"Why didn't you train with Zhao Wuji this morning?"
Qin Xiao asked, puzzled.
Normally, Zhu Zhuqing wouldn't start her Tempest Body Refinement until the afternoon.
"Because today is a special day, Teacher Zhao told me to come find you directly."
Zhu Zhuqing said, her beautiful face blooming with a smile as precious as a snow lotus on an iceberg.
What are you grinning at? Qin Xiao didn't understand.
But, the next moment, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.
Because the soul power fluctuation emanating from Zhu Zhuqing surprised him.
"Eh, you've actually broken through to level 30?"
Qin Xiao was surprised, "Normally speaking, you would still need a few days to break through, right?"
Indeed, with the help of Tempest Body Refinement, Zhu Zhuqing had, in such a short period of time, consecutively broken through four levels of Soul Power to reach level 30.
Of course, such an increase in strength didn't come from nowhere; Zhu Zhuqing had endured immense pain.
To put it simply, her effort was so heart-wrenching.
Yet, Qin Xiao had never gone easy on her during the training.
He knew that being soft-hearted was doing Zhu Zhuqing a disservice.
At this moment, Zhu Zhuqing still couldn't contain her joy, "Hee hee, indeed I would've needed a few more days, but after I returned from your place yesterday, I suddenly gained an insight, and I broke through unconsciously..."
"So that's how it is."
Qin Xiao nodded, "It seems that you're not only hardworking, but also quite lucky."
"Of course, it's the greatest honor of my life to be favored by Your Highness," Zhu Zhuqing said blissfully.
On the other hand, after hearing Zhu Zhuqing's words, Qin Xiao couldn't help but shake his head with a chuckle, "Your sweet talk is as if you've spread honey on your lips, did Zhao Wuji also say that I should help you hunt for a Soul Ring?"
"Um... Teacher Zhao indeed said so," Zhu Zhuqing admitted somewhat sheepishly as she fiddled with the corner of her clothes.
Qin Xiao said, "That's no problem, I was planning to take a trip to the Sunset Forest to check if there are any crops to harvest, to see if Du Gu Bo that fellow has been taking more than his share."
However.
Zhu Zhuqing appeared utterly surprised after hearing Qin Xiao's words, "Does Your Highness mean to say that you've been planting vegetables in a forest where soul beasts roam?
And the Poison Douluo Du Gu Bo is tending to them?"
But isn't Du Gu Bo a distinguished guest at the Prince's Mansion?
That's quite preposterous.
...
Meanwhile.
The Shrek group had already assembled.
To put it simply, those who had gathered were Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar.
"Teacher, why hasn't Zhu Qing come today?"
Dai Mubai asked, puzzled.
Ning Rongrong was an exception, being the young miss of the Seven Treasures Glaze Sect, Dai Mubai clearly understood she was not to be trifled with.
He could only fix his attention on Zhu Zhuqing. Of course, that was all he could do.
"Zhu Zhuqing broke through to level 30 and has gone to hunt for a Soul Ring."
"Today, it's just the three of you practicing," Teacher Zhao said indifferently.
"Oh, level 30..."
"Went to hunt for a soul, huh...."
Dai Mubai and the others nodded initially without much thought.
But, the next moment, they came to a sudden realization.
"Wait a minute!"
"Teacher Zhao, did you say Zhu Qing is at level 30 and hunting for soul rings?"
"How old is she, to be at level 30 already?"
"What's more, she was only level 26 when she enrolled, how much time has passed since then, and she's already level 30?"
The three of them were a mix of shock and disbelief.
They knew about Zhu Zhuqing's talent; it was considered the least remarkable among the people of Shrek.
But this current rate of strength improvement was too fast, wasn't it?
It felt almost unreal!
"What, is that too hard to accept?"
"Hmph, now let me tell you, if you guys don't work harder, you'll be left far behind by Zhu Zhuqing."
Zhao Wuji looked at the people with differing expressions and snorted coldly then said, "Especially you, Dai Mubai, do you think you've come to paradise now that you're in Tiandou City, indulging yourself too much?
I've been watching your body get worse day by day, and today you even have a huge pair of dark circles under your eyes, the word 'haggard' is practically written on your face."
I'm wronged!
After hearing Zhao Wuji's words, "Teacher Zhao, I really haven't been out wandering. You don't know, ever since Qin Xiao got here, I haven't had a good night's sleep, almost suffering from insomnia all night long."
What he didn't say was, the unclear relationship between Qin Xiao and Zhu Zhuqing was what kept him up all night.
Put simply, he didn't dare to close his eyes.
As soon as he did, he would see Zhu Zhuqing's figure, flaunting herself in front of other men...
He felt like he was being driven insane.
Suddenly, Zhao Wuji laughed, "Dai Mubai, even if you want to excuse yourself, could you not pick a better one? What is Your Highness's status, and what is yours?
"Saying you're influenced by him, isn't that just troubling yourself?"
This...
Dai Mubai was momentarily stunned upon hearing this.
He understood the deeper meaning of Zhao Wuji's words.
He was being told that he was overestimating himself.
"Teacher Zhao..."
Dai Mubai opened his mouth, still wanting to defend himself.
But.
Zhao Wuji waved his hand to stop him, "No need for any more excuses, let's start today's task. Run a hundred laps around Blue Tyrant Academy, and you can have breakfast when you finish."
"What!"
"Teacher Zhao, didn't we only run fifty laps yesterday? Why a hundred today?"
"You've already had lunch by the time you finished fifty laps yesterday. Are you planning not to have dinner after these hundred laps?"
Ma Hongjun and Oscar's faces turned pale.
"After running fifty laps, your stamina will be worse, and it'll only get worse from there on, you won't even catch up after eating."
After hearing the two's conversation, Zhao Wuji shook his head, "Actually, what I mean is, have tomorrow's breakfast."
"Ah?!"
Upon hearing this, both were utterly astounded.
However, Zhao Wuji didn't pay them any mind; he hummed a tune and walked away.
"I feel like Teacher Zhao has mixed in a bit of personal grudge with today's training regime."
Making sure that Zhao Wuji wouldn't hear him, Ma Hongjun pursed his lips.
"Why do you say that?" Oscar asked, puzzled.
"Have you guys forgotten that Teacher Zhao is a fervent admirer of Qin Xiao?" Ma Hongjun said, glancing toward Dai Mubai.
Dai Mubai said, "Brothers, seems like I've dragged you down today, I'll treat you later, arrange the best girls."
"Boss Dai, with your condition as it is, can you even manage?"
Oscar asked with concern.
"How can I not?" Dai Mubai said gravely, "Even if I need support, you better support me there."
...
Sunset Forest.
Qin Xiao looked around, bored out of his mind.
Not far in front of him, a shadowy night cat, roughly the size of a leopard, had been dead for some time.
Zhu Zhuqing was seated cross-legged beside it, absorbing a purple Millennium Soul Ring.
After a long while.
Zhu Zhuqing's body shook suddenly as she abruptly opened her eyes.
A gleam of light flashed and disappeared in her eyes.
"Did it work?"
Qin Xiao asked with a smile.
"It worked."
"Thirty-one levels, I'm at level thirty-one now!"
Zhu Zhuqing jumped up excitedly, unable to contain her joy.
After all, there had been no change in Dai Mubai's strength, and the day she'd challenge him wasn't far away.
But just as this thought arose, a wave of sadness washed over her heart.
Would she no longer be able to get help from Your Highness after challenging Dai Mubai?
After feeling sad, anxiety set in.
"Since you've finished refining the Soul Ring, come with me to a place."
Qin Xiao didn't linger on the girl's emotions.
A woman's heart is like a needle in the sea, better not guess too much.
Zhu Zhuqing obediently nodded and followed him.
...
"Qin Xiao, what are you doing in my herbal garden!"
Within his Icefire Polarized Eyes, Du Gu Bo was genuinely startled by Qin Xiao's sudden arrival.
Subconsciously, he thought of the herbal garden as his own territory.
No help for it.
Years of habit aren't easily broken.
All Qin Xiao did was laugh lightly: "Heh, Du Gu Bo, there's something I need to correct. This is my herbal garden."
"Your herbal garden?"
Caught off guard, Du Gu Bo then realized and remembered that the place indeed wasn't his anymore...
He gave a bitter smile, "You're right, this indeed is your herbal garden."
"Eh, who is she?"
It was then that Du Gu Bo noticed a beautiful young girl in black behind Qin Xiao, and asked with some confusion.
The girl looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn't place where he had seen her before.
"Senior, I am Your Highness's maidservant, we've met before at the Sky Dou Royal Academy."
Before Qin Xiao could speak, Zhu Zhuqing had already introduced herself humbly.
Qin Xiao was a bit surprised as he glanced at Zhu Zhuqing.
He had not expected the usually icy girl to speak in such a way. Clearly, she considered him quite important.
But that was fine, as it would save a lot of trouble.
"Hmph, you've got quite a few beauties around you, young man, looks like my granddaughter Yanyan still has quite the competition," Du Gu Bo snorted unexpectedly.
What does that mean? Qin Xiao was perplexed. Du Gu Bo sure was keen on advertising his granddaughter, just like in the original story.
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