Oscar hoisted the guard onto his shoulder and carried him to a cellar that had been prepared in advance. After throwing him in, he sealed the entrance before leaving.
The cellar wasn't strong enough to keep a Level 45 Soul Ancestor trapped forever, but it was enough to delay him for a while.
After leaving, Oscar went straight outside the city to meet up with Zhao Wuji and the others. At this time, Zhao Wuji, Dai Mubai, and Zhu Zhuqing had already changed into plain clothes. When they saw Oscar, the four of them immediately headed at full speed toward the Heaven Dou Empire.
They didn't take a carriage doing so would have slowed them down. Instead, after taking Oscar's Swift as the Wind Rain Swallow Sausages, they quickly left Star Luo City, taking Zhu Zhuqing away before anyone could react.
Of course, this was also because Zhu Zhuqing was willing to go. Otherwise, trying to take her away from the imperial capital even with Zhao Wuji, a Level 78 Soul Sage would have been nearly impossible.
On the way, Oscar glanced at Zhu Zhuqing. Whatever else could be said, at not yet eleven years old, she already had an impressive figure. If Oscar hadn't met Dugu Yan, perhaps he would have been tempted to make a move.
A youthful face with a… well… generously developed figure was always a lethal combination in any era. Honestly, Oscar was a bit envious of Dai Mubai.
Still, as the saying goes, a friend's wife is off limits. Oscar merely admired her beauty without any improper thoughts.
It had to be said, though, that while Zhu Zhuqing's talent wasn't as high as Dai Mubai'sin fact, in the original story she was the weakest of the Shrek Seven Devils she did have one advantage.
She was hardworking and resilient, with a firm mind. Though a girl, she worked harder than most people.
Now, at only ten years and five months old, her soul power had already reached Level 22. In the original story, more than a year later, when she entered Shrek Academy, she had reached Level 27 at just twelve years old.
By this measure, Zhu Zhuqing wasn't bad at all. Combined with her Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Dai Mubai, their combined power could be far greater than the sum of their parts.
After traveling at full speed for a whole day and night and getting far away from Star Luo City, they finally slowed down. Only then did Dai Mubai formally introduce Zhu Zhuqing to Zhao Wuji and Oscar.
Because they had taken smaller paths, they passed mostly through forests and even some spirit beast habitats.
At night, the four of them camped by a small stream. Oscar busied himself with preparing food, while Dai Mubai chatted with Zhu Zhuqing and Zhao Wuji.
For Zhu Zhuqing, the past two days still felt unbelievable. Though she was happy inside, she also felt a bit lightheaded about it all.
She had thought Dai Mubai had abandoned her after all, when he left a year ago, he hadn't told her anything.
But now, Dai Mubai had returned to rescue her, dispelling all the fear and worry she had carried for more than a year.
When he had taken her away a day earlier, he explained himself and apologized for leaving alone before. This made the not yet eleven year old girl decide to trust him again.
Dai Mubai wouldn't betray her trust now he understood there were things he could and could not do.
As the saying goes, a prodigal who turns back is worth more than gold. Dai Mubai's newfound understanding was good for both him and Zhu Zhuqing.
And now, because Dai Mubai had come for her personally, Zhu Zhuqing felt more dependent on him. While she still appeared aloof like in the original story, she seemed willing to lower her guard in front of him.
Oscar, busy cleaning freshly caught stream fish, listened while Dai Mubai introduced Zhao Wuji:
"Zhuqing, Teacher Zhao is the deputy headmaster of Shrek Academy, a Level 78 Soul Sage. It's thanks to him leading us that we succeeded so smoothly."
Zhu Zhuqing had already met Zhao Wuji but hadn't been formally introduced. Now, with time to chat, she greeted him politely:
"Hello, Teacher Zhao. Thank you for coming with Mubai to save me. I'm truly grateful."
Zhao Wuji chuckled. "No need to be so polite, girl. You're Mubai's fiancée, and Mubai is my student. Saving you was the right thing to do."
He then glanced at Oscar, still busy with the fish. "If you really want to thank someone, thank Little Ao. Without him, we couldn't have left Star Luo City so easily."
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing remembered the miraculous sausage she had eaten earlier. She now knew it was Oscar's third soul skill.
It gave them the speed of a ten thousand year Rain Swallow for fifteen minutes. Oscar could store the effect for up to a month, and in his spare time, he kept a stockpile.
He had stored a hundred sausages, and after leaving the city, each of them had eaten twenty, giving them five hours of terrifying flight speed enough to put Star Luo City far behind them.
Zhu Zhuqing felt deeply grateful to Oscar. Dai Mubai's respectful attitude toward him on par with his respect for Zhao Wuji proved Oscar's capability.
After all, Dai Mubai was a prince with natural pride, and he didn't bow easily to others.
On the road, she noticed that he even called Oscar "Bro" and almost never contradicted him. For example, their decision to camp here was because Oscar wanted to otherwise Dai Mubai would have pushed to get farther away.
Oscar, hearing them talk about him, looked up. The orange glow of the fire lit his handsome features, and he smiled warmly.
"Mubai, Teacher Zhao, enough about me come, eat fish."
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Oscar and smelled the mouthwatering aroma of grilled fish, swallowing involuntarily.
On the journey, they had eaten nothing but sausages and dry rations. Oscar's sausages were tasty, but after a whole day and night, the novelty wore off.
Even Zhao Wuji couldn't resist, coming over immediately to take a fish from Oscar and devour it.
Dai Mubai also pulled Zhu Zhuqing over. Oscar handed a fish to him, then to Zhu Zhuqing.
She took it shyly. "Thank you."
Oscar smiled. "You're Mubai's fiancée, so you're my sister in law. It's only right for me to take care of you."
Hearing this made Zhu Zhuqing blush. Since yesterday, she had warmed to Dai Mubai, but hearing both Oscar and Zhao Wuji openly call her his fiancée still embarrassed her.
Oscar took a fish for himself and thought back to when he first met Dugu Yanit seemed similar to Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai now. The difference was that he and Dugu Yan had no engagement; their feelings grew slowly over time.
He was especially envious of Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's Martial Soul Fusion Skill, which not only greatly boosted combat strength but also sped up cultivation something he and Dugu Yan didn't have.
Of course, they couldn't use the skill yet; they had no experience working together. Mastering it required practice and mutual trust.
Zhu Zhuqing responded shyly, "Senior, don't tease me. Even though Mubai and I are engaged, it doesn't count until I'm married."
Dai Mubai's face fell at that, guilt welling up inside.
Zhu Zhuqing, however, was secretly pleased she'd said it on purpose to warn him. If he ever abandoned her again, she wouldn't forgive him.
Given his current change, though, Dai Mubai was likely to become her devoted follower just like in the original story, except this time he wasn't as unfaithful.
Oscar and Zhao Wuji chuckled. Oscar glanced at Dai Mubai and said seriously, "She's right. An unwed fiancée is still just a fiancée. Zhuqing, you're smart. Don't let him win you over too easily, or he won't treasure you. Best to keep him chasing."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded with an odd expression, glancing at Dai Mubai, who looked utterly defeated.
Inside, Dai Mubai shouted, Oscar Bro, what are you saying? That I wouldn't cherish her if I got her? And what about you and your Yan aren't you glued together every day? Why's it different for me?
But he didn't dare say it aloud Oscar might beat him, and Zhu Zhuqing might misunderstand.
Right now, though he was drawn to her beauty and figure, he knew what was most important: surpassing his elder brother Davis.
He had already reached Level 32, but Davis had broken through to Soul Ancestor, and Zhu Zhuyun Zhu Zhuqing's eldest sister and Davis's fiancée was Level 39, just shy of Level 40. Zhu Zhuqing herself was only Level 22.
The gap was too large. All of Dai Mubai's focus was on becoming the victor in the battle for the throne, so he could protect Zhu Zhuqing and repay Shrek Academy and Oscar for their support.
Zhu Zhuqing was stunned to hear he was Level 32. When he had left, he'd only been Level 25. In just over a year, he had gained seven levels!
Even discounting the one level from gaining a soul ring, that was still six levels in a year a rare feat even across the whole Douluo Continent.
She didn't know that Levels 29 to 32 came from taking whale glue, which also boosted his physical fitness enough to let him absorb a higher level ring.
Before that, he had reached the peak of Level 25 upon entering Shrek Academy, then broke through to Level 26 in a month.
So his true training gain in the past year was from Level 26 to 29still three levels in a year, which was impressive for the Great Soul Master stage.
After Dai Mubai shared his year's gains, Zhu Zhuqing felt dizzy it seemed even the royal family and dukes couldn't offer such training conditions, yet Shrek Academy could.
She suddenly found herself eager to join Shrek and see it for herself.
Of course, Dai Mubai didn't mention whale glue, saying instead that the boost came from a pill given by Poison Douluo Dugu Bo.
Zhao Wuji and Oscar were pleased he had kept their agreement not to reveal the whale glue secret, not even to his fiancée.
Whether he would tell her privately was unknown, but most likely not Dai Mubai wasn't foolish; he knew what could and couldn't be said.
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