Chapter 106: Meeting the Original Protagonist Group at the Tavern

The group traveled toward the Star Dou Great Forest by carriage. After arriving at a small town nearest to the Star Dou Great Forest, they parked the carriage there and prepared to continue the rest of the journey on foot.

After all, one could not exactly ride a horse into the Star Dou Great Forest; that would be delivering food to the Spirit Beasts.

"Everyone, there is a tavern in this town. We will stay there for the night and head to the Star Dou Great Forest early tomorrow morning. Follow me," Qin Ming said to the group.

"Teacher Qin, why do you seem so familiar with this town?" Ye Lingling asked, puzzled.

Qin Ming smiled. "Because it is not far from my alma mater, Shrek Academy. In the past, when my teacher brought me to the Star Dou Great Forest, we would pass through this town to rest. Actually, I have been here many times."

"Shrek Academy? Never heard of it." Yu Tianheng tilted his head and thought about it, only to find that the name of this academy did not exist in his memory at all. "However, to be able to teach a genius like you, Teacher Qin, it must be a very good academy."

"Good? Heh, I suppose so," Qin Ming replied. Ever since he graduated and went out into the world, he actually knew that Shrek's teaching environment was truly not very good.

The living conditions were one thing, but the truly important things for teaching students—such as books on Spirit Beast knowledge, nutritious meals, Medicinal Baths to assist in cultivation, and mimetic cultivation environments—were all completely absent there.

But of course, Qin Ming would never speak ill of his alma mater. Besides, Shrek did indeed have its own advantages; there were more teachers than students, and they could fully manage one-on-one tutoring, or even have several high-level Spirit Masters surrounding one student to teach. This should count as a merit, right?

Therefore, Qin Ming truly felt that Shrek could still be considered good. This could be counted as a student's filter for their own alma mater; it was human nature.

It was a pity that Qin Ming was from the first graduating class. Having not returned to the school for many years, he did not know what had happened later. In fact, after his generation, quite a few students who could not graduate from the academy had died on the way to hunting Spirit Beasts.

With so many so-called high-level Spirit Masters tutoring students one-on-one, they still allowed students to die while hunting low-level Spirit Beasts? This academy could be considered quite something; the advantage of one-on-one tutoring did not manifest in the slightest.

Regardless of Flender's original intention in establishing the academy, perhaps it was decent enough for Qin Ming, but later on, in any case, what Nan Feihuang saw more of was their irresponsibility.

"Then Teacher Qin, since this is not far from your alma mater, after we finish hunting the Spirit Beast, you should take us to see it," Oslo said.

"That's fine. It has been a long time since I paid a visit to Teacher Flender," Qin Ming readily agreed. Although he could not be considered to have achieved great success, he had attained some small accomplishments.

Even if the title of the second youngest Soul Emperor on the continent was only on the surface, many true geniuses had kept a low profile back then.

However, returning to the academy with this title could be considered returning home in glory, and it would also serve as an advertisement for his alma mater along the way.

Letting people know that he, Qin Ming, was taught by Shrek, he hoped to attract some students for the academy.

"They really are idle. This group of brats—doesn't that mean I have to stay with them for longer? It really just adds to my workload for nothing!" In the shadows, Dugu Bo said with some helplessness.

Fond of freedom by nature, if it weren't for the safety of his granddaughter and Nan Feihuang, he would never have traveled such a long distance to protect them all the way.

As it turned out, this group of fellows wasn't planning to go home immediately after hunting the Spirit Beast; they wanted to go out and play. They really were not reassuring at all.

"Heh, Mr. Dugu, there is no need to be annoyed. When the time comes, you may return on your own; I will protect them myself." Suddenly, a female voice rang out behind Dugu Bo, giving him a start.

"Who?" Dugu Bo turned his head immediately, wanting to see what kind of person the newcomer was. He was a Title Douluo; for someone to appear beside him so silently without him noticing, their cultivation must far exceed his own.

At the very least, they were a Title Douluo approaching Level 95.

And perhaps not one of those fake Super Douluo like Chrysanthemum and Ghost who claimed to be Level 95 but were actually between Level 94 and 95, but a true Super Douluo who had broken through the Level 95 boundary.

"Mr. Dugu, no need to panic. I am Lan Xue, Feihuang's mother. Although this is our first meeting, for the years he has been at the academy, you have always taken great care of my son. Lan Xue has long felt grateful in her heart. Meeting today, I must solemnly express my gratitude to Mr. Dugu. Thank you!" Lan Xue bowed deeply to Dugu Bo.

In truth, with her current status and strength, she did not need to do this, but her gratitude at this moment was because of her son. As long as it was for Nan Feihuang, she had never cared about such things.

Never mind that Dugu Bo was a Title Douluo like her; even if he were a beggar or a slave, if he had helped Nan Feihuang in any way, she would be willing to bow and thank him.

"So it is Your Excellency Profound Ice in person. You are too polite. You appearing here today is for Xiaofeijiang's Fourth Soul Ring, right?" Seeing it was Lan Xue, Dugu Bo let down his guard and guessed her intention.

Lan Xue nodded. "Yes. Not long ago, Huang'er wrote to me saying he was preparing to set off for the Star Dou Great Forest, so I rushed over. Huang'er's Third Soul Ring was hunted with your help, and presumably, you also know of my son's uniqueness. His Spirit Ring cannot be judged by common logic, and what kind of good Spirit Beast could that mere Qin Ming hunt for him? Therefore, I must come in person to assist. It is just that my son likely did not expect that you would follow in secret; otherwise, having you there would have been enough."

"Haha, thank you for your trust, Your Excellency Profound Ice," Dugu Bo laughed. "Is Your Excellency Profound Ice not planning to go out and meet your son?"

"I think not," Lan Xue rejected the idea. "Look at those children; they are getting along so well. If we Title Douluo go down there, it will only make them feel reserved. Let them interact easily. When they need us, we will act. What does Mr. Dugu think?"

"That is exactly what I was thinking." Dugu Bo had originally thought the same; otherwise, he wouldn't have needed to follow in secret—he could have just followed them openly.

Wasn't he just afraid that if he followed, it would cause these children to become very reserved along the way?

Thus, the two of them just followed silently behind the children.

Qin Ming led the group to the tavern. There were not too many people in this tavern; only one table was surrounded by people, while there were many empty seats elsewhere. Seeing this, Qin Ming called out to a waiter.

A waiter immediately greeted them with a smile. "Oh, honored guests, welcome! Are you here to eat or to stay?"

"Trouble you, waiter, to prepare four double rooms for us. Also, prepare a table of good dishes, a mix of meat and vegetables, and pay attention to nutrition. We only want food, no alcohol; my students are all at an age where they are growing, and it is not appropriate for them to drink," Qin Ming instructed.

He had always been a very competent teacher, always paying attention to details.

"Understood! Guests, please take your seats and wait a moment." Having received a not-so-small order, the waiter went off happily to make arrangements.

"Let's go sit over there." Qin Ming led the group toward an empty table.

Just at this moment, an exclamation with a somewhat lecherous tone rang out.

"Wow!!!"

The group looked toward the sound. It was precisely that large group of people sitting at the table next to them, totaling seven people: four men and three women.

They all looked very young, and the three girls were absolute beauties.

The four men also each had their own characteristics: one was handsome, one had evil-looking eyes, one had an ordinary appearance, and there was also a big fat man.

The one who had just made the sound was that fat man, who was currently staring blankly at Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.

Nan Feihuang's mouth twitched. What a coincidence; this combination was undoubtedly the original protagonist group, right?

(End of chapter)