"Are you really going?"
"Yes."
"Can't you not go?"
"If I don't go, can you take me back to Star Luo?"
"I…"
At Shrek Academy, the first ray of morning sunlight shone through.
Dai Mubai blocked Zhu Zhuqing's path.
But Zhu Zhuqing's single sentence silenced Dai Mubai.
Zhu Zhuqing took a deep breath, eventually walked around him, and headed out of Shrek Academy.
Dai Mubai gritted his teeth:
"I can't take you back, but if you go to Peach Garden Academy, can you really go back?"
"I don't know, but that teacher at Peach Garden Academy can teach a support system Spirit Master to defeat an attack system Spirit Master. At least, it gives me hope."
"You've already joined Shrek. Will he still accept you?"
"I don't know either, but I have to try."
As the morning light swept by, Zhu Zhuqing's silhouette disappeared from Shrek Academy.
Dai Mubai felt a mix of emotions.
"Boss Dai, what exactly is your relationship with Zhuqing?"
"Sigh, it's a long story," Dai Mubai sighed.
"Seriously, why is she suddenly changing schools again? So fickle."
Xiao Wu muttered.
"Alright, Xiao Wu. Zhuqing might just be acting on impulse. We'll find a chance to persuade her later."
...At the entrance of Peach Garden Academy.
Wang Sheng, the guard, had already finished his morning exercises. Seeing Zhu Zhuqing at the academy entrance so early in the morning, he went out to check and asked:
"You're a student from Shrek Academy, right? What are you doing at our Peach Garden Academy?"
"I'd like to see your Teacher Su Ran, if possible."
"What do you need Teacher Su Ran for?"
"I'd like to ask him for some guidance."
Zhu Zhuqing said.
"Alright, wait a moment. But whether the teacher sees you depends on your luck."
Wang Sheng currently didn't have a good impression of people from Shrek. Those Shrek students either liked to stir up trouble or were lecherous and vulgar, completely contrary to the teacher's philosophy of "As Heaven maintains vigor through movements, a gentleman should unremittingly practice self-improvement. As Earth's condition is receptive devotion, a gentleman should hold the outer world with broad-minded virtue."
With that, Wang Sheng walked to the lush peach blossom tree in the center of Peach Garden Academy's plaza and rang the peach bell.
The peach bell emitted a crisp sound, like the call of an oriole, melodious and not harsh, echoing into the inner courtyard.
In a moment, as usual, Su Ran, wearing a mask with Dragon patterns and peach blossom petals, walked out leisurely.
"Is something the matter?"
"Teacher, this Shrek student says she has something to discuss with you."
Wang Sheng said respectfully.
"Zhu Zhuqing?"
Su Ran also saw Zhu Zhuqing standing under the peach tree at a glance.
She was wearing a black, tight-fitting leather skirt, with two large, pendulous water drops, a slender waist, and long legs, very alluring.
"You know me?"
"I've heard your name. Come with me."
Su Ran glanced at Zhu Zhuqing and led her towards the academy's pavilion. The pavilion had an elegant plaque inscribed with the words: Peach Garden Pavilion.
Su Ran sat leisurely in the pavilion, picked up a peach pot, poured a cup of tea, and sipped it slowly:
"What do you need me for?"
Zhu Zhuqing looked up at Su Ran, only to feel that this young dean of Peach Garden Academy had an ethereal, detached aura. Although he wore a mask, she felt that the jawline, eyes, and lips revealed beneath the mask were all very refined, indicating he must be handsome.
Zhu Zhuqing bowed slightly, cupped her hands, and said:
"Do you remember over a month ago, you had Wang Sheng recruit students and asked if we were willing to join Peach Garden Academy?"
"At that time, I was new and unaware of Peach Garden Academy's heritage, so I chose Shrek Academy, where I knew people."
"But now, I want to learn from you. Can I?"
Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip. Usually cool and detached, she felt her cheeks flush at this moment, as making such a request was truly embarrassing.
"Learn from me? Why should I teach you?"
Su Ran said indifferently.
"I am willing to become your disciple!"
"Just because you want to be my disciple, must I accept you?"
"You can, of course, refuse. I apologize for bothering you, Teacher."
Zhu Zhuqing was a little disappointed, her eyes dim, and she sighed softly, turning to leave.
If only she had seized the opportunity back then.
"Wait."
At this moment, Su Ran called out to Zhu Zhuqing again.
Zhu Zhuqing turned back, her eyes regaining some light:
"Teacher, have you changed your mind?"
"Why do you want to become my disciple?" Su Ran asked a question.
"Because you are powerful. Learning from you, a Spirit Grandmaster at Rank twenty-something can fight a Spirit Elder at Rank thirty-something, and a support Spirit Master of roughly the same Rank can fight an attack system Spirit Master. These are all miracles."
As Zhu Zhuqing spoke, she felt admiration for Su Ran. If she hadn't seen and heard it with her own eyes and ears, she wouldn't have believed that these two things could actually be achieved.
"So, you also want me to teach you to develop the characteristics of your Spirit, like Wang Sheng and Rongrong?"
Su Ran glanced at Zhu Zhuqing. Zhu Zhuqing's Aptitude was good, her talent and Aptitude were the same as Rongrong's, reaching S-Rank, both having the potential to become gods, and she was also beautiful.
Accepting her as a disciple wouldn't be a loss, but her background was different from Rongrong's, so he still needed to consider it.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded: "Yes. Teacher, can you teach me?"
"If I accept you as a disciple and teach you, what is the first thing you want to do after you become strong?"
Su Ran asked.
"I…"
Zhu Zhuqing thought for a moment and replied:
"To be honest, Teacher, the first thing I want to do after becoming strong is to survive. I want to fight back to the Star Luo Empire with Dai Mubai and defeat my older sister and Dai Weisi."
"Teacher, you might not know, but I am actually from the Zhu family, one of the four great noble families of Star Luo. Dai Mubai is a Star Luo Imperial Prince. We were engaged since childhood and got caught up in the imperial family's struggle. If we can't defeat Dai Weisi and my older sister, we might very well die… This is also why I came to Soto City to join Shrek Academy. I don't want to be a sacrifice…"
As Zhu Zhuqing spoke, she became emotional.
This seemed like a perfect reason to seek a master; she yearned to become strong, to change her fate.
But Su Ran shook his head:
"I'm sorry, if you hadn't said those words, I might have accepted you as a disciple, but after you said them, I will not."
"Why?!"
Zhu Zhuqing was somewhat surprised.
"I don't teach students with problematic perspectives and thoughts. Also, I am a selfish person."
Su Ran said indifferently.
"Are my perspectives and thoughts problematic? Is it also problematic that I want to survive?"
Zhu Zhuqing stood stunned.
Su Ran shook his head, finished the last sip of tea, and stood up:
"There's no problem with you wanting to survive. Come back to seek mentorship when you've figured out this issue."
With that, Su Ran walked deeper into Peach Garden Academy, leaving Zhu Zhuqing in disarray.
What a joke?
You want me to teach you to become the world's number one agility-attack Spirit Master, and then you turn around and join forces with Dai Mubai, who is proficient in all forms of debauchery?
Am I cheap, or are you cheap?