Meng Yiran's third spirit ability didn't grant her flight like Oscar's, nor did it inherit the speed traits of the Phoenix-Tailed Crest Serpent. Instead, it took on its "Rainbow Mist" characteristic.
"Mist, huh? Not bad, I guess."
Su Xiaoqi nodded as he looked around at the hazy surroundings. The ability was useful for team fights or retreating, though it lacked offensive power. If it came with a poisonous effect, it would've been perfect.
"Su Xiaoqi, thank you. Without your help, I wouldn't have been able to obtain this spirit ring." Meng Yiran bowed deeply to Su Xiaoqi. "I have no family left in this world. Could I… follow you from now on?"
"Uh… don't you still have the Exotic Beast Academy?"
Just as he feared—this situation had come knocking. Granny Snake had asked him on her deathbed to look after Meng Yiran. He didn't agree back then, and he still had reservations now.
He did feel sorry for her. Helping a little here and there wasn't an issue. But he didn't even know how long he'd be staying in this world. What could he possibly do to take care of someone long-term?
"That place holds all my memories with Grandpa and Grandma. I don't want to go back. And now… I don't have anywhere else to go." As Meng Yiran spoke, tears streamed down her cheeks.
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Su Xiaoqi and said, "Just let Meng Yiran come with us. It'll be good company for Rongrong too."
At that moment, Ning Rongrong took Meng Yiran's hand and said, "Yiran, from now on, let's play together. Honestly, you shouldn't have gone begging that cold-blooded guy. He doesn't know the first thing about cherishing a delicate girl."
Su Xiaoqi didn't feel like arguing with Ning Rongrong. He turned to Meng Yiran and asked, "Is that okay with you?"
Meng Yiran nodded and expressed her thanks to both Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong.
"Alright," Su Xiaoqi said. "Let's leave the Star Dou Forest before it gets dark. We'll spend the night at the nearby town and return to Soto City tomorrow."
On their journey from the forest to the familiar hotel in the small town, the four of them didn't encounter Tang San or Dai Mubai's group.
The next morning, just before departure, Su Xiaoqi looked at the fresh-faced girl standing beside Ning Rongrong and blinked in confusion. "Uhh… who are you?"
"Hahaha!"
Ning Rongrong burst out laughing, holding her stomach. Even Meng Yiran couldn't help but chuckle behind her hand. "It's me, Meng Yiran. Don't you recognize me?"
"Say what? You're Meng Yiran? You're kidding me."
Su Xiaoqi struggled to accept the reality. Yesterday she was the epitome of a chuuni girl, and today she'd transformed into the classic girl-next-door. The contrast was just too much.
Even Zhu Zhuqing was a little stunned by Meng Yiran's appearance. She looked far more pleasant and approachable now.
Meng Yiran turned to Su Xiaoqi and said, "I'm not sure why you kept calling me 'chuuni girl' before, but I figured it must've been because of how I dressed. So I decided to change—to start fresh and say goodbye to the old me."
"Yeah, not bad. A change in style can be refreshing."
Su Xiaoqi nodded approvingly. Though deep down, he mourned the missed opportunity to one day hand her a snake staff and have her shout out a long-winded chuuni speech ending with a dramatic Explosion!
After nearly a full day of travel, the group finally returned to the Rose Hotel in Soto City.
Su Xiaoqi didn't rest. After briefly checking in with Zhu Zhuqing, he headed alone to a remote area on the outskirts of the city and pulled out the Gravity Room.
"Yo-ho! I wasn't expecting this model."
The Gravity Room before him was styled exactly like the spaceship Kakarot used en route to Namek—complete with an instruction manual.
Inside, Su Xiaoqi set the gravity to 10 times the norm and began training in earnest.
For the next three days, he trained every morning and spent his evenings with Zhu Zhuqing, occasionally hopping into the group chat to catch up with the others.
Nami had triggered the Alabasta story arc slightly ahead of time while passing through Reverse Mountain. The quest was open to all group members.
However, she didn't rush them in right away. She wanted Luffy and the others to train a bit before reaching Alabasta.
Since Nami had already handled the Coco Village arc herself, Luffy hadn't even received a bounty yet. He wasn't even considered a real pirate at this point.
Meanwhile, Hanamichi Sakuragi had just a few days left until school started. He said that on the very first day, he was going to confess to Haruko Akagi and then challenge the "gorilla." This time, he swore to become Shohoku's ace and trample Rukawa Kaede underfoot.
Su Xiaoqi had also asked him which Kuroko no Basket technique he had learned during this time.
Sakuragi coyly refused to say, claiming he'd unveil it in person once he triggered the next story quest.
Lu Linglong was still preparing for the Luotian Grand Competition. This time, she wasn't just aiming to win—she wanted to obliterate the whole crew from Quanxing and claim every last available point.
Kaito Kuroba, on his end, was at the point in the timeline where Shinichi Kudo had already turned into Conan, but Haibara Ai had yet to appear. He was considering rescuing Shiho Miyano to farm some major points.
As for Tokisaki Kurumi, she'd been relatively quiet lately. Su Xiaoqi, satisfied with her recent behavior, told her about the Date A Live anime and let her decide what to do after watching it.
And finally… Sakata Gintoki.
Yeah… Silver-san was still Silver-san.
He'd already forgotten about that night he swore to grind for points. He spent all his time in the chat flirting with every girl he could find, constantly tossing out comments only adults would understand.
"No more talking—shower and bed. I'm tired."
Su Xiaoqi glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, dressed in a black lace camisole, and instantly forgot all about the chat group. He bolted to the bathroom.
Trash talk in the group was one thing, but real-life intimacy with Zhu Zhuqing? Any man would know which to choose.
That afternoon, after a meal in Soto City, Su Xiaoqi and the others decided to stop by Shrek Academy. It had been three days, and if the others had survived, they should be back by now.
When the four arrived at the academy gates, they immediately heard the sound of weeping from within.
Su Xiaoqi glanced at the laughing and joking Ning Rongrong and Meng Yiran and said sternly, "You two better act serious when we go in. If it's time to cry, squeeze a few tears out. Got it?"
Meng Yiran obediently nodded. Since joining this little circle, she'd had her worldview flipped more than once. Right now, she looked up to Su Xiaoqi with almost blind admiration.
Ning Rongrong pouted. "What if I can't squeeze any out?"
"Then squeeze harder! Something's bound to come out!"
As they entered the academy grounds and reached the training field, Su Xiaoqi immediately recognized the man standing beside Flender.
The most hated, most infamous man in all of Douluo Dalu.
He had arrived.
And at that moment, that man was walking toward Su Xiaoqi—hands clasped behind his back, chest puffed out, striding proudly.
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