Chapter 65 What should I say when we part?
After a brief moment of stunned silence, everyone finally came to their senses as they watched Zhu Zhuqing resolutely walk away.
"Zhuqing! Have you gone mad?"
Dai Mubai was the first to rush forward.
He flashed forward, blocking the exit of the passage, his arms outstretched, his evil eyes filled with anxiety and anger, and even a hint of panic he had never shown before:
"Where can you go?"
"Don't forget who we are! Don't forget the rules of the Star Luo Empire!"
Dai Mubai stared intently at Zhu Zhuqing, trying to make her turn around with the sword hanging over their heads:
"If we can't defeat my brother and your sister by the appointed time, we'll face certain death! Or we'll be crippled and imprisoned for life!"
"At this critical juncture, if you leave Shrek Academy and leave me, you're courting death!"
"Are you going to be a deserter?!"
Faced with Dai Mubai's stern questioning, Zhu Zhuqing stopped in her tracks.
She raised her head, her cool face showing no fear, only a faint hint of mockery.
"Deserter?"
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Dai Mubai as if she were looking at a clown:
"Dai Mubai, don't you find it ironic to say that word?"
"Who was it that couldn't withstand the pressure from their family back then, abandoned their struggling fiancée, and fled to Soto City to indulge in debauchery and a life of pleasure?"
"You, a former deserter, do you have the right to talk to me like that?"
Dai Mubai's face instantly turned a deep shade of liver, and he angrily retorted:
"I... I've changed! Aren't I trying my best now? Why are you so vindictive and petty?"
"Heh, you changed?"
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head, the last trace of emotion in her eyes vanishing, leaving only a calm, still expression.
"It doesn't matter anymore."
"I was really stupid before. In order to keep up with you and for that so-called chance to 'survive,' I pushed myself to the point of being inhuman."
"But now, I understand."
She took a deep breath, her clear voice echoing in the empty corridor:
"I am not your vassal, nor a tool of the family."
"I am Zhu Zhuqing, I am myself."
"Being born into the Zhu family is something I cannot change; dying under the rules is something I may not be able to decide. But..."
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes became incredibly bright, a light of a free soul:
"I decide the process from birth to death."
"Rather than living a disgusting life by your side and practicing that insincere Martial Soul Fusion Technique, I would rather use my last moments to see the world and live for myself one last time."
"So, please move aside."
These words were powerful and thought-provoking.
Dai Mubai stood frozen in place, feeling as insignificant as dust before those clear, unfathomable eyes.
"Zhuqing, don't be impulsive!"
Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong also panicked and ran over to grab her hands.
"We've all been together for so long, how can we just leave like that?"
Even the usually tough Yu Xiaogang finally panicked when he saw Zhu Zhuqing's resolute attitude.
Without the Nether Spirit Cat, his Netherworld White Tiger tactic is useless, and the Shrek Seven Devils are incomplete!
"Ahem... Zhu Zhuqing, I spoke too harshly just now."
Yu Xiaogang's face flushed red, and he finally swallowed his pride and said something conciliatory:
"Dropping out of school is no small matter. Even if you want to leave, at least... at least wait for Dean Flander to return and get his permission, right? Leaving without saying goodbye is extremely disrespectful to your teachers."
He's stalling for time; there might still be a chance if Flander comes back.
Zhu Zhuqing gently freed herself from Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong's hands, bowed slightly to everyone, and said goodbye.
Then, she turned around, her gaze passing through the crowd and landing on the man at the very back who had been leaning against the wall, quietly watching everything.
Ye Liuyun.
Their eyes met.
Zhu Zhuqing looked at his indifferent expression.
She tilted her head, looked at Ye Liuyun, and a playful smile appeared on her lips:
"Everyone tried to persuade me, even the master gave in."
Aren't you going to try to persuade me?
If it weren't for Ye Liuyun's questions like "Why live?" and "Isn't being single okay?", she might still be struggling in that quagmire.
Upon hearing this, all eyes immediately turned to Ye Liuyun.
Ye Liuyun scratched his head and gave a helpless, bitter smile.
Advise?
What kind of advice can I give?
I never expected those few bowls of toxic chicken soup to be so effective, directly causing her to run away from home.
Now, the Shrek Seven Devils have become six.
However, looking into Zhu Zhuqing's eyes, which yearned for freedom, Ye Liuyun knew that saying "stay" at this moment would be hypocritical nonsense.
He sighed, unsure of what to say.
"I'll treat you to a meal sometime."
Puff.
Zhu Zhuqing was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.
What kind of farewell is this?
"Yeah, let's have a meal together sometime."
At the entrance to the passage, a cool night breeze blew.
As Zhu Zhuqing's figure was about to disappear into the night, Xiao Wu finally couldn't help but take a few steps after her and call out:
"Zhuqing! Wait a minute!"
"Even if you really have to leave, could you wait for Dean Flander to return? Perhaps he can give you some better advice on life, even if it's just about which academy to go to!"
Zhu Zhuqing paused slightly in her steps.
She didn't turn around; her back was to the crowd, and her voice sounded exceptionally ethereal and free in the night breeze.
"Xiao Wu, thank you for your kindness."
"However, life doesn't need too much advice from others."
She looked up at the starry sky, a relieved smile playing on her lips:
"Take charge of your own life."
"Take care."
This time, she had no lingering attachments. With a flash, she vanished into the vast night like a true ghostly cat.
...
Zhu Zhuqing left gracefully, leaving behind only chaos and deathly silence for the Shrek Academy members.
The atmosphere was extremely awkward, as if the air was thick with the smell of gunpowder about to explode.
"Heh... gone... really gone..."
Dai Mubai stared blankly at the empty exit, muttering to himself. In that instant, he seemed to have lost all his energy and spirit.
But soon, this sense of loss transformed into extreme rage.
He turned around abruptly, his bloodshot, malevolent eyes no longer looking at Ye Liuyun, with whom he had always been at odds, but instead fixing their gaze on the "culprit" behind it all—Yu Xiaogang.
"Master."
Dai Mubai gritted his teeth, his voice squeezed out from between them, filled with chilling hatred:
"Are you satisfied now?"
Yu Xiaogang also looked dejected. Hearing Dai Mubai's question, he opened his mouth, wanting to explain:
"Mu Bai, I didn't expect her to be so strong-willed. I was only doing this for your own good, for the team..."
"Fuck you, it's for our own good!"
Dai Mubai finally snapped.
He grabbed Yu Xiaogang by the collar, slammed the theoretical master against the wall, and spat in his face:
"What kind of teacher are you?"
"If Zhu Zhuqing is unwilling to integrate, then give her time to adapt! Why force her? Why rush things?"
"Just for that damn tournament championship of yours? Just to prove your so-called 'invincible theory'?"
Dai Mubai's eyes were bloodshot, like a wild beast ready to devour its prey.
"We are human beings! We are flesh-and-blood human beings! We are not tools for you to gain fame! Nor are we pawns on your chessboard!"
"Now look what's happened! She's gone! You drove her away! Are you happy now?"
This series of roars was like a series of heavy hammer blows, making Yu Xiaogang dizzy.
He was speechless.
Because Dai Mubai is right.
Although he claimed it was "for the good of the students," deep down, he was indeed eager to prove himself.
They were too eager to amaze the world with various tricks, which led them to act too hastily and ultimately result in this outcome.
Seeing his teacher being humiliated like this, Tang San, who had been silently enduring it all along, finally couldn't stand it anymore.
"Dai Mubai! Have you gone mad?"
Tang San stepped forward, grabbed Dai Mubai's wrist, and used the Mysterious Jade Hand technique to force him to let go.
"How dare you speak to a teacher like that? Don't you understand the importance of respecting teachers?"
"Let go!"
Dai Mubai sneered, not only not letting go, but instead shaking off Tang San's hand.
"He doesn't even deserve it?"
Dai Mubai pointed at the pale-faced Yu Xiaogang and ruthlessly tore away the veil of pretense that had been maintained:
"Tang San, it's your business if you treat him like a treasure."
"But what is he in my eyes?"
"A Great Soul Master with only level 29 soul power, a piece of trash who can never break through to level 30 in his entire life!"
Boom!
Upon hearing those two words, Yu Xiaogang trembled violently, his face turning ashen, as if his soul had been ripped away.
This was his biggest sore spot in his life, and the root of his deepest inferiority complex.
Dai Mubai showed no sign of stopping and continued:
"If it weren't for Dean Flander's sake, do you think I would listen to a piece of trash like him pointing fingers here?"
"Teach us tactics? Teach us training?"
"He can't even master it himself, so why should he teach us geniuses?"
"You're asking for it!"
Tang San was completely furious.
His teacher was his Achilles' heel, the most sacred and inviolable being in his heart.
Dai Mubai's words "trash" directly crossed Tang San's bottom line.
Buzz!
Tang San instantly activated his Purple Demon Eye, and his left hand reached for the Twenty-Four Moon Bridges at his waist, with several bone-piercing nails already fastened to his fingertips.
A chilling, bone-chilling killing intent instantly locked onto Dai Mubai.
Want to fight?
Tang San's voice was chilling and devoid of any emotion:
"Dai Mubai, I don't mind letting you lie down right now."
"Come on! You think I'm afraid of you?"
Dai Mubai was also furious. His White Tiger Martial Soul instantly possessed him, and his third soul ring lit up. He confronted Tang San without showing any weakness.
It looked like the two were about to fight in the passage and completely shatter Shrek's defenses.
"Stop! Stop hitting him!"
"Boss! Third Brother! Calm down!"
Oscar and Ma Hongjun were terrified and rushed forward. One of them grabbed Tang San's waist, and the other held onto Dai Mubai tightly.
"Zhuqing just left, and you're already turning on each other? You're making yourselves a laughingstock!"
"Dean Flander hasn't returned yet. If you two start fighting, this academy will be finished!"
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[end of the chapter]