In Soto City, Ma Hongjun and Ning Rongrong ate, drank, and had a great time on the streets.
The little devil Ning Rongrong completely let loose. After recognizing Ma Hongjun as her brother, her inner knots were untied. She comforted herself with self-deception, believing it was perfectly legitimate to be happy with Ma Hongjun.
Ma Hongjun thought women were truly peculiar creatures. They couldn't run fast, but strolling through the streets and alleys was exhilarating. Even Ma Hongjun felt tired, but Ning Rongrong was still enthusiastically buying and eating everywhere, her mouth constantly munching on various snacks that Ma Hongjun couldn't even carry all of.
When it was almost time, the two, having eaten and played their fill, began their return to Shrek Academy.
However, unbeknownst to them, a handsome old man with white hair, wielding a sword, had been following them. Along the way, the old man watched Ning Rongrong's laughter and stroked his long beard with satisfaction.
It was nearly evening when they returned to the academy. On the playground, Flander and Zhao Wuji were talking, sitting on a large rock, while Dai Mubai and six other students sat idly nearby.
Flander saw Ma Hongjun and Ning Rongrong approaching from afar, a smirk playing on his lips. Zhao Wuji chuckled beside him; the swelling on his face hadn't subsided, making his smile look rather unsightly.
"Everyone, gather around!"
Dai Mubai and the other six quickly came over and lined up.
Seeing Flander and the others' serious demeanor, Ning Rongrong suddenly felt a bad premonition, but she wasn't afraid. As the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, she didn't believe Flander would dare do anything to her.
"Teacher, we're back!"
Ma Hongjun said solemnly, Ning Rongrong standing half a body length behind him.
"Hongjun, has Ning Rongrong finished running?" Flander habitually adjusted his crystal glasses, his sharp, eagle-like eyes fixed on Ma Hongjun and Ning Rongrong.
An invisible pressure descended, putting Ma Hongjun and Ning Rongrong in a tense atmosphere. Ning Rongrong grabbed Ma Hongjun's arm and squeezed it hard.
Zhao Wuji was already grinning, revealing his teeth, and Dai Mubai and the other six looked over curiously.
Ma Hongjun pondered for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said,
"Teacher, Ning Rongrong has finished running."
Flander smiled. He didn't look at Ning Rongrong, but walked over, put his hand on Ma Hongjun's shoulder, and then lifted him up, sending him flying.
"Zhao Wuji, it's up to you!"
Zhao Wuji chuckled, and with a soaring punch, sent the flying Ma Hongjun straight into the air.
"Hongjun!"
"Teacher Zhao!"
"Brother!"
...
Ma Hongjun adjusted his posture in mid-air, then landed on his buttocks.
"Pfft!"
Ma Hongjun spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Lying has its price, Ma Hongjun, do you know you were wrong?"
"I..."
Ma Hongjun clutched his chest, bitterly remaining silent.
Zhao Wuji snorted, picked up Ma Hongjun again, and prepared to throw him into the air once more.
Ma Hongjun, behind the others' backs, frantically winked at Zhao Wuji, mouthing silently, "Stop!"
The original plan wasn't like this; Ma Hongjun and Flander's plan was to make an example of him, to put on a show, with Ma Hongjun as the chicken. But Zhao Wuji wasn't supposed to have a role, and Flander, for some reason, had brought him along.
Judging from Zhao Wuji's current state, he was clearly planning to make the act real!
"These two old bastards!" Ma Hongjun thought bitterly, but the show had already begun, and if he didn't persevere, everything would be for naught!
Zhao Wuji grinned again, mouthing two words as well, enduring the pain.
Then Ma Hongjun was thrown into the air once more.
"Damn it!"
Ma Hongjun shouted inwardly.
"Zhao Wuji, stop!" Ning Rongrong ran over.
Ma Hongjun landed again, spitting blood once more—this time, it was real blood. Ning Rongrong hugged Ma Hongjun's head and held it in her arms!
"Brother, how are you!"
"I'm fine, Rongrong!"
Flander's voice rang out again:
"Ma Hongjun, do you know what you did wrong?"
Ma Hongjun still didn't speak.
Flander glanced at Zhao Wuji, who nodded. Then, he stomped his legs hard on the ground, creating two holes, pushed Ning Rongrong aside, and shoved Ma Hongjun into them, one leg at a time.
The holes reached up to Ma Hongjun's knees.
"You brat, if you don't admit your mistakes, then you have to accept the punishment. If Heaven won't tell you, then you'll have to go to Earth."
After saying that, Zhao Wuji smashed the boulder he had been sitting on with a palm strike, selected a piece weighing about 100 pounds, and placed it on Ma Hongjun's back.
"Since you like carrying people so much, then you need to train more so you can carry people every day."
Upon hearing about carrying people, Ning Rongrong blushed and immediately understood what was going on; she and Ma Hongjun had been followed.
Ma Hongjun was speechless with frustration, a thousand curses running through his mind. To actually do it, they had to go all out!
Dai Mubai and the others stared dumbfounded at the two old fogies' series of actions. Tang San and the other two newcomers, thinking this was typical Shrek Academy style, felt a chill run down their spines. Dai Mubai and the others were confused, not understanding what was going on.
Flander's voice rang out again.
"Ma Hongjun, do you know you're wrong?"
"I'm the one who's wrong, not him! Why punish him?" This time, without waiting for Ma Hongjun to speak, Ning Rongrong questioned loudly.
"Oh, then tell me what you did wrong?"
"I didn't complete the training you assigned!"
"Very good, it's good that you know you're wrong. You can go back and rest!"
"What about Ma Hongjun?"
"He doesn't know he's wrong yet, so he must continue to be punished."
"Why? What did he do wrong?"
"He didn't complete the task I assigned him."
"I didn't complete it either, why aren't I punished?"
Flander glanced at everyone before speaking.
"You're all probably wondering why.
You'll all be teammates from now on, trusted partners. I don't need to elaborate on the importance of physical training for a support-type Soul Master; Ma Hongjun understands this too, yet he still let Ning Rongrong run wild.
Support teammates have weak self-defense capabilities, and physical training is key to improving them.
Ning Rongrong will be your teammate in the future, and her slight weakness in physical fitness now could become a fatal flaw later.
Not supervising Ning Rongrong's training is Ma Hongjun's fault. Since he didn't want Ning Rongrong to suffer, he needs to suffer that hardship for her, and double it.
Ning Rongrong's inability to protect herself means that responsibility falls on Ma Hongjun, who let her run wild. If you want to let her run wild, you need to have the ability to protect her. So, for every bit of training Ning Rongrong misses, Ma Hongjun has to train ten times more."
Flander paused, looked at Ma Hongjun, and asked, "Ma Hongjun, can you protect Ning Rongrong?"
Ma Hongjun stubbornly replied, "I can."
"Fine, then you can stay here tonight!
Zhao Wuji, you keep an eye on him!"
Ning Rongrong was about to explode again after hearing Flander's words. Ma Hongjun quickly said,
"Rongrong, listen to me, don't talk back!"
Flander walked towards Dai Mubai and the other six, saying, "Your first lesson tonight will be in Soto City. Now, come with me!"
After saying that, Flander activated his speed and flew away first. Dai Mubai and the other six didn't dare to linger. They looked at Ma Hongjun pitifully and quickly activated the power of their martial souls to follow.
Ning Rongrong squatted down next to Ma Hongjun. At this time, sweat was already seeping from Ma Hongjun's head. Ning Rongrong reached out to wipe it for him.
"Brother, I'm sorry, I've dragged you into this."
"Don't talk nonsense. I'm your brother, it's my duty to take care of you. But what the teacher said is also true. I can't bear to see you suffer, so I have to be tougher on myself. Only by becoming stronger can I protect you."
"Brother!"
"Rongrong!"
Zhao Wuji: "..."
Zhao Wuji, standing to the side, snorted and breathed heavily, staring fiercely at the two on the ground.
"Hmph, you two stay here. Ma Hongjun, don't put the stone down. Accept your punishment.
I'm leaving!"
Zhao Wuji stormed off angrily!
He's a bear, he can't stand dog food!
After Zhao Wuji left, Ning Rongrong tried to help Ma Hongjun take the stone down.
"Don't move, Rongrong. This is the punishment I should accept. If I can't even handle this little bit of hard work, how will I protect you in the future?"
"Brother, but you're too tired!"
Ning Rongrong said with concern as she wiped Ma Hongjun's sweat.
Ma Hongjun looked at Ning Rongrong earnestly and said softly, "Tired? Of course you're tired!
Rongrong, I know you're the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, and you've grown up pampered.
But Rongrong, you must understand that growth is a process everyone must go through. If you don't shoulder the pressures of life, someone else will. Right
now, under the protection of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, with your father and your sect sheltering you from the storm, you can live a carefree life.
But you can't stay under your elders' wings forever. You will eventually grow up and face your own life. Then, there might not be anyone to indulge you anymore.
You need to change your willful and capricious temper, otherwise you'll have no friends.
You're a support-type Soul Master; you need partners and teammates. The importance of your partners to you far exceeds the importance of you to them.
If they leave your support, their strength remains unchanged, so it's not a big deal. But if you leave your partners, you won't even have the ability to protect yourself. What can you do then?"
Ning Rongrong's eyes began to well up with tears. Looking at Ma Hongjun's body, already soaked with sweat, still persevering, and earnestly advising her, she said,
"Brother!"
Ma Hongjun was already drenched in sweat. Carrying a hundred-pound stone on his back while in a horse stance was his most intense training in recent times!
But he wanted to take this opportunity to teach Ning Rongrong. As long as Ning Rongrong cared about him, she would listen carefully to what he was saying.
"Rongrong, there's also your strength. Although your martial soul is the top-tier Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, in Shrek Academy, you have absolutely no advantage. You could say you're at the bottom.
You have to admit that; this is a monster academy.
Xiang Chengxian is level 39, and Dai Mubai is level 38, both top-tier beast martial souls. Although they are older than you, when you reach their age, you might not be able to catch up with them.
Tang San and Xiao Wu are the same age as you, but they are level 29. You've seen the strength they've displayed, especially Tang San. You think you're better than them.
Zhu Zhuqing is younger than you, but still a level higher than you, and... " The strength and perseverance she displayed are far beyond your reach.
And Oscar, your fellow support-type Soul Master, his talent is even more unattainable. Oscar is a food-type Soul Master with innate full Soul Power; just that alone should tell you about his talent. Oscar is unprecedented among support-type Soul Masters with innate full Soul Power; his future achievements could very well challenge the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's position in the support-type cultivation world!
Therefore, Rongrong, at Shrek Academy, you have no reason to be arrogant, not even in terms of background!
Ning Rongrong was already in tears; Ma Hongjun's words had deeply wounded her pride!
"Rongrong, be good. I'm telling you this so you understand the gap between yourself and others.
I know you're a proud little princess, and I hope you continue to be one, but pride must come from our own strength. Pride based solely on family support isn't pride; it's vanity. Because without a family, you are nothing.
From now on, listen to me; I'll help you surpass others."
Ma Hongjun had already used the power of his Martial Soul; he couldn't hold on any longer with just his body.
"Okay, I'll listen to you, brother!
Brother, I'll help you!"
Ning Rongrong pressed herself against Ma Hongjun from the front, reaching behind him to support the stones on his back.
The gesture was intimate; Ma Hongjun could clearly smell the virgin fragrance emanating from Ning Rongrong.
This slowly stirred the lust within him!
Ma Hongjun's head rested against Ning Rongrong's neck, his skin touching her fair, translucent skin.
He felt a strong urge to kiss her!
It was completely dark now, so if he kissed her, no one would see.
But surprises are everywhere, and unexpected events happen.
Darkness didn't affect the white-bearded grandfather's vision. Unbeknownst to Ma Hongjun and Ning Rongrong, in the shadows above, Sword Douluo Chenxin, like the Matchmaker, was watching them from above!
Sword Douluo Chenxin was already fuming, on the verge of exploding with rage. His most beloved and cherished little princess was about to be taken advantage of.
If Ma Hongjun couldn't resist and unleashed his lust on his little princess Ning Rongrong below, Sword Douluo Chenxin might very well jump out and interrupt them.
Then, turning to Ma Hongjun, he said, "Surprised? Excited?!"