Daytime.
Chen Jue slowly opened his eyes, greeted by the sight of a room in utter disarray.
The scene resembled a dream wrapped in morning mist, leaving him a little dazed.
It felt like I'd done it, yet also like I hadn't!
He recalled the reward the system had given him yesterday.
It seemed to be the Myriad Poisons Physique, which made him immune to all poisons.
This reward was extremely useful to him.
With it, he could guard against certain sinister little snakes.
Right, Tang "Poison" San?
Sure, Tang San couldn't beat me in a straight fight.
But there's no guarantee that bastard won't poison me in the middle of the night.
Especially someone so vicious. If he gets jealous of my Diamond Kidney and poisons me to make me impotent, wouldn't that put an end to my "happy life"?
So this reward had truly struck a chord with him.
Then he noticed a battered green book inside the system.
Upon closer inspection, it was actually the second good thing the system had given him yesterday-the Myriad Poisons Book.
It contained everything there was to know about poison.
At that moment, his lips curled.
From now on, he would be the king of poison, the most poisonous man on the Douluo Continent.
He would leave Poison Douluo dumbfounded and Tang San in despair.
Just then, Chen Jue felt a trace of moisture on his chest.
He lowered his head to look.
Glistening droplets hung at the corners of Ning Rongrong's mouth, occasionally dripping onto his chest. Together with her rosy little face, they made her look utterly adorable.
Chen Jue couldn't help smiling at the sight.
She's this grown up and still drools in her sleep. Is she dreaming about something delicious?
Suddenly, a ray of sunlight fell across Ning Rongrong's face, and she slowly opened her eyes.
When she happened to catch sight of the glistening droplets on her clothing, they seemed like a bashful secret exposed in the dawn light.
Her fingertips involuntarily brushed the corner of her lips, and a blush quietly stained her cheeks. She shyly lowered her eyes, looking as though she were saying that none of this had anything to do with her.
"What's wrong? Were you dreaming about something delicious?"
A teasing curve formed at the corners of Chen Jue's mouth. His words carried a hint of mockery, but he couldn't hide the tenderness in his eyes.
At his words, the blush on Ning Rongrong's face spread like a tide all the way to her ears, burning so fiercely that they almost seemed ready to drip blood.
"No..."
She mumbled, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
"All right, I'll stop teasing you. I've got something good for you!"
"What is it?"
Ning Rongrong happily sat up.
Then, beneath Ning Rongrong's hopeful gaze, Chen Jue slowly reached out and produced a Soul Bone.
"A Mental Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone!!!"
Ning Rongrong exclaimed in shock.
Shrek Academy.
The students, Zhao Wuji, and Flender were all gathered beneath the statue erected at Shrek Academy.
The girls lowered their heads in unison, their delicate brows lightly furrowed and worry flickering in their eyes.
Rongrong and Brother Chen's failure to return all night weighed like a massive boulder on everyone's hearts, inviting endless speculation.
Had they been kidnapped?
Or...
Hu Liena's worry was particularly apparent. Her hands were clenched into fists, her knuckles turning faintly white from the force.
Dai Mubai and Tang San stood off to one side, their faces dark as ink and an impenetrable gloom gathered between their brows.
They still remembered what had happened yesterday at noon.
Damn it, Chen Jue really was a bastard!
After that double blow to their bodies and flesh, they had gone almost an entire day without eating.
They just wanted to see Chen Jue suffer a setback. Only then could they stomach a meal.
Otherwise, they might never be able to eat again.
But today, their chance to whet their appetites had arrived!
Dating too young and staying out all night were major taboos at the academy.
Fortunately, Flender was present too, rather than Zhao Wuji alone.
Otherwise, their chance to enjoy a meal might have vanished!
They suspected that Zhao Wuji either valued Chen Jue's talent or had been beaten into submission, leaving him afraid to punish Chen Jue.
After all, driving away someone so talented would deal a serious blow to Shrek.
Flender was different. He was extremely strict with every student.
No matter who you were, if you broke the rules, even the King of Heaven himself would have to bow his head.
Otherwise, Dai Mubai and Tang San wouldn't have been punished yesterday.
One was Clear Sky Douluo's son, and the other was the second prince of the Star Luo Empire.
Both had greater status and standing than Chen Jue.
Even so, they had received severe punishment.
And those two had stayed out all night. One look was enough to tell they had gone off to do that sort of thing!
What Flender hated most was dating too young.
When the time comes, we'll have Dean Flender expose them in front of everyone and let these lovesick fools see this sanctimonious hypocrite who's been playing with their feelings.
Then these women will finally realize how good the two of us are!
At that thought, the two exchanged a glance in unison, both wearing smiles that sent chills down people's spines.
Chen Jue was done for!
"Why aren't Chen Jue and Ning Rongrong back yet? Staying out all night-they must have gone off fooling around!"
"The academy has repeatedly forbidden dating too young, much less staying out all night with a girl!"
"When they return, I'll punish them properly! Otherwise, they'll stop treating Shrek's rules as rules."
Flender bristled and glared in fury.
He silently weighed his plans, an unquestionable resolve flashing in his eyes.
He had placed great expectations on these two.
One was the cherished prodigy of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The other was Chen Jue, whose talent rivaled a monster's.
He didn't want them to stray down the wrong path.
Upon hearing this, the girls all began pleading for them.
"Brother Chen might have had something to deal with and gotten held up! It's not what you think!"
"That's right! Don't punish them!"
Dai Mubai and Tang San, standing opposite them, began arguing back.
"Oh? What could possibly be more important than attending classes?"
"It's not like that, huh... Chen Jue and Ning Rongrong stayed out all night. Even an idiot knows what they went off to do!"
"Do you girls not have brains?"
"If you don't believe it, you can have Dean Flender examine them with soul power when they get here."
"And I think the punishment could be harsher. Make them run fifty laps! No, a hundred!"
A calm curve formed at the corners of Tang San's mouth as he silently considered his next move.
Chen Jue, oh, Chen Jue. Today, I'll show you what happens when you oppose us.
Just watch me screw you over behind your back!
Just as the three girls were about to open their mouths to argue, Dean Flender's steady, powerful voice rang out like a great bell, instantly quelling the commotion.
"Enough! I'll make the decision myself! I'll certainly give everyone an explanation for this."
Before his words had fully faded, a figure carrying an air as warm as a spring breeze entered everyone's view. It was Chen Jue, with Ning Rongrong nestled beside him as they walked, their hands tightly clasped.
For Oscar, this sight was nothing short of a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
A wave of dizziness washed over him. The world around him seemed to lose all color, and a jumble of emotions filled his heart. He could barely remain standing, forcing himself to hold on so that the sudden pain wouldn't crush him.
Holding hands...
Those happy expressions...
The two of them staying out all night...
Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo!
Anyone could tell what they'd gone off to do last night.
Everything Tang San guessed was true! Boo-hoo-hoo!
Was this the fate of a simp?
After all that groveling, I never even got to hold her hand...
I...
A barely perceptible trace of jealousy flickered through his eyes, then vanished in an instant.
"Pfft..."
Amid that subtle shift in emotion, Oscar's face suddenly turned deathly pale.
Fine white foam seeped from the corners of his mouth. His body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness.
"Huh? Heatstroke? The sun isn't that strong! Is he that weak?"
"Why does it feel like each of these three is weaker than the last?"
Zhao Wuji looked over, surprise on his face and a hint of bewilderment in his voice.
In his mind, Tang San and Dai Mubai had already been labeled weaklings.
Now Oscar had joined them!
Watching Oscar suddenly faint sent ripples through Flender's heart, and his mood sank to rock bottom.
A food-type Soul Master with innate full soul power, and he couldn't even endure this? Wasn't he far too weak?
Once he wakes up, I'll have to really step up his training.
Then he waved his hand impatiently.
"Ma Hongjun, take him to the dormitory to rest!"
"Okay!"
At those words, Ma Hongjun felt a little reluctant, but he quickly reined in his emotions and nodded in agreement.
He still wanted to watch the drama unfold.
He didn't want to miss gossip this exciting.
But there was nothing he could do. He would have to hear about it afterward from Tang San and the others!
"Chen Jue, get over here and give me a proper explanation! Where did you go fooling around with Rongrong last night? Did you go off to do that sort of thing?"
"If you can't explain yourselves, you're both expelled!!!"
Was the drama starting?
Ma Hongjun raised his eyebrows.
Hang in there, buddy. Let me watch this first.
Before you continue