After leaving the training ground, she found herself back at the dormitory without realizing it.
Just as she was about to push open the door, the door of the neighboring room suddenly opened.
'You're back!'
The one who spoke was Meng Yiran.
As the only two girls in Shrek Academy, after joining Heaven Dou Academy they had naturally been assigned adjacent rooms.
Zhu Zhuqing gave a slight nod in greeting while pushing open her door.
Her expression at the moment carried a trace of heaviness, as if weighed down by some worry.
Normally, though she rarely spoke, she would still exchange a few words with Meng Yiran.
Sensing something amiss, Meng Yiran looked surprised.
'You seem to have something on your mind?'
'Did that guy Yu Xiaogang say something to you?'
In private, Meng Yiran couldn't even be bothered to call him Grandmaster.
To her, this man who made her run laps with stones on her back like a fool deserved no respect at all.
Zhu Zhuqing forced a faint smile and shook her head.
'Don't worry, I'm fine.'
Despite her words, Meng Yiran grew even more certain of her suspicion.
That old geezer Yu Xiaogang must have said something to Zhu Zhuqing; otherwise, why would her mood seem so unstable?
With only three girls in the team, the two had gotten along reasonably well after months together.
Back at Shrek Academy, they had even shared a room.
Not long ago on the training ground, Meng Yiran had just been scolded by Yu Xiaogang and was already upset with him. Seeing Zhu Zhuqing apparently in the same boat, she felt a surge of shared resentment.
She stepped out, grabbed Zhu Zhuqing's wrist without explanation, and said,
'Zhuqing, come with me!'
With that, she pulled the stunned Zhu Zhuqing into her own room and poured her a cup of water.
'No matter what that guy Yu Xiaogang said to you, don't take it to heart. From what I hear out there, he's a good-for-nothing who has no business calling himself Grandmaster.'
Mentioning Yu Xiaogang, her tone carried undisguised resentment, venting the frustration of recent days.
'Look what he makes me train every day—'
'Either weighted runs or all sorts of physical drills. Couldn't I do that anywhere?'
'I know he looks down on my talent; he thinks someone of his stature should be teaching Geniuses like Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Oscar.'
A sneer flashed across Meng Yiran's Face.
'Well, I've figured it out—he's an arrogant waste, ambitions higher than the sky but a life thinner than paper, convinced Tang San's achievements are all thanks to him.'
'He doesn't realize that Geniuses like Tang San would've succeeded with or without him.'
After this outburst, Meng Yiran felt much better.
She looked at Zhu Zhuqing and asked curiously, 'With your talent, why did you choose to join Shrek Academy back then?'
The Hell CivetSpirit was unique to the Star Luo Zhu Family—hardly a secret.
Yet Douluo Continent's Spirit Masters generally scorned theory, so even a scion like Meng Yiran knew nothing of Zhu Zhuqing's background.
Hearing the question, Zhu Zhuqing sighed as she thought of the brutal Star Luo imperial struggles.
'It was more or less an accident.'
Back then, she had placed great hopes on Dai Mubai.
But the greater the hope, the bigger the disappointment: what awaited her was a Dai Mubai who spent his days in debauchery.
On the outskirts of Star Dou Great Forest, with Yang Yuan's presence, the Shrek group had looked like clowns who bullied the weak but feared the strong.
When Huang Dou Battle Team visited Shrek Academy, she had even seen Dai Mubai's ugly Face after learning Ning Rongrong's identity.
All of it left a thorn in her heart, preventing her from completing SpiritFusion with Dai Mubai.
Beside her, Meng Yiran asked, puzzled, 'Zhuqing, you're not Tang San—you're not Yu Xiaogang's Disciple, nor are you as attached to Shrek as Little Ao and the others. Why not change classes?'
'Sister Yiran, haven't you also chosen not to transfer?' Zhu Zhuqing countered instead of answering.
Meng Yiran replied frankly, 'If it weren't for Little Ao, do you think I'd stay here?'
'You know I have to take him back to the Family. If I'm not around, some fox might Spirit him away.'
This was no idle worry. Though Oscar usually hung out with Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, his talent spoke for itself—the only food systemInnate Full Spirit PowerGenius on the continent.
If he wished, half the girls in Heaven Dou Academy would scheme to win him over.
Understanding dawned on Zhu Zhuqing, and a mix of emotions flickered across her Face—temptation, hesitation, uncertainty. Everyone knew Yu Xiaogang's teaching ability.
While she didn't see him as a total waste like Meng Yiran did, she certainly didn't think he taught well.
More importantly, Zhu Zhuqing felt Yu Xiaogang obsessed over the All-Continent High-Level Spirit Master Academy Tournament.
They were at the best age for Cultivating spirit power, yet he poured vast time into combat drills and teamwork.
To her, this seemed to put the cart before the horse.
Shouldn't Spirit Masters prioritize Spirit Power Level?
Besides, their group was young; they could wait for the next Soul Master Tournament—there was plenty of time to polish teamwork later.
Yet Yu Xiaogang never considered this.
He hungered to use the tournament's results to wash away his own disgrace.
Seeing the temptation on Zhu Zhuqing's Face, Meng Yiran said mysteriously, 'I've been asking around about Heaven Dou Academy these days—guess what I found out?'
'What did you find?'
Zhu Zhuqing, curious at her secretive look, showed interest.
She spent almost all her time Cultivating and knew nothing of the outside world.
'You remember Yang Yuan, right?'
'Yes. Does your information involve him?' Zhu Zhuqing nodded, Yang Yuan's figure surfacing in her mind.
She remembered him vividly: a Genius greater than Tang San, a twelve-year-old Spirit Emperor without equal in history.
Often she wondered—if she possessed Yang Yuan's talent, she could grasp her own fate.
Meng Yiran shared everything she had learned.
When Zhu Zhuqing heard that every student Yang Yuan guided had improved dramatically, her eyes lit up and she blurted,
'Is it really that miraculous?'
Meng Yiran shook her head. 'What I heard was even more exaggerated than what I just said.'
'You've seen Huang Dou Battle Team's matches, right?'
'Members in their thirties suppressing opponents in their forties—all taught by him.'
'A while ago, Five Elements Academy came to Heaven Dou for exchanges; their Geniuses scrambled for a chance to receive Yang Yuan's guidance.'
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing's desire deepened.
But soon she shook her head, a flash of disappointment crossing her Face.
'Even if I want to change classes, it won't be easy. I only just reached Rank 29. By the rules I should be in the Heaven-Primary class; the academy already made an exception letting me stay in Heaven Dou Class Four. Why would they agree to let me transfer?'
'True…' Meng Yiran rubbed her chin, then her eyes lit up.
'Zhuqing, how about I ask for you?'
'Would that work?' Zhu Zhuqing hesitated.
'Leave it to me. My grandparents still have some Face in Heaven Dou Empire, and with your talent, it might just happen.'
A gleam of hope appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's Face.
'Then I'll trouble you.'
'Small matter.' Meng Yiran waved her hand.
Apart from their friendship, Zhu Zhuqing's talent made her a worthwhile investment.
(End of Chapter)
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