"Teacher, why didn't you accept that Zhu Zhuqing? Is it because having me is enough?"
The sunset's afterglow illuminated the peach trees. As usual, Ning Rongrong had trained for the entire day and was now preparing for her evening medicinal bath. Dressed in a very light, pink gauze robe, she asked Su Ran with a cute expression.
Su Ran remained silent, concentrating on planting a peach tree.
Ever since she had seen his true face, everything Su Ran did—even if he was just sitting there resting without doing anything at all—seemed like a beautiful, living painting to Ning Rongrong. She took his hand and wheedled, "It must be."
"Teacher Su Ran~ I want to be your most beloved disciple forever, okay~"
Soto City.
In a tavern on a small street.
Dai Mubai was drinking himself into a stupor. Ma Hongjun, Tang San, and the others were with him.
"Fatty, tell me, haven't I been good enough to her?" he slurred. "Ever since she came to Shrek, I've cut off most of my dalliances outside."
"Before, I used to come and go from the academy as I pleased, changing women every day without repeating, without having to hide it. Who would say anything?"
"But now? I have to consider her feelings. I never bring women near the academy. I'm on edge every day, and I have to think twice before even going out to have some fun, just in case I make her angry. Tell me, when have I ever been this repressed?"
"And the result is she wants to join Taoyuan Academy. Tell me, is there anyone else like her in this world?"
Ma Hongjun scratched his head. "Boss Dai, if you put it that way, then you must really be in love with Zhu Zhuqing."
"No way... That counts as true love? He's clearly a scumbag," Xiao Wu muttered under her breath.
Tang San shot Xiao Wu a look, signaling for her to stop talking. Xiao Wu stuck out her tongue and pouted. But it's true!
"Boss Dai, in my opinion, since she's your fiancée, you'll be family in the future. It's best to talk things out. Zhuqing must have feelings for you too, otherwise, she wouldn't have come all the way to Shrek to find you," Tang San said, trying to act as a peacemaker.
Dai Mubai waved his hand dismissively. "Little San, you don't understand. That's not her having feelings for me. It was just an act of desperation. Sigh, let's not talk about it."
"If you ask me, Boss Dai, since you like Zhu Zhuqing, shouldn't your old self have just taken her already?" The master of ideas, Ma Hongjun, appeared, and his words made Dai Mubai's head spin. "Women are all like that. They act all high and mighty before bed, but in bed, they're wilder than anyone, moaning louder than anyone. Anyway, Boss Dai, you said it yourself, she's your fiancée. You're going to have her sooner or later, right?"
He was already drunk, and his blood was running hot. "Fatty, you're right! Why the hell should I suppress myself? She's my fiancée, what am I afraid of? She should listen to me!"
"I'm going to find her right now!"
Dai Mubai picked up a jug of wine, drained it in one go, and, his face flushed, strode quickly back toward the academies.
"Fatty, what kind of terrible idea was that?" Tang San asked, his eyes narrowed.
"Yeah, you boys are so disgusting!" Xiao Wu added, glaring fiercely at Ma Hongjun.
Ma Hongjun shrugged. "I'm just telling it like it is. He can't even touch his own fiancée? Is he going to be sent to jail for it?"
"Zhu Zhuqing, get your ass out here!"
At the entrance to Taoyuan Academy, a half-drunk Dai Mubai stood with a wine jug in one hand, pointing at the academy and shouting. The last shred of his reason told him he couldn't force his way in. Otherwise, he'd end up like Teacher Zhao Wuji, riddled with holes by that Su Ran's peach branches.
Wang Sheng emerged from the guard post, frowning at Dai Mubai. "She already left Taoyuan Academy this morning."
"Also, please don't shout at the entrance of our academy, or I won't be polite," Wang Sheng said, assuming the starting stance of his Tiger Form Fist and staring down Dai Mubai.
Dai Mubai swallowed hard. "So she's not here, so what? Why are you being so aggressive? I'll just go look for her somewhere else."
On a small mountain peak behind Shrek Academy.
After leaving Taoyuan Academy, Zhu Zhuqing had been sitting on the peak, unmindful of the wind and sun, simply staring at the horizon in deep thought.
She was trying to figure out why Su Ran had refused her. He had even accepted the weakest of support-types, so why wouldn't he accept her? What did Teacher Su Ran mean when he said he didn't teach people with flawed vision and thinking? She replayed her conversation with him in her mind over and over, trying to find where she had gone wrong. But after thinking for an entire day, she still didn't know what her mistake was.
Just then, the sound of a wine jug shattering came from behind her.
Dai Mubai wiped the alcohol from the corner of his mouth. "So you were hiding here all alone."
"Why are you here? Were you out messing around again?" Zhu Zhuqing asked coldly, catching the scent of alcohol in the air and eyeing him warily.
"Messing around? I was just doing what all men love to do. But you, weren't you going to join Taoyuan Academy? Why did you come back? What, did that Su Ran not want you? Did he look down on you?" he sneered. "It seems that as my fiancée, I'm the only one left to take you in."
"Show some respect, you coward." Hearing Dai Mubai's insolent words, Zhu Zhuqing's face grew even colder.
"Coward? I'm your fiancé! You were destined to be my woman from the day you were born! What right do you have to look down on me?" he roared. "I've already left the Star Luo imperial family, and I still have to put up with your crap?"
"Damn it, Fatty was right! I need to be tough, conquer you first, and then see if you still dare to call me a coward."
Dai Mubai's dual-pupiled eyes fixed on Zhu Zhuqing, a fiery lust burning within them.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"You dare!"
"You're my fiancée, what wouldn't I dare? You'll be mine sooner or later."
"Shameless! If you come any closer, don't blame me for being impolite."
[Martial Soul Possession: Hell Civet]
Zhu Zhuqing's Martial Soul possessed her. A pair of cat ears sprouted from the top of her head, and a cat's tail swished behind her. But this only made Dai Mubai even more excited.
[Martial Soul Possession: White Tiger Possession!]
Watching Dai Mubai advance on her, step by step, his demeanor utterly domineering and vile, Zhu Zhuqing's mind jolted. In that instant, it was as if she understood everything.
A few minutes later.
From the mountain peak, the figure of a young woman in a tight black dress leaped down.
Although the peak was only a few hundred meters high, for a Spirit Grandmaster, even if the fall wasn't fatal, it could easily result in serious injury. Fortunately, she was an agility-type Spirit Master. With her nimble movements, she used the scattered trees and ledges on the cliff face to land safely, albeit with some risk.
After landing, Zhu Zhuqing didn't run to the teachers at Shrek Academy to complain. Instead, she bolted straight for Taoyuan Academy.
"Student Wang Sheng, please trouble yourself to call Teacher Su Ran for me," she called out to the disciple, Wang Sheng. "I know the answer now!"
Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing was covered in injuries and extremely agitated, Wang Sheng, though confused about what had happened at Shrek, went to ring the peach blossom bell.
Just at that moment, Dai Mubai also came chasing after her.
(End of Chapter)