Gurgle, gurgle…
Su Wen vaguely felt his body sinking into a lake, completely powerless, as if paralyzed. He struggled desperately—if he didn't, it really felt like he was going to die.
"Senior Sister, look! There's someone there!"
The voice sounded muffled, as if coming from above the water's surface.
"Ugh…"
Su Wen tried to struggle, flailing his body to let the people above know he was still alive and could be rescued. But it didn't seem to work…
All he could do was hope those people would be kind enough not to let him die right after transmigrating.
"No soul power detected, just a child."
"Stop talking, pull him out! He's about to drown."
"..."
Suddenly, Su Wen felt alive again.
He had been sinking toward the endless depths, but a strong force suddenly grabbed his arm and yanked him out.
Huff, huff…
He gasped for air, as if returning to the world. The sounds of insects, rustling leaves, and water splashing on rocks all came back in an instant.
"It's a little boy, and he's actually kind of cute."
The girl who pulled Su Wen out of the stream grinned, sitting on a nearby stone. She watched him cough up water, her beautiful eyes full of curiosity.
"I've had enough to drink… Ugh… So unlucky… Just transmigrated and fell straight into the Star Dou Forest… Ugh…"
After vomiting for a while, Su Wen finally regained his senses.
He looked at his savior.
He saw a striking figure in red—the girl looked about thirteen or fourteen, but her figure was more mature than her age. She wore a red-and-white outfit that resembled a school uniform, which hugged her shapely body. Her long fiery red hair draped over her shoulders, and her beautiful face held a hint of mischief.
Wait, she wasn't alone!
There were a dozen or so other teenagers, around sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed similarly. It looked just like—a group of students from some advanced academy on the Douluo Continent, led by their teachers for some training.
Su Wen secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
At least he was saved.
Just half a month ago, he'd accidentally transmigrated to this world. He had big dreams of becoming a legend here, trampling on Tang San and challenging Shrek, but fate dealt him a harsh hand—he woke up in the body of a six-year-old, right in the Star Dou Forest.
Using the half-baked survival skills he'd learned from watching survival videos in his previous life, he barely survived by eating bugs and grass, drinking from streams, and avoiding colorful mushrooms.
Maybe he was lucky, hiding in the dense jungle. He didn't become food for soul beasts.
But not long ago, because he was so young, he slipped while fetching water and fell into the stream, getting swept into a pool at the end.
Thankfully, he met these people.
Otherwise, he'd have become the first transmigrator to drown.
"Big sis…"
Suppressing his embarrassment, Su Wen forced a smile.
Trying his best to act cute.
His only lifeline now was this group, and the red-haired girl seemed the kindest.
"He's pretty adorable, haha…" The red-haired girl grinned and pinched Su Wen's cheek.
She turned to the other side. "Senior Sister, why don't we bring him along? With Elder Xuan secretly protecting us, what danger could there be?"
Su Wen followed her gaze and saw the tallest, most mature-looking member of the group, about twenty years old. Her temperament set her apart—unlike the fiery red-haired girl, she had a gentle and elegant aura.
"So beautiful…" Even Su Wen was stunned.
"If fate has brought us together, let's take him with us." The woman saw Su Wen had recovered and, after a moment's hesitation, nodded. "It's almost dusk. Zhang Yi, build some cabins for the night. We'll continue toward the core area of Star Dou Forest tomorrow."
"Yay!"
The red-haired girl jumped up.
"Kid, you'll sleep with me tonight. With big sis here, no one will bully you!"
"Oh, call me Sister Xiaotao…"
Ma Xiaotao made a funny face, her tone playful.
"Sister Xiaotao…"
Su Wen swallowed, speaking calmly.
From the mention of Elder Xuan, he could roughly guess which academy this elite team was from—no doubt, the famous Shrek, number one on the continent for ten thousand years.
Honestly, he'd planned to head for the Sun Moon Empire.
He never expected to be saved by Shrek…
Oh well, fate is fate.
Su Wen quickly adjusted his mindset. Whoever gives you bread or a punch, you remember it clearly. Since he owed such a big favor, he'd just have to repay it with all he had…
But…
Su Wen's expression twitched.
He wasn't really in a position to say that, since this new body hadn't even awakened its martial soul yet. He didn't know what martial soul or talent he had. Shrek might not even accept him.
…
Night.
The campfire's crimson tongues licked at damp branches, occasionally crackling and sending sparks flying.
Su Wen's face flickered in the firelight.
He felt conflicted about finally finding a big thigh to rely on. Judging by age, Ma Xiaotao was about thirteen or fourteen, Zhang Lexuan twenty-one or twenty-two, which meant there were still six or seven years until the original storyline began.
But that wasn't the point.
The real issue: Elder Xuan, Zhang Lexuan at Soul Sage peak, Star Dou Forest, and a few other keywords together meant… what?
Right! A hundred-thousand-year soul beast, Elder Xuan missing, disaster was looming.
Shrek Academy's most catastrophic mission ever—barely five people survived.
No wonder Ma Xiaotao called her "Senior Sister," not "Head Senior Sister"—at this time, Zhang Lexuan hadn't been promoted yet.
"Here, kid…"
Just as he was lost in thought, a stick with roasted fish appeared in front of him, the rich aroma making his mouth water.
You have no idea what I've been through these past two weeks!
Wilderness survival had lowered his standards—anything edible would do.
Now, faced with a delicious, fragrant roasted fish, he was almost possessed.
Gulp.
He swallowed.
"Eat up…" Ma Xiaotao smiled, stuffing the fish in his mouth.
For a six-year-old, the fish was a bit hot, but Su Wen couldn't care less. Starving, he wolfed it down.
The delicious meat and tenderness made him forget everything else.
Ma Xiaotao's beautiful eyes flashed with sympathy.
She didn't know his background, but for someone his age to be in Star Dou Forest, dressed in rags, it couldn't be good…
PS: Shrek's route wouldn't be whitewashed in this story; all the plot holes would be ruthlessly exposed—
And it's about changing Shrek, not just fitting in.
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