Following the map in Tang San's hand, the group walked for about an hour before a small village appeared ahead.
The village was small, seemingly home to little more than a hundred households. Most of the houses lining the dirt road were low adobe buildings, giving off a simple, rustic air.
The village entrance, however, was particularly lively, with quite a crowd gathered there, mostly boys and girls of twelve or thirteen.
Most had their parents beside them, their faces filled with nervous anticipation.
Before them stood an old man in his sixties, dressed in patched, coarse cloth. With his hands behind his back and his eyes closed, he stood like a stone statue, waiting for who knew what.
Farther back, a battered, blackened sign hung from an archway built of crooked timber at the village entrance.
Five crooked characters were carved into it-"Shrek Academy."
Before the five characters was a drawing of a green head with round eyes and a large mouth. It really did look like an ugly Soul Beast of the kind called a Shrek.
Xiao Wu's eyes went wide. She tugged at Tang San's arm, her voice full of disbelief:
"Xiao San! We didn't come to the wrong place, did we? This... this is Shrek Academy?!"
Tang San repeatedly checked the map, then looked up at the battered sign and nodded with certainty:
"That's right. This is the place marked on the map. Let's take a look first. Perhaps there's a whole other world inside."
He coughed twice, trying to conceal his surprise.
Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong and Xue Na also drew close to Su Yu, their faces full of confusion.
Ning Rongrong tugged at Su Yu's sleeve. "Darling, are we really going to study somewhere like this? It looks far too... too shabby, doesn't it?"
Xue