In the carriage, Ning Rongrong wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. Looking at Jun Yi beside her, she pouted. "Jun Yi, I don't want to leave home."
Seeing her like this, Jun Yi rubbed the tip of his nose and comforted her softly. "It's fine. We're just going to school. When we get a holiday, won't we be able to come back whenever we want?"
"You have a point, but I still feel so sad." Ning Rongrong sniffled a few times and stuck out her lower lip.
"It's your first time leaving home, after all. That's normal. Once we reach Suotuo City, I'll take you shopping, shopping, shopping, and you won't be sad anymore," Jun Yi said.
"Really?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Yay!"
The moment she heard "shopping, shopping, shopping," Ning Rongrong perked up. Seeing her expression change so quickly, Jun Yi smiled faintly. At the end of the day, Ning Rongrong was only a twelve-year-old child. Her joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness could change so easily, and all of it was written on her face.
"Hey, Jun Yi, aren't you sad to be leaving home for the first time?"
Ning Rongrong looked at Jun Yi, who was still smiling, and asked curiously.
Jun Yi shrugged. "Nope. Just thinking about how I can go wherever I want and play however I like after leaving home, with nobody keeping an eye on me-doesn't that feel amazing? What's there to be sad about?"
"Besides, you're the one going to school, so why do I have to escort you? You're making it look like a pageboy taking his young mistress to school to keep her company while she studies."
"Pfft!"
Hearing Jun Yi's antics, Ning Rongrong couldn't help laughing. Then she pursed her lips and said, "That's right, you're my little pageboy. Little Yizi, you'd better serve me well, or this young mistress will punish you."
Shrek Academy was located in a small village south of Suotuo City in the Balak Kingdom. Traveling by carriage, it would take roughly five days to reach it.
Jun Yi and Ning Rongrong's carriage traveled during the day, and they rested in nearby cities at night. Ning Rongrong also fulfilled her duties as a young mistress: shopping, shopping, shopping. She bought anything she hadn't seen before, and naturally, Jun Yi was the one paying.
There was nothing he could do. Her father had given him ten thousand Gold Soul Coins before they left and told him to put them to good use. Paying for Ning Rongrong's purchases was only right.
And so Jun Yi and Ning Rongrong traveled for four days. That day, as their carriage passed through a forest, they suddenly heard the sounds of fighting.
"Someone's fighting nearby. We won't get caught up in it, will we?" Ning Rongrong asked Jun Yi.
"True, we'd better take a detour. If it doesn't concern us, hang it high and leave it alone. It wouldn't be good if their fighting spilled over onto us."
With that, Jun Yi poked his head out, intending to tell the driver to change direction.
Just then, a girl dressed in black suddenly rushed up beside the carriage. She was covered in wounds, with blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Her face looked like that of a twelve- or thirteen-year-old child, but her figure was no different from an adult's.
Panting heavily, she said in a faint, pleading voice, "Save me." Then she collapsed beside
the carriage.
Jun Yi looked at the girl's wretched state. Clearly, she had been hunted down.
Ning Rongrong naturally heard the commotion too. She poked her head out through the carriage door and spotted the injured girl.
Just as she was about to say something, five middle-aged men dressed in black sprang out of the forest. The leader spoke with a hint of menace. "Boy, this is a family matter. I hope you won't interfere."
Seeing the man putting on such airs, Jun Yi instantly lost his temper. Trying to act badass in front of me, are you?
Jun Yi gave a contemptuous smile. "Oh? And what if I insist on interfering?"
"Then don't blame us for showing no mercy." They summoned their Martial Souls and released their Soul Rings. Their leader was a Five-Ring Soul King, while the other four were all Soul Ancestors. Their Martial Souls, without exception, were small black-and-purple cats.
"Is that the Hell Spirit Cat?" Jun Yi asked uncertainly.
"Hmph, boy, at least you have a good eye. If you know what's good for you, leave now and don't disturb us while we deal with our family affairs," the leading Soul King threatened.
"I wasn't going to get involved, but I really don't like your tone. Today, I'm getting involved whether you like it or not."
"ROOM."
With that, Jun Yi raised his left arm, his palm facing downward. A whirlwind swept past, and a transparent blue dome rose from his palm, enveloping them.
"ROOM."
Jun Yi raised a finger and instantly appeared before the Soul King. Then he took a long Soul Tool saber from his storage ring and drove it toward the Soul King's heart.
"ROOM."
The blade flashed, and the Soul King fell to the ground. A cube-shaped wound appeared in his chest, yet no blood flowed out.
Jun Yi held a transparent cube the same size as the Soul King's wound. Inside it was the Soul King's heart.
The other four stared in horror at the fallen Soul King, their eyes filled with fear. They had no idea how their opponent had moved, and they hadn't even reacted to the sign of their companion's death.
"We've run into a tough one. Go!"
The remaining four swiftly fled into the distance. Jun Yi didn't chase them. After all, he had only wanted to drive them away. As for the heart, he might as well return it to the Soul King.
"ROOM."
Jun Yi lightly raised his finger. The cube vanished, and he returned the Soul King's heart.
Jun Yi turned around and saw Ning Rongrong lifting the girl, who was covered in wounds, into the carriage.
"ROOM."
Jun Yi raised his finger, sending Ning Rongrong and the girl straight into the carriage. He withdrew ROOM, told the driver to keep going, and then returned to the carriage.
"Her injuries aren't serious. Most of them are superficial," Ning Rongrong said after examining the girl's body.
Looking at the wounded girl, Jun Yi recognized her from the two enormous lumps of flesh on her chest. She was undoubtedly Zhu Zhuqing.
He couldn't help grumbling inwardly, Seriously, sir, how did I even run into this? Why did some random girl I happened across turn out to be Zhu Zhuqing, one of the Shrek Seven Devils?
While Jun Yi was spacing out, Ning Rongrong pouted in displeasure. "Jun Yi, where are you looking?"
In Ning Rongrong's eyes, Jun Yi was staring unblinkingly at the injured girl's chest. It made her very unhappy!
"I zoned out," Jun Yi replied, shaking his head.
"More like you were mesmerized by the view. Hmph."
"You're right. It's quite a nice view."
"You!"
"Water, water..."
Just as Jun Yi and Ning Rongrong were about to bicker, Zhu Zhuqing made a sound. Ning Rongrong took a waterskin from her Soul Tool and helped Zhu Zhuqing drink.
"Thank you."
After drinking some water, Zhu Zhuqing woke up. With Ning Rongrong's help, she was propped up into a seated position in the carriage. Her face was still pale and weak, but she had recovered much of her spirit.
"Thank you for saving me," Zhu Zhuqing said gratefully as she looked at the handsome boy and pretty girl in the carriage, both around her age.
"It was no trouble," Jun Yi replied with a wave.
Ning Rongrong asked, "The people chasing you just now all had the Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul. They said hunting you down was a family matter. Are you from the Hell Family too?"
Ning Rongrong's deductions made Jun Yi give her a thumbs-up. Her logical reasoning was getting better and better. She had actually deduced Zhu Zhuqing's origins.
"Yes."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded and introduced herself. "My name is Zhu Zhuqing. May I ask your names?"
"Jun Yi," Jun Yi answered. Ning Rongrong replied as well, "My name is Ning Rongrong."
"Thank you both for saving my life. One day, I will repay your kindness with a gushing spring."
(End of chapter)