On the Shrek Academy side, when Zhao Wuji and the others had recovered from their injuries and were preparing to follow in the direction the Titan Giant Ape had gone, Zhu Zhuqing was missing again.
After asking Ning Rongrong, Zhao Wuji learned that Zhu Zhuqing, worried about Su Xiaoqi's safety, had gone ahead alone.
At this, Zhao Wuji said nothing more—his heart was already completely numb.
With the mindset of "alive, I want to see the person; dead, I want to see the corpse," Zhao Wuji led the remaining Shrek students to give chase.
On the road, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar all remained silent, while Ning Rongrong kept in mind every word Zhu Zhuqing had said to her before leaving.
Just as Ning Rongrong was wondering when this Davis would appear and what he looked like, Zhao Wuji suddenly stopped in his tracks, summoned his martial soul, and stared ahead. "Who's there? Come out."
In an instant, all the Shrek students present became alert; Oscar even moved closer to Ning Rongrong.
Zhao Wuji took two steps forward and growled, "If you don't come out, don't blame me for being rude."
"I was wondering who it might be—turns out it's my useless little brother."
With a mocking voice, a man who bore some resemblance to Dai Mubai appeared before them.
"It's you." Dai Mubai's pupils contracted sharply, his body involuntarily trembling. He gritted his teeth and shouted, "Davis."
"Davis?"
The others reacted differently upon hearing the name. Ma Hongjun and Oscar looked baffled—they didn't know him at all.
Zhao Wuji's face turned heavy. Since Dai Mubai's first day at Shrek, he had already known what this name meant.
As for Ning Rongrong, her expression grew strange—Zhu Zhuqing's words before leaving once again came to mind:
> "Rongrong, when you see someone claiming to be Davis, don't ask questions—just cooperate with whatever he does."
Davis looked at Dai Mubai and smiled. "My dear brother, after all this time, is that how you greet your elder brother?"
"I have no brother like you!" Dai Mubai roared, his eyes scanning Davis's surroundings. "Why are you here? Where are the others? Tell them to come out."
Davis sneered. "I didn't expect you to ask such a ridiculous question. Seems you haven't improved at all during your time away."
At this moment, Zhao Wuji whispered, "Mubai, I've probed the surroundings with my soul power and found no other soul power fluctuations. Either there's someone stronger than me nearby, or they've also been scattered by the Titan Giant Ape earlier."
"Either way, don't act rashly. I'll talk to him first."
Dai Mubai nodded. "Fine. If things can't be settled peacefully, Teacher Zhao, take the others and leave—I'll stay and fight him."
"You're a Shrek Academy student—how could I let you die alone?" Zhao Wuji smiled reassuringly, though in his heart he prayed the other side would let them go. Otherwise, this trip to the Star Dou Forest might end in complete ruin for Shrek.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, whatever grievances you and Mubai may have, now is not the time to fight. The Titan Giant Ape just appeared here—its strength you surely know. Why don't we leave the forest first, and discuss other matters after?"
Zhao Wuji lowered himself as much as possible—given the man's status, he couldn't afford to provoke him. Neither could Shrek Academy. And he certainly couldn't gamble with his students' lives.
Su Xiaoqi sneered inwardly. If not for the time constraint, he would have enjoyed playing with these people longer. But Zhu Zhuqing had just sent word—the battle on Tang San's side was over, the Titan Giant Ape had taken Xiao Wu away, and she was currently following Tang San in secret.
The Shrek group could never guess that the "Davis" before them was actually Su Xiaoqi in disguise—an imitation so lifelike it was flawless.
As the saying goes: *When Kid makes a move, it's bound to be a masterpiece.*
All of Su Xiaoqi's clothing and props had been prepared by Kuroba Kaito to match Davis's appearance. The disguise and voice-changing techniques were bought from Kaito with points.
Kaito had also taught him the key points to keep in mind when portraying someone. Combined with the excuse Su Xiaoqi had given Zhu Zhuqing a few days earlier when requesting leave, there was simply no reason for Shrek to suspect him.
Su Xiaoqi looked at Zhao Wuji with a puzzled expression. "And you are?"
"I am Zhao Wuji—just a nameless nobody, unworthy before Your Highness," Zhao Wuji replied humbly.
"Oh." Su Xiaoqi nodded with feigned indifference, a look of disdain on his face. "Never heard of you. Still, what you just said makes some sense."
"How about this—today I have pressing matters. Just hand over this little beauty to me, and I'll take my leave."
"Don't even think about it!" Oscar roared, glaring at Davis. "I'll never hand Rongrong over to you."
Su Xiaoqi ignored Oscar's outburst, leering at Ning Rongrong. "Little lady, you're quite the beauty. Interested in coming back to the Star Luo Empire with me to be my Crown Princess?"
Ma Hongjun muttered inwardly, "Sure enough, he's Dai boss's real brother—this lecherous look is exactly the same."
Ning Rongrong realized at once—this was a signal to her. She had to cooperate.
But just as she was thinking how to play along without arousing suspicion, Zhao Wuji spoke. "Your Highness, this young lady's identity is not simple—I cannot hand her to you."
Su Xiaoqi frowned, showing displeasure. "Zhao Wuji, what do you mean? Do you all want to die here?"
Dai Mubai shouted, "Davis, don't think I'm afraid of you! If you have the guts, kill me here today!"
Though he didn't get along with Ning Rongrong, in front of so many people he had to take a stand. Otherwise, even if he survived, he'd have no place in the Academy.
"Enough!" Ning Rongrong shouted. She turned to Zhao Wuji. "Teacher Zhao, I admit I used to be prejudiced against the Academy. But seeing how you faced the Titan Giant Ape without fear of death, I realized I was wrong. So this time, let me be the one to save you all."
"When you return, tell my father what happened today—he will send someone to rescue me."
Without hesitation, Ning Rongrong walked toward "Davis."
Oscar wanted to stop her, but Zhao Wuji blocked him. "Rongrong will be fine. Davis wouldn't dare lay a finger on the princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. We'll do as she says—don't waste her good intentions."
Oscar shouted after her, "Rongrong, I'll come save you! Wait for me!"
"Little lady, not bad," Su Xiaoqi smiled at her, then looked at Dai Mubai and sneered. "My dear brother, we'll meet again."
Without waiting for a reaction, Su Xiaoqi pulled Ning Rongrong into the forest, leading her to a spot where he had previously set up a "secret weapon."
"Rongrong, you did well just now. As a reward—want to play with a cannon?"
"Su… Su Xiaoqi?" Ning Rongrong was stunned. How had his voice suddenly changed to Su Xiaoqi's?
Smiling, Su Xiaoqi tore off the human-skin mask from his face, revealing his true appearance, and quickly explained the cannon's function.
When Ning Rongrong learned that this monster's power was hundreds of times greater than her pistol, she was instantly excited. She circled the cannon twice, then asked with a strange look, "Su Xiaoqi, why does this cannon look so weird? Does it have another name?"
Ignoring the first question, Su Xiaoqi grinned. "Its full name is the Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon."