Chapter 11: The Students of Shrek Academy—Each One More Unscrupulous Than the Last! The Heavenly Duel Royal Family Possesses Divine Brew
Page 1/3
As the girl in the white dress spoke, the blond boy who had earlier displayed three spirit rings fixed his gaze on her intently, his eyes wolf-like in their intensity. Zhu Zhuqing followed the group closely; her turn for the test was imminent. Yet, at that moment, the blond boy glanced greedily at her once more. His look drew the attention of others, who then turned to observe her. The black-haired boy regarded her with a scrutinizing gaze. Suddenly, the girl with the scorpion braid beside him pinched the black-haired boy sharply.
Zhu Zhuqing's delicate face turned cold. Her impression of the academy was poor—both the institution itself and its students left much to be desired. The subsequent tests proceeded methodically. Through conversation, Zhu Zhuqing learned that the black-haired boy was named Tang San, the girl with the scorpion braid was Xiao Wu, and the girl who had caught the teacher's attention was Ning Rongrong. The blond boy was named Dai Mubai.
Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly, recognizing who Dai Mubai was.
“I wonder where Li Zhexian is,” she mused silently. “Has he found his wine? He’s probably indulging himself again.”
Dai Mubai’s presence stirred no ripple within her heart; her thoughts drifted to the carefree youth in white. If Li Zhexian were by her side now, this moment would not feel so dull.
The group moved toward the next assessment point, with Zhu Zhuqing trailing behind alone. Then, a gentle fragrance wafted through the air as the girl in the white dress approached, extending her hand with a smile.
“Hello, your name is Zhu Zhuqing, right? I’m Ning Rongrong. Pleased to meet you.”
Zhu Zhuqing shook her hand, replying coolly, “Hello.”
Ning Rongrong appeared a little embarrassed but continued to smile and search for topics to speak about.
Ahead, Dai Mubai, Tang San, and Xiao Wu were chatting. Tang San laughed, “What were you looking at just now? Planning to trouble the girls again?”
Dai Mubai stroked his chin, his eyes gleaming mischievously. “I feel that Zhu Zhuqing’s aura is quite familiar.”
Xiao Wu spat in disdain, “Familiar my foot—flirt, saying it so nicely!”
Dai Mubai revealed a hint of embarrassment on his face but confidently declared, “Anyway, I’ve taken a liking to Zhu Zhuqing. No matter what, I’ll win her over!”
They were nearly at the next checkpoint when a soft voice called out:
“Sausages for sale! Sausages for sale! Don’t miss out, Oscar brand sausages, five copper coins each!”
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong glanced over curiously to see a burly man with a full beard and peach blossom eyes hawking sausages.
Tang San was about to buy some for Xiao Wu. Ning Rongrong asked Zhu Zhuqing, “Zhuqing, do you want some?”
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. “No, thank you.”
“Alright then, I won’t eat any either,” Ning Rongrong said as Tang San went to purchase the sausages.
However, Dai Mubai hurriedly stopped him, scolding the bearded man, “Oscar, you really embarrass the academy!”
Page 2/3
“I’ve warned you more than once not to sell sausages inside the academy!”
The others were puzzled. Dai Mubai continued, “Don’t be fooled by his appearance. He’s called Oscar, fourteen years old, and he’s also a student of Shrek Academy.”
“Why do you think I won’t let you eat his sausages...”
“Oscar, show us a new sausage.”
Oscar glanced at the pretty girls in front of him, helplessly extending his right hand with a sly, awkward grin. “I’ve got a big sausage here!”
---
Dai Mubai frowned in disgust. Tang San’s expression turned angry. The sausage was meant for Xiao Wu, but the implication was too suggestive. Xiao Wu looked puzzled. Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong were also confused.
Finally, Tang San whispered an explanation. Xiao Wu’s cheeks flushed bright red. Ning Rongrong frowned as she glanced at Oscar. Raised among nobility, she found it hard to imagine such a lecherous spirit master existed.
“Disgusting,” Zhu Zhuqing muttered bluntly. So this was the so-called Shrek Academy that accepted only monsters? Truly monstrous—each one more lecherous and filthy than the last!
Zhu Zhuqing found herself missing Li Zhexian more and more. She even considered leaving Shrek to travel the continent with him. But that was a path meant for Li Zhexian; she could not interfere.
She had to become strong on her own, so that when they reunited in the future, she could stand proudly before him.
Ning Rongrong noticed Zhu Zhuqing’s sudden distraction and asked curiously, “Zhuqing, what are you thinking about?”
Zhu Zhuqing answered straightforwardly, “About a friend of mine.”
“Hm?”
Ning Rongrong leaned in close to Zhu Zhuqing’s delicate face, teasing, “Is it a boy or a girl...?”
Before she could finish, Zhu Zhuqing replied openly, “A boy.”
“Ohhh~” Ning Rongrong arched her slender brows, her cheeks glowing with a mischievous smile.
But just then, a sudden image flashed through her mind—the solitary figure of a young man in white. Ning Rongrong’s heart fluttered uneasily.
“Why did I think of him? He’s long been from a different world than mine!”
Shaking off the chaotic thoughts, Ning Rongrong smiled at Zhu Zhuqing. “Zhuqing, I’m curious—what kind of genius is this young man who holds your heart? Someday, you must let me see him.”
Zhu Zhuqing nodded. “Yes.”
...
Page 3/3
Tiandou City. Shanshang Tavern.
Li Zhexian eagerly lifted a wine jug and took a deep swig.
“*Smack*...” He smacked his lips, his sword-like brows knitting slightly.
How to put it? It was almost there, but not quite! The wine was strong enough, but lacked aroma and was too murky.
Not to mention his own wine, even Zhu Zhuqing’s liquor was superior.
Come to think of it, Li Zhexian only learned after parting from Zhu Zhuqing that her wine was a century-old family heirloom, a daughter’s red wine.
Zhu Zhuqing had drunk it ahead of time to show her resistance to an arranged political marriage.
“Sigh...” Li Zhexian sighed. Poor wine made even the food tasteless.
“Waiter!”
The nimble waiter rushed over swiftly.
“Your orders, young master?”
“Is there any better wine in the imperial city of Tiandou than what you serve here?”
The waiter looked troubled. How could he admit his tavern’s wine was inferior? Normally, he’d give a disdainful glance to even the highest-ranking officials if they complained. But this young master had just given him a gold spirit coin!
Looking around to ensure no one was watching, the waiter leaned over, wiping a table with a shoulder cloth, and whispered:
“To be honest, young master, there are many wines better than those at Shanshang Tavern in Tiandou City, but those are all royal exclusive.”
“I’ve heard that the best royal wine is called—’Yaoguang Brew’.”
“Legend has it that its ingredients are starlight descending to the mortal realm, mingling with dew gathered from the tips of grass, hence the name ‘Yaoguang’.”
“I’ve also heard storytellers say: ‘Yaoguang is not merely wine, but a poem poured down from the night sky.’”
...
As Li Zhexian left Shanshang Tavern, he murmured, “Yaoguang Brew, Yaoguang Brew.”
For a wine lover like him, knowing such a wondrous brew existed but being unable to taste it was almost worse than death.
“Royal exclusive, huh...”
The waiter had also mentioned that even the royal family’s supply of Yaoguang Brew was extremely scarce—only three small jars produced each year, reserved for the founding ceremony.
“Sigh, I’ll take it slow. Tiandou City is beautiful, so staying here for a while won’t be in vain.”
Next, Li Zhexian rented a small courtyard. As he unpacked, the phrase “Yaoguang is not wine, but a poem poured down from the night sky” echoed repeatedly in his mind.
He imagined the night sky, starlight flowing like water, pouring down. And the Azure Lotus Sword immersed in that starlight.
Li Zhexian stood dazed.
Above his brow, the Azure Lotus Sword imprint flickered uncertainly.
“The first move of the sword technique I created...”
“I think I’m beginning to understand.”