After the battle ended, they left the Great Soul Arena.
"You guys head back first. The dean just told me to stop by his shop," Ma Hongjun suddenly said, excitement in his eyes.
A strange expression crossed Dai Mubai's face. "Then we'll head back first. Take it easy."
"Boss Dai, are you coming?"
"No. Stop wasting words and get going." Dai Mubai glared at Ma Hongjun, but his gaze drifted toward Zhu Zhuqing out of the corner of his eye.
Slow on the uptake, Fatty failed to catch Dai Mubai's meaning. "Come on, let's go together. Didn't you say women don't count as people, but as resources?"
Dai Mubai finally lost his patience. "Get lost. My taste isn't as bad as yours."
Ma Hongjun gave a disgruntled snort, but faced with the anger flashing in Dai Mubai's demonic eyes, he opened his mouth, then turned and left.
"Boss Dai, what did that lecherous fatty go off to do?" Xiao Wu asked.
Dai Mubai laughed. "You already called him lecherous. What else could he be doing? He can't suppress his Evil Fire anymore."
"Off to prey on girls again?" Xiao Wu said irritably.
Dai Mubai said, "It's hardly preying on anyone. Don't you know there's such a thing as a brothel in this world?"
Tang San said in disbelief, "You mean the dean would take Ma Hongjun to a place like that?"
Dai Mubai said, "Fatty's Martial Soul is unusual. There's no other way."
Zhu Zhuqing spoke up, a rare occurrence. "Men are all filthy."
Xiao Wu giggled. "Little Sister Zhuqing, don't cast your net so wide. Tang San is very clean. He's nothing like Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun."
Dai Mubai said irritably, "Fine, your Tang Little San is pure as ice and spotless as jade, and we're all filthy. Happy? But my taste is much better than Fatty's."
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes suddenly filled with disdain and contempt. "Disgusting." With that, she turned and walked away.
"Stop!" Dai Mubai roared, white tiger claws flickering into view on his right hand. But in the end, he merely slammed his fist viciously into a nearby tree trunk, shaking leaves all over the ground.
Xiao Wu gently tugged Tang San's sleeve. "Those two..."
Tang San shook his head. "Boss Dai and Zhu Zhuqing seem to have some history we don't know about."
The two showed off their affection in front of Dai Mubai once more before the three of them headed back to the academy.
When Tang San and the others returned to Shrek Academy, Oscar and Ning Rongrong were waiting for them at the entrance, with Oscar stealing glances from time to time.
As though she hadn't seen the two, Zhu Zhuqing walked straight into the academy and headed for her dormitory without looking back.
Dai Mubai frowned, the chill in his slanted eyes deepening.
"What are you doing here?" Dai Mubai asked coldly, light flickering in his slanted eyes.
Ning Rongrong hopped off the rock. "Waiting for you, of course. Why are you back so late? Where are the dean and Fatty?"
"They have something to do," Dai Mubai replied coldly.
Seeing Dai Mubai's cold manner, Ning Rongrong said without hesitation, "What's with that expression? You look like a zombie. Did you hit a wall with Zhu Zhuqing? Haha, I'd advise you not to waste your efforts. She and Tang Feng are the couple."
Tang Feng... looked mortified.
Cold light blazed in Dai Mubai's slanted eyes. "Ning Rongrong, don't test my patience. Wag your tongue again, and don't blame me for tearing your mouth apart."
Ning Rongrong giggled and deliberately thrust out her still-undeveloped little chest. "I'm so scared! Come on, then. I'm waiting."
"You..." Unable to contain his anger any longer, Dai Mubai unleashed his Soul Power, sending Ning Rongrong flying almost instantly.
Tang San hurried forward and caught Ning Rongrong. "We're all classmates. Rongrong was only joking."
When had Ning Rongrong ever suffered a loss? She gritted her teeth and glared at Dai Mubai, sparks flying in her eyes.
Looking at Tang San standing in his way, Dai Mubai slowly exhaled a turbid breath and drew back his surging Soul Power. "Fine, Little San. I'll give you face."
Dai Mubai cast Ning Rongrong a cold glance with his slanted eyes. "Remember this. Don't provoke me again, or I won't hold back, no matter who you are."
Having left those words behind, Dai Mubai strode into the academy.
Ning Rongrong had grown wiser, too, and knew this wasn't the time to act tough. A thought struck her, and seemingly having come up with an idea, she headed toward the dormitories as well.
The night lay deep and still as water. In the girls' dormitory.
Zhu Zhuqing leaned by the window, the moonlight whittling her silhouette thin. Over the past few days, she had watched Dai Mubai's arrogance, cowardice, and womanizing as though watching a play. Disappointment, helplessness, and self-mockery washed over her heart in layers.
The feeling of having her fate clenched in someone else's palm was colder than the night wind.
Now, all she felt was confusion and unwillingness. A profound sense of powerlessness rose within her. How was she supposed to walk the road ahead?
At that moment, someone's figure appeared in her heart, someone who had saved her life, who was considerate toward her and respected her.
There was also that cave behind the waterfall. Though dim, it was the only place where she had felt at peace. There was no persecution there, no competition.
And there was that month-long journey, touring mountains and waters, eating delicious food and watching performances, without having to worry about her family's arrangements.
Now she immersed herself in those memories, smiling at times, blushing at others...
Knock, knock, knock!!
The knocking broke her train of thought.
"Who is it?"
"Zhu Zhuqing, it's me, Ning Rongrong."
The door opened. "Rongrong, what brings you here so late?"
"You looked unhappy, so I came to check on you." Having said that, Ning Rongrong continued,
"Zhu Zhuqing, though it's not nice to say this, I still have to. Whatever you do, don't let Dai Mubai fool you. One look is enough to tell he's the kind who goes around plucking flowers and teasing the grass."
Zhu Zhuqing remained silent, a trace of helplessness on her face, as though she had some difficulty she couldn't speak of.
Ning Rongrong's eyes shifted, and she said softly, "Whatever difficulties you have, I'll definitely help you. My Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can be your support. Don't worry, there's no one on this continent our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can't protect. I'll keep my word, Zhu Zhuqing. I just don't want you falling into a pit of fire."
"Thank you, Rongrong. I understand!" Zhu Zhuqing said gratefully.
"Also, that Tang Feng really isn't bad. He told me himself that he admires you..." Ning Rongrong teased mischievously again.
Tang Feng... looked mortified.
Zhu Zhuqing blushed to the roots of her ears.
After saying her piece, Ning Rongrong returned to the room she shared with Xiao Wu.
Zhu Zhuqing returned to her room and glanced at the night outside the window. As though she had made some sort of decision, she returned to bed and sat down to meditate.
Early the next morning, everyone arrived at the dining hall one after another.
Dai Mubai still wore a gloomy expression.
Ma Hongjun, on the other hand, looked thoroughly refreshed, as though he had shed several pounds.
As for Oscar, he hadn't arrived at the dining hall yet.
"Fatty, you're not going out tonight, are you?" With breakfast nearly over, Dai Mubai suddenly spoke.
Dai Mubai said, "Good, then. Stay in the dorm tonight. I'm going out to find those twins from last time."
Fatty's eyes lit up. "Boss Dai, if you're eating meat, do I get some broth?"
Dai Mubai said irritably, "This sort of thing is only fun when both sides are willing. A melon twisted off its vine by force isn't sweet."
As he said this, Dai Mubai deliberately glanced at Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing showed no reaction at all, as though she hadn't heard their conversation. A trace of deep disgust flashed in her eyes.
The bell rang for class, and everyone hurriedly finished breakfast and went to the main training ground.
Neither the dean nor the teachers had arrived, and Oscar was still nowhere to be seen.
At the sight of Dai Mubai's gloomy face, a smug expression appeared on Ning Rongrong's pretty, fair little face.
Dean Flender was teaching them again today. Tang San and the other six waited a full quarter of an hour before the dean finally strolled over at his leisure.
Flender swept his gaze over them. "Today is your second lesson. Where's Oscar? Is he sleeping in again?"
Tang San hurriedly said, "He was still cultivating when I left this morning. Perhaps he entered a meditative trance and couldn't wake up in time."
Flender frowned. "We can't hold today's lesson without Oscar. Tang San, go get him."
Tang San was just about to return to the dormitory when he saw Oscar hurrying over from that direction. Yet there was no panic over being late on Oscar's face. Instead, it was filled with excitement.
"Oscar, do you want to run laps again?" Dean Flender glared at him.
Oscar hurriedly shook his head. "No, Dean, please let me explain. I broke through! I've reached rank thirty!"
"What?" Not only Flender, but everyone turned astonished gazes toward Oscar at the same time, Ning Rongrong included.