It turned out that
Xiao Wu shook her head and stuck out her cute pink little tongue. "That teacher was just too strong—how could I blame you? This place is really different from Nuoding. Everyone here seems incredibly powerful. At least there wasn't anyone at the Soul Douluo level."
Tang San asked curiously, "How do you know there aren't any Soul Douluo-level Soul Masters at the academy? Teacher Zhao is only the vice principal—maybe the principal is at the Soul Douluo level?"
Xiao Wu paused for a moment, then said somewhat evasively, "I was just guessing. After all, why would a Soul Douluo settle for a quiet life in a small place like this?"
Tang San didn't suspect anything and didn't press further. He took Xiao Wu's soft hand and said, "Let's go find something to eat. You must be hungry."
"Sure, I'm hungry too." Xiao Wu nodded. By now she had returned to her usual lively self, linking her arm through Tang San's of her own accord.
Having just arrived, and both having been knocked unconscious from battle the day before, they knew absolutely nothing about Shrek Academy. With no other choice, they could only look for rising smoke and try to find somewhere that had food.
The village wasn't large, and as they walked, without even realizing it, they had wandered beyond the boundaries of Shrek Academy.
The academy grounds were quiet, but the villagers on the other side were already bustling with activity. Rising with the sun to work—that was the habit of ordinary farmers. They needed to farm to feed their families. Having no idea where the academy's breakfast was, Tang San had decided to head into the village to buy some food to tide them over.
Just as they were about to approach a farmhouse, they spotted a young man and woman arguing not far ahead.
Neither of the two young people looked very old. The girl appeared to be about fourteen or fifteen. Her features were plain, but she brimmed with youthful energy. Dressed in simple farm clothes, she was almost certainly a village girl.
The boy arguing with her looked even younger—about the same age as Tang San and Xiao Wu. Short in stature, he was plump all over yet somehow gave off an air of solidity. Short hair, small eyes, and puffy cheeks that bulged with fat gave him a somewhat cute appearance. The funniest part was the two wispy mustache-like hairs on his upper lip, which seemed to have just sprouted from puberty and looked for all the world like two rat whiskers.
The girl looked at the chubby boy, a trace of fear in her eyes. "
The chubby boy said in a strange, whiny voice, "Cui, haven't I been good to you? Why are you breaking up with me?"
Tang San and Xiao Wu exchanged glances, both seeing the amusement in the other's eyes. Kids these days really were getting into relationships early—talking about breaking up at such a young age. They couldn't help but stop and watch with interest.
Cui's face flushed red. "You are nice to me, but I really can't stand you anymore. We're not right for each other—go find someone else. Besides, I'm several years older than you. Please, just stop looking for me."
The chubby boy, Ma Hongjun, flew into a rage. "What do you mean you can't stand me? I really don't understand what you women are thinking. Fine, we can break up—give me one more time, and then I'll break up with you. Otherwise, no deal."
As he spoke, the chubby boy reached out to grab Cui's hand.
Cui retreated like a frightened little rabbit, but the chubby boy was quick, and he still managed to catch her wrist.
Cui pleaded, "No, not again. Just let me go. Are you even human?"
Xiao Wu couldn't stand it any longer and jumped out in a single step. "Stop right there."
The chubby boy and Cui both froze, looking toward her. The fat boy's small eyes blinked, his rat-whisker mustache twitching a few times, and his gaze lit up. "What a pretty girl. So, you want to take her place as my girlfriend? Sure, no problem. I'm in."
"Nonsense!" Xiao Wu flew into a rage and kicked at his hand, knocking it away from Cui. "You little rascal! You're already turning to no good at such a young age. In broad daylight, are you trying to kidnap a girl?"
Hearing this, the chubby boy's expression immediately darkened. "This is our business. Stop sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. If you're not going to be my woman, then get lost."
"You—" Xiao Wu was about to strike, but Tang San appeared in front of her.
"Your name is Ma Hongjun, right? Please stop bothering this young lady." Having learned his lesson from yesterday, Tang San wasn't about to let Xiao Wu start a fight so casually. Besides, he had a vague sense that the chubby boy before him wasn't as simple as he looked.
Ma Hongjun snorted dismissively. "Who do you think you are, butting into my business? Looking for trouble, are you?"
Tang San's expression turned cold. "Whose 'father' are you?"
Ma Hongjun's rat-whisker mustache twitched. "Whoever butts in—that's whose father I am."
Tang San moved.
No matter how patient he was, he could not tolerate such an insult. His feet shifted into the Ghost Shadow Phantom Trail, and he launched a kick straight at the chubby boy's chest. The force behind this kick was held in check, controlled with exquisite precision. If the chubby boy was merely an ordinary person, it would at most knock him over. If he possessed some special ability, then Tang San could unleash the full power of this kick at any moment.
Just as Tang San had guessed, the chubby boy was no ordinary person. Seeing the kick coming, he met it head-on without hesitation, crossing both fists in front of him to block. A faint purple glow shimmered across his body—clearly the fluctuation of Soul Power.
Tang San's kick, which had been hurtling forward, suddenly halted in midair. He transitioned from a kick to a stomp, driving his foot down toward the chubby boy's lower abdomen.
The chubby boy reacted just as quickly, sweeping both fists downward to hammer at Tang San's foot.
(End of Chapter)