Chapter 122: Shrek's Cowards, the Titan Giant Ape, and Xiao Wu
The sky above the outer region of the Star Dou Forest was so overcast it felt as though it might collapse at any moment.
It perfectly mirrored the mood of the Shrek group.
Zhao Wuji's face was ashen, his chest heaving violently.
Soul power surged chaotically within him, as if a hornet's nest had exploded inside his body.
He had just led a group of brats in a desperate escape from the Titan Giant Ape. The ordeal had nearly shaken his old bones apart.
Titled Douluo invincible under the sky?
Bah, Zhao Wuji dared to say that in front of a monster like that, an average Titled Douluo was nothing.
He panted heavily and glanced back.
Five students. Five different expressions.
The atmosphere was so stiff it could freeze the air.
"Run! Hurry up and run! What are we waiting for?!"
Ma Hongjun's legs were still trembling. Even his voice shook.
The look of terror on his face had not faded since earlier, and the dark stain on his pants was painfully obvious.
That roar from the Titan Giant Ape was still echoing in his mind like a subwoofer blasting in his skull.
"Teacher Zhao, let's retreat quickly!"
He nearly wailed. "I can't stay here another second!"
It was really too terrifying.
Dai Mubai stood nearby, his gaze dark enough to drip with malice.
He forced a crooked smile, his voice hoarse. "Fatty is right. The Titan Giant Ape isn't something we can deal with at all. Resisting it is just seeking death."
Deep down, he almost wished those two had died in there.
Lin Qingmo and Tang San.
One was a freakishly talented outsider who appeared out of nowhere, constantly lingering near Zhuqing.
The other had directly destroyed his foundation as a man.
Both deserved to rot.
"Are you even human?!"
Ning Rongrong's face flushed red with anger, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
"Xiao Wu was taken, and Lin Qingmo went to save her. And here you are, talking about running away?"
She glared fiercely at Ma Hongjun. "Coward! Spineless coward!"
Zhu Zhuqing said nothing.
She just gave Dai Mubai a cold glance, her eyes like ice picks, making Dai Mubai feel a chill in his heart.
"They are our companions."
Her voice was soft, but every word struck firmly.
"Even if we cannot win, we should think of a way, not abandon them and flee."
She turned her gaze toward the depths of the forest.
The dense canopy blocked out the sky, casting everything in dim twilight gloom.
The towering ancient trees stood like silent giants, their twisted branches clawing at the air.
Lin Qingmo, please… Please do not let anything happen.
"What coward? We call this a strategic retreat!"
Ma Hongjun shouted defensively.
"Do you even understand? If that thing slaps us once, we'll all turn into meat paste! That's a hundred-thousand-year soul beast!"
Dai Mubai, stung by her contempt, spoke grimly. "Zhuqing, it's not that we don't want to save them. It's that we're powerless before a hundred-thousand-year soul beast."
"Enough!"
Zhao Wuji stomped hard.
The ground cracked as dust flew into the air.
"Shut up, all of you!"
Spittle flew as he roared.
"Now, immediately, recover your soul power. Once you're ready, we go back to find them!"
"I've never been a deserter in my life!"
His mind was perfectly clear.
Lin Qingmo and Xiao Wu were the two most monstrous talents Shrek had seen since its founding.
Flender treasured them like priceless gems. If anything happened to them, that old bird would skin him alive.
As for Tang San…
Zhao Wuji shuddered.
Tang Hao's son.
If that kid died and that Clear Sky Douluo came knocking—Zhao Wuji touched his neck, feeling a chilly breeze.
Even ten lives would not be enough to compensate.
Seeing Zhao Wuji erupt in fury, Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai fell silent.
Reluctantly, they sat down cross-legged and began circulating their soul power.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing found a relatively clean patch of ground and sat back-to-back.
Oscar crouched nearby, rubbing his hands together as he muttered while making sausages. "If only I had a combat-type martial soul…"
No one responded.
The forest was eerily quiet.
Only the rustling of leaves in the wind and distant, faint roars of soul beasts broke the silence.
Ning Rongrong closed her eyes, her thoughts in turmoil.
Unable to resist, she opened the chat group.
Her fingers swiped across the virtual interface and found that familiar avatar.
[Little Witch]: @Dad Douluo, Ah Qing, what are you doing?
She stared at the screen after sending it.
No response.
Zhu Zhuqing also sent a message.
[Big Chested Kitty]: @Dad Douluo, reply when you see this.
Still nothing.
[Tyrant Dragon Mom]: Oh? You two care about that brat so much today? How strange. Usually, he's the noisiest one in the group. Why is he playing dead now?
[Bingbing]: Hmph. Didn't he say he was heading to the Star Dou Forest to hunt? Maybe he fed himself to a soul beast. Hehe.
The Ice Empress would not mind that outcome at all.
[Ice and Snow Maiden]: Bing'er, don't talk nonsense.
[Bingbing]: Just kidding. Doesn't he have a Titled Douluo master? He must have life-saving methods. He won't die.
[A Rogue Rabbit]: What happened to Ah Qing?!
Xiao Wu's avatar suddenly popped up.
Ning Rongrong bit her lip, unsure how to respond.
She could not reveal what had just happened. She had to maintain her role as just another group member.
…
Star Dou Forest, core region.
The trees here were even thicker than those outside. Their layered crowns sealed off the sky completely.
Light filtered down through narrow cracks, casting mottled shadows on the ground.
The Titan Giant Ape crouched on the forest floor.
This colossal creature, over fifteen meters tall, was curled up like a child who had done something wrong.
Its head was lowered.
Two lantern-sized eyes peeked upward timidly at the small figure standing before it.
"Er Ming!"
Xiao Wu placed her hands on her hips, her cheeks puffed out in anger.
"You've got some nerve! Who told you to snatch me away?!"
The Titan Giant Ape let out a low whimper.
The sound was deep and muffled, full of grievance.
It had simply missed Sister Xiao Wu.
Sensing her presence at the forest's edge, it had rushed over in excitement without thinking.
It just wanted to spend more time with her.
"I don't care if you missed me!"
Xiao Wu stomped her foot. "I have to go back right now. Lin Qingmo will panic if he can't find me!"
His smiling face flashed through her mind.
The warmth of his fingers when he ruffled her hair.
The Titan Giant Ape's eyes dimmed.
Slowly, very slowly, it lowered its massive head to the ground.
The movement was careful, as if afraid of brushing against her.
Seeing this, Xiao Wu softened.
She sighed and walked forward, gently stroking its coarse fur.
"Alright."
Her voice turned gentle.
"Er Ming, I know you meant well. But I really have to go."
The Titan Giant Ape lifted its head, its eyes glistening.
"When I have time, I promise I'll come back to see you and Da Ming."
She spoke earnestly.
The Titan Giant Ape blinked and nodded slowly.
Xiao Wu immediately turned and dashed toward the outer forest.
Her figure weaved swiftly between the giant trees like a true rabbit.
Her black hair streamed behind her in a graceful arc.
Seeing Qingmo's silence in the chat group only made her more anxious.
Faster.
Faster!
"Qingmo, please don't do anything foolish!"
—
End of Chapter