"Hello, I'm Oscar!"
Oscar greeted Xiao Yan and the others, then turned to Dai Mubai and said:
"Boss Dai, five Copper Soul Coins per sausage. The same honest price for young and old!"
"Don't worry, you'll get every coin."
Dai Mubai glared at Oscar and saw that Xiao Yan and the others were all injured. Tang San, in particular, had borne the brunt of Zhao Wuji's anger and was swollen all over.
After hesitating for a moment, he said nothing about Oscar's incantations.
"Thank you."
Xiao Yan took the sausage Oscar handed him. Its enticing aroma left him a little surprised by the Martial Soul. Whatever else could be said, the sausage looked, smelled, and tasted excellent. Xiao Yan took a bite, and not only was it delicious, but even his injuries seemed to ease a little.
"Um... you can't beat me up later, all right?"
But when Oscar handed sausages to Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others, he seemed a little hesitant.
"What's wrong? Don't tell me you poisoned them?"
Supporting Tang San, Xiao Wu came over and spoke in surprise. She took the sausage from Oscar and handed it to Tang San.
"Um..."
"Oscar, come here. Give me a sausage and a cured sausage too."
Zhao Wuji, who was still on the field, saw Oscar and called out to him.
Oscar glanced at the injured group, took the few remaining sausages from his cart, and handed them to Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing. Then he ran over to Zhao Wuji.
Seeing how disheveled Zhao Wuji looked, Oscar's eyes filled with teasing as he spoke with exaggerated expression:
"Teacher Zhao, what happened? How did you get hurt so badly!?"
"You little brat, asking for a beating, are you? One sausage and one cured sausage, hurry up."
Seeing Zhao Wuji grow angry, Oscar didn't dare tease him anymore. In front of everyone, he held out his right palm and shouted:
"I Have a Big Sausage!"
"I Have a Little Sausage!"
As the two phrases fell, Tang San and the others, who had just eaten Oscar's sausages nearby, were instantly struck dumb.
Everyone turned to look. Seeing the two sausages appear in Oscar's hand, the girls couldn't help feeling a little sick, and Ning Rongrong began retching outright.
"Ugh~"
Retching, Ning Rongrong cried out in a shrill voice:
"Ah!! How can there be such disgusting incantations!!!"
Beside Zhao Wuji, Oscar's usually cheerful face fell, and he visibly grew dejected.
"Enough!"
Seeing the disgusted looks on Xiao Wu and the others' faces, as though they had eaten shit, Xiao Yan couldn't help frowning. He said to them:
"They're only incantations. Why are you all being so fussy at a time like this?"
Xiao Yan's expression was somewhat cold as his gaze swept over everyone in turn, particularly Tang San and Xiao Wu, who had grown up with him. He said:
"Oscar gave us his sausages to help us recover from our injuries, and he meant well. Besides, incantations like those aren't something Oscar can decide for himself."
"What's more, if we enter the academy, we'll be classmates from now on. If you act like this, how are you going to get along with Oscar?"
"And if you were facing life or death someday, would you really refuse a life-saving sausage over a little pride and discomfort?"
When Xiao Yan finished, Oscar, who had been standing beside Zhao Wuji with a dejected expression, looked at him in disbelief, his eyes full of gratitude.
All this time, although his sausages had excellent restorative effects, everyone had been repulsed by them.
Even Dai Mubai was no exception and had even forbidden him from selling them at the academy.
And now, Xiao Yan's words marked the first time Oscar had gained the acceptance of someone his own age.
As Xiao Yan spoke, he walked over to Oscar, reached out, and patted him on the shoulder with a smile.
"Oscar, sorry, but I think with injuries like mine, I'll probably need another sausage."
Oscar looked at Xiao Yan, deeply moved. He knew Xiao Yan was trying to make him feel better, but at that moment, Oscar also accepted Xiao Yan.
"Okay!"
Oscar wiped his hands and spoke excitedly:
"I Have a Big Sausage!"
Seeing the proud look on Oscar's face, Xiao Yan thought he didn't need to be quite so proud, but thanked him and took the sausage from his hand all the same.
"Haha, good!"
Zhao Wuji, who had remained silent nearby, now burst out laughing and said to Xiao Yan:
"You brat, you're just to my taste. I'll remember you!"
After speaking, Zhao Wuji swept his gaze over the group. Ning Rongrong and the other girls all looked rather uncomfortable.
Tang San and Xiao Wu were silent for a moment. Then Tang San shook his head and took the initiative to speak to Oscar:
"Oscar, I'm sorry. Senior Brother is right. Your sausages have a great restorative effect, and we were being too fussy. I hope we can become good companions from now on."
Seeing Tang San speak up, Xiao Wu stuck her tongue out at Oscar and said playfully:
"Um... sorry..." But anyone could see that she was only apologizing to go along with Tang San.
"Uh, it's all right!"
Oscar scratched his head. He had always been easygoing and had long since grown used to everyone's disdainful looks and disgust. Now that Xiao Yan, Tang San, and the others were apologizing so solemnly, he didn't quite know how to respond.
"I'm sorry..."
On the other side, Zhu Zhuqing, who had been cold and distant all along, studied Xiao Yan carefully before apologizing to Oscar with a serious expression.
Only she understood that, between life and death, disgust and emotions were unimportant. The only thing that mattered was... staying alive!
Only Ning Rongrong looked miserable, tears brimming in her eyes. Biting her lip, she hung her head and refused to speak.
She muttered softly:
"But... it really is disgusting..."
Dai Mubai stepped forward of his own accord, passed over the matter, and said to the group:
"Hehe, Xiao Yan, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, congratulations. You've passed the academy's entrance test. I'll take you inside to get some rest first."
With Dai Mubai speaking up, the others thought no more of the matter, though Ning Rongrong's delicate face still looked somewhat aggrieved.
"This is the academy's residential area."
Dai Mubai led Xiao Yan and the others to an unused area in the village and explained.
Nearly a third of the village belonged to Shrek Academy, and the residences were houses built by former villagers.
The rooms housed two people each. Oscar offered to share with Xiao Yan, and Xiao Yan did not refuse.
Tang San and Dai Mubai shared a room.
Of the remaining vacant rooms, Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong shared one, while Zhu Zhuqing had one to herself.
They had just been through a fierce battle with Zhao Wuji. Although Oscar's sausages had helped them recover and feel much better, they were all still somewhat tired.
After Dai Mubai assigned everyone their rooms, they said their farewells and returned directly to their respective rooms to rest.