"Teacher, you're biased!"
"Biased? In what way?"
Early that morning, Ning Rongrong had prepared breakfast for Su Ran.
In reality, Ning Rongrong didn't know how to cook. Over the past month, she had taken some time to learn, which had resulted in numerous mishaps.
For example:
When lighting a fire, she had nearly burned down the kitchen.
When cooking porridge, she had burned the pot, turning all the porridge inside into black charcoal.
Fortunately, after a month of slow learning, she had finally, with great difficulty, mastered the art of steaming corn and sweet potatoes and boiling congee.
It was during this breakfast that Ning Rongrong voiced her complaint, leaving Su Ran a bit bewildered.
Ning Rongrong pouted and muttered, "You prepared three ultimate techniques for Zhuqing to choose from, but you only gave me one."
"She wasn't taught all three of those ultimate techniques. She was just given a choice."
"Then... then, what's that dual cultivation ultimate technique? Is it something special, something really powerful? Teacher, do you think I can learn it? If you're not teaching it to Zhuqing, you can teach it to me, right? I want to learn it too." Ning Rongrong's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Although the Seven Treasure Golden Bell Shield she was learning was already powerful enough, who wouldn't want to learn more ultimate skills? Besides, learning one more technique meant having more opportunities to ask Teacher Su Ran for guidance.
"Did Zhuqing tell you about that? Why are you so interested in dual cultivation too? It's certainly not an ordinary technique. As for whether it's powerful... techniques of this kind are rarely weak. However, it's really not suitable for you two to cultivate yet."
Su Ran was completely baffled. What on earth are these two girls thinking about all day? Instead of properly practicing the Golden Bell Shield and the Ten Halls of Yama, they're scheming to learn the dual cultivation technique—the Biyou Path. Is this technique even proper? he wondered.
"Why isn't it suitable for us? I don't believe you," Ning Rongrong said, poking her fingers together as she glanced at Su Ran.
"This dual cultivation method, as the name implies, is for two people to practice. It requires a pair... well, it's about two people interacting as they cultivate. It's not as convenient as a normal ultimate technique, understand?"
"Oh! So that's how it is!" Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up as she cleverly proposed a solution. "Zhuqing and I are two people. We can just cultivate it together, right?!"
A dark line formed on Su Ran's forehead as a rather shocking image appeared in his mind: Ning Rongrong... dual cultivating with Zhu Zhuqing. That...
"That won't work. Dual cultivation generally requires a man and a woman, and a rather intimate pair at that. It's best if they're a couple."
"A couple? Intimate?"
Ning Rongrong paused, not getting it at first. But she wasn't stupid. After a moment, it finally dawned on her, and her eyes blinked wide.
"Teacher, please study the dual cultivation method with me! Your disciple has never been so eager to learn!"
"This is all for the sake of learning, for the sake of becoming stronger!"
"Teacher, please satisfy a student's thirst for knowledge!"
"I love learning!"
In her entire life, Ning Rongrong had never been so determined to do something. A couple? Intimate? Doesn't that mean the dual cultivation method is just like being in a relationship? Teacher, you absolutely must arrange this wonderful opportunity for me! This student is genuinely eager to learn.
"..."
"Alright, alright. Since you love learning so much, as a reward, your homework for today is doubled."
"Ah? Teacher, you're so annoying!"
Shrek Academy.
Flender took three long drags from his old pipe. His head was throbbing. The academy next door was causing trouble every day, either beating up his students or poaching them.
"Idiots! A bunch of idiots!" he fumed.
"That was completely reckless! Who told you to go and bully Zhu Zhuqing? Whose terrible idea was it?!"
"It was Fatty's!"
"Ma Hongjun, you're good for nothing but causing trouble. That's just like you."
"The academy was already short on people. We recruited three new ones, bringing the total to six. All we needed was to find one more support-type, and we'd be set. And now? Now an agility-attack type has run off. You tell me, are you still going to compete in this year's Spirit Master Elite Tournament or not?"
"That was just Boss Dai trying to hold on to his fiancée. It's understandable, right? Besides, isn't our motto 'Only a mediocrity is afraid of causing trouble'? If he doesn't even dare to make a move on his own fiancée, isn't that just pathetic..." Ma Hongjun argued stubbornly.
"'Only a mediocrity is afraid of causing trouble.' What's the next line? Provoke trouble you can handle, but stay put if you can't! All you do all day is cause trouble for me!"
"Dean, I started this. If the academy can't recruit a satisfactory replacement before the tournament begins, I'll find an agility-type Spirit Master to fill in," Dai Mubai spoke up.
"I only have one request. The teacher at that Taoyuan Academy is too arrogant. Dean, if you go and beat him up for me to vent my anger, I'm willing to donate two thousand Gold Spirit Coins to the academy for renovations."
Hearing the words "two thousand Gold Spirit Coins," Flender's eyes lit up, and he was tempted. But then he remembered the day Su Ran had stormed into Shrek Academy and beaten Zhao Wuji to a pulp with a single peach branch... hiss.
He swallowed hard. "Mubai, it's not that I'm criticizing you, but you need to rein in your temper. Taoyuan Academy is our neighbor; we should all be more amicable. That Teacher Su Ran is a teacher, after all. You all should show some respect. Don't go around shouting about fighting and killing all the time. It's not good to disrupt the peace."
"However, you were the one who drove her away, so you still have to fill the recruitment spot."
"What? Not only will you not stand up for me, but you also want me to recruit someone???"
"Well, that's an eye-opener. Since when did the Dean become so friendly? He's not even taking free money?" Oscar was flabbergasted. He remembered that whenever they ran into trouble in Soto City before, Flender would be more excited than any of them, eager to go and extort a huge sum of money.
Hearing this, Dai Mubai's vision went dark. He understood perfectly. Flender was scared. He didn't want to get involved and was telling him to endure it, all while planning to exploit his labor for free.
"Third Brother, what's the Spirit Master Tournament?" Xiao Wu asked Tang San, pouting.
"I've heard Grandmaster mention it. The tournament the Dean is talking about should be the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament. It's the grandest Martial Soul competition in the Spirit Master world, sponsored by the imperial families of the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires and co-organized by the Spirit Hall. Not only are the rewards generous, but it also represents the glory of a Spirit Master."
Tang San thought for a moment and then explained to Xiao Wu, "Shrek only recruits 'monsters,' students with exceptional talent. I think the academy's goal is to form a team that can shine in the Spirit Master Tournament. That's probably one of the reasons Grandmaster sent us here to study."
"Little San is very smart. That's right. Shrek must participate in this year's tournament, and we must win the championship!" Flender declared.
"So, from now on, all of you little rascals need to cultivate properly and improve your strength. It just so happens that Little Ao's spirit power is about to reach rank thirty. In a little while, you'll all go to the Star Dou Great Forest to get some practice. Stop thinking about boys' stuff all day and picking fights with Taoyuan Academy."
"You can't even beat them. Isn't that embarrassing? When you're strong enough to defeat those three students from Taoyuan Academy, that will be the day for Shrek's glory. Then you can make Taoyuan Academy do whatever you want!" Flender said calmly.
This bunch of brats is impossible to lead! he thought. You think I don't want to teach that kid Su Ran a lesson? Walking around all day with that stupid mask, pretending to be some great master. Damn it, I can't beat him! You have no idea how terrifying his Nine Luminaries Peach Blossom Sword is. Even Zhao Wuji, with his incredible defense, was beaten to a pulp...
(End of Chapter)