On the secluded hillside behind Shrek Academy, a fierce battle was already erupting.
They had picked this place for a reason—it was far enough from campus that no one would accidentally wander into the storm.
Before Zao Wou-ki could even steady his stance, Liu Erlong charged straight at him.
"Seventh Soul Skill—Martial Soul, True Body!"
Her sharp cry split the air as scales and fire burst to life. At the same moment, unwilling to be outdone, Zao Wou-ki released his own Martial Soul body, his enormous form radiating raw, stubborn power. His defensive ability instantly doubled, and he straightened with the kind of confidence only a man used to being beaten could muster.
"The first soul ability—Body of the Undying Vajra!"
Golden light swept across his broad frame, layers of protective halos forming into a solid shield. Zao Wou-ki grinned faintly. With his defense turned up this high, surely it would hold even against Liu Erlong's wild temper.
But Liu Erlong had no intention of holding back.
With a fiery snarl, her fists burst into blue flames. Her first spirit ring flared, and dragon scales spread rapidly across her skin, transforming her into a warrior encased in gleaming armor.
The dragon's flame surged, her speed exploded upward, and her figure split into afterimages as she barreled toward him.
"Erlong's sixth spirit ability—Blazing Fire Dragon!"
Yu Xiaogang's voice carried over the battlefield, explaining as if conducting a lecture. "It boosts both speed and attack power and inflicts a burning effect. That's her strongest single-target strike."
Beside him, Flender rubbed at his temples. "Wou-ki's really not going to die from this, right…?"
He wasn't worried about Erlong; he was worried about his brother in arms getting sent through the dirt again. Remembering Zao Wou-ki's beatings from their last two run-ins made his eye twitch.
"No need to worry," Yu Xiaogang replied calmly. "Wou-ki's flesh is ridiculously tough. Besides, Erlong's drunk. Her combat effectiveness drops when she's like this—it won't be fatal."
Won't be fatal… Flender found little relief in those words.
The ground shook as fire met steel. Liu Erlong's blazing fists slammed against Wou-ki's golden barrier, throwing both opponents back several steps.
"Ahem," Flender coughed lightly, giving Wou-ki a meaningful wink.
"What, you want me to just stand here and take it?!" Zao Wou-ki spread his arms helplessly. "Are you two bastards just going to let her use me as her personal punching bag?!"
No one answered.
Grinding his teeth, Wou-ki roared. "Fifth soul skill—Soaring Flames!"
Heat shimmered in waves as Liu Erlong spun into action again. Dragon fire wrapped her body, twirling into a massive vortex before blasting out in a tornado of searing flame.
Wou-ki's mouth twitched violently. If I don't fight back, she's going to reduce me to ashes!
"Second soul skill—Titanic Vajra Palm!"
His hands thickened into massive bear-like paws, fur spreading across them before he struck out in a heavy counter. Their strikes collided, the muffled impact shaking the earth.
"Third soul skill—Gravity Enhance!"
A pulse of spirit energy locked around Erlong's body, dragging her down with sudden weight. Her steps faltered, as though she were wading through a pit of mud.
"You trying to restrain me with this, old man?" Erlong sneered, then took another drink straight from the flask at her waist.
Zao Wou-ki nearly choked on his own breath.
She was… drinking? In the middle of a soul battle?!
For a second he thought Lu Yuan had possessed her body—fighting while drunk was his signature style!
And just like Lu Yuan, Liu Erlong looked half ready to topple over already.
"Erlong, you'll lose at this rate!" Wou-ki shouted, covering his head in frustration. "You can't even release your skills properly while drunk, so why do you keep—"
"The seventh soul ability—Chilong True Body!"
Her fiery, curvaceous form vanished, replaced by a massive azure dragon that coiled high into the sky. In that instant, Wou-ki's gravity field collapsed uselessly.
The dragon opened its jaws, lightning snapping across the fire it conjured.
"Third soul ability—Raging Thunder!"
A massive fireball shimmered into existence, thundering with violet lightning that crackled like serpents weaving in and out of its surface.
"Roar!!"
The dragon let loose its breath, hurling the fireball with the force of a divine punishment. The air warped, cracked, and shuddered as it hurtled down.
Zao Wou-ki's face paled. His fourth, fifth, and sixth spirit rings all flared at once as he raised every defense he had.
But even as he braced, he was already plotting. I'll just take this hit, fake a dramatic defeat, and call it quits. I'm done being these two's toy. From here on, Xiaogang and Flender can deal with her themselves. I'm out.
The fireball exploded with a deafening roar, hurling waves of heat across the mountainside. Stones shattered and flew, smoke and dust filling the air.
The blast scorched Wou-ki, his skin sizzling, and left his muscles twitching with paralysis. He staggered back several meters before cupping his fists.
"Sister Erlong, I concede!" he shouted, nodding quickly. "You win, you win. I'm done. Count me out!" He turned, already ready to bolt.
But he wasn't fast enough.
The dragon's massive tail swung like a whip, and before Wou-ki even realized it, his entire world spun as he was smashed into the sky like a human cannonball.
Yu Xiaogang and Flender both flinched, cold shivers running down their spines.
"Happy!" Liu Erlong roared with satisfaction, clenching her fists. Fire still danced across her scales. She felt invincible, stronger than ever—as though she'd finally glimpsed the key to defeating Lu Yuan.
"Lu Yuan, just you wait. My fists will smash you into the dirt next time!"
…
Outside Shrek Academy, Lu Yuan stood at the gates, his arms folded loosely as he waited. Not long after, a familiar figure appeared.
"Little cat, what's the point of coming back here?" he asked, voice light. "Wouldn't it have been better to head to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy with me straight away?"
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head, a small, rare smile tugging at her lips. "You misunderstand. I only came back to collect some things."
Since cutting ties with Dai Mubai and dissolving the marriage contract, she had grown lighter, freer. The cold chains that had bound her were gone, and even her expressions—her once rigid mask—softened more often into smiles.
Whether Lu Yuan invited her to the Imperial Academy or not, she would never have stayed at Shrek. Those ties were finished.
From here on, she was free.
"Zhuqing? You're back?!"
The excited shout came from across the courtyard. Dai Mubai rushed toward them, his eyes lighting up with relief. He had been empty ever since Zhu Zhuqing disappeared. Seeing her again filled him with instant hope.
But his joy turned to dread when Lu Yuan stepped protectively in front of her.
"You bastard, stay away from my little cat," Lu Yuan snapped coldly. His lip curled as his gaze flicked down. "What's this? Someone finally cut you down to size?"
Dai Mubai's left arm was bandaged heavily.
A bitter laugh escaped Lu Yuan, his mood brightening at the sight.
"You…" Dai Mubai seethed, his eyes narrowing. Why did this guy have to be everywhere, blocking him at every turn? His teeth ached with hatred.
But even as he glared, he instinctively took a step back. His left arm was still fractured. He couldn't risk losing the right one too.
The memory of that day still gnashed at him: fire raining from above, blue flames crashing through the roof and ripping through his classroom, leaving him broken and humiliated.
Just thinking of it made his chest twist with fury.
"Dai Mubai," Zhu Zhuqing said calmly, her tone like ice, "I have nothing to do with you anymore. I only came back for my belongings. After today, I will never set foot here again."
Her words cut like shards of glass.
Mubai blinked, stunned, then let out a strangled laugh. "Zhuqing, when did you learn to joke like this? That's impossible. Our marriage contract is backed by the royal family—do you know how difficult it is to dissolve? In all of Star Luo's history, only two people ever managed to cut free. You think I'll be the third?!"
But as Zhu Zhuqing turned away without even sparing him a glance, his voice faltered. Deep down, fear gnawed at him.
Because for the first time, it really felt possible.
--
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