Chapter 194 Composure
Spending a lot of time with Tang San will naturally lead to being subtly influenced by him.
However, Ning Rongrong did not expect that this approach would be seen as a double standard by others.
"But Tang San also cares too much about Xiao Wu..."
Although her idealized image of Tang San had shattered, a glimmer of a beautiful image of him remained in Ning Rongrong's heart—his sincere feelings for Xiao Wu.
"Do you care about Xiao Wu?"
Upon hearing Ning Rongrong's words, Qin Mu didn't just sneer this time; he genuinely found them laughable.
Do you think Tang San cares a lot about Xiao Wu?
"Otherwise what? Because of Xiao Wu's injury, Tang San fought against Zhao Wuji, who was at the seventh ring, when he was at the second ring level. It was the same reason he tried to kill you during your match."
Ning Rongrong was extremely stubborn in trying to salvage Tang San's only positive image.
Or rather, what she wanted to win back was not just Tang San, but also the beautiful memories of the Shrek Seven Devils together.
"But what if I said, Xiao Wu is dead?"
Looking at Ning Rongrong in front of him, Qin Mu suddenly felt sorry for her.
Having been deceived by Tang San's appearance for so long, her values have become so distorted.
"Xiao Wu not only died, but she died right in front of Tang San!"
Seeing that Ning Rongrong had no intention of leaving anytime soon, Qin Mu turned around and sat down at the round table where Ling Yuan had been sitting, and poured himself a cup of calming tea.
"How is this possible?! I don't believe it!"
Hearing Qin Mu's words, Ning Rongrong's eyes glazed over, and finally she shouted at Qin Mu with a somewhat dejected expression.
Qin Mu didn't pay much attention to Ning Rongrong's attitude. He looked at Ning Rongrong calmly and didn't say anything more, giving her enough time to calm down.
Before long, Ning Rongrong followed him into the room and stood in front of Qin Mu, asking him a question.
"Do you have any evidence to prove what you're saying?!"
Qin Mu immediately recounted the events of hunting the Titan Giant Ape, Xiao Wu's sacrifice, and how Tang San excessively depleted Xiao Wu's soul power in order to escape.
Tang San recounted in detail to Ning Rongrong how he had consumed the Beautiful Silk Tulip, Xiao Wu's only chance to revive, in order to save his own life.
"You want evidence? Then I'll give it to you."
Qin Mu raised his left arm, and the Gravity Swamp was immediately released towards Ning Rongrong.
"This is the soul bone ability of the Titan Giant Ape. I obtained my sixth soul ring by hunting down a 100,000-year-old Titan Giant Ape in the Star Dou Great Forest."
"You should be familiar with that Titan Ape."
"It's the Titan Giant Ape that kidnapped Xiao Wu when you went to hunt for the third spirit ring with Oscar and Tang San."
"That's why Xiao Wu was able to escape from that 100,000-year-old Titan Giant Ape."
After hearing Qin Mu's words, Ning Rongrong repeatedly said it was impossible. She took two steps back and then staggered to the ground.
Qin Mu remained silent, but his gaze no longer fell on Ning Rongrong.
"Is everything you said... true?"
After a long while, Ning Rongrong's helpless voice slowly rang out.
Qin Mu turned his gaze back to Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong was crying her eyes out, her delicate and pitiful appearance was very endearing.
"You already know the answer to right and wrong in your heart, so why ask me again?"
Qin Mu's words were like a heavy hammer blow, shattering her remaining fondness for Shrek Academy.
It was only then that Ning Rongrong realized that behind the unity and friendship of Shrek Academy, there was also the ugliness of human nature.
"But we at Shrek..."
"I don't want to comment on the rest of you Shrek. The only thing I can say is that I'm not a ladybug, much less someone who's been going to places like that since I was twelve."
Ning Rongrong's body jolted, and she looked at Qin Mu again with tearful eyes.
It turns out, all of this was foreshadowed!
"No wonder, no wonder Zhu Zhuqing distanced herself from Dai Mubai after the final of the Continental High-Level Soul Master Elite Tournament, saying that Dai Mubai was not even worth a hair of yours."
"Dai Mubai and Oscar must know about what Ma Hongjun has done. These people are all the same, how can they be clean?"
"Shrek's teachers are absolutely aware of what they've done..."
"They're birds of a feather in the end; their fate is somewhat satisfying..."
When Qin Mu ruthlessly ripped away Ning Rongrong's last filter of Shrek Academy, what lay hidden behind that unseen facade was utter filth.
Ning Rongrong looked up at the ceiling, and the sadness in her heart slowly subsided.
If Ning Rongrong envisioned the disbandment of a perfect and loving Shrek Academy team, then she would certainly feel saddened by its disintegration.
But now, Ning Rongrong has seen through the true nature of the Shrek Academy members.
Rather than saying Ning Rongrong left a united academy, it would be more accurate to say that Ning Rongrong finally escaped from a sea of suffering.
As she spent more and more time with them, her thinking was gradually changed, making her so selfish and hypocritical.
At this moment, she felt a little envious of Zhu Zhuqing.
Ever since Ning Rongrong came to Shrek Academy, she has always felt that Zhu Zhuqing could never integrate into their team.
At first, she thought Zhu Zhuqing was just being aloof or something.
It wasn't until the start of the Continental High-Level Soul Master Elite Tournament that Zhu Zhuqing met Qin Mu before the finals.
It was only then that Ning Rongrong realized that Zhu Zhuqing had known Qin Mu for a long time.
The reason she has been unable to integrate into Shrek Academy's team is that, in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes, these so-called geniuses are nothing compared to Qin Mu!
Whether it's character or talent, the difference is like heaven and earth!
She was initially dismissive, thinking that Zhu Zhuqing was just putting on an act.
Ning Rongrong's opinion of Qin Mu only changed after she lost to him in the final.
Now, after being lectured by Qin Mu and realizing the true nature of Shrek Academy, Ning Rongrong understands how right Zhu Zhuqing was.
She envied Zhu Zhuqing for having her values unaffected after meeting Qin Mu.
"Ning Rongrong, I know these things are still a bit hard for you to accept right now."
"However, you have to face the facts."
If you still don't believe it, then let time tell you the answer!
Qin Mu didn't argue with Ning Rongrong any further and very gentlemanly helped her up from the ground.
After offering a few more words of comfort, he politely asked Ning Rongrong to leave the room, citing the late hour.
The door was tightly shut, and Ning Rongrong stood blankly at the doorway. At this moment, she was not saddened by the shattering of her idealized image.
She stood there at the door, her eyes filled with emotions she had never shown before.
"Compared to him, Oscar, Dai Mubai, and even Tang San don't seem so good."
After standing there for an unknown amount of time, Ning Rongrong suddenly smiled, finally letting out a relieved sigh, and left with light steps.
[end of the chapter]