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"You…"
Dai Mubai's entire face twisted in anger. He nearly lost control, wanting nothing more than to slap Zhu Zhuqing twice.
Zhu Zhuqing, however, remained completely indifferent.
Zhao Wuji, well aware of Dai Mubai's character, assumed he was harboring inappropriate intentions toward Zhu Zhuqing and immediately issued a warning.
"Mubai, here at Shrek, we don't have the right to decide who our students choose as their master. Don't embarrass me."
Ning Rongrong looked on with disdain. She assumed Dai Mubai viewed Zhu Zhuqing as his personal possession—so shamelessly overbearing.
Lan Minghua cast Dai Mubai a brief glance, saying nothing, but his eyes grew noticeably colder.
A heavy feeling settled on Dai Mubai. The unpleasant memories from yesterday flashed through his mind, and he instantly shrank back like a quail.
He looked as cowardly as one could possibly be.
Everyone's opinion of Dai Mubai plummeted further. None of them expected him to be so spineless.
Lan Minghua helped Zhu Zhuqing to her feet and said, "You're my disciple now. If he ever bothers you again, just let me know—I'll deal with him."
"Thank you, Master," Zhu Zhuqing replied. For the first time, she felt cared for, and a warmth spread through her heart.
Now that things had settled, Zhao Wuji figured it was time to wake Tang San.
Looking up, he shouted toward the sky, "Xiao Ao, you've got business again!"
Sleeping soundly, Oscar jolted awake with excitement and instinctively rushed toward the source of the voice.
"Business? Where?!"
Oscar practically flew over and began searching the area with wide eyes.
Zhao Wuji sighed and rubbed his forehead helplessly. If Oscar hadn't already become Lan Minghua's disciple, he would've smacked him on the spot.
"Give one of your sausages to the girl in Mubai's arms, and to Tang San, lying over there."
Oscar's face fell. Another trivial task.
However, upon seeing Dai Mubai's gloomy expression, he assumed Dai Mubai still held a grudge against him.
Not wanting to offer a warm gesture to a cold reception, he simply flung a large sausage in their direction.
He then walked over to Tang San, pried open his mouth, and shoved the sausage in.
Just then, Oscar turned—and spotted Ning Rongrong.
For some reason, his heart began to pound wildly, like a little deer crashing around in his chest.
Lan Minghua paused in surprise, not expecting Oscar to fall in love at first sight with Ning Rongrong.
Still, he didn't interfere. Once Oscar saw the true nature of that little devil, his feelings would probably cool down.
Besides, wasn't Zhu Zhuqing—another great beauty—also standing right there?
Watching Oscar's lovestruck expression, Lan Minghua was instantly irritated.
He hurled an empty bottle in his hand at Oscar. It hit him squarely on the head with a bang.
"Did you not see your master standing right here?! Get over here now!"
Oscar rubbed the massive bump on his head and scurried over obediently.
Lan Minghua rolled his eyes in exasperation. Was his disciple always this hyper?
Pointing at Zhu Zhuqing, he said, "This is my new disciple—your junior sister. Introduce yourselves."
Oscar immediately straightened his posture and extended his right hand. "Oscar, Level 29 Support-type Soul Master. Martial Soul: Sausage."
Zhu Zhuqing, sensing Oscar's respectful attitude, gently returned the handshake. "Zhu Zhuqing, Level 27 Agility-Attack type Soul Master. Martial Soul: Nether Civet."
Their hands barely touched—a purely polite gesture.
Lan Minghua was tempted to match the two of them. Their personalities were quite similar—both determined to prove themselves.
But he quickly noticed the hateful glare Dai Mubai was shooting at Oscar.
So petty. You're literally holding Xiao Wu, Tang San's girl, and you're getting this worked up because Oscar just shook her hand?
Lan Minghua didn't want to interfere in the relationships between Oscar, Dai Mubai, and the others. He preferred to let things develop naturally.
But after taking Zhu Zhuqing as his disciple, it seemed he'd unintentionally worsened their dynamic.
He shrugged and ignored Dai Mubai.
"Alright, now that you've met, Oscar, go back to your training."
Then turning to Zhu Zhuqing, he said, "You can take the day off to rest. Start training with Oscar tomorrow."
"Yes, Master," Zhu Zhuqing replied.
Lan Minghua bade Zhao Wuji farewell and left with Oscar to resume training.
As he left, the several gazes fixed on him finally withdrew.
Why several? Simple—one from Tang Hao, another from Flender, and one more from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
After all, as the clan's heiress, would Ning Fengzhi really let Ning Rongrong wander around alone as a mere Soul Grandmaster?
Clearly not. She was almost certainly being watched by two or three Soul Emperors, or possibly even a Soul Saint, all personally arranged by her father.
As for why Tang Hao's gaze retreated—it was likely to eliminate witnesses.
After all, Lan Minghua had exposed Tang San's twin martial spirits secret.
Lan Minghua glanced toward the spot where Tang Hao had just been, the corner of his lips curling into a derisive smirk.
He didn't dwell on it and went back to training Oscar.
At the border of the Barak Kingdom…
Two figures raced toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
But along the way, a black-robed figure blocked their path.
"Who goes there?!"
Before they could finish their sentence, the black-robed man appeared before them like a phantom, grabbed their necks, and twisted.
Beneath the cloak, Tang Hao's eyes were icy cold.
"Hmph. Anyone who tries to spread Little San's twin spirits secret must die."
After the kill, Tang Hao confidently departed.
Unbeknownst to him, a ray of light containing a message escaped from one of the corpses and shot back toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Inside the grand hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan…
A handsome, middle-aged man frowned as he reached out and caught the glowing orb of light.
Two messages flooded into his mind:
The young lady is safe and has successfully joined Shrek Academy.
Tang San, Level 29 Soul Grandmaster. Twin Martial Spirits: Blue Silver Grass and a hammer.
As Ning Fengzhi processed the information, the grand hall doors burst open. A white-haired man with sword-like brows and star-like eyes soared in on his sword.
It was none other than Sword Douluo Chen Xin, one of the clan's two Titled Douluo.
"Fengzhi, where is Rongrong?! If anyone has wronged her, I'm going to cut them down!"
Ning Fengzhi didn't answer, simply tossing the orb of light to Chen Xin.
Chen Xin knew what it was. He caught it and reviewed the information within.
"Shrek? Never heard of it. Just a few Soul Saints. I could teach her better myself."
Chen Xin scoffed. Soul Saints were beneath his notice—Ning Fengzhi being the sole exception.
Ning Fengzhi ignored the first message and urged, "Uncle Jian, look at the second message."
"Hmph. Tang San, Level 29 Soul Grandmaster, Twin… wait, Twin Martial Spirits?!"
At first, Chen Xin had dismissed it as useless information, but he was stunned to read about a genius with twin spirits.
"Fengzhi, are you thinking of recruiting this Tang San?" Chen Xin asked.
Ning Fengzhi nodded, then shook his head. He replied quietly, "Uncle Jian, did you notice his surname? And his martial souls?"
"Tang San… so his surname is Tang. His martial souls are Blue Silver Grass and a hammer… Wait. Tang? A hammer?!"
Chen Xin's pupils shrank. A realization dawned on him, and he looked at Ning Fengzhi, seeking confirmation.
Ning Fengzhi nodded slowly. "Tang San is very likely that man's son. The age matches, too."
"Tang Hao? After all this time, is he finally making a comeback?!"
Chen Xin had long been intrigued by Tang Hao, the youngest Titled Douluo in history, and had always wanted to challenge him to a duel.
"He dares to kill our men? Does he think our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan is defenseless?!"
Seeing his anger, Ning Fengzhi tried to calm him. "Uncle Jian, don't be rash. Making an enemy of a Titled Douluo for the sake of two Soul Emperors is an unwise choice."
"Hmph. Fengzhi, you disappoint me."
Chen Xin was frustrated by Ning Fengzhi's perceived weakness. Tang Hao had already brought the fight to their doorstep, yet he was still weighing pros and cons.
With a displeased flick of his sleeve, he stormed out of the hall.
Ning Fengzhi didn't argue back. He was a clan leader; weighing costs and benefits was his duty.
He immediately penned two letters: one for Flender, the other for Ning Rongrong.
Barak Kingdom – Soto City – Shrek Academy
Zhao Wuji had invited Flender and Lan Minghua for drinks. The three of them were downing cup after cup.
In the end, Lan Minghua easily drank them both under the table. The two of them ended up in a tangled, sprawling heap on the floor.
"A couple of lightweights. If you can't handle your liquor, don't drink. Your tolerance is pathetic."
He squinted, looking out the window, when a loud voice suddenly exploded in his mind:
"Lan Minghua! Get out here!"
(End of Chapter)