Chapter 53: Torn Faces, Sabotaging the Soul‑Hunt Operation

Everyone, stop.

After reaching the outer edge of the Star Dou Great Forest, Zhao Wuji called for everyone to halt, then solemnly looked at the eight students before him and said.

Listen up: the Star Dou Great Forest isn't like those places where other countries raise soul beasts.

The soul beasts here are extremely dangerous; even in the outskirts you could encounter thousand‑year soul beasts, or even ten‑thousand‑year ones.

Therefore, after entering the forest, nobody may attack a soul beast without my order.

Besides, this soul‑hunting mission is also a valuable trial for you; I won't step in to help you fight monsters unless absolutely necessary. Do you understand?

Everyone nodded in unison to show they understood.

At Zhao Wuji's signal, Oscar began chanting nonstop, conjuring a heap of sausages and cured sausages, then prepared to hand them out to everyone.

Meanwhile, Zhao Wuji pondered, then looked at Luo Ye and said.

Luo Ye, use your soul skill to scout the surroundings; if anything unexpected happens, you can respond immediately.

Dai Mubai, who had never felt the might of mental detection and mental sharing, snorted.

We don't need Teacher Zhao; even without him, we can still help Oscar obtain a suitable soul ring.

Oscar was about to pass the sausages and cured sausages to Luo Ye, but upon hearing Dai Mubai's words he hesitated only briefly, then skipped Luo Ye altogether.

Their plan to unite and exclude Luo Ye was already beginning to surface.

Yet what Oscar hadn't expected was that Luo Ye, the person involved, hadn't spoken a word; Zhu Zhuqing eyed the sausage he offered and let out a cold chuckle.

Take it.

Ning Rongrong quickly echoed her.

We won't eat this garbage.

The sausages he had created using his soul power were labeled trash, and Oscar's face darkened at once.

He gave Ning Rongrong a deep glance, said nothing, and attempted to hand the sausage to Xiao Wu instead.

Xiao Wu likewise refused, shaking her head.

I don't want it either.

Oscar was stunned.

He was aiming only at Luo Ye, so why did those three join forces to block his sausages?

Zhao Wuji watched the scene with a headache; he hadn't imagined the rift between those two student factions had grown this severe.

If left unchecked, the day they totally break apart will surely drive one faction out of Shrek.

Yet he presently has no good plan; letting Zhao Wuji resort to killing is acceptable, but asking him to think is truly a challenge for this Immovable Wisdom King.

Just as Zhao Wuji was about to try mediating between the two sides, Luo Ye suddenly looked at him, spread his hands, and said.

You saw Teacher Zhao as well; since their soul‑hunting mission doesn't require me, I naturally won't suck up to help them, so you should still take them inside.

Zhao Wuji really wanted to swear.

But he wasn't going to curse Luo Ye; he wanted to curse Dai Mubai, that inept good‑for‑nothing.

This brat has no clue just how strong Luo Ye's soul skill actually is.

Zhao Wuji could be certain that with Luo Ye's aid, they would surely secure a fitting soul beast for Oscar in the shortest possible time.

Now it's just perfect—Luo Ye is clearly about to walk away.

Besides, since Dai Mubai and Oscar were the ones who stirred things up, he can't even talk sense into them.

Left with no choice, Zhao Wuji had to compromise.

Then you wait here; we'll go help Oscar obtain a suitable soul ring and return.

Zhao Wuji waved his hand, ready to take the other seven into the Star Dou Great Forest, but what unfolded next only worsened his headache.

Only Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Xiao Wu stood there, flags flying, planted firmly beside Luo Ye, unmoving.

It seemed this soul‑hunting operation had nothing to do with them either.

Not only Zhao Wuji, but even Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Oscar saw it and their lips twitched slightly.

Not bro.

What happened to the agreement that the four of them would join forces to shut out Luo Ye?

How did it end up feeling like Luo Ye, together with the Shrek Three Beauties, is now shutting them out?

Zhao Wuji glared venomously at Dai Mubai and Oscar, the two culprits, then snapped angrily.

What are you still staring at? Follow me.

Realizing they were at fault, Dai Mubai and Oscar could only meekly follow him into the Star Dou Great Forest.

Tang San had wanted to summon Xiao Wu, but seeing she clearly took offense at Dai Mubai and his crew, he could only relent.

After a helpless sigh, he followed along with Ma Hongjun.

After they had disappeared without a trace, Zhu Zhuqing pursed her lips and complained unhappily.

If we'd known this would happen, we shouldn't have come along with them; these people are really going too far.

Zhu Zhuqing was speaking up for Luo Ye.

In her opinion, Dai Mubai, Tang San, and Ma Hongjun ostracizing Luo Ye was somewhat understandable, but Oscar, that guy, had thrown in his lot with them, even though Luo Ye had come to help him obtain a soul ring.

It's like you meant well feeding a dog, only to get bitten hard by it.

Ning Rongrong also earnestly denounced Dai Mubai, Oscar, and the others, then turned to Luo Ye and asked.

Luo Ye, what should we do now? Are we really just going to stand here waiting like fools?

Ning Rongrong's original intent was for them to leave first, simply not wait for those Shrek people.

But upon hearing that, Luo Ye's eyes flashed and he said.

I also want to go check out the Star Dou Great Forest; do you want to come along?

The three girls exchanged glances, then without hesitation nodded and agreed.

But while they followed Luo Ye into the Star Dou Great Forest, they were still curious why Luo Ye did this; before they could ask, the diary beating in their minds gave them the answer.

【Now Zhu Qing's relationship with Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu is growing closer, plus Dai Mubai and others' actions make Xiao Wu feel great disgust, causing her to grow ever closer to me.】

【If this continues, I'm afraid it won't be long before I can take the three of them and leave Shrek Academy together.】

【Since we've practically turned against Tang San and his group, I naturally need to find a way to sabotage their soul-hunting operation.】

【Although I don't know if I'll meet Meng Yiran this time, I must not let Oscar obtain the thousand-year Phoenix Tail Chicken Crown Snake as his third soul ring, just like in his previous life.】

【If Meng Yiran hasn't encountered that Phoenix Tail Chicken Crown Snake, I'll need to figure out how to drive this soul beast toward the central area of the Star Dou Great Forest.】

【To be precise, it's about not letting Oscar obtain any soul beast suitable for him.】

【Anyway, we're destined to become mortal enemies; if we can weaken them, it's equivalent to strengthening ourselves.】

(End of Chapter)