Chapter 10: A Chance Encounter at Shrek Academy

Bibi Dong smiled helplessly and gently tapped Qian Wenyu’s forehead, her tone full of affection. “You little girl, so young and already worrying about your mother!”

“Because Mom is the best mom in the whole world!” The little girl’s eyes curved into a crescent, her gaze toward Bibi Dong filled with adoration. Her clear, sweet voice touched Bibi Dong’s heart, softening it completely.

But whenever she thought of Qian Xunji—the scoundrel competing with her for her daughter—Bibi Dong’s anger flared. In Yuer’s heart, Mom was the best mom, but Dad was also the best dad.

Qian Xunji indeed treated Yuer well, no doubt about that, but Bibi Dong couldn’t help feeling resentful. She was the one who gave birth to her daughter; why should Qian Xunji be considered equal to her in Yuer’s eyes?

Qian Wenyu sat beside Bibi Dong, resting her head against her mother’s chest and whispered softly, “Mom, Yuer knows that what Dad did in the past deeply hurt you. Whether you blame him or hate him, it’s only natural.”

“Yuer won’t ask Mom to forgive Dad, but Mom, Yuer hopes you can step out of the shadows of past grudges, freely shine your light, and truly live for yourself!”

Bibi Dong was slightly taken aback; the same words had once been spoken to her by Xiaoxue.

Looking into the sincere eyes of the little girl, Bibi Dong’s eyes grew moist. She reached out to stroke the girl’s hair, her voice gentle beyond measure. “Silly girl, Mom understands, and I promise I won’t drown myself in resentment anymore.”

She had already let go, completely releasing her hold on Yu Xiaogang. Hearing these loving words from her daughter, her heart felt even more comforted and warm.

Both Yuer and Xiaoxue understood her, supporting and encouraging her. Having two such thoughtful and outstanding daughters, Bibi Dong felt she had no regrets.

Love and all that—nothing was more important than her two precious daughters.

As for Qian Xunji, Bibi Dong still hated him, but she would no longer let that hatred cloud her judgment. Hate him she might, but she would no longer lose her reason.

...

The next morning.

Since they were to set out today, at the break of dawn, Qian Renxue pulled Qian Wenyu up.

Although she had practiced spear techniques with Zhong Li in the system space all night, Qian Wenyu was still full of energy because training in the system space didn’t affect physical rest.

At the entrance of the Pope’s Hall, Qian Wenyu and Qian Renxue stood at the front, with six teammates behind them.

After bidding farewell one by one to Qian Daoliu, Qian Xunji, Bibi Dong, and the others who came to see them off, the two sisters led the group onto the waiting carriage.

A low-key yet luxurious carriage departed from the Pope’s Hall, slowly leaving Martial Soul City and heading toward the Starry Forest.

Inside the carriage, Qian Wenyu tilted her head and smiled brightly at Qian Renxue. Her voice was crisp and sweet. “Hehe, Sister rarely leaves the Martial Soul Hall. This time, volunteering to go with Mom to clear out pests must mean she’s been itching to get out!”

Qian Renxue pinched Qian Wenyu’s chubby cheek and laughed. “Don’t talk about me. You’ve gone out way less than I have. You’re either training or holed up in the library. Besides hunting for soul rings, you hardly ever go out.”

Qian Wenyu pouted slightly. “That’s why after being a homebody for so many years, it’s time to come out and gain some experience.”

Qian Renxue thought the same. As twins, they often shared unspoken thoughts.

Then Qian Renxue looked at the other team members sitting opposite them. “Our mission this time is not just to hunt soul rings in the Starry Forest, but also to patrol the various Martial Soul Halls afterward, rooting out their parasites. Do you all understand?”

Except for Xie Yue and Yan, who had considerable contact with Qian Renxue through Huli Na, the other members were meeting her for the first time. They all sat upright and solemn in her presence.

As the representative of the team, Xie Yue nodded. “Holy Maiden, we understand. Nana briefed us yesterday. We’re prepared and won’t hold you or the young lady back.”

Qian Wenyu smiled slightly. “It’s not like that. You don’t need to be so nervous. Just treat this as a normal trial. There will inevitably be battles. For enemies above the Soul King level, me and Sister will handle them. The smaller fry will be up to you.”

Huli Na smiled and confidently patted her chest. “Junior Sister, rest assured. You and Sister handle the enemies above Soul King level. We’ll take care of those below Soul King.”

Though she wasn’t as strong as her junior sister, with the help of her brother and Yan, no one below Soul King could stand against them. After all, not all soul masters were as prodigious as Junior Sister and Sister, who treated battles against higher-tier opponents like everyday affairs.

...

A few days later.

Qian Wenyu and her group arrived at a small town near the Starry Forest at dusk. The sun was slowly setting, painting the sky with a magnificent glow, turning the horizon crimson.

Everyone disembarked from the carriage. Huli Na looked toward a hotel at the town’s entrance and suggested, “Senior Sister, Junior Sister, it’s late. Why don’t we rest here tonight and continue tomorrow?”

Qian Renxue nodded in agreement. “Good idea. It’s unsafe to enter the Starry Forest at night. Let’s rest here.”

Qian Wenyu stored the carriage in the soul guide device, and the group of eight headed toward the hotel at the town’s entrance.

At the hotel entrance, a team wearing identical uniforms passed by from the opposite side. Judging by their attire, they seemed to be students from some academy.

Leading them was a middle-aged man, likely their leader. Judging by the soul force fluctuations around him, he was stronger than Huli Na but far weaker than Qian Renxue—probably a Soul King.

Upon spotting Qian Renxue and her group, the Soul King did not rush his team inside but instead stepped aside to give way.

Qian Renxue ignored them and led her group into the hotel.

Qian Wenyu, however, cast a subtle glance at them, a trace of doubt flickering in her mind.

Inside the hotel, guests were scattered in small groups, but the most eye-catching was the table in the middle.

Seeing the seven youths seated there, Qian Wenyu finally understood why she had felt uneasy about that academy earlier.

They had chosen an unlucky day to come out—the protagonists of Shrek Academy, who had also come to the Starry Forest to hunt soul rings, were here. The team she had encountered at the entrance was evidently from the Canghui Academy, about to clash with the protagonists soon.

Although Qian Wenyu had transmigrated and retained memories from her past life, she only remembered key events from the Douluo Continent. The exact timelines were never clearly detailed, so she had little recollection.

She wondered to herself—out of three hundred sixty days in a year, what were the odds of running into Tang San and the others in the Starry Forest on the very same day?