The shockwave erupted forward with devastating force!
Even the stone Xiao Tianyang had been sitting on moments earlier wasn't spared—it shattered instantly.
Zhu Zhuqing's petite frame couldn't withstand the impact at all. Like a leaf caught in a gale, she swayed helplessly, losing her balance.
However, Xiao Tianyang had controlled his strength precisely. His attack was meant only to push her back, not to harm her.
But just as the shockwave swept past Zhu Zhuqing, her figure suddenly distorted—then blurred into nothingness!
"So, Its a fake?!" Xiao Tianyang's heart sank as he spun around immediately, but it was already too late.
Zhu Zhuqing had closed the distance behind him.
Her slender, toned legs wrapped around his waist, while her arms slipped under his, locking him in place with her palms pressed upward against his elbows.
Had this been an enemy, such recklessness would have been suicidal.
After all, the shockwave's force still lingered in the air. Charging straight into its source would only result in severe injury—or worse, being torn apart.
But the problem was… the one behind him wasn't an enemy.
That was what made this so troublesome.
"Get down!" Though Xiao Tianyang didn't dislike her current position, there were far too many eyes around. Worse yet, he couldn't afford to reveal his identity.
Zhu Zhuqing's response, however, was simple—She bit down on his neck.
'She definitely recognized me! Otherwise, why would she bite like this?!' Even with a body as tough as steel, Xiao Tianyang didn't reinforced his defenses. If he did, she might shatter her teeth against his skin—and that would be a disaster.
So he had no choice but to endure it.
In truth, Zhu Zhuqing had recognized him the moment she got close.
Appearances could be faked. Figures could be disguised. Even fighting styles could be imitated.
But one thing couldn't—his scent.
Though Zhu Zhuqing usually trained alone and rarely sought Xiao Tianyang out, she knew his presence all too well.
Since childhood, Xiao Tianyang body had been flawless due to his physique—pure in every way except for his mischievous mind. This was also why his blood carried such potent effects, even capable of enhancing medicinal herbs.
At first, she had only suspected. But now, with no distance between them, there was no mistaking it.
His scent, his reluctance to fight back—everything confirmed her guess.
As for why she bit him…Zhu Zhuqing herself didn't know. Perhaps it was just instinct.
But when the faint taste of copper touched her tongue, she realized just how hard she'd bitten down.
The deep teeth marks on his neck and the scarlet staining her lips were proof enough.
"You really are a cat, aren't you? Even biting people!" Xiao Tianyang grumbled. "If I don't surrender now, won't I be exposed?"
"Who told you to lie to me?" Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks flushed slightly.
As she loosened her legs, her toes still hooked around his waist—just long enough to snatch the token away.
At least with this, she could justify her actions.
Fortunately, she had been facing away from the others. Otherwise, that bite alone would've given him away.
With Zhu Zhuqing's victory secured, Tang San and the others—now without her support—quickly fell to Saber's divide-and-conquer tactics.
The first to fall was none other than Tang San himself, their commander.
"It's enough. We lose." Xiao Tianyang yanked Cong Yunqie from the ground and sheathed it, his voice low. "Though you won, I'll still call this a failure. Gambling your life in battle is never the right choice."
Without another word, he turned and left. Saber followed without hesitation.
She was the victor; Xiao Tianyang, the loser.
Saber could indulge him in many things—but never in matters of victory or defeat. That was her pride.
Watching them leave, Ma Hongjun scoffed. "Tch. Lose is lose. No need to make excuses."
"That wasn't an excuse. It was a advice."
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward, his expression stern. "Did you think this test was only about retrieving tokens. Or were you so fixated on winning that you ignored everything else?"
Flender stroked his beard and added, "Let me be clear—you only won because Edward wasn't an enemy and was on our side. Otherwise, at that distance, Zhuqing would've been dead in half a second."
Silence fell over the group. They knew the two were right.
As for Zhu Zhuqing?
She had no such thoughts.
From the start, she'd suspected it was Xiao Tianyang. Getting close was just to confirm it.
Taking the token was merely to avoid raising suspicions.
Her actions had been calculated—she'd never intended to take such risks otherwise.
After all, as Xiao Tianyang said, staking one's life in battle was never wise—especially in a test like this.
But the others didn't know that.
Especially Tang San. As the leader, he'd approved Zhu Zhuqing's plan—and thus bore responsibility.
"Teachers, Dean… I was wrong today. I shouldn't have agreed to Zhuqing's plan." He bowed deeply. "I'll take full responsibility for the consequences."
"That's not how this works." Dai Mubai stepped forward. "We, the Shrek Seven Monsters, stand together. If there's punishment, we share it."
"Boss Dai's right!" Ma Hongjun puffed out his chest. "We all agreed to it. It wasn't just your call."
The others also voiced their support.
Only Zhu Zhuqing remained calm.
"Dean," she said flatly, "didn't you say before we started that any method was acceptable, so long as we retrieved the token?"
Flender paused, then nodded. "Yes, I did."
"And did you also say that Edward was a friend you invited?"
The group blinked in surprise.
'Zhu Zhuqing was usually so reserved—why was she speaking up so much today?'
'And why did this suddenly feel… so much like Xiao Tianyang? Is she being influenced by him"?'
…
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