Xu Yunhan led Zhu Qing to meet Zhao Wuji and Li Yusong one after another, then they wandered around the academy.
"Where are the other students? Why haven't I seen a single one? Didn't you say there were a few more?" Zhu Qing asked curiously.
Before coming to Shrek Academy, Xu Yunhan had deliberately withheld information about Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar—especially Dai Mubai.
Now that Zhu Qing had developed some fondness and trust for him, and had already joined Shrek Academy, knowing about Dai Mubai's existence probably wouldn't make her leave.
Xu Yunhan was overthinking it; in the original story, even when Zhu Qing knew Dai Mubai was at Shrek Academy, she didn't leave. And as long as you handle things well, everything would be fine.
"There are three more," Xu Yunhan said. "One is named Oscar—a prodigious talent with an innate full soul power food-type martial soul. He's just over thirteen years old, and his soul power level has reached 31."
"Innate full soul power food-type martial soul?" Zhu Qing was astonished. She had learned quite a bit about cultivation and understood how rare such a talent was.
She sighed, "Is Shrek Academy full of monsters like you? Don't tell me the other two are also innate full soul power!"
Xu Yunhan smiled. "Innate full soul power is very rare. Having two at Shrek Academy is already a stroke of luck. The other two aren't."
"One is Ma Hongjun—chubby and a bit lecherous."
"Mutated martial soul, but not entirely—just has some phoenix traits, so it's called the Fire Phoenix Martial Soul. He's just over eleven years old, with a soul power level of 29."
Zhu Qing knew about mutated martial souls: "Mutations can be good or bad. Looks like Ma Hongjun's situation is pretty good, otherwise he wouldn't have advanced so quickly."
Xu Yunhan said, "There's a side effect."
"What side effect?" Zhu Qing asked, curious.
Xu Yunhan lowered his voice, "He has an excess of fiery energy and often needs girls to help cool him down."
Zhu Qing immediately blushed and shot Xu Yunhan a glare. "Disgusting."
Xu Yunhan shrugged. "Ma Hongjun can't help it; you can't blame him entirely."
Zhu Qing thought: You didn't go partying with him too, did you? But she didn't dare say it out loud.
Xu Yunhan continued, "The last one is Dai Mubai. His martial soul is the Evil-Eyed White Tiger. He's fifteen years old, with a soul power level of 37."
When he finished speaking and looked at Zhu Qing, she was already stunned.
Hearing Dai Mubai's name, and knowing he was at Shrek Academy—it caught her completely off guard.
For a moment, she didn't know how to react.
"Zhu Qing, are you alright? Do you happen to know Dai Mubai?" Xu Yunhan asked knowingly, gently taking Zhu Qing's hand.
Zhu Qing came back to herself, unsure whether to say anything, worried Xu Yunhan might mind.
But it had to be faced!
She no longer wanted to leave or run away.
After thinking it over, she felt she had nothing to be ashamed of toward Dai Mubai. It was Dai Mubai who had abandoned her and left the Xingluo Empire first, and now he was out in Soto City living it up. If there was blame, it lay with him.
After much thought, she gathered her courage.
She looked up at Xu Yunhan, hesitated briefly, then said, "Yunhan, I do know Dai Mubai."
Xu Yunhan nodded. "I see. Dai Mubai is also from the Xingluo Empire. Didn't expect you two to know each other."
Zhu Qing sighed. "Yunhan, you've been in Soto City all along, so you don't know about the Xingluo Empire's affairs.
Actually, Dai Mubai is a prince of the Xingluo Empire. Our Zhu family is the largest duchy, and there's always been a political marriage alliance with the Dai family.
In our generation, both my older sister and I were betrothed.
My sister, Zhu Zhuyun, is the fiancée of Prince Davis, and I am the fiancée of Dai Mubai."
She stopped here, watching Xu Yunhan's reaction.
Xu Yunhan suddenly seemed to understand something. "Last night at the Rose Hotel—did you see Dai Mubai? Is that why you were upset? I heard the royal family is ruthless. Dai Mubai must have been cowardly, abandoned you, then escaped here!"
Zhu Qing was surprised that Xu Yunhan guessed correctly and was touched that he felt wronged on her behalf.
Her eyes welled with tears in sadness and gratitude. "Dai Mubai is cowardly, afraid to fight Prince Davis and the others for the heir's position, so he ran away.
I was hunted by Zhu Zhuyun and her followers and had no choice but to come to the Tiandou Empire.
I never thought I'd cross paths with Dai Mubai again, yet I met him here in Soto City.
Hmph! He's living well, indulging in pleasures as if nothing happened!
Being betrothed to someone like him is a disgrace!"
"But that's fine too. Ever since he fled the Xingluo Empire, he and I have had nothing to do with each other."
After saying that, she cautiously glanced at Xu Yunhan.
Xu Yunhan spoke with gentle care, "Arranged marriages between families— you're the victim here. None of this is your fault. Besides, Dai Mubai doesn't deserve you."
A sweet warmth blossomed in Zhu Qing's heart, and tears of gratitude welled up. "Yunhan, thank you."
Xu Yunhan reached out and wiped away her tears. "Zhu Qing, with me around, no one will ever bully you again. And as for Dai Mubai—if he dares to bother you, just watch me beat him into the ground."
With that, he pulled Zhu Qing close into his embrace.
Zhu Qing didn't resist; or rather, she didn't even realize it. Nestled quietly in Xu Yunhan's arms, she felt safe and warm.
After enduring so many harsh battles, Zhu Qing desperately needed someone to lean on.
Just then—
"Boss, I heard you brought back a new student. And a beauty at that?"
Suddenly, Oscar's voice rang out.
Not far behind him were Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun.
They had learned about this from Fland in Soto City and rushed back without delay, eager to see just how beautiful the girl Xu Yunhan had "persuaded" to join really was.
Of course, that was only Oscar and Ma Hongjun's thinking.
Dai Mubai was different. Ever since he heard Zhu Qing's name from Fland, unease gnawed at him. He strongly suspected this Zhu Qing was the fiancée he hadn't seen for years.
Now seeing her—his fiancée—nestled in Xu Yunhan's arms—
Dai Mubai froze, staring intently at Zhu Qing's face.
She looked exactly like her!
Though it had been five or six years since they last met, and Zhu Qing had grown up—grown a lot—he could still recognize her.
This was his fiancée, Dai Mubai's fiancée!
Yet now she was in someone else's arms!
Dai Mubai felt his pride take a heavy blow. Anger flared inside him, but he dared not lash out—he feared making a bigger fool of himself.
Maybe he should just pretend he never knew her?
After all, she was just a beautiful woman with a good figure. Though he was reluctant, there were plenty like her.
As long as he didn't say anything, and Zhu Qing kept quiet, no one would know, and he wouldn't lose face.
What mattered most to Dai Mubai was his pride and reputation.
He forced himself to calm down, then pretended not to recognize Zhu Qing as he slowly approached.
Ahead of him, Oscar and Ma Hongjun were already showering Zhu Qing with compliments, praising the boss Xu Yunhan for his good taste.
"Two suck-ups," Dai Mubai cursed silently.