"Fine! I'm going right now!"
Oscar glanced at Zhu Zhuqing's extended, razor-sharp claws and swallowed hard. Then he turned and bolted toward the headmaster's office.
Tang San looked at the unconscious Dai Mubai and his mouth twitched. His gaze then shifted to Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong.
"You two... what is this..." Tang San asked with some hesitation.
"San, stay out of this! It's all that lecherous tiger's own fault. Who told him not to sleep in the middle of the night and come harass Zhuqing instead!" Xiao Wu put her hands on her hips and pointed angrily at Dai Mubai. Although she had just arrived and didn't fully understand the situation, since Ning Rongrong said so and the one who struck was Zhuqing, it had to be right.
Dai Mubai slowly opened his eyes at that moment, just as Xiao Wu's voice reached his ears. Instantly, his face flushed red with anger. But with Tang San present, he couldn't take it out on Xiao Wu. He yanked the roasted sausage stuffed tightly in his mouth, then glared viciously at Zhu Zhuqing. "Zhu Zhuqing, how dare you hit me!"
Ning Rongrong let out a soft huff, holding the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda as she walked up to Zhu Zhuqing, her gaze falling upon Dai Mubai.
"Zhuqing hit you to help sober you up. Instead of thanking her, you're pointing fingers at her!"
"You really don't know what's good for you!"
"Ning Rongrong!" Dai Mubai's eyes turned crimson. His White Tiger spirit manifested instantly, followed by two yellow and one purple Spirit Rings. "Don't think I'm afraid of you just because you're from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School!"
"Today's business is far from over!"
"What, you still want to make a move against me?" Ning Rongrong puffed out her modest chest, raised her chin, and retorted indignantly, "With my support, Zhuqing will beat you black and blue!"
"Besides... we have Long Jian too!"
"Long Jian, Dai Mubai is going to hit Zhu Zhuqing, are you going to help or not!"
As soon as those words were spoken, everyone's eyes turned toward Long Jian.
Dai Mubai's face darkened. He had come here drunk specifically because Zhu Zhuqing and Long Jian had been getting too close. Everyone had witnessed Long Jian's strength firsthand. Even though they didn't know the extent of his power, Dai Mubai knew for certain that he was no match for Long Jian.
Hearing Ning Rongrong's words, Dai Mubai felt his confidence waver as he looked at Long Jian.
Zhu Zhuqing blinked her beautiful eyes, staring fixedly at Long Jian.
"Dai Mubai, I know who you are."
"I also know a thing or two about the history between you and Zhuqing."
"Today's trouble was stirred up by you in the first place!"
"If you're still a man, leave this instant!"
"Otherwise..."
Accompanied by a clanging chime, Long Jian's entire body was covered in azure armor, gleaming brilliantly under the moonlight. Long Jian walked slowly toward Zhu Zhuqing, shielding both her and Ning Rongrong behind him. He placed one hand behind his back and raised the other.
"Please enlighten me!"
Seeing this display from Long Jian, Dai Mubai's mouth twitched violently. Even Tang San narrowed his eyes slightly, a look of grave solemnity filling his face.
Seeing Tang San react this way, Xiao Wu unceremoniously pulled him aside.
Realizing he was completely isolated, Dai Mubai felt a wave of darkness wash over him. "You—you people!"
"It's the middle of the night, are you all trying to rebel?!"
At that moment, a stern shout echoed from the sky.
Everyone looked up and saw a massive four-eyed horned owl flying rapidly toward them. Within moments, it arrived right before them.
"Can someone tell me what is going on here?!" Flender adjusted his black-rimmed glasses, placed his hands behind his back, and swept his cold gaze across the group.
"Headmaster!" Dai Mubai looked relieved.
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing and the others looked in surprise at Flender, who had just arrived.
"San, isn't that the profiteer from yesterday?" Xiao Wu asked bluntly.
Hearing this, Tang San hurriedly covered Xiao Wu's mouth to keep her from saying anything else that might anger the man who appeared to be the headmaster of Shrek Academy.
Flender's eye twitch when he heard Xiao Wu's remark. Ignoring her, Flender turned his gaze to Dai Mubai. "Little Bai, explain yourself!"
Seeing the marks on Dai Mubai's face, Flender's mouth twitched. This was too brutal!
Dai Mubai wanted to speak, but he felt too ashamed. He stammered for a long time without knowing what to say.
"Headmaster, I..."
"He came knocking on my dorm door, so I hit him," Zhu Zhuqing stepped out from behind Long Jian and stated very concisely.
"The Nether Civet spirit, is it..." Flender frowned slightly, then looked at Dai Mubai. "What could possibly not wait until daylight? Why come breaking into the girls' dormitory in the middle of the night?"
Dai Mubai was left speechless.
"All of you, disperse!"
"I'll deal with you properly tomorrow!"
Taking one deep look at the fully armored Long Jian standing beside Zhu Zhuqing, Flender turned and walked away. He still had an important guest to entertain.
"Xiao Wu, I'm heading back first. Get some rest!" Tang San instructed before supporting Dai Mubai as they slowly walked away.
Soon, only Long Jian and the three girls remained in the courtyard.
"Long Jian, thank you." Zhu Zhuqing turned back, her eyes filled with gratitude.
Long Jian removed his helmet, revealing his handsome face.
"Don't mention it!"
"Long Jian, what did you mean by what you just said?"
"Could it be that there's some history between Zhuqing and that lecherous tiger?" Xiao Wu asked with curiosity.
Long Jian shook his head. "I'm heading back now. Get some rest."
Seeing Long Jian's attitude, Zhu Zhuqing felt a warmth in her heart. Thank you, Long Jian...
"Zhuqing, that smile of yours is extremely suspicious, oh!"
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing unconsciously smiling as she watched Long Jian's retreating back, Ning Rongrong immediately sensed some juicy gossip.
"Rongrong, thank you too!"
"If not for you, I probably wouldn't have been able to drive him off!" Zhu Zhuqing's cool face broke into a faint smile.
"You're welcome!" Ning Rongrong waved a hand. "Zhuqing, you look so pretty when you smile. You should smile more often! Otherwise, if you stay cold all the time, Long Jian might not like you anymore."
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened slightly.
"Rongrong, what nonsense are you talking about!"
"Still trying to play innocent with me?" Ning Rongrong's eyes curved into crescents, her smile carrying a hint of mischief.
"Come on, let's go inside! Dai Mubai mentioned a huge piece of news just now, Zhuqing, you have to help clear things up for me!"
Zhu Zhuqing thought about it for a moment, and instantly understood what Ning Rongrong was referring to.
"What are you guys talking about?" Xiao Wu, who had just tried to step away, froze in her tracks.
"Fine, since you want to know, I'll tell you!"
Helplessly, Zhu Zhuqing invited the two of them inside.
A moment later, gasps of astonishment echoed from within Zhu Zhuqing's room.
"I never imagined Dai Mubai could be so shameless! What a spineless coward!" Ning Rongrong hugged a pillow to her chest, punching it repeatedly.
"That dead tiger is definitely no good!"
"I saw him with a pair of twin sisters yesterday!" Xiao Wu chimed in.
Ning Rongrong said indignantly, "Zhuqing, you should just dump Dai Mubai, get together with Long Jian, and join my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School!"