Ye Qiu chuckled, patted Tang San on the shoulder, and looked toward Zhu Zhuqing and the others.
> "Looks like it's time we head back."
> "You guys go on ahead, I'm stopping by the Dean's shop first."
Ma Hongjun had a lecherous grin, and his beady eyes sparkled with excitement.
Already flushed with embarrassment, Dai Mubai waved him off impatiently.
> "Then get lost already!"
> "Damn, Boss Dai, don't be so heartless!"
Ma Hongjun pouted miserably.
Still, he knew Dai Mubai was a big spender. If he could drag him along, maybe he could freeload.
So he suggested:
> "Why don't you come with me, bro?"
Hearing that, Dai Mubai's expression darkened further.
His eyes drifted toward Zhu Zhuqing.
He immediately snapped at Ma Hongjun coldly:
> "Didn't I tell you to scram? Didn't you hear me?!"
> "What the hell! Why am I always your punching bag?!"
After a brief pause, Ma Hongjun realized he had just taken the heat for something unrelated.
He grumbled in frustration and left.
Xiao Wu tilted her head, confused.
> "Tiger Dai, what did that pervy fatty want from you?"
> "What else? Obviously, he's going to the red-light district."
Ye Qiu flicked Xiao Wu's forehead lightly, eyes glinting with approval.
He had been planning to teach Little Bunny how to say that through mind-link, but…
Guess there was no need anymore.
> "Disgusting."
Just as Ye Qiu expected, Zhu Zhuqing scoffed from a short distance away.
She lifted her head, staring coldly at the dark-faced Dai Mubai.
> "Had fun after you ran off, huh?"
Dai Mubai suddenly felt suffocated, speechless.
Losing to someone at level thirty-five…
That fact alone seemed to nullify all the years of effort he'd put in.
He was utterly silent.
Zhu Zhuqing looked at him in disdain.
> "Level thirty-five? You're filthy. You make me sick."
She gritted her teeth and turned, briskly walking toward the exit of the Soto Great Spirit Arena.
> "Stop right there!"
Dai Mubai couldn't hold back and shouted in anger.
His face flushed red, fury boiling in his chest.
But Zhu Zhuqing acted like she hadn't heard a thing.
She didn't slow down at all—if anything, she picked up her pace,
as if hoping the cool night breeze could blow away the frustration in her heart.
> "You—!"
Dai Mubai's rage deepened.
He was never the patient type. He raised his glowing white hand, ready to strike—
But when he noticed the expressions of those around him…
He hesitated, then lowered his hand.
He didn't want to become a joke.
> "Damn it!"
He cursed angrily.
Then he turned and followed Zhu Zhuqing back toward the academy.
---
Watching the backs of Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing—
Xiao Wu blinked her eyes cluelessly and asked Ye Qiu in a low voice:
> "What's going on with those two?"
Hearing her question—
Tang San, who was also curious, rubbed his chin and guessed:
> "I think they've known each other for a long time."
> "Doesn't matter."
Ye Qiu smiled and shook his head slightly.
That was all in the past—nothing was set in stone yet.
Normally, in the struggle for the Xingluo imperial heir, Zhu Zhuqing's side was doomed to lose.
But pressure creates motivation.
Between Ye Qiu and Dai Mubai…
Where would Zhu Zhuqing choose?
The answer was obvious.
> "Let's go. Time to sleep."
Ye Qiu draped his arm around Xiao Wu's shoulder and walked toward Shrek Academy.
Tang San quietly followed behind.
His long-standing intuition told him—
Ye Qiu knew more than he let on.
---
When Ye Qiu and his group returned to the academy—
Just as Ye Qiu had expected, two figures were waiting at the Shrek gate.
Under the moonlight—
It was Ning Rongrong and Oscar.
Ning Rongrong had apparently recovered.
Her pretty face once again held a gentle smile.
She sat on a large stone at the academy entrance, swinging her legs, seemingly deep in thought.
Oscar, beside her, looked like a wilted eggplant.
He hung his head, brow furrowed.
Now and then he peeked at Ning Rongrong, his eyes filled with frustration and unwillingness.
Zhu Zhuqing walked past them like she hadn't seen them.
Went straight into the academy.
Dai Mubai frowned again, his anger rising, his gaze turning icy.
His evil eyes gleamed coldly as he asked:
> "What are you two doing here?"
> "Waiting for you, obviously. Why so late? Where's the Dean?"
Ning Rongrong hopped down from the stone.
Dai Mubai replied coldly:
> "They had something to do. Have you made up your mind? Stay or leave?"
Ning Rongrong smiled brightly and answered without hesitation:
> "Of course I'm staying!"
> "This place is so much fun. How could I just leave?"
She twirled a strand of her hair with her finger.
Then she noticed Dai Mubai's unusual expression and gave him a once-over.
Sharp as ever, the little witch immediately realized:
Something bad must've happened between Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing.
She didn't hold back.
> "Pfft—hahaha!"
> "Dai Mubai, what's with that face? Like a zombie!"
> "I bet Zhuqing gave you a hard slap in the face, huh? Oscar said you were some kind of ladies' man—but you can't even handle one little girl!"
> "Ladies' man, my ass! What a joke!"
Hearing this—
Dai Mubai, already fuming, his rage barely contained, suddenly exploded.
His eyes blazed with cold fury.
> "Ning Rongrong! Don't test my patience!"
> "This is Shrek, not your home! Others may fear offending you, but I don't!"
> "Push me too far, and I'll rape you, kill you, then do it again!"
Seeing him lose it, Ning Rongrong laughed even louder.
> "Oh~ I'm soooo scared~"
Her face was full of mischief.
She proudly puffed up her undeveloped little chest, showing no fear at all in the face of Dai Mubai's growing rage.
She teased him playfully:
> "Come on, then! I'm standing right here!"
> "You—!"
Dai Mubai finally lost it.
A powerful aura surged—
His soul power burst out, and in an instant, Ning Rongrong was nearly blown away by the force.
> "Ahhh—!"
She screamed.
Swish!
Ye Qiu appeared out of nowhere, catching Ning Rongrong before she hit the ground.
Oscar, who lunged to catch her, missed and fell flat on his face.
Ye Qiu gently set Ning Rongrong down.
Xiao Wu, furious, stood beside him with a scowl.
> "Hmph! Tiger Dai, what kind of man bullies a girl?!"
> "If you want a fight, come at Sister Xiao Wu!"
Tang San also stepped forward, blocking Dai Mubai's path.
He used Controlling Crane, Capturing Dragon to deflect the released soul power away to the sides.
> "Boss Dai, we're all classmates. Let it go."
Ning Rongrong leaned weakly against Ye Qiu's side.
Her face pale—she couldn't believe it.
From childhood until now, she'd always been a pampered little princess. No one had ever dared lay a hand on her.
But the pain in her body told her—
This really happened.
For a moment—
Tears welled in her eyes.
She stared hard at Dai Mubai, unable to say a word.
Dai Mubai, staring at Tang San and the others blocking his path, grew even more furious inside.
But he also knew clearly—he couldn't win.
He lowered his hand, suppressed his soul power, and let out a cold snort.
> "Hmph! San, I'm giving you face."
With that—
He turned to Ning Rongrong, his voice icy to the bone.
> "Ning Rongrong, remember this!"
> "This is not your house. Stop provoking me—or I don't care who you are."
Leaving behind his warning—
Dai Mubai strode off, heading into the academy.
Watching his retreating figure,
Ye Qiu couldn't help but chuckle.
Who gave him that much confidence and guts?
Was it the fearlessness of someone with nothing to lose?
But since he ran, that proved he wasn't someone who wasn't afraid to die.
Tang San, watching all of this,
Also sighed and shook his head, then quickly chased after Dai Mubai.
> "Ye Qiu, we…"
Xiao Wu, hugging Ye Qiu's arm, hesitated to speak.
She knew Ye Qiu had some thoughts about Ning Rongrong,
but she didn't know what he intended to do now.
Ye Qiu's expression was calm as he pulled Xiao Wu along, turning away.
> "Let's go."
> "Huh?"
Xiao Wu stumbled slightly, her face puzzled.
> "Be good."
Ye Qiu leaned close and blew warm air softly into her ear.
Xiao Wu's face flushed red.
She allowed Ye Qiu to wrap his arm around her slim waist and followed him inside, still confused.
> "Ye Qiu—!"
Ning Rongrong wiped the tears from her eyes and suddenly turned, shouting loudly:
> "Ye Qiu! Kill him for me—kill him!"
She clenched her teeth, eyes filled with hatred.
Ye Qiu paused slightly.
Ning Rongrong, still crying, tried to tempt him with rewards and shouted:
> "If you kill him, I'll make you a VIP of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan! I'll give you status, money—ten thousand gold soul coins, how's that?!"
> "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan will support you unconditionally!"
> "Miss Rongrong, why don't you calm down first?"
Ye Qiu smiled and shook his head.
The offer was tempting—
but maybe only the gold soul coins were guaranteed.
After saying that—
Ye Qiu didn't even look back and continued walking forward with Xiao Wu.
> "Ye Qiu! Come back—!"
> "Xiao Wu…!"
Seeing Ye Qiu ignore her completely, Ning Rongrong called out again.
She could only watch their silhouettes disappear into the darkness.
Tears streamed from Ning Rongrong's eyes as she broke down, nearly hysterical.
> "Ye Qiu! You liar—stop right there!"
> "You damn liar, remember this! I won't let you off!"
> "Aahhhh—!!"
She clawed at her hair, nearly going mad.
---
Later that night—
From a short distance away, Ye Qiu could still hear Ning Rongrong's shouting.
He rolled his eyes.
She had just offered him rewards,
and in just a few sentences turned to cursing him.
> "A woman's mouth is full of lies."
Around the corner—
Ye Qiu had already stopped walking.
Xiao Wu stopped too, about to raise her eyes and pout—
But before she could, Ye Qiu had already cupped her cheeks in his hands,
and leaned down to seal her lips with his.
> "Mmmph!"
Ye Qiu kissed her gently for a while before letting go, rubbing her soft cheeks.
> "Xiao Wu, I'm going back to cultivate."
> "Mm…"
Xiao Wu bit her lip slightly, her reddish eyes filled with silent longing as she looked at Ye Qiu.
Her cheeks flushed, and she nodded softly.
Letting go of Ye Qiu's clothes, she walked back toward the dorm,
turning back three times with every step.
---
Back at the academy gate—
Watching Ye Qiu and Xiao Wu's retreating figures,
Ning Rongrong stood there stiff and frozen.
Dai Mubai's aggression had made her furious.
Ye Qiu's indifference left her confused.
Why?
Why wouldn't any of them help her?
Hadn't she offered enough?
That was the friendship of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan!
> "Oscar…"
Ning Rongrong turned to look at Oscar, who had just gotten back on his feet.
He was the only one still there.
> "Would you be willing to help me?"
Oscar's peach blossom eyes carried a tinge of quiet disappointment.
He felt like he'd finally seen through Ning Rongrong.
He gave a self-deprecating smile.
> "I admit, when I first saw you, your beauty stunned me. And you seemed very gentle."
> "So I decided to pursue you."
> "Even though I'm just a commoner, and you're from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—I didn't care."
> "But I was wrong. So very wrong."
Ning Rongrong looked at him in confusion.
> "Wrong? Why?"
Oscar gave her a deep look and smiled faintly.
> "Because… you're not the kind of girl I'd give up an entire forest for."
Heh.
Hiding in the shadows, Ye Qiu chuckled quietly.
He finally understood—
Shrek Academy didn't just produce johns. It also produced delusional men.
Calling Ning Rongrong "a single tree in the forest"?
Even if she was—
She'd be one of the tallest,
surrounded by sword-like bones,
with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda shielding her from wind and rain.
She stood proud among all the flowers.
After speaking,
Oscar looked at Ning Rongrong again.
He shook his head, turned around, and said:
> "Sorry. I can't help you."
> "I'm sure your clan has plenty of people willing to help. You don't need me."
Oscar had already figured it out.
He was still young, and had already had more than one girlfriend.
But he wasn't stupid enough to charge headfirst into a brick wall.
Sometimes, letting go was the wisest choice.
As he walked toward the academy,
Ning Rongrong shouted bitterly:
> "Didn't you say you liked me?!"
> "Then why won't you support me? If you do—"
> "I'll give you a chance!"
Oscar didn't stop. He didn't even look back.
His voice cold:
> "Let me give you some advice: That high-and-mighty attitude of yours—it doesn't belong here."
> "With that kind of personality… even being called a 'friend' is a luxury."
Oscar left.
Already emotionally broken from her talk with Flender earlier,
Ning Rongrong felt even worse now.
Alone. Helpless. Lost. In pain.
Countless emotions flooded her young and fragile heart.
Tears silently slid down her cheeks.
She suddenly realized—
She didn't have any real friends.
Among her peers back at the clan,
people either bowed and scraped, or avoided her completely.
Behind her back, they all called her the "Little Witch."
A friend? That was just wishful thinking?
Ning Rongrong was hit with overwhelming panic.
She shook her head repeatedly, looking up at the cold moonlight, tears dripping from her chin.
Her voice trembled with sorrow:
> "What did I do wrong?!"
> "Are you asking me?"
Suddenly—
A familiar voice drifted into her ears.
Ning Rongrong turned around in shock.
Ye Qiu was sitting on the large stone she had sat on earlier.
Leaning his head on his palm, his face full of mockery.
> "Why did you come back? To laugh at me?!"
Ning Rongrong looked at him with tear-streaked cheeks, stunned.
His earlier, unhesitating departure still etched in her mind.
She didn't think Ye Qiu came back to help her.
She clenched her fists, her eyes full of hatred.
Ye Qiu looked her up and down.
Then teased:
> "Laugh at you? That was this afternoon. I already had my laugh then."
"Tsk tsk…"
Before his voice even fell,
Ye Qiu clicked his tongue as he stared at Ning Rongrong, expressing amazement.
He sighed inwardly at how Shrek Academy was like a giant dye vat, completely assimilating people.
In the original story, Qin Ming and Ning Rongrong were both great examples.
They forgot many things and people,
but never forgot the time they spent running at Shrek.
Ye Qiu said quietly:
> "Honestly, Ning Rongrong, I'm a bit disappointed in you."
That mocking look in Ye Qiu's eyes,
combined with his playful and sarcastic tone,
Made Ning Rongrong feel deeply humiliated and hurt.
Her eyes reddened, and she shouted at him:
> "Why?! Why are you all treating me like this?!"
> "Because you're dumb and easy to bully, obviously."
Ye Qiu replied with a smile.
> "You're lying! That's not the reason!"
Though heartbroken and upset, Ning Rongrong still had her wits about her.
> "So confident? Are you saying you're not dumb?"
Ye Qiu looked at her seriously, not a hint of joking in his expression.
> "Enough!"
Ning Rongrong was on the verge of a breakdown.
> "Ye Qiu, if you came back just to make fun of me again, congratulations—you succeeded!"
Tears shimmered in her eyes as she glared at Ye Qiu with hatred.
> "Remember this—I won't forgive you!"
With that, she turned and ran off in tears.
Ever since she left home,
This was the first real setback she experienced—because of Ye Qiu's games.
She never thought that even after he had supposedly walked away, he'd come back again just to mess with her.
She swore—
she'd make him pay, slap him hard across the face!
But behind her, Ye Qiu was still seated casually on the rock and said leisurely:
> "If you're not dumb, then why did you believe Flender's degrading nonsense?"
At that—
Ning Rongrong's departing figure suddenly stopped.
She had cried over that incident, and felt better afterward.
But deep down, it still made her angry—and even doubt herself.
Was she really that useless?
She turned back to look at Ye Qiu.
There was a flicker of hope in her eyes, her face delicate with tears.
> "You… you think he was wrong?"
> "Of course he was."
Ye Qiu nodded earnestly.
Then, with a grin, he dropped straight backward, vanishing from view behind the big rock.
After a moment of hesitation,
Ning Rongrong quickly wiped her tears and trotted around to the back of the stone.
Ye Qiu was sitting there in the shadows, leaning against the stone.
> "Sit down."
Ye Qiu patted the ground beside him, motioning for her to join him.
Ning Rongrong froze for a second—
But then sat beside him.
The area was shielded from the moonlight, dim and quiet.
It made her unconsciously lean a little closer to Ye Qiu.
They sat in silence for a while.
Ning Rongrong began to suspect Ye Qiu might be teasing her again. She couldn't help but ask:
> "Ye Qiu, why aren't you talking? You said Flender was wrong—how?"
As soon as she asked,
She lowered her head again, feeling a bit dejected.
> "How could I possibly compare to any of you…"
Ye Qiu let out a snort.
> "Of course you can't compare to me."
> "You—you damned liar! Go die!"
Ning Rongrong's eyes flared with tears again as she snapped at him, preparing to storm off.
> This bastard really is just here to mock me again…!
> "And you say you're not dumb? I said you can't compare to me, not that you can't compare to everyone else."
Ye Qiu rolled his eyes.
> Is this girl hard of hearing, or just completely overwhelmed by anger?
> "You!"
> "Stop looking at me like that!"
Ning Rongrong turned her head sharply, her face darkened.
She ordered Ye Qiu to stop giving her that "looking-at-a-fool" expression.
But then she sat back down beside him again, stubbornly.
> "Why not? You really are dumb. Don't tell me you didn't know about Ma Hongjun's evil fire?"
Just as Ning Rongrong was about to argue back, she froze.
Ye Qiu continued:
> "What good is a high-quality martial soul? That guy could blow himself up from internal backlash any time."
> "He's practically a walking corpse. Why should someone like him be better than you?"
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up faintly.
But she still didn't want to admit she was actually dumb—maybe just still wanting some comfort.
So she quickly asked:
> "T-Then what about Oscar?"
> "Do you think I can outshine him? He's got full innate soul power—unheard of for a food-type soul master…"
Seeing her getting all worked up,
Ye Qiu gave her a sidelong glance and snapped:
> "Why are you so nervous? You can't possibly be dumb enough to think he could ever replace the status of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, right?"
> "That's nonsense! I never thought that!"
Ning Rongrong bit her lip and glared at Ye Qiu furiously.
> I'm Ning Rongrong! I've been smart since I was a kid—how could I be stupid?!
> I just didn't think about Ma Hongjun's evil fire in time!
Ye Qiu glanced at her again and let her gnash her little teeth in frustration.
He spoke slowly:
> "In terms of talent, sure—he's stronger than you, but only by a little."
> "You're the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. The resources at your disposal put him miles behind."
> "You're 12 years old and at Level 26. He's 14 and at Level 29. Are you telling me you can't catch up?"
Ning Rongrong immediately refuted:
> "Of course I can! Two years is more than enough for me to break through to Soul Elder!"
Though she could surpass Oscar in cultivation, Ning Rongrong still looked worried.
Ye Qiu knew she was waiting for more.
He sighed and said:
> "Can't you think for yourself just once?"
> "A sausage is still just a sausage. Sure, he's a rare full-innate soul power food-type soul master—"
> "But can he guarantee that his kids will inherit the same trait?"
> "Meanwhile, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda has consistent quality. Even at the worst, it still awakens with decent strength. Its support ability is top-notch."
> "And even if, hypothetically, he could produce successors…"
> "You think your dad would let him live? For the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, killing off a commoner support-type soul master is as easy as squashing an ant."
> "Foolish little rich girl!"
Hearing that,
Ning Rongrong opened her mouth to respond—but couldn't find the words.
She knew Ye Qiu was right.
But she was still angry… especially at that mocking, dismissive look on his face.
That truly got under her skin.
> "Ye Qiu!"
Ning Rongrong clenched her teeth in frustration.
> "I'm warning you! Stop calling me dumb! I will figure this out one day!"
> "Don't think I'm that easy to push around!"
Before she even finished speaking—
Ye Qiu suddenly turned his head.
His black eyes gleamed in the darkness, full of aggression.
He leaned in close and suddenly pushed her down to the ground.
> "Ahhh—!"
Ning Rongrong screamed in surprise, crossing her arms protectively over her small chest.
Underneath Ye Qiu,
facing his handsome face up close,
feeling the solid weight pressing down on her—
Her face turned fiery red, and her eyes filled with panic.
> "Y-You! What do you think you're doing?!"
> "Ye Qiu, I'm warning you—don't mess around or you'll regret it!"
> "Hahaha…"
Ye Qiu suddenly burst out laughing.
He inhaled the subtle scent from her body, then reached up and pinched her soft, lychee-like cheek.
With a smirk, he teased:
> "See? Aren't you just easy to bully?"
> "Otherwise, why would Dai Mubai have dared lay a hand on you?"