Chapter 52: Keeping a Low Profile is Also a Difficulty

Due to the previous incident, at least half of the people had left, so it was soon Xiao Wu’s turn...

However, her worried gaze kept looking back into the distance...

She anxiously thought to herself, "Why hasn't Xiao San returned yet? Could something have happened to him?"

Ten minutes had already passed, and Tang San still hadn't returned. The more she thought about it, the more anxious her heart grew, leaving her momentarily at a loss for what to do...

The elderly man inside the thatched hut gave a soft cough. Seeing that she was a young girl, his tone softened a bit as he reminded her, "It’s your turn. Pay the fee and then extend your hand for me to check."

Xiao Wu bit her delicate lower lip with some hesitation, managed a reluctant smile, and said, "Um, could we wait just a moment? My third brother hasn't returned yet."

As soon as these words were spoken, those waiting in line behind her immediately revealed fierce expressions and angrily rebuked, "Little girl, if you aren't going to register, get out of the way! Don't hold up the rest of us!"

"Exactly, exactly! Do you have any idea how long we've been waiting in line? Just because of you alone, we've all been kept waiting this long. Who do you think you are?"

"Hurry up and step aside, move aside!"

Knowing that she was in the wrong, Xiao Wu silently retreated to the side, casting a pleading look toward Dai Mubai—a person she ought to have detested...

Watching Xiao Wu's actions clearly from the side, Dai Mubai stroked his chin in thought. "??? Is she asking me for help? Since that fellow named Tang San is likely qualified to join, it wouldn't hurt to give him a hand!"

With that, Dai Mubai leaned close to the elderly man's ear and muttered a few words. The elder's face flashed with surprise before he smiled kindly at Xiao Wu. "It's quite all right, young girl. Step aside for now. Once that third brother of yours arrives, I'll give you both another chance."

To think she could make Mubai speak up for a child named Tang San—his innate talent must be quite extraordinary...

...

Ning Rongrong stepped forward, dropped five soul gold coins into the black box, extended her arm, and smiled gracefully. "My name is Ning Rongrong, and my martial soul is the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."

The elderly man let out a sharp cough, widened his eyes, and asked again in disbelief, "Cough, cough... You say your martial soul is the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda? Does that mean you are the daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's master?"

He asked once more, "Does your father know that you snuck out?"

This was the daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect master! If she were to join Shrek Academy, what would her father think?

Yet, at the thought that someone bearing the mainland's renowned number-one support-type martial soul was actually willing to join Shrek Academy, his heart inevitably surged with excitement...

Ning Rongrong silently extended her arm and asked with a smiling, playful gaze, "Is there any rule stating that people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect cannot join Shrek Academy?"

The old man was momentarily stunned, then said thoughtfully, "That... is indeed true."

Shrek Academy only welcomed monsters; as for what martial soul or sect one came from, it simply did not matter!

With that, he slowly placed his finger on Ning Rongrong's delicate wrist...

Half a moment later, he said with delight, "Both your bone structure and your soul power are suitable!"

Ning Rongrong blinked her pretty eyes playfully. "Then can I enter Shrek now??"

The old man laughed heartily. "Of course you can. Shrek warmly welcomes little monsters like you to join."

Suddenly, Xiao Wu, who was standing nearby, pointed toward the direction behind the long queue. Pointing at a familiar figure, she cried out, "Third Brother is here! But why is *that* person with him?"

Prompted by Xiao Wu's exclamation, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Dai Mubai all looked back...

They saw a slovenly-dressed man walking side by side with Tang San...

Xiao Wu rushed over immediately, angrily pointing her finger at Xu Sheng as she said to Tang San, "Xiao... San, why are you..."

Xu Sheng swept his icy gaze over Xiao Wu. Having reached the realm of a Titled Douro, Xiao Wu appeared entirely like a big pink rabbit in his eyes.

Tang San reacted quickly, grabbing Xiao Wu's finger and offering a wry explanation, "Xiao Wu, you've misunderstood. His name is Xu Sheng. I used to call him Brother Sheng. We haven't seen each other in nearly three years, and we just happened to run into each other today."

Xiao Wu, who had been furious just a moment before, instantly blushed upon hearing this...

As it turned out, she was the only one who hadn't figured out the situation and had made a complete fool of herself...

She cast a look of extreme resentment and displeasure toward Xu Sheng...

It was all his fault, or else how could she have made such an embarrassing blunder...

Behind the four of them, Dai Mubai stared with a heavy and solemn gaze at the slovenly-dressed Xu Sheng. His Evil Eye White Tiger martial soul had just let out a faint growl, as if warning him not to provoke this fellow named Xu Sheng!

Thus, he quickly retreated to Zhu Zhuqing's side and firmly grasped her hand...

Zhu Zhuqing first frowned, subconsciously attempting to break free, but Dai Mubai's grip was as unyielding as steel. No matter how she struggled, it didn't loosen in the slightest...

Sensing something abnormal, Zhu Zhuqing looked at Dai Mubai. When she saw his exceptionally gloomy and solemn expression, she realized that something was seriously wrong!

And so, she intentionally stopped struggling...

Among everyone present, only Ning Rongrong stared fixedly at Xu Sheng with reddened eyes, tears blurring her vision...

Ning Rongrong walked up to Xu Sheng and asked tearfully, "He just said your name is Xu Sheng? Why didn't you tell me when we met earlier?!"

She could not possibly have misheard; this was the name she had yearned for day and night over the past three years!

With that, she broke into a run and threw herself into Xu Sheng's embrace...

At a loss for what to say, Xu Sheng raised a hand and gently stroked her slightly light-brown, soft hair. "...I thought you had forgotten about me."

The two of them had spent a close night together in the same room just yesterday, yet he hadn't even carefully observed Ning Rongrong then...

Of course, that didn't include the time when Ning Rongrong was in the pool...

Ning Rongrong clenched her small fist and pounded it lightly against Xu Sheng's solid chest, then lowered her head and choked out, "How could I ever forget you? It's you—you never came to look for me after you left! I thought you had...!"

The corners of Xu Sheng's mouth twitched. Why did Ning Rongrong's words sound increasingly ambiguous?

Clearly, they had only spent a single night together—oh wait, to be precise, it was heading into their second night.

Why did she phrase it as if he were a heartless scoundrel who had abandoned her for decades?

Tang San sighed from the side, "As expected of Brother Sheng, it seems he has quite a few romantic debts after all these years!"

Xiao Wu fiercely pinched Tang San's arm. "Xiao San? Don't you ever learn from this guy named Xu Sheng, or else I... won't speak to you anymore!"

Drawing in a sharp breath of cold air, Tang San hurriedly replied, "Let go first, Xiao Wu. Even if I wanted to, I don't have Brother Sheng's heaven-defying looks."

Yet in his heart, he found it rather strange: why didn't Xu Sheng take off his hat and cloak even when meeting him, insisting on looking so disheveled?

Could it be that he was hiding some unknown secret? ...

Noticing that all members of the Shrek Seven Devils were staring at him, Xu Sheng felt a sense of awkwardness despite having his face concealed...

He gently patted Ning Rongrong, who was still buried in his chest, and said in a calm tone, "Alright, alright, so many people are watching..."

Regaining her composure, Ning Rongrong flushed crimson, feigned modesty by taking a step back, and whispered a reminder, "Xu Sheng, hurry up and take off that hat and cloak. You look just like a beggar."

These words instantly aroused intense curiosity in the other four.

This man kept himself completely covered up—could it be that this Xu Sheng looked utterly unspeakable?

Xu Sheng could not help but sigh inwardly, thinking, "It seems that trying to keep a low profile is sometimes quite a difficult task..."

With that, he raised his right hand, grabbed his hat, and slowly removed it...