Chapter 68: Zhu Zhuqing's Resolve
The matter with Dai Mubai had finally come to an end.
Outside the Shrek Academy gates, Zu Zong and the others were bidding farewell to Zhu Zhuqing.
"Zhuqing, are you really planning to stay here?" Zu Zong asked with some concern.
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. "Xiao Zong, although I really want to be with you, I've thought it through. I can't stay by your side as a mere ornament forever. I need to grow stronger through my own efforts."
"I'm just worried—"
Just then, Flender suddenly appeared out of nowhere, laughing and cutting Zu Zong off. "Don't worry! I'm not so useless that I can't protect my own students. That brat Mubai may be trash, but he still listens to me."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded toward Zu Zong as well.
Zu Zong sighed. When it came to student safety, Flender's words held some weight. Since his little kitten wanted to stay and continue her training, he couldn't very well stop her.
Next, Zu Zong pulled a golden card from his pocket and handed it to Flender. "Dean Flender, there are ten thousand gold coins on this card. Make sure your academy's meals improve—I don't want to see Zhuqing looking pale and malnourished the next time I visit."
Flender's eyes lit up. "Absolutely! I'll notify the cafeteria first thing tomorrow."
Like a man parched in a drought receiving rain, Flender eagerly snatched the gold card, turning it left and right with glee. Only he knew how hard the past few years had been. At their worst, the academy nearly couldn't afford meals.
Zu Zong rolled his eyes. What a money-grubber. But he didn't say more. The extra money could be considered interest repaid along with the principal.
As they spoke, Zu Zong once again materialized a black wooden box from thin air and handed it to Zhu Zhuqing. From the corner of his eye, he glanced at Flender, who was still absorbed in his windfall, and activated his Sharingan to silently make eye contact with Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing was stunned at first, then instantly understood. Her heart warmed deeply. She accepted the black box from Zu Zong and leaned into his chest, whispering, "I'll miss you."
Zu Zong gently rubbed her head, wrapped one arm around her waist, and said softly, "I'll come visit you whenever I can."
"Mm." Zhu Zhuqing nodded, her cheek resting against Zu Zong's firm chest.
Zu Zong paused, thinking to himself: "Isn't this the moment when, in every romance, the girl cries and kisses the guy after he says something touching? Were my words not moving enough?"
Just as he pondered this, Flender's voice broke the mood. "Ahem. You two might want to tone it down. This is a public place. Besides, we'll be going to the Spirit Arena every day—at the latest, you'll see each other again tonight. No need to act like it's a life-and-death parting."
Hearing that, Zhu Zhuqing's face flushed pink, even her neck turned red. She quickly pushed Zu Zong away and dashed into the academy, clutching the black box.
Zu Zong chuckled awkwardly and cupped his hands. "Then I'll leave Zhuqing in your care, Dean Flender."
"Don't worry," Flender replied with a nod.
Zu Zong had just turned to leave when Flender called out again, "Hey, are you really not going to join my Shrek Academy?"
Zu Zong waved his hand to respond without turning back.
Once Zu Zong, Xiao Wu, and Ye Lingling had left the village where Shrek Academy was located—
Xiao Wu, who had been holding back this whole time, finally erupted. She stopped in her tracks, squatted down, and said with a tone full of grievance, "I'm tired. I don't want to walk anymore."
Her little face was puffed up red, cheeks swollen with frustration. Her large watery eyes stared straight at Zu Zong, clearly ready to cry if things didn't go her way.
Zu Zong gave a helpless smile. He had indeed neglected her today while dealing with his kitten's matters. He immediately half-squatted and extended his arm behind him, motioning for her to climb on. Normally, when Xiao Wu got upset, he just had to carry her and treat her to a good meal, and she'd cheer up immediately.
But this time, to Zu Zong's surprise, the usual method didn't work.
He walked up to Xiao Wu, gently helped her up, and asked softly, "What's wrong, Xiao Wu?"
"What did you just give Zhuqing?" Xiao Wu pouted in dissatisfaction, clearly one step away from saying, "I want one too."
Zu Zong froze—so the bunny was jealous, huh?
What he had given Zhu Zhuqing was a black wooden box containing a Type 54 pistol and several fully loaded magazines, which he had swiped a few days ago. For the sake of her personal safety, he wanted her to have that extra layer of protection. As for how to use it, Zu Zong had already taught her through the Sharingan.
Thinking of this, Zu Zong pulled out another Type 54 pistol.
"This is it. I call it a handgun. It's for self-defense."
As he spoke, Zu Zong demonstrated how to use it in front of Xiao Wu and Ye Lingling.
Bang!
A tree in the distance was instantly pierced through.
"Wow! Amazing! That's amazing!" Xiao Wu's big, watery eyes lit up with excitement.
Still a bit uneasy about handing it to her directly, Zu Zong reminded her, "This thing might not be very useful against large soul beasts, but against regular soul masters, it's deadly accurate. Be careful when using it. And most importantly—never point it at our own people, got it?"
"Got it! Heehee!" Xiao Wu snatched the pistol from him, made a silly face, and excitedly started playing with it.
Zu Zong looked over at Ye Lingling. It wouldn't be right to favor one over the other—especially after making her come all this way. Unfortunately, he only had two pistols. Helplessly, he pulled out a Thompson submachine gun and handed it to Ye Lingling. As for the sniper rifle, he planned to keep that one for himself or maybe gift it later.
Although Ye Lingling looked delicate and gentle, she was a soul master. Her physical strength far exceeded that of ordinary people. She easily caught the submachine gun Zu Zong handed her and asked curiously, "What is this?"
Zu Zong replied, "You can think of it as an upgraded version of what Xiao Wu has. Just call it a submachine gun. It should help make up for your lack of offensive power. With this, and the physical techniques I taught you, I don't think even an average Soul Ancestor can hurt you."
"Thank you." Ye Lingling didn't refuse—just like when Zu Zong had taught her martial arts before. Since they were companions, there was no need to keep everything so strictly divided.
Xiao Wu exclaimed, "Wow! Xiao Zong, you actually had a big one too. Lingling, quick—let's go try it in the woods!"
Watching Xiao Wu return to her lively, playful self, Zu Zong smiled. Such a simple bunny—did ten thousand years really bring no increase in intelligence?
Nearing nightfall—Soto City, Great Spirit Arena.
Inside the Heaven Dou Imperial Battle Team's private room, Zu Zong, Xiao Wu, and the others sat on the sofa.
"What? You all went to Shrek Academy today?" Qin Ming shouted in surprise.
Zu Zong's mouth twitched. He rolled his eyes at Xiao Wu. Of course—it was her big mouth that spilled everything. According to the original story, the Heaven Dou Battle Team and Shrek weren't supposed to meet for at least another three months. Zu Zong hadn't planned to bring the timeline forward. After all, if they met too soon, he wouldn't get the satisfaction of beating down Shrek in front of Qin Ming.
Fortunately, everything that needed to be done was already taken care of. Dai Mubai had become a eunuch, and his little kitten had accidentally but officially become his first true girlfriend.
As for Tang San? Honestly, he was almost completely "deconstructed" by Zu Zong by now—no Blue Silver Emperor, his first soul ring destroyed, even his Eight Spider Lances gone. In a word—tragic.
Zu Zong said, "Yeah, we went to Shrek today."
He then briefly recounted what happened there. Naturally, he left out the part where he set Dai Mubai up. He just said Dai Mubai was injured and that his girlfriend, Zhu Zhuqing, had followed Dean Flender's request and asked Ye Lingling to come treat him.
If Dai Mubai ever found out that Flender could've simply asked Qin Ming to summon Ye Lingling, he'd probably die from anger. Not that it mattered now—unless someone could regenerate an entire body part, that thing was gone for good.
Thinking of this, Zu Zong recalled that in the original story, Tang Hao's severed arm had been reattached by Tang San using the Blue Silver Emperor's right leg bone and its "Wildfire Burns On, Spring Wind Revives" skill, plus the return of Tang Hao's original spirit bone. But who knew if there was a spirit bone capable of reattaching that particular "thing"?
Ha… ha ha.
[End of Chapter]
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