" Lin Kong!"
Ning Rongrong's joyful shout suddenly rang out. Almost without hesitation, she quickly stepped out from among the Shrek Seven Devils and ran towards Lin Kong, her pretty face beaming with undisguised joy.
" Lin Kong!" Xiao Wu blurted out almost simultaneously, a bright smile spreading across her face, and she instinctively took a step to follow.
He had just taken a step when he froze in place.
Because she clearly felt a gaze fixed on her from behind—it was Tang San, who was quietly watching her with a complex expression, carrying a silent restraint and indescribable pressure.
Xiao Wu's heart clenched suddenly; her joy was quickly replaced by turmoil and a trace of pain.
How she longed to run to Lin Kong immediately and ask him in person if what was written on that mysterious note—about Tang San's father, about Tang Hao, about his status as Titled Douluo —was true.
She had tentatively asked Dean Flender and Professor Zhao Wuji, but they either gave vague answers or remained silent, never giving a direct response.
As for Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang... she didn't even dare to ask. Deep down, she was afraid of hearing carefully crafted lies from the Grandmaster, and even more afraid that she would be unable to help but believe those lies.
" Lin Kong..." Zhu Zhuqing's voice was extremely soft, like a sigh, which only she could hear.
When her cool eyes looked at Lin Kong, a cluster of burning light shone. Beneath her icy exterior lay suppressed turmoil. She clenched her fists tightly, restraining the urge to step forward.
Dai Mubai's heart tightened at first, but when he realized that Zhu Zhuqing hadn't rushed over or even taken a step, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, she had at least maintained her composure on the surface and hadn't rushed over like Ning Rongrong.
"Looks like I haven't been completely insignificant in her heart these past few months." He thought to himself, turning his gaze to Lin Kong, a smug feeling rising within him. "After all these months, how much of a place do you think you still hold in her heart?"
" Brother Lin?! Holy crap, it really is Brother Lin!" Ma Hongjun's small eyes widened in surprise, and his chubby body involuntarily leaned forward, his face beaming with a smile of joy at their long-awaited reunion.
Oscar grinned and waved happily, " Brother Lin! You're back!" He also wanted to go over and greet him immediately, sharing his experiences over the past few months.
However--
"Fatty, Oscar, stop right there!" Tang San's icy voice suddenly rang out, a commanding tone, his gaze sharp as a knife.
Ma Hongjun and Oscar's smiles froze, and they stopped in their tracks. Months of training and life there had subtly conditioned them to obey Tang San's arrangements and instructions.
This Control System Soul Master had gradually become the de facto core of the team through Yu Xiaogang's various designs and daily details.
Yu Xiaogang's methods were indeed subtle and discreet.
For example, Zhao Wuji could have used his Soul Skill to assist with weight training, but Yu Xiaogang insisted that Zhao Wuji "rest" every other day, allowing the students to continue with pure physical training.
During these training sessions, Tang San's load was often intentionally adjusted to be lighter than others, allowing him to have the energy to "help" teammates who were physically exhausted, thus establishing his image and prestige as a leader.
There are countless examples of such small but repetitive "arrangements".
At this moment, Tang San's gaze swept past the crowd and landed on Ning Rongrong, who had already run up to Lin Kong. A strong sense of helplessness and frustration welled up in his heart. "Why... why does she always disobey me? Why?"
Why?
The answer is simple.
Lin Kong had given Ning Fengzhi a warning, and Ning Fengzhi must have hinted at something in his letter to Ning Rongrong. This made the already intelligent Ning Rongrong more vigilant in her interactions with the team. When she noticed some subtle manipulation and unequal treatment, she naturally stopped trusting and obeying Tang San as unconditionally as she had at the beginning.
This independence and self-retention is one of the key reasons why the Shrek Seven Devils sometimes had gaps in their teamwork during battles, leading to the loss of several crucial battles.
At that moment, Ning Rongrong gracefully stopped in front of Lin Kong, tilted her head back, her eyebrows curving like a crescent moon, her smile radiant and without a trace of gloom, and called out crisply, " Brother Lin!"
Lin Kong looked at her and smiled gently, replying, " Rongrong."
The natural and familiar atmosphere between the two contrasted sharply with the somewhat stagnant and oppressive atmosphere on the Shrek team's side.
" Brother Lin, what's going on?" Ning Rongrong asked softly, looking at the Imperial Fighting Team members behind Lin Kong.
Lin Kong calmly replied, "I am currently a member of the Imperial Fighting Team at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
Yu Tianheng stepped forward at the opportune moment and gave Ning Rongrong a familiar, polite smile, " Ning Rongrong, it's been a long time."
As the leading figures of the younger generation in the Upper Three Sects, they had already met at banquets and other occasions.
Ning Rongrong nodded politely in response, " Yu Tianheng, it's been a long time."
The rest of the Imperial Fighting Team also nodded to Ning Rongrong, their smiles carrying a hint of friendliness, but also a subtle calculation—if they could use this to keep the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect School neutral, or even influence her willingness to act, the pressure would be much less when dealing with the rest of Shrek later.
Ning Rongrong smiled and responded to everyone's greetings, but her gaze quickly returned to Lin Kong, asking inquiringly, "What are you going to do...?"
"Follow me." Lin Kong didn't explain further and strode straight towards the Shrek Seven Devils.
Ning Rongrong followed beside him, her posture natural and intimate, as if she were not a member of Shrek, but Lin Kong's companion.
Lin Kong stopped a few steps in front of the Shrek students, his gaze sweeping over the familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar faces. A slight smile played on his lips, but his tone remained devoid of warmth. "What, you don't recognize me after just a few months? You won't even come over to say hello?"
Tang San's face darkened, and he spoke first, his voice cold and hard as iron. " Lin Kong, understand the occasion! This is the Soul Fighting Arena, and we are about to fight each other!"
"Am I talking to you?" Lin Kong suddenly turned his head, his sharp gaze piercing Tang San, cutting him off without any politeness.
Tang San's breath hitched, his face paled, and he was speechless for a moment, choked by the public rebuke.
Seeing this, Dai Mubai stepped forward and said with a stern face, " Lin Kong, mind your place! You are our opponent now, why should we be polite to you?"
These words were both a rebuttal to Lin Kong and a reminder to his teammates behind him to recognize their current position.
Lin Kong shook his head, his tone casual and mocking. "It's just a Soul Fighting. At worst, you can just admit defeat. Why put on this show of being on high alert and ruthless?"
Tang San immediately seized the opportunity and pressed, "Then admit defeat now!"
Lin Kong ignored him completely, his gaze sweeping over Tang San before landing on Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar. His voice softened slightly. " Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Fatty, Little Ao, what about you? Do you also want me to admit defeat now?"