"Long time no see, Little Mu. Where have you been these past three years since graduating early?"
Xiao Wu's red rabbit-like eyes scanned Bai Mu curiously from head to toe.
"I've been traveling around the continent. Just barely getting by," Bai Mu replied vaguely.
"I heard from the teacher that you returned to Nuoding Academy a year ago. I was hoping to spar with you, but I didn't expect you to leave again so soon."
A trace of regret appeared on Tang San's face.
Three years ago, after becoming a Spirit Grandmaster, he had wanted to challenge Bai Mu again to settle their score. Yet Bai Mu never gave him the chance.
Now that they had finally met again, there was no way Bai Mu could escape this time… right?
"It's nothing important. There will always be chances in the future."
Bai Mu smiled casually, pulled out a letter, and waved it lightly.
"I received a letter from the dean yesterday. He said you followed the Grandmaster's advice, rejected invitations from other academies, and plan to come to Suotuo City to study at the legendary Shrek Academy?"
"That's right. I really don't understand what the Grandmaster is thinking—sending us to such a remote place…"
Xiao Wu pouted, clearly dissatisfied.
She had come to experience human life and seek revenge, not to suffer.
"The teacher must have his reasons," Tang San said gently, shaking his head.
Over the years, he had been completely convinced—no, thoroughly misled—by Yu Xiaogang's knowledge, trusting him from the bottom of his heart.
In any case, the teacher couldn't be wrong.
"Let's not talk about that."
Bai Mu waved his hand grandly. "Order whatever you want tonight. I, Young Master Bai, am paying for everything!"
"Yay!"
Xiao Wu immediately cheered.
Tang San smiled fondly at her, then nodded to Bai Mu. "Then thank you very much."
After chatting for a while, they agreed to head to Shrek Academy together the next day before returning to their rooms.
---
The moment Bai Mu stepped back into his room, the gentle smile on his face vanished.
"We've finally waited for you. The protagonist has finally arrived."
A faint glint flickered in his eyes as he collapsed onto the floor, looking utterly exhausted.
Yet in the next instant, his perspective began shifting rapidly through different scenes.
Soon, a figure appeared in his vision—a man dressed in a black robe, muscles bulging, features resolute.
The man sat quietly in an alley, eyes closed, as if secretly guarding someone.
"Tang 'Big Hammer'… I've finally found you."
A cold light flashed in Bai Mu's eyes.
"Do you know how I spent those years in Notting City?
Do you know how hard I searched for Ah Yin?"
His early arrival in Suotuo City hadn't been just to scheme against the little kitten or the sick tiger.
His most important goal was to locate Tang Hao.
He wouldn't feel at ease taking the Blue Silver Grass without knowing where Tang Hao was.
Over the past few days, while wandering around the city, he had discreetly placed thirty-eight dormant Z-cells in hidden corners around the Rose Hotel.
With the Z-cell vision and Ecological Perception, as long as Tang Hao was secretly protecting Tang San, Bai Mu would definitely find him.
"My dear Ah Yin… since Tang Hao doesn't cherish you, let your nephew love you properly."
A gentle smile spread across Bai Mu's face.
After reviewing the plan one last time, he left the hotel openly and without suspicion.
"Substitute."
As he passed through an unremarkable alley, Bai Mu poured a massive amount of spirit power into a Substitute that could last over ten hours, letting it replace him.
The Substitute Bai Mu walked out naturally, bought two drinks from a street vendor, returned to the hotel, ordered an exquisite meal, and personally delivered it to the room marked [Green Farewell].
Knock, knock, knock.
Click.
The door opened.
Zhu Zhuqing had changed into clean black casual clothes. Her long hair, still half-dry, draped over her shoulders. The usual coldness in her expression had softened, replaced by a faint languid excitement.
"Your meditation method… thank you."
She took the tray and thanked him solemnly.
"It's nothing. Just整理ing and summarizing some unnecessary thoughts," Bai Mu replied casually.
He walked in naturally, sat down at the table, and began eating.
"Anything you don't understand about the meditation method? Need my personal guidance?"
Anyone seeing this would never guess that this Bai Mu was a clone.
"Yes, there is."
Ignoring his self-proclaimed title, Zhu Zhuqing nodded seriously and pointed out several doubts.
They talked as they ate.
Bai Mu's explanations were profound yet easy to understand, and Zhu Zhuqing listened intently, nodding from time to time.
For a while, the atmosphere in the green-themed room was surprisingly harmonious.
But the peace didn't last.
"Ahhh~!"
"…No… don't… be gentle…"
Suddenly, intense noises came from the neighboring room, [Red Ocean].
Their conversation slowly ground to a halt, the atmosphere turning awkward.
Worse still, the sounds showed no sign of stopping.
Heavy breathing, soft moans—despite the hotel's decent soundproofing, everything was clearly audible.
"…!"
Zhu Zhuqing's face flushed red, then turned pale, and finally darkened until it was almost black—darker than a Hell Civet's fur.
She had finally obtained a chance to advance through a high-level meditation method.
And now, that precious opportunity was being forcibly interrupted by some shameless couple next door.
Grinding her teeth, she shouted, "You shameless degenerates!"
"Exactly! Disgusting!"
Bai Mu echoed indignantly, as if he had nothing to do with it.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Not only did the noise fail to stop, the wall next door even began shaking.
"Is this ever going to end?!"
Zhu Zhuqing finally snapped and slammed her fist against the wall.
For a brief moment, the sounds stopped—only to erupt even more violently.
"Ahem… it's getting late, little kitten. You should rest early. Your master is tired too—time to sleep."
The Substitute Bai Mu stood up, left the room, and closed the door behind him.
"Fine."
Zhu Zhuqing sent him off with a dark expression. After closing the door, she realized the commotion next door was still raging.
"Excuse me, are there any other rooms available? The room next door is far too noisy!"
She hurried downstairs to the front desk.
"Sorry, we're fully booked," the receptionist replied with a shake of her head.
"Then could you at least ask the people next door to be quieter?"
Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help raising her voice.
"I'm sorry. Young Master Dai is one of our distinguished guests and a powerful Spirit Elder. We wouldn't dare disturb his enjoyment…"
The receptionist smiled awkwardly.
"Another one with the surname Dai!"
Zhu Zhuqing returned upstairs with a dark expression. Listening to the endless noise next door, she clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white.
She suddenly realized that all her misfortune traced back to that cursed surname—Dai.
"You shameless couple… disgusting!"
Anger surged through her, and she desperately wanted to teach the people next door a lesson. But remembering that the other party was a Spirit Elder—and likely far stronger than her—she could only suppress it.
Useless little kitten.
---
"Tsk, tsk… this kid really has endless stamina."
In the alley, even Tang "Big Hammer," wrapped in his cloak, couldn't help muttering to himself.
Listening to those sounds, his thoughts drifted back more than ten years, to the figure that haunted his dreams.
"Ah Yin… oh… my Ah Yin…"
---
Inside the room [Blue Enchantress].
The Substitute Bai Mu lay sound asleep on the bed, breathing steadily, just like a true master at rest.
As for the true culprit—
After disappearing from Suotuo City, Bai Mu rode Jige'er at full speed toward Saint Spirit Village, over a hundred miles away.
"Hahaha… amazing! Young Master Dai, that horny cat really is something!"
Recalling Zhu Zhuqing's gloomy expression, Bai Mu burst out laughing.
Giving Dai Mubai the whale gelatin had been a spur-of-the-moment move—but also something he had planned for a long time.
"I never expected the century-old whale gelatin to be this effective."
That's right—what he gave wasn't ten-year whale gelatin at all, but a piece of partially deteriorated hundred-year whale gelatin.
Even a ten-year Spirit Beast could keep someone awake all night—let alone a brainless tiger that went into heat whenever it pleased.
Suddenly, Zygarde's voice rang out in his mind—
We've arrived at Saint Spirit Village.
-----------Author---------------
15 advanced chapters
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