As Zhu Zhuqing left first, Ning Rongrong, feeling uneasy, quickly followed. The Soto Great Spirit Arena was bustling with people, and with the Shrek Seven Devils gaining fame, it was risky for anyone in the group to wander alone.
Outside the rest area, Ye Hao was about to leave when a conversation from within caught his attention.
They were talking about him.
"Third Brother, who exactly is this Ye Hao you've mentioned? Why does he bother you so much?" Ma Hongjun asked lazily, looking for something to break the silence.
The moment Ye Hao's name was spoken, Xiao Wu's expression darkened. She glared at Ma Hongjun and snapped, "Fatty, why are you even mentioning him? Do you want a beating?"
For Xiao Wu, Ye Hao was synonymous with unpleasant memories.
From the very first encounter, when he humiliated her in front of others with a chokehold, to the years that followed, Ye Hao never showed her the slightest respect. To make matters worse, he had a habit of eating rabbit heads in her presence—specifically dishes made from Ten-Year Soft Bone Rabbits—just to provoke her. Every time, Xiao Wu was left fuming.
But what could she do? She couldn't beat him.
Ordinarily, Tang San would never allow anyone to treat Xiao Wu this way. If it were someone else, they would have faced Tang San's wrath long ago.
But Ye Hao wasn't just anyone. The Grandmaster had repeatedly instructed Tang San to avoid conflict with Ye Hao and instead to cultivate a good relationship. This forced restraint was the only reason Tang San hadn't acted.
Tang San narrowed his eyes, his tone heavy with resentment. "It happened three months ago."
Three Months Ago
With graduation just a few days away, the Grandmaster had summoned Tang San privately. His purpose was to convince Tang San to enroll in Flender's Shrek Academy. Tang San's talent was undeniable, and sending him to Shrek aligned with the Grandmaster's plans.
Tang San readily agreed. With Xiao Wu, whom he treated as a sibling, it was only natural that they go together.
"Ye Hao," the Grandmaster began, "you're graduating soon. Pack your things and head to Shrek Academy in a few days. You'll leave with Tang San and Xiao Wu."
The grandmaster's tone was confident, his hands clasped behind his back. With both Ye Hao and Tang San joining, Flender would surely be overjoyed.
Ye Hao, however, was all too familiar with Shrek Academy—a barely-licensed, unregistered school. It was a place where hardships awaited and one had to mingle with people he loathed. Just the thought of it made him shudder.
"Grandmaster," Ye Hao said, his expression flat, "who are you to me?"
The grandmaster was taken aback. "My student, of course. Why do you ask?"
"Your student?"
Ye Hao chuckled, a sound that immediately irritated Tang San.
To Tang San, the Grandmaster was a teacher deserving of absolute respect—a guiding figure in his life. Ye Hao's dismissive attitude was a blatant insult.
And this from someone who once considered killing the Grandmaster to protect the secret of his hidden weapons?
But Ye Hao saw things differently. To him, the Grandmaster was just another ordinary person—not a teacher, not someone he owed anything to.
Ye Hao's strength was the result of his own efforts, completely unrelated to the Grandmaster. The so-called norms of respect and hierarchy were merely constraints he refused to abide by.
Moreover, the commanding tone the Grandmaster used grated on him, as if attending Shrek Academy wasn't a choice but an obligation.
"What's so funny?" the grandmaster asked, sensing something amiss.
"Grandmaster," Ye Hao replied calmly, "as they say, forced melons are never sweet. I've never heard of Shrek Academy, and I have no interest in going there. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
Without waiting for a response, Ye Hao turned and walked away. The Grandmaster clenched his teeth, helpless in the face of Ye Hao's unyielding attitude.
For some reason, the Grandmaster couldn't shake the feeling that Ye Hao deliberately opposed him at every turn.
Ye Hao: Take out the word "feeling."
This confrontation planted a deep seed of resentment in Tang San. He couldn't act against Ye Hao, bound by the Grandmaster's warning: "Do not provoke Ye Hao. If anything happens to him, the entire Nuoding Primary Spirit Academy—and perhaps even Nuoding City—would face ruin."
Why such drastic consequences?
The Grandmaster believed Ye Hao was connected to someone from the Spirit Hall. If anything happened to him, the Spirit Hall's wrath would be unimaginable.
Ye Hao: You're overthinking this.
And so, by publicly defying the Grandmaster, Ye Hao solidified Tang San's hatred.
In the Shrek Seven Devils' rest area, Dai Mubai slammed his fist onto the table, shattering it into pieces.
"That Ye Hao! He's so full of himself. What's wrong with Shrek Academy? He looks down on us. Fine! Next time I see him, I'll show him what my evil-eyed white tiger can do."
"Count me in!" Ma Hongjun declared, slapping his chest. His belly jiggled with the motion.
"Boss Dai, I'll be first in line if he dares insult Shrek again!"
Outside, Ye Hao, hidden behind his mask, smirked. A small notebook appeared in his hand, its title clearly written:
The Shrek Annihilation Plan.
With a snap, he closed the notebook.
Step One: Divide from Within.
His eyes shifted to the direction Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong had taken, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. Quietly, he followed them.
In the spacious hall of the arena, the crowd's attention was focused on the intense team battles, leaving the area mostly deserted.
Zhu Zhuqing removed her mask, revealing her striking features and curvaceous figure. Beside her, Ning Rongrong followed suit, her delicate face no longer concealed.
"Zhuqing, don't let it bother you," Ning Rongrong said soothingly. "Fatty's always like that. When we get back, Xiao Wu and I will deal with him."
Zhu Zhuqing sighed. "Rongrong, what do you think?"
"About Shrek Academy?"
"Huh?" Ning Rongrong blinked in surprise. "Why do you ask?"
"It's nothing," Zhu Zhuqing replied softly. "I just felt like asking."
After three grueling months at Shrek, Zhu Zhuqing had formed her own opinion. The academy might have been fine, but the people...
Short-tempered, prone to violence, and...
Zhu Zhuqing glanced down at her figure, sighed again, and shook her head. It's not like I chose to look like this.