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There was no suspense in the sparring match between Tang San and Dai Mubai.
Dai Mubai, at level thirty-seven, completely dominated Tang San, who was only level twenty-nine and had just left his secluded mountain training.
In the end, Dai Mubai generously gave up the room to Tang San, his arms draped around the slender waists of the twin sisters as he swaggered out of the hotel.
"Is he really that generous?" Ning Rongrong whispered.
Ning Tianchen chuckled lightly. "Perhaps he's thought of some other fun ways…"
Before he could finish, Dai Mubai, still holding onto the twin sisters, walked straight toward them.
"You two look familiar. I'm Dai Mubai. Are you also planning to register at Shrek Academy?"
Ning Rongrong shot him a disdainful glance and didn't respond.
Dai Mubai's gaze shifted to Ning Tianchen, and he unexpectedly sensed a faint trace of danger emanating from him.
Especially those sharp eyes—they were piercing.
If this person joined Shrek Academy, he would make for an excellent sparring partner.
Ning Tianchen casually replied, "I've heard that Shrek Academy's admission standards are extremely strict. We might not even get in."
Dai Mubai laughed. "If you can't get in, then there are probably very few people on this continent who can. Haha, when you get to Shrek Academy, remember my name—Dai Mubai, the Evil-Eyed White Tiger."
With that, he strolled away with the twin sisters.
The reason he approached Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong was mainly due to Ning Rongrong's earlier praise of him.
Such flattery worked wonders on the young master of Suotuo City, and he didn't mind making a few more friends.
"Big brother Tianchen, we're not playing with him—you better not learn anything bad from him," Ning Rongrong said sternly, hands on her hips.
Ning Tianchen smiled faintly and headed toward the hotel.
Tang San and Xiao Wu had just received their room keys and were about to head upstairs when they heard Ning Rongrong's voice.
"Are you also here to register at Shrek Academy?"
Feeling favorably disposed toward Tang San, she decided to seize the opportunity to befriend him.
Tang San's vision was sharp—he had glimpsed Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong outside the door during his fight with Dai Mubai.
The straightforward Xiao Wu immediately responded, "Are you too?"
Ning Rongrong stepped forward. "My name is Ning Rongrong, and this is Ning Tianchen. Since we're all planning to register at Shrek Academy, why don't we stick together tomorrow? Conveniently, we're staying here as well."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Tang San, and this is Xiao Wu, my younger sister," Tang San said, extending his hand to Ning Tianchen.
His powers of observation were incredibly keen. From their attire alone, he could tell they were from prominent families.
A smile lingered on Ning Tianchen's face, but the sharpness in his eyes couldn't be concealed.
"Nice to meet you," Ning Tianchen said, shaking his hand.
Though he didn't like Tang San, this was their first meeting, so there was no reason to be impolite.
"That Evil-Eyed White Tiger earlier was so infuriating! It was our room first, but he insisted on taking it," Xiao Wu complained bitterly.
Ning Rongrong chimed in with feeling. "And that's not all. You wouldn't believe it, but this morning, that Lewd-Eyed Pervert was here with another young woman. Then this afternoon, he brings along twin sisters. Who knows, maybe tonight he'll go find someone else!"
The two girls quickly found common ground and launched into a spirited critique of Dai Mubai.
Seeing this, Tang San let out a wry smile and slowly turned his gaze to Ning Tianchen.
"Someone like him, from a prominent family, probably wouldn't want to talk to someone like me."
He muttered inwardly and chose not to strike up a conversation.
Ning Tianchen had no idea what he was thinking—it was their first meeting, after all, and being overly friendly might not be appropriate.
…
Later, Tang San and Xiao Wu rested briefly in their room before deciding to explore the city.
Though they had found Flender's little shop, they hadn't obtained anything useful.
As they left the shop, Tang San felt a sense of unease.
"Third Brother, are you alright?" Xiao Wu asked, her face full of concern.
Tang San shook his head, feeling inexplicably uneasy. "I don't know why, but I feel like I've lost something important."
Xiao Wu glanced around and teased playfully, "Third Brother, I'm still here with you. You haven't lost me."
Her teasing snapped him out of his thoughts. "You're right—you're the most important person to me."
…
Early the next morning, Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong met Tang San and Xiao Wu at the hotel entrance.
"We heard that Shrek Academy is outside the city. Have you heard anything?" Xiao Wu asked, blinking curiously at Ning Rongrong.
"It is indeed outside the city. But I think their campus isn't actually in one of the villages outside the city. Perhaps this environment is just a test for us," Ning Rongrong offered her opinion.
Tang San stroked his chin thoughtfully. "My teacher once said that Shrek Academy is no ordinary academy. Maybe, as Rongrong said, its humble exterior is just a test for us."
"Your teacher must be a wise man, right?" Ning Tianchen remarked casually.
Tang San, failing to catch the underlying meaning, simply smiled and replied, "Yes, my teacher is very intelligent. He's the one who planned out my and Xiao Wu's cultivation schedules."
Xiao Wu harbored no feelings for Yu Xiaogang.
Being a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, she had a basic understanding of the world of soul masters.
Many of Yu Xiaogang's theories were ideas proposed by scholars thousands of years ago.
Out of consideration for Tang San, Xiao Wu chose not to expose this fact.
"There's no time to waste. Let's hurry over," Ning Rongrong waved to signal the carriage driver, who pulled up to them shortly after.
"Let's take the carriage and get close to the academy before getting off," Ning Rongrong suggested with a smile.
Xiao Wu, naturally unwilling to walk, was about to climb aboard when Tang San stopped her.
"Isn't this a bit…"
Ning Rongrong cut him off airily. "We're all friends. There's nothing wrong with it."
With that, she pulled Xiao Wu onto the carriage.
Ning Tianchen glanced at Tang San. "Come on, don't delay the registration time."
Tang San thanked him and reluctantly climbed aboard.
For someone who considered himself the son of a blacksmith, this was his first time riding in such a luxurious carriage.
Ning Tianchen noticed Tang San clenching his fists tightly, though he couldn't guess what was on his mind.
…
After the time it took to burn a stick of incense,
Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong lifted the curtains on either side of the carriage. In the distance, they spotted a village.
Seeing the long line of people at the village entrance, Xiao Wu said, "Is that where Shrek Academy's registration is?"
The carriage driver smiled and replied, "That's Shrek Academy ahead. Where would you like to get off?"
"Let's get off here."
Ning Tianchen lifted the curtain and leapt gracefully out of the carriage.
Not to be outdone, Tang San followed closely behind.
"Hey, hey, hey! Can't you two get out properly?" Ning Rongrong teased, stepping down elegantly.
Xiao Wu wasn't so particular—her agile figure hopped down effortlessly.
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