On the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, Bei Bei and Tang Ya were rushing back with distressed faces, their steps as heavy as if filled with lead.
Just as they had walked a short distance and hadn't yet recovered from the despair of everyone being "given away"
"Shhh-shhh-shhh—"
The bushes ahead suddenly shook violently.
Immediately following...
A tall and burly figure, like a ghost, sprang out without warning, directly blocking their path.
It was a man dressed in cyan robes, his face resolute, exuding a heart-palpitating pressure.
It was exactly Da Ming!
Da Ming had originally been lurking nearby, waiting for that "idiot" Qian Duoduo to come out, so he could pull a "black-on-black" robbery, stealing the money to ransom Er Ming.
After all, this was currently the only way to get money quickly.
However, he waited and waited but didn't see him; instead, he encountered the two people who had been by Qian Duoduo's side.
Da Ming was slightly stunned. His gaze swept behind the two, his brow furrowing instantly as a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.
"Hmm?"
"Only you two?"
"Where is that guy?"
Facing the sudden appearance of Da Ming, Bei Bei and Tang Ya's hearts skipped a beat simultaneously.
It's over!
It truly never rains but it pours!
Just out of the wolf's den, and now into the tiger's lair!
Bei Bei thought to himself that things were bad; Qian Duoduo had just offended Da Ming and Er Ming, so this was clearly him coming to find trouble for them.
Bei Bei forcibly suppressed the fear in his heart, quietly shielding Tang Ya behind him, and took a deep breath, trying his best to appear calm.
"Senior..."
Bei Bei gave a bitter smile and didn't plan to hide it. After all, this matter couldn't be hidden anyway.
"Dean Qian... he didn't make it out."
"He lost the gambling duel and now... he's also been locked in that academy's Confinement Room."
While speaking, Bei Bei cautiously observed Da Ming's expression, silently praying that Da Ming wouldn't attack them.
Hearing this, Da Ming's brow furrowed even deeper, and a look of bewilderment appeared on his face.
"What?"
"He's also been locked up?"
"So useless?"
Da Ming curled his lip somewhat speechlessly.
He had originally hoped to pluck some wool from that fat sheep to gather enough ransom to get Er Ming out.
Now, the fat sheep was gone. Where would the money come from?
Without money, wouldn't Er Ming be locked inside until the end of time?
No!
Absolutely not!
Da Ming's mind raced, and soon, his gaze fell back onto Bei Bei and Tang Ya.
Although he had no interest in bullying two juniors and even felt it was beneath him...
But...
Desperate times call for desperate measures!
For Er Ming's sake, he couldn't care about that much!
"Since he's not here..."
Da Ming took a step forward, slightly releasing a trace of his aura. While not enough to crush the two, it was enough to make them unable to move.
"Then you two will pay his debt for him."
"Hand over all the money you have on you."
"This is a robbery!"
Da Ming spoke with full confidence.
"Huh?"
Bei Bei was directly stunned.
However, seeing Da Ming's "don't even think about leaving without giving money" stance, Bei Bei also knew that a wise man does not fight against overwhelming odds.
If he dared to say "no" at this time, he feared that this time next year would be the anniversary of his death.
"Okay... okay..."
"Senior, please don't be impulsive. Money is just a worldly possession. I'll give it, I'll give it right now!"
As Bei Bei spoke, he hurriedly pulled gold coins out from his storage soul tool.
Clatter—
A pile of glittering gold coins was poured onto the ground.
"Senior, this is all the savings I have on me."
"Can you... let us go?"
Da Ming didn't waste words. With a sweep of his mental force, he finished the count instantly.
"Six thousand gold coins?"
Da Ming's eyes lit up slightly as he looked at Bei Bei with some surprise.
Who would have thought!
This kid looks ordinary, but he's actually a hidden little tycoon?
An ordinary student of Shrek Academy actually carries six thousand gold coins with him?
Are all the students of Shrek Academy this rich?
Da Ming couldn't help but feel a bit sour in his heart, lamenting that he was truly a broke person.
But soon, this sourness was dispelled by joy.
Adding the bit of money he had scraped together before, these six thousand gold coins were enough for him to find a decent house and then pay the fine with the remaining money to ransom Er Ming out!
"Fine."
With a wave of Da Ming's hand, the gold coins on the ground vanished instantly, taken into his possession.
Since the money was in hand, he was too lazy to trouble these two juniors.
"You may go."
Da Ming spoke, then his figure flashed and disappeared into the depths of the forest, clearly in a hurry to save Er Ming.
Watching Da Ming's departing back, Bei Bei and Tang Ya looked at each other, both feeling the exhaustion of having survived a disaster.
"This... this is just too ridiculous..."
Tang Ya said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Don't say anything, Xiao Ya."
Bei Bei wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and took Tang Ya's hand.
"Let's go!"
"Before we run into any other trouble, let's get back to the academy quickly!"
"We must report to Progenitor Xuan immediately!"
The two didn't dare to stay a moment longer, running wildly with all their might, finally making it back to Shrek Academy.
...
Shrek Academy Outer Court.
Mu En was quietly lying on a recliner, eyes closed, resting his mind.
Though he seemed peaceful, his withered hand was unconsciously tapping the armrest, clearly showing his heart was not as calm as his appearance.
Just then...
"Progenitor Xuan!"
Accompanied by a flurry of urgent footsteps, Bei Bei and Tang Ya rushed in, panting heavily.
Mu En slowly opened his eyes, his gaze immediately falling behind the two.
It was empty.
There was no Yan Shaozhe, no Xuan Zi, and no Qian Duoduo who should have brought back good news.
There were only two disheveled, anxious children.
Mu En's heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition instantly surged within him.
"Only you two?"
Mu En's voice was still gentle, but it had taken on a bit of heaviness.
"Where is Duoduo?"
"Where are Shao Zhe and Xuan Zi?"
Bei Bei took a deep breath to settle his wildly beating heart, then lowered his head and said in a strained voice...
"Progenitor Xuan..."
"Dean Qian... he also failed.""He couldn't bring Elder Xuan and Dean Yan back either."
"And..."
Bei Bei bit his teeth and finally spoke the cruel truth.
"And, because he lost the gambling duel, Dean Qian is now... also locked in that academy's Confinement Room."
Hearing this sentence, even with Mu En's composure, his eyelids couldn't help but twitch slightly.
Another one in?
And because of a gambling duel?
This... this is simply the joke of the century!
Counting the previous Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe, Shrek Academy now has three top powerhouses fallen into the hands of that unknown New Shrek Academy!
If this were to spread, Shrek Academy's ten-thousand-year reputation would likely be destroyed in an instant!
Seeing Mu En's poor expression, Bei Bei originally didn't want to say more, but some things had to be said.
"Progenitor Xuan..."
"The people from that academy said... if you want to see their Dean, you need to go there yourself."
"Fine, I have that intention as well."
Mu En spoke. Originally, because of his physical condition, it was inconvenient for Mu En to move, so he intended to let his juniors handle it. He didn't expect...
Sigh...
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A/N: So, I guess Mu En is finally going personally to New Shrek. I wonder how much they are gonna have to ransom to free Xuan Zi, Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo.
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Thank you.