Chapter 342
I will adapt as soon as possible!
Meng Yiran stood beside Lin Xia, looking in the direction her grandparents had left, feeling both a sense of melancholy at parting and anticipation for the new journey ahead.
She turned her gaze to Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing beside Lin Xia, trying to give them a friendly smile.
Ning Rongrong simply nodded reservedly; the arrogance of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's little princess did not diminish much despite being with someone.
Zhu Zhuqing merely glanced at her coldly before looking away, as if she were nothing more than air.
Meng Yiran's smile froze slightly, and she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed and uneasy, but she quickly cheered herself up and secretly told herself to try her best to fit in.
Ma Hongjun and Oscar, standing to the side, stared wide-eyed as Lin Xia suddenly found herself with another attractive young woman beside her. Ma Hongjun muttered to himself.
"Goodness, Lord Lin's charm... Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and now Meng Yiran... that makes three..."
Oscar, looking on with envy and jealousy, nudged Dai Mubai with his elbow.
"Brother Dai, look at Lord Lin..."
Dai Mubai glared at him and said irritably:
"Shut up! Instead of wasting your energy on that, think about how to improve your strength!"
He also felt a mix of emotions, but more than anything, he was worried about Tang San's injuries and wary of Lin Xia's unfathomable abilities.
After a brief rest, the team set off again, heading straight for Shrek Academy.
The journey over the next few days was relatively peaceful, but the atmosphere was somewhat subtle.
Lin Xia was surrounded by three girls with very different styles.
Ning Rongrong is delicate and lively, Zhu Zhuqing is aloof and cold, and Meng Yiran is gentle with a touch of newly added restraint.
They didn't interact much, but their invisible aura prevented Ma Hongjun and Oscar from even daring to approach and speak to them. They could only watch from afar and secretly grumble to themselves.
Meng Yiran was initially full of anticipation for following Lin Xia, but when she actually saw Shrek Academy's dilapidated signboard, crumbling fence, and several obviously old and neglected wooden buildings, she was completely stunned.
"This...this is Shrek Academy?"
Meng Yiran stood at the entrance of the college, looking at the crooked sign, the uneven dirt ground on the playground, and the dormitory building in the distance that looked like it could collapse at any moment. Her face was filled with disbelief and deep disappointment.
Although she didn't come from a top-tier wealthy family, she was still pampered and spoiled growing up. She had never seen such a "unique" academy environment before.
She even wondered if she had gone to the wrong place.
This was far from what she had imagined!
She glanced at Lin Xia instinctively, her eyes filled with confusion.
"Lord Lin, you...you live here?"
She simply couldn't understand how Lin Xia, with her terrifying strength and domineering demeanor, could be content to live in a place that was even worse than a small rural soul master academy.
Before Lin Xia could speak, Ning Rongrong beside her gave a soft hum, carrying the unique arrogance of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's little princess and a hint of barely perceptible teasing.
"What? Miss Meng thinks this place is too shabby? Even the toilets in our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School are cleaner than the dean's office here."
Although she herself disliked the place, she couldn't help but make a sarcastic remark when she saw Meng Yiran's exaggerated reaction.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't speak, but gave Meng Yiran a cold glance, her eyes seeming to say something.
"Stay if you want, leave if you don't."
Meng Yiran was speechless for a moment after Ning Rongrong's words, her face flushed red, and she felt even more aggrieved when she felt Zhu Zhuqing's coldness.
She looked at Lin Xia, hoping he would say something.
Lin Xia merely glanced at her indifferently, her tone calm and unwavering.
"It's just a place, as long as it's a place to stay. If you don't like it, you can still leave now."
His gaze was deep, as if he could see through the slight disdain and wavering in Meng Yiran's heart.
Meng Yiran felt a chill run down her spine.
Lin Xia's calm tone made her feel an invisible pressure.
Leaving? Are you kidding me!
I finally got the chance to follow!
Moreover, she knew Ning Rongrong's identity. If even the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School could tolerate this place, what right did Meng Yiran have to complain?
The thought flashed through her mind instantly. Meng Yiran suppressed her disappointment and grievances and forced a smile.
"No, Lord Lin, I'm not having any trouble adjusting! It's just... just a little unexpected. I'll get used to it as soon as possible!"
She secretly made up her mind that nothing was a little difficulty if she could stay by Lin Xia's side!
"Hmph, that's for the best."
Ning Rongrong pouted and pulled Zhu Zhuqing along, heading towards the girls' dormitory first.
Meng Yiran bit her lip, took a deep breath, and quickly followed.
In any case, the first step has been taken.
"Finally back! It feels so good to be home!"
Oscar spread his arms wide exaggeratedly and shouted at the dilapidated academy gate, as if to dispel the fatigue and gloom of the journey.
"Keep your voice down!"
Flanders glared at him irritably and pointed to the sky.
"Can't you see it's already dark? Do you want to wake up the villagers? Alright, stop standing here. You've been traveling all day, you're exhausted. Go back to your dorms and rest!"
After saying this, Flander handed Tang San over to Oscar.
He then headed towards his office, which also served as his residence.
Everyone was indeed exhausted, and upon hearing this, they all responded and, dragging their weary bodies, headed back to their respective dormitories.
Lin Xia was no exception.
Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Meng Yiran then headed towards the girls' dormitory building.
When Flander pushed open the creaking wooden door to his office, he found the room lit by a dim oil lamp.
Two figures were already sitting inside.
One was Zhao Wuji, a burly man with bulging muscles, but whose face bore several claw marks that had not yet completely faded, and whose breath was still somewhat weak. The other was Yu Xiaogang, a thin man with a stiff face and eyes filled with wisdom and worry.
"Flander!"
When Zhao Wuji saw Flander enter, he immediately stood up, his voice loud but filled with concern.
"You're finally back!"
"Xiao Gang? What brings you here?"
Flander was somewhat surprised to see Yu Xiaogang, but more than that, he felt relieved to have found his pillar of support.
He sat wearily in the chair, rubbing his throbbing temples.
Yu Xiaogang frowned and asked directly:
What happened?
Flander waved his hand, signaling Yu Xiaogang not to rush.
He took a big gulp of herbal tea before letting out a long breath and recounting what had happened after entering the Star Dou Great Forest.
From the moment Xiao Wu was kidnapped by the Titan Giant Ape to Tang San's relentless pursuit.
Then Lin Xia intervened to organize everyone to go deeper into the area, and finally Tang San was seriously injured and on the verge of death by the Human-Faced Demon Spider. At the critical moment, Lin Xia "finished the job" and caused Tang San to fall into a coma.
And the most bizarre thing was that Xiao Wu returned safely, and even broke through to level 30 and obtained a soul ring... He told the whole story in great detail.
His narration was filled with thrilling details, causing Zhao Wuji and Yu Xiaogang's expressions to change several times.
Both of them were still shaken when they heard about the Titan Ape's earth-shattering power. (End of Chapter)