When the girl in the white dress spoke, the blond youth who had just displayed three Spirit Rings stared at her intently, his gaze like a wolf sizing up prey.
Zhu Zhuqing followed the line of students—she was next in line for her test.
But at that moment, the blond boy turned greedy eyes toward her. Others followed his gaze, glancing curiously.
The black-haired boy looked her over appraisingly—
And was promptly pinched hard by the scorpion-braided girl beside him.
Zhu Zhuqing's face turned cold.
She had already formed a very bad impression of this academy—not just the place itself, but its students too.
The testing proceeded as usual. Through conversation, Zhu Zhuqing learned the identities of the others: the black‑haired boy was Tang San; the scorpion‑braid girl was Xiao Wu and tand the girl who had caught the teacher's attention was named Ning Rongrong.
As for that blond-haired youth—his name was Dai Mubai.
Zhu Zhuqing's brows tightened slightly.
She now knew who this Dai Mubai was.
"I wonder where Li Zhexian is now?"
"Has he found good wine yet? He must be drinking freely and indulgently by now."
Dai Mubai's presence didn't stir even the slightest ripple in her heart. Her thoughts had long since drifted to that carefree, unruly youth in white.
The group continued toward the next assessment point.
Just then, a fragrant breeze swept by. The girl in the white dress came over, extended her hand, and said with a smile:
"Hello, you're Zhu Zhuqing, right? I'm Ning Rongrong—pleased to meet you."
Zhu Zhuqing shook hands with her, replying coolly:
"Hello."
Ning Rongrong looked slightly embarrassed but kept smiling, seeking conversation.
Up ahead, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Dai Mubai were talking. Tang San teased:
"What were you staring at earlier?"
"Trying to charm another girl again?"
Dai Mubai rubbed his chin, his evil eyes flashing faintly.
"I just feel…"
"That Zhu Zhuqing gives off a familiar aura."
Xiao Wu clicked her tongue:
"What aura? Just say you're lusting after her. Stop trying to make it sound noble!"
Dai Mubai looked a bit embarrassed, but still said confidently,
"In any case, I've taken a liking to that Zhu Zhuqing. No matter what, I'm going to make her mine!"
They were approaching the next test point.
At that moment—
A soft, drawling voice rang out.
"Sausages for sale! Sausages for sale!"
"Don't miss out as you pass by—Oscar's signature sausages, only five copper coins apiece!"
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong looked over in confusion and saw a burly man with a full beard and peach blossom eyes hawking sausages enthusiastically.
Up ahead, Tang San was about to buy one for Xiao Wu.
Ning Rongrong turned to Zhu Zhuqing and asked,
"Zhuqing, you want some?"
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head:
"No, thanks."
"Then I won't either."
Just as Tang San was about to make the purchase—
Dai Mubai quickly stepped in to stop him, shouting at the bearded man,
"Oscar, you're really embarrassing the academy!"
"I've warned you more than once—don't sell sausages within the academy grounds!"
Everyone looked puzzled.
Dai Mubai explained further,
"Don't be fooled by his appearance."
"Hmph. His name is Oscar, fourteen years old, and he's also a student of Shrek Academy."
"And the reason I don't want you eating his sausages…"
"Oscar, show them how you make one."
Oscar looked at the pretty girls in front of him, sighed helplessly, raised his right hand, and with a lewd, shy tone, said:
"I, your father, have a big sausage!"
——
——
Dai Mubai's expression was full of disdain.
Tang San's face turned angry.
That sausage was supposed to be for Xiao Wu! How could something so suggestive be said aloud?
Xiao Wu looked confused.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong were both baffled.
Finally—
Tang San leaned in and quietly explained.
Xiao Wu's pretty face turned bright red.
Ning Rongrong frowned at Oscar.
Raised with the decorum of a noble, she could hardly imagine a Spirit Master this vulgar existing in the world.
"Disgusting."
Zhu Zhuqing went a step further and cursed outright.
So this is the so-called Shrek Academy that only accepts monsters?
No doubt about it—
They really are monsters.
Each one more lewd and obscene than the last!
Zhu Zhuqing found herself missing Li Zhexian even more.
She even considered leaving Shrek Academy behind and roaming the continent with him.
But…
That was a path suited for Li Zhexian. She couldn't interfere.
She had to become strong through her own efforts—only then, when they met again in the future, could she stand proudly before him.
Noticing Zhu Zhuqing spacing out, Ning Rongrong asked curiously:
"Zhuqing, what are you thinking about?"
Zhu Zhuqing replied frankly:
"I was thinking about a friend of mine."
"Oh?"
Ning Rongrong leaned closer to Zhu Zhuqing's delicate face, teasing,
"Is it a he or a sh—"
Before she could finish,
Zhu Zhuqing answered straightforwardly:
"A man."
"Ohhh~~~~"
Ning Rongrong raised a dainty brow, a mischievous, ambiguous smile on her face.
But then—
Suddenly, a lonely, proud figure in white flashed across her mind.
Ning Rongrong's heart skipped a beat, flustered.
"Why did I think of him?"
"He and I… already live in two different worlds!"
She quickly dismissed the chaotic thoughts in her mind and turned back to Zhu Zhuqing with a smile:
"Zhuqing, I'm curious. What kind of exceptional young man could earn your thoughts like this?"
"You'll have to let me meet him someday."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded.
"Mm."
Meanwhile, in Heaven Dou City—
Shanxiang Pavilion.
Li Zhexian couldn't wait. He picked up his wine gourd and gulped down a hearty mouthful.
He smacked his lips and frowned slightly.
Examined honestly—this was disappointment.
Though strong, the wine lacked fragrance; it was too murky.
Not even close to matching the wine from Zhu Zhuqing.
He realized later—after he parted ways with her—
That the wine she'd offered had been an heirloom Daughter‑Red from her family, centuries old.
She drank it ahead of time to express her rejection of a political marriage.
Sigh…
Li Zhexian let out a long sigh.
The wine tasted bad—so even the food lost its flavor.
"Waiter!"
The waiter hurried over like sprung springs.
"You called, young master?"
Li Zhexian asked:
"Is there better wine in Heaven Dou City than what you serve here?"
The waiter's face froze with hesitation.
How could he dare say his own tavern's wine was inferior?
If it were anyone else—even a noble—he might have rolled his eyes in private.
But this young master had given him a gold spirit coin!
After checking that no one was paying attention,
He leaned in, wiping the tablecloth, speaking quietly:
"To be honest, sir—there is better wine than ours in Heaven Dou City, but those are palace‑only brews."
"I've heard the imperial family's finest wine is called Yaoguang Brew."
"Legend says its ingredients are starlight fallen to earth, mingled with dewdrops at the tips of plants—thus its name, 'Yaoguang'."
"Some storyteller even said: 'Yaoguang is not wine, but a poem spilled from the night sky.'"
As Li Zhexian left Shanxiang Pavilion, he muttered, "Yaoguang Brew… Yaoguang Brew."
For a wine fanatic like him—
Knowing such a mysterious, divine brew existed…and not being able to taste it—
Was almost more painful than dying.
"Something only the royal family has."
"The waiter said even royal households produce only three small jars per year, and only serve them at each year's founding ceremony."
"Well, I'll just have to take it slow. Heaven Dou City is beautiful—staying here for a while won't be wasted."
—
Afterward,
Li Zhexian rented a small courtyard.
As he unpacked, the phrase "Yaoguang is not wine, but a poem spilled from the night sky" repeated in his mind.
He imagined starlight trickling under the night sky, flowing like water—
And his Qinglian Sword soaking in that starlight.
Li Zhexian stood there in a daze.
The imprint of the Qinglian Sword on his forehead flickered uncertainly.
"The first move of my self-created swordsmanship..."
"I think I have an idea now."