The snake granny opposite changed expression when she heard the name "Zhao Wou-ki." She had heard of the deeds of the "Immovable King" before—never expected to meet him here. No wonder that young man's attitude was so arrogant.
"Su Xiaoqi, didn't expect you to be so loyal. I'll remember today's favor."
Oscar was almost moved to tears. His relationship with Su Xiaoqi wasn't bad, but it wasn't exactly close either. Yet now the other party was standing up for him over a spirit ring.
"Ah, it's nothing," Su Xiaoqi waved his hand casually, then looked to Zhao Wou-ki. "Teacher Zhao, I've already thrown out the harsh words. Whether Oscar gets this spirit ring now is up to you."
Zhao Wou-ki nodded, seven spirit rings rising under his feet. He stepped forward two paces. "I am Zhao Wou-ki. May I ask what the two of you intend now?"
"Spirit Sage…" Snake Granny and Meng Yiran were both startled. Feeling the situation was getting more troublesome, the snake granny's tone softened.
"What a coward," Su Xiaoqi thought with disdain, watching Zhao Wou-ki shrink back the moment he heard the other side's title. He couldn't help saying:
"What dragon grandpa, snake granny—I've never even heard of you. Teacher Zhao, if I remember correctly, our Shrek Academy has a saying: 'Those who don't dare stir up trouble are mediocre.'
"If she's not convinced, just fight her until she is."
Just as Zhao Wou-ki was about to explain, Snake Granny on the opposite side said coldly: "Well, well—Shrek Academy, and 'those who don't dare stir up trouble are mediocre.'
"I, Chao Tianxiang, will remember this debt today."
She looked deeply at Su Xiaoqi. "Boy, I'll remember you as well."
Right now she only regretted that her old partner wasn't here; otherwise she'd teach these people a lesson—especially the most arrogant, Su Xiaoqi.
Su Xiaoqi stepped back "in fear" and said, "No, no—if you remember me, I'm afraid I'll have nightmares at night."
At this point Meng Yiran spoke up: "Brat, dare you tell me your name?"
Su Xiaoqi smiled. "Why? So you can remember me too? Forget it. I'm not interested in chūnibyō girls like you."
"You—!"
Meng Yiran's chest rose and fell in anger. She didn't know what "chūnibyō girl" meant, but from his mouth it was definitely not good.
"Yiran, let's go. We'll find your grandfather first," Snake Granny comforted. She turned her gaze back to Su Xiaoqi: "Boy, we'll meet again."
With that, Snake Granny wasted no time. She took her granddaughter into the air and vanished into the forest.
Su Xiaoqi turned to Oscar with a grin: "Why are you still standing there? Hurry and absorb your spirit ring."
To minimize any accidents, Oscar's spirit ring was a must—without his sausage spirit ability, when the Titan Giant Ape appeared, it was uncertain whether Tang San would even encounter the Human-Faced Demon Spider that drops the external spirit bone.
"Oh, right!" Oscar came back to his senses, overjoyed. After thanking Su Xiaoqi again, he took his dagger, finished off the Phoenix-Tail Crest Serpent, and began absorbing its ring.
"Kid, you—" Zhao Wou-ki walked over to Su Xiaoqi, looking conflicted. While the boy had done this for Oscar's ring, he had also just brought Shrek Academy a big problem.
Su Xiaoqi smiled. "Teacher Zhao, why the long face? Isn't Oscar getting his ring a good thing?"
Zhao Wou-ki was silent for a while, then sighed heavily. "Forget it. Once Oscar finishes, we leave immediately."
"Zhu Zhuqing, think now about what kind of spirit beast you need for your third ring. We have to speed things up."
Today's incident had to be reported to Flender as soon as possible; what decision would be made was no longer for him, the vice-dean, to decide.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly, pretending to think—she couldn't reveal that she had already absorbed her third ring, so she hadn't used any spirit power yet.
Half an hour later, Oscar successfully absorbed his third ring and opened his eyes, excitement shining in them.
To thank Su Xiaoqi for his help, Oscar explained his new third ability, then produced a mushroom sausage and handed it to Su Xiaoqi. "Can you give the others a demonstration?"
"Sure." Su Xiaoqi agreed; he wanted to test the skill himself.
After flying for a minute, Su Xiaoqi found that the skill was indeed decent for spirit masters who couldn't fly—but to him, it was basically useless.
Zhao Wou-ki praised Oscar's spirit ability, then said to the group: "Alright, let's get moving. Next we find the beast Zhu Zhuqing needs."
Because of Su Xiaoqi's earlier interference, Tang San had not fought Meng Yiran and thus had not broken through to level 30 like in the original story.
Over the next two days, they kept searching for a spirit beast that matched Zhu Zhuqing's criteria. But her requirements for its age were so strict that they never found a suitable one.
"If nothing unexpected happens, it should be tonight."
As night fell again, Su Xiaoqi, in the same tent as Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, became tense. He had already found a chance to secretly remove his weighted gear and "send it" to Zhu Zhuqing through the red-packet method.
"Everyone, out of the tent! Quickly!"
At that moment, Zhao Wou-ki's deep voice came from outside.
"It's here," Su Xiaoqi's eyes lit up. He told Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong: "Zhuqing, act according to the situation later.
"Rongrong, stick close to Zhuqing. Do whatever she tells you."
Su Xiaoqi had prepared several plans for this moment, considering every possible scenario. Zhu Zhuqing only needed to follow his lead.
If something truly unexpected happened, they'd adjust on the fly and he'd inform Zhu Zhuqing through the chat group.
When the three of them came out, the Titan Giant Ape's massive body appeared before everyone.
Su Xiaoqi looked at the towering figure, his body trembling slightly with excitement. The Saiyan love for battle made him itch to fight it.
But to make sure Dai Mubai died smoothly this time, Su Xiaoqi had to suppress his urge.
Everything was going smoothly: Zhao Wou-ki's selflessness, Dai Mubai and Tang San's loyalty—it almost made Su Xiaoqi "so touched" that he wanted to reveal Xiao Wu's true identity right there.
He was curious: what expressions would the Shrek group have if they learned who Xiao Wu really was, and that this trip to the Star Dou Forest wasn't supposed to involve the Titan Giant Ape at all?
But accidents happen—in this case, after the Titan Giant Ape "grabbed" Xiao Wu and left, it unexpectedly turned back not long after, reappearing before the group.