Chapter 34: You are very much like a junior sister of mine, the exchange match in three days

Ma Hongjun also leaned over and said with a grin, "That's right, Little Ao, don't let your imagination run wild. Rongrong is one of us from Shrek, nothing will happen."

Oscar managed a forced smile and nodded, but the unease in his heart did not dissipate. He always felt that there was some unknown relationship between Ning Rongrong and Zhexian, and this relationship gave him an inexplicable sense of crisis.

……

Outside the Education Committee Hall, Ning Rongrong followed behind Zhexian, the two walking one after the other along the academy's small path. A light breeze brushed past, flower petals drifted down gently, and the air was filled with a faint, delicate fragrance.

Zhexian stopped in his tracks, turned around, looked at Ning Rongrong with a calm gaze, and said indifferently, "You can speak now."

Ning Rongrong raised her head, her eyes slightly red, her voice trembling somewhat: "Senior Zhexian, what happened back then was my fault; I shouldn't have, because of my own willfulness... I just wanted you to keep me company and talk to me at the time..."

Upon hearing this, Zhexian's expression was slightly surprised. Keep you company and talk to you?

But he quickly returned to calm.

He shook his head lightly, his tone still indifferent: "There is no need to mention the past; that Jian Yeye of yours also paid the price he deserved."

"But... but Jian Yeye... he was only because of me that he..." Ning Rongrong's voice trembled so much she could barely speak a complete sentence, tears sliding down her cheeks and dripping onto the flower petals at her feet.

Suddenly, Zhexian reached out and patted Ning Rongrong's shoulder lightly, his tone gentle, carrying a hint of reminiscence.

"You are very much like a junior sister of mine..."

Ning Rongrong raised her head, looking at Zhexian through tear-blurred eyes, seemingly wanting to say something more, but in the end, she only bit her lip and did not speak again.

Zhexian withdrew his hand, his gaze becoming indifferent once more: "Go back. Consider the matter from six years ago as me forgiving you."

Ning Rongrong nodded, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and turned to walk slowly toward the Education Committee Hall.

Zhexian stood where he was, watching Ning Rongrong leave; at that moment, a beautiful black shadow seemed to overlap with Ning Rongrong's image...

"Junior sister..."

A moment later, he sighed softly and turned, disappearing into the shadows of the flowers.

……

Inside the Education Committee Hall, seeing Ning Rongrong return, Oscar hurried up to her and asked with concern, "Rongrong, are you alright?"

Ning Rongrong managed a forced smile and shook her head: "I'm fine, just a little tired."

Seeing her expression look somewhat dejected, Oscar felt even more uneasy in his heart, but it was not appropriate to ask further, so he could only silently accompany her by her side.

Dai Mubai and the others also noticed that Ning Rongrong's mood was off and stepped forward one after another to comfort her.

Ma Hongjun scratched his head and said with a smile, "Rongrong, don't think too much. We at Shrek are the strongest; no matter what we encounter, we can carry it together!"

Ning Rongrong nodded, a flash of gratitude in her eyes, but the emotions in her heart were still difficult to calm.

"It is getting late, so let Qin Ming take you all to the dormitory area to rest for a while."

"Three days from now, the exchange match between Shrek Academy and the Imperial Fighting Team of Tiandou Royal Academy will officially begin."

Committee Member Meng Shenji spoke; in the interval while Ning Rongrong was away, everyone had already discussed it.

Dean Flender stood up and cupped his hands toward the three Committee Members, his tone full of confidence.

"In that case, I will trouble your esteemed academy. I will take these little ones back first."

"Dean Flender, please!"

Qin Ming walked over to lead the way, and soon everyone left the Education Committee Hall.

After they left, the three Committee Members frowned at each other.

"Chief, why is it that I both want the Imperial Fighting Team to win and want the Imperial Fighting Team to lose?" Second Committee Member Bai Baoshan suddenly asked in confusion.

If they win, it can prove that their Tiandou Royal Academy is not inferior to any academy, but these outstanding students from Shrek would not be able to join their Tiandou Royal Academy.

If they lose, it means that the strongest team of Tiandou Royal Academy is not as good as a little-known small academy... This would have a great impact on the academy's reputation, but they could recruit so many outstanding students.

Chief Meng Shenji felt the same; the few of them thought it over and over but found there was simply no perfect solution, and they couldn't help but feel some regret.

"Sigh, we can only leave it to fate."

"If Shrek truly has the ability to defeat the Imperial Fighting Team again, then we can only say that our skills are indeed inferior to others..."

……

On the other side.

On the training ground of the Imperial Fighting Team, Yu Tianheng was leading the team members in high-intensity training.

Although they had just lost to Shrek Academy at the Great Soul Arena, as the ace team of Tiandou Royal Academy, they were not discouraged by this; instead, they worked even harder to improve themselves.

Just at this moment, a white figure quietly appeared at the edge of the training ground.

Zhexian walked over slowly, his gaze as indifferent as water, his white clothes whiter than snow, appearing completely out of place with the surrounding clamor.

Yu Tianheng was the first to notice Zhexian's figure; his movements came to an abrupt halt, and a look of disbelief flashed in his eyes.

Immediately following, his voice trembled as he called out: "Teacher Zhexian... is it you?"

The other team members heard this, stopped their movements one after another, and turned to look in Zhexian's direction.

When they saw that familiar figure clearly, looks of surprise and excitement appeared on everyone's faces.

"Teacher Zhexian!" Ye Lingling's voice carried a hint of a sob, and her eyes instantly moistened.

Yufeng, Aosiluo, Shi Mo, and the others also gathered around one after another, their eyes full of excitement and joy.

Six years ago, Zhexian left suddenly; they once thought he would never return, even thinking he had abandoned them.

Now, Zhexian's appearance seemed to make them find their backbone once again.

Zhexian looked at this group of former students, a rare hint of softness flowing through his gaze. He nodded lightly, his tone still indifferent: "Long time no see."

Yu Tianheng stepped forward, his voice carrying a hint of suppressed excitement: "Teacher Zhexian, you... you have finally returned! We... we always thought you wouldn't come back again..."

Zhexian shook his head slightly, his tone calm: "There were some things that needed to be handled, and I didn't have time to tell you."

Dugu Yan wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, her voice choked with emotion: "Teacher Zhexian, do you know? We have been training hard all these years, just hoping that one day we could see you again and prove to you that we did not let down your teachings."

Zhexian's gaze swept over everyone, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes: "I have already seen your efforts. Although you lost to Shrek Academy, victory and defeat are common in military affairs; there is no need to take it too much to heart."

Yu Tianheng lowered his head, his voice carrying a hint of self-reproach: "Teacher Zhexian, you already know... it was us who underestimated the enemy. If we could have been more cautious, perhaps we wouldn't have lost."

Zhexian patted Yu Tianheng's shoulder lightly, his tone gentle yet firm: "Failure is not terrible. In three days, you will have another chance to prove yourselves."

Yu Tianheng raised his head, a flash of determination in his eyes: "Teacher Zhexian, rest assured, this time we will absolutely not underestimate the enemy again! We will definitely go all out and win back the honor that belongs to us!"

The other team members also nodded one after another, their eyes filled with fighting spirit.

Zhexian nodded slightly, his gaze carrying a hint of expectation: "Very good, I look forward to seeing your performance."

Just at this moment, Ye Lingling suddenly spoke, her voice carrying a hint of hesitation: "Teacher Zhexian, will you... will you stay to guide us?"

Once these words were spoken, everyone fell silent.

After all, the teacher leading their Imperial Fighting Team was Teacher Qin Ming...

Zhexian smiled slightly and calmly said five words.

"Depends on your performance."

PS: The female lead is not Ning Rongrong!!!

Some plot points are truly just to lay the groundwork for later; the Guyuena plot has not officially begun yet! (Thanks to the few authors who suddenly tipped, hehehe, and also the brothers who cast recommendation votes and monthly tickets!)

(End of this chapter)