In Shrek Academy's dilapidated girls' dormitory, the fading light gate rippled like disturbed water.
Zhu Zhuqing's figure quietly reappeared in this familiar yet alien space.
Familiar were the simple, shabby furnishings.
Unfamiliar… was her state of mind.
The suffocating pressure and despair that once crushed her had completely vanished, replaced by a calm, unprecedented strength—by hope.
She lifted her palm.
The Immortal Herb—Moon-Soul Flowing-Light Epiphyllum—rested there, its cool, sacred radiance flowing like a pool of condensed moonlight.
She was just about to find a quiet place to internalize this blessing when—
Creak—
The dorm door swung open.
Ning Rongrong poked her head in, eyes widening dramatically when she saw Zhu Zhuqing.
"Zhuqing? You're actually in the dormitory?"
Zhu Zhuqing's cold eyes shifted to her, but she remained silent.
"You won't believe it!"
Ning Rongrong immediately began chattering, excited as ever.
"This morning, Headmaster Flender took attendance, didn't find you, and his face turned blacker than the bottom of a pot! He dragged all of us and almost dug up the entire back mountain looking for you!"
So that's what happened.
Zhu Zhuqing understood but felt no need to explain.
Ignoring Ning Rongrong's nonstop chatter, she walked straight out.
And immediately, she saw the Shrek group gathered in the square—their faces still holding traces of anxiety from failing to find her.
The moment Flender laid eyes on her, his suppressed fury erupted.
"Zhu Zhuqing!"
His voice was sharp enough to pierce stone.
"You still know how to come back? Skipping training without reason—do you have any respect for the Academy's rules?! Do you not want to stay here anymore?!"
That last sentence struck her like lightning.
Zhu Zhuqing slowly looked around.
The slum-like environment.
The crude, inefficient training.
And Dai Mubai's gaze—disgusting enough to make her stomach turn.
Yes.
What was the point of staying?
What could she gain here except wasted time?
For the first time, she looked directly at Flender—calm, composed, fearless.
"Headmaster."
"I, Zhu Zhuqing, voluntarily withdraw from Shrek Academy."
Her voice was not loud, but it struck the crowd like a boulder shattering still water.
Flender froze—then shame and fury twisted his face.
"Withdraw? Zhu Zhuqing, what do you take Shrek for? A vegetable market? Come when you want, leave when you want?!"
His gaze slid toward Dai Mubai, cold and sinister.
"Mubai! Keep an eye on her! If she dares step outside today, I—!"
Zhu Zhuqing didn't bother listening.
She turned and walked away.
She knew Flender was fully aware of her relationship with Dai Mubai.
Asking him to "keep an eye on her"?
The intent was obvious.
He wanted to force her into submission.
Tie her permanently to Shrek—this sinking ship.
"What an ungrateful junior!"
With a roar, Zhao Wuji—the most hot-tempered of them—moved first!
He struck from a distance, spirit power condensing into a massive golden bear paw, slamming toward Zhu Zhuqing's back!
He held back—this was meant to teach her a lesson, not cripple her.
Enough to make her bedridden for a few days.
Enough to remind her of "rules."
A violent gust howled behind her.
Zhu Zhuqing's heart tightened.
She never expected Shrek's teachers to be so brazen—attacking a student for disagreeing!
She wanted to dodge—
But she couldn't.
The golden bear paw descended—
Buzz—!
The black-and-red uniform she wore emitted a soft yet sacred glow.
In an instant, Zhao Wuji's spirit-power strike vanished into nothingness—like a clay ox sinking into the sea.
And then—
The light condensed, forming a golden palm print that struck back with even greater force!
Bang!
"Pfft—!"
Zhao Wuji was blasted through the air, rolling across the ground, vomiting blood, eyes full of disbelief.
Silence.
Every gaze locked onto the smooth, elegant uniform on Zhu Zhuqing's body.
What was that outfit?!
Zhu Zhuqing also paused.
Her fingertips brushed over the fabric—smooth, cool, exquisite.
A faint smile curved her lips.
Relieved.
Proud.
So even after leaving Feng Ran Pavilion…
Even away from that sacred domain…
As a staff member—
She still carried his protection.
She lowered her hand and gave Shrek's stunned crowd one final cold glance.
Then she lifted her foot to leave.
But—
A figure stepped silently in front of her, moving with ghost-like fluidity.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes narrowed.
It wasn't Flender.
It wasn't Dai Mubai.
It was Tang San.
He didn't attack.
Didn't threaten.
But his eyes—
They were bright with frightening intensity.
Like a starving wolf.
And his gaze was fixed… completely… on the Immortal Herb in Zhu Zhuqing's hand.
Her grip tightened.
"What is it?"
Tang San finally snapped out of his trance.
Suppressing the greed burning in his eyes, he forced a gentle smile.
"Zhuqing, don't misunderstand."
"This rare flower is… extremely precious. Could I… borrow it to take a look?"
He extended his hand, as if certain she would agree.
A flash of sarcasm crossed Zhu Zhuqing's cold eyes.
Give someone else the divine grace bestowed upon her?
She pressed the Immortal Herb protectively against her chest.
Her expression said everything.
Tang San's hand froze in midair.
He slowly withdrew it—smile unchanged, but a cold shadow flickered in his eyes.
The atmosphere froze.
Then—
Xiao Wu bounced over, bright and careless as ever.
"Zhuqing, Third Brother just wants to look! He won't steal it from you—why are you so stingy?"
She reached toward Zhu Zhuqing's wrist—
Swish!
Zhu Zhuqing vanished backward, widening the distance instantly.
One hand shielding the herb.
The other hand's fingertips lengthening into razor-sharp cat claws.
Her stance—
cold, guarded, ready to strike.
Seeing even Xiao Wu wasn't trusted—
Tang San's smile finally disappeared.
A chilling aura radiated from him.
Instinctively, his hand grazed the spirit tool on his waist—Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges.
But the faint glow still lingering on Zhu Zhuqing's uniform…
And Zhao Wuji's miserable state…
Forced him to swallow his killing intent.
He suppressed it.
Lifted his head.
Smiled again.
"Forgive me, Zhuqing. Xiao Wu was impulsive."
"I only wanted to ask—where did you obtain such a rare flower?"
But Zhu Zhuqing had seen everything—his hand, his eyes, his intent.
Trust was gone.
She dropped four cold words—
"No comment."
—And in the next moment, she transformed into an afterimage, disappearing through the academy's main gate.
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