradise. Qin Xiao simply eliminated the possibility of Cuihua being threatened by Ma Hongjun again.

Ten Gold Soul Coins were enough for an ordinary person like Cuihua to live a stable life.

Yet Cuihua shook her head. "Sir, I don't want money. Why don't you let me follow you instead? I know how to do all sorts of things..."

Her words clearly carried a suggestive meaning.

Huh? Qin Xiao froze and looked at Cuihua in disbelief.

You don't want money, but you want my life instead.

I saved you, so why are you repaying kindness with malice?

What a sin!

"Just take the money. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other."

"And don't tell anyone you know me."

As his words faded, he had already vanished from the spot.

"I'm here. Finally!"

Some time later, Ma Hongjun finally ran back to Shrek Academy, panting heavily.

"Fatty, what happened to you?"

At the academy gates, Oscar, who had finished training, hurried over to meet him. Dai Mubai was behind him.

"How many times did you do it yesterday? Your face is white as a sheet, your steps are unsteady-have you hollowed yourself out? Here, eat my Big Sausage and recover a little."

As Oscar spoke, he took out a bright red Big Sausage...

Blech...

Ma Hongjun recoiled in disgust. "Stop grossing me out."

He pushed Oscar aside and spoke mournfully to Dai Mubai, who had come up to him. "Boss, you've got to help your brother out."