Ye Feng set up a tent.
It wasn't that he didn't want to take Zhu Qing back to Tiandou City; he was mainly concerned about the many prying eyes and the potential negative impact.
Moreover, Sunset Forest had everything you could want, all sorts of herbs were readily available, and it wasn't a place to show off accomplishments.
"This, where is this?"
Zhu Qing looked around, somewhat bewildered.
"Sunset Forest."
Ye Feng answered.
"Teacher, was it you who watched over me all night and treated my wounds?"
Zhu Qing asked Ye Feng.
"Don't call me teacher, I'm not that old, we're all about the same age, just be casual."
Ye Feng said to Zhu Qing.
Mainly because at his age, it didn't really suit Zhu Qing to call him teacher.
And he didn't much like the title either.
The thing Ye Feng liked least of all was acting like a know-it-all.
"Ah? Then what should I call you instead of teacher?"
Zhu Qing asked with some confusion.
"Young Master Ye or Ye Gongzi are fine, let's just not use 'teacher', I'm still young and there's no need for such an old-fashioned title."
Ye Feng said.
"Then, how about I call you Young Master Ye, what do you think?"
Zhu Qing seemed to be asking for Ye Feng's opinion.
"That's fine."
Ye Feng nodded.
"Young Master Ye, thank you. If there's anything you need me to do, just say the word, and I, Zhu Qing, will do my best."
Zhu Qing said.
"No need for such formality, just 'you' is fine, the 'you' makes me feel a bit awkward. Although I am your teacher, you can just consider me a friend."
Ye Feng said.
"Ah? How could that be proper? There should be certain etiquette between master and disciple, how could I do something so disrespectful?"
Zhu Qing said.
If it weren't for the fact that they had already sworn a master-disciple oath, she might have begun to doubt whether Ye Feng no longer wanted her as a disciple.
"No problem, I don't care about those so-called rules here. You can either treat me as a friend or even as an elder brother, whatever you prefer."
Ye Feng said to Zhu Qing.
Just imagine, you're only fourteen years old, and someone keeps calling you 'teacher', how would that feel?
"Alright then, Young Master Ye, is there anything you need me to do?"
Zhu Qing asked Ye Feng.
"Nothing for now, just come here every Saturday and Sunday, and I can teach you some combat skills and survival techniques. You've been away from Shrek Academy for a day already, you should head back when it gets light."
Ye Feng said to Zhu Qing.
"Oh."
Zhu Qing nodded.
Her eyebrows were slightly lowered.
She seemed a bit sad overall.
"What's the matter?"
Ye Feng seemed to notice Zhu Qing's downcast demeanor and immediately asked.
"Nothing, so Young Master Ye, how should I contact you?"
Zhu Qing looked at Ye Feng.
After all, tomorrow was Saturday.
"Wait for me here tomorrow night, or set a time, and I'll be at Qing Feng Tea House during the day. Just come tell me when you're free."
Ye Feng said.
"Okay."
Zhu Qing nodded and said.
And so the two of them returned to Tiandou City and had something to eat.
Then Ye Feng went back to Tian Dou Royal Academy.
Meanwhile, Zhu Qing returned to Shrek Academy.
It was now eight in the morning.
However, just as she arrived at the entrance of Shrek Academy, Zhu Zhuqing noticed many students gathered around a wall.
It seemed like they were looking at something.
But Zhu Zhuqing wasn't interested in these things.
Right now, all she wanted to do was return to her dormitory, take a bath, and sleep well.
"Is that Zhu Zhuqing, the goddess senior with the amazing figure?"
"Yeah, that's her. But why on earth was she expelled?"
...
Meanwhile, on Zhu Zhuqing's way back,
she suddenly heard many people discussing her matter.
She even heard the word "expelled."
"Hmm?"
In curiosity, Zhu Zhuqing also made her way to the school entrance.
There, a large notice was posted.
What caught her eye was an expulsion notice.
Student Expulsion Notice of the Academy.
Zhu Zhuqing, female, 14 years old.
She had left the school without permission from the school leaders for a duration of twelve hours and missed classes for an entire morning and afternoon without any contact or explanation to the Dean, teachers, or classmates.
To uphold school discipline and rules, and to educate Zhu Zhuqing and all students, according to Article 9 of Section 15, Chapter 5 of the "Shrek Academy Student Code," it was decided to expel student Zhu Zhuqing.
We hope all students will take this as a warning, cultivate good study habits, study diligently, make strict demands on oneself, conscientiously abide by school rules and regulations, and be a qualified student.
Shrek Academy Student Affairs Office.
The bright red seal of Shrek was stamped on it.
"Zhuqing Sister, you're back. What on earth were you doing last night?!"
Suddenly, Ning Rongrong who had just returned to the school from breakfast outside spotted Zhu Zhuqing, her face filled with surprise.
"I've actually been expelled."
For some reason, Zhu Zhuqing seemed very calm about it.
Her heart didn't even ripple.
"No worries, I'll take you to see Dean Flender right away. I've asked, and Dean Flender and the others really don't want to expel you. It was the Master's unilateral decision. It's not too late to restore your school status," Ning Rongrong said, pulling Zhu Zhuqing's hand.
Although Zhu Zhuqing rarely spoke,
Ning Rongrong still regarded her as a friend,
the kind with a fairly good relationship.
She was incredibly worried about Zhu Zhuqing's disappearance last night.
"No need, thank you, Rongrong. I'm also very happy that I could meet a friend like you during my time at Shrek. Compared to when you first arrived, you really have changed a lot. All good things come to an end, I should go back and pack my things."
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Ning Rongrong, her beautiful eyes shimmering with intelligence.
"Sister Zhuqing, don't be rash. That Master is a lunatic. Who expels someone for being out for one day? It's outrageous! We must go to Dean Flender!!" Ning Rongrong implored Zhu Zhuqing.
The academy was already in shambles.
If Sister Zhuqing left, the Shrek Seven Monsters they had worked so hard to establish would be no more.
"It's not necessary. A good horse doesn't eat the grass behind it, it's meaningless," Zhu Zhuqing said, shaking her head.
Being expelled might be for the best.
She could now study with her master.
Compared to staying at Shrek Academy, she would learn more with her master and become even stronger!
"Sister Zhuqing!!"
Ning Rongrong continued chasing after her.
On the other side, at the practice field,
"According to the information we've gathered, Zhu Qing did indeed enter Sunset Forest yesterday, in the afternoon,"
the investigator who'd gone to gather information early in the morning handed the report to Zhao Wuji.
Zhao Wuji did not hide anything and truthfully told Dai Mubai and the others about the clues that had cost them thousands of gold coins.
In the afternoon it was discovered that Zhu Zhuqing had entered Sunset Forest, and then she didn't come out for the whole night.
...