Chapter 18: Chapter 18 - Xiao Wu's Secret
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----The next morning----
Shrek Academy Dining Hall,
Today, a group of people can be found gathering around the table as they eat breakfast together. The so-called dining hall, in reality, only was an agreement with this village as they only hired several villagers to be in charge of everyone's meals. Although the light breakfast was simple, it won out in quantity, and eating one's fill was no problem.
Meanwhile, the chubby red-haired Ma Hongjun suddenly asked, "That's right, Boss Dai. I heard one of the newly arrived students let teacher Zhao eat a big loss yesterday, who was it?"
"It was Tang San, the one you fought earlier." Dai Mubai said replied seriously while eating the food on the table. After waking up yesterday, he felt like his world had crashed upon him as he really couldn't accept the fact that he lost that badly against Lev.
Hearing Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun then looked at Tang San again but this time his gaze was mixed with surprise. He had just had a bout with him and couldn't believe that he was the one he was looking for. With that, he then asked another question, "Then how about the rumor that a new student beat you yesterday, is it true? That rumor must be a lie, right? Boss Dai?"
This time, Tang San and Xiao Wu suddenly stopped eating as they looked at Dai Mubai with shocked expressions on their face. Though Ma Hongjun always spouted that it was a rumor, they always felt like something must really be up as Dai Mubai was completely out of character when they woke up yesterday.
On the contrary, Dai Mubai froze up as he clenched his fists tight as Ma Hongjun reminded him again about such humiliation. He looked at Ma Hongjun coldly and was about to stand up to teach him a lesson but before he could do so, Tang San suddenly butted in.
"Is that true, Mubai?" Tang San curiously asked. He knew how strong Dai Mubai was even though it was not to the extent that he could not handle. However, suddenly hearing that someone had beaten him yesterday and the fact that it was a new student like them gave him a shock.
"Yes. Yes. And he is so handsome too, unfortunately, he already had a lover." Ning Rongrong was the one who answered this time. She then reimagined what had happened yesterday which made her blush before her face then turned sour after remembering that he had a lover.
With that, Xiao Wu, Ma Hongjun, and Tang San completely wore surprised and shocked expressions on their faces as they looked at Dai Mubai. They all felt like something really must have happened, but they didn't think that it would be this bad.
"Dai Mubai really lost?" Xiao Wu asked Ning Rongrong once more wanting to make sure that she was really telling the truth. If it's true, then she felt like she needed to see this person thinking that they might become friends since she never once liked Dai Mubai in the first place.
"Yes, his name is Lev Hendrix. I felt like he was letting Dai Mubai make the first move before beating him into a pulp. Hahahaha. If not for his healing abilities, Dai Mubai might probably stay home for a little while." Ning Rongrong answered with great interest. Though Lev has told them about him having a lover, she still like he was making things up since no matter how you see it, Lev was also a boy of their age. She won't easily get swayed by that and wants to know more of him.
"That's enough." Dai Mubai said in a very bad mood as he looked at Ning Rongrong. He actually did not feel bad because he lost, he felt bad because he thought Lev didn't take him seriously like he was just toying with him during the battle.
"Hmmp." Ning Rongrong expressed as she remained silent in his chair. Like Xiao Wu, she also didn't like Dai Mubai a bit, but she could not do anything about it since he was a little older and stronger than her.
On the other hand, Tang San did not dwell deeply on it, but he was very interested in knowing this new student Lev as he felt like it wasn't bad getting friends with a powerful person. Setting everything aside, he then started asking Dai Mubai about the rules of the academy which the latter explained precisely.
Dang. Dang. Dang. Dang.
"Hmmm. This is the sound of the Dean gathering us. Let's head on the field." Not long after that, they suddenly heard a sound from the outside which Dai Mubai hurriedly stood up and reminded the others.
Following that, each one of them then finished their food as they left the dining hall. On the way, the group also met the newly shaved Oscar from which Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Tang San were surprised by the sudden change in his appearance. They admitted that he surprisingly became more handsome than before but after the praises, they continued and hurriedly headed together to the field.
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On the field,
Meanwhile, as everyone was eating in the dining hall, Lev was already in the area waiting patiently seeing him sitting peacefully on the ground. He was actually contemplating what happened yesterday as he really felt that it was a really close one. Fortunately, he managed to hold himself longer and made it back to the hotel, or else, he might probably attack and ravage any woman that he could see.
All of a sudden, Lev stopped his thoughts as a bell sounded just a short distance from him. He then just stood up and thought that the story really was getting started. He stretched out and thought, 'Looks like it's time to see him again.
A minute after that, Lev then heard some noise getting near to him which prompted him to turn around and there he finally saw the original 7 Shrek Monsters looking at him wearing different expressions on their faces.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun expressed sour faces for some reason upon seeing his appearance while Dai Mubai felt a little afraid and angry. Zhu Zhuqing still wearing her neutral look while Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong, on the other hand, started blushing after seeing him. However, contrary to everyone, the most exaggerated expression among them was Tang San.
"I-It's you." Tang San subconsciously said while looking at Lev with great surprise. He finally knows why he felt a familiar stare back in the Rose Hotel, so it was him all along. He still clearly remembered that he was the boy he had met during the Spirit Awakening ceremony years ago, the boy who had given him an unforgettable first impression.
"Brother San, do you know him?" Xiao Wu immediately asked Tang San after his words. Looking at how surprised he was, anyone could tell that the two had known each other. Though she was doubtful a little since all through the years that she was living with him, she never once saw Lev.
"No, but I met him way back at the Spirit Awakening Ceremony in our village." Tang San then answered truthfully before calming himself down. He really felt surprised this time, but he felt like it was also a great thing knowing that he could now finally have a conversation with him as he was really curious about who he really was.
Hearing Tang San, the surroundings then become dead silent especially Dai Mubai however, it did not last long when a man suddenly appeared before them which garnered their attention.
The man looked to be around fifty years old, built thick and strong, face characteristically long, chin somewhat prominent, cheekbones very wide, flat face, furthermore a bit aquiline nose, if insisting on using some kind of thing to describe him, then, only could say his face somewhat resembled the sole of a shoe. Although his eyes were closed, he seemed to have a bit crafty feeling. On his face, he wore a pair of black-rimmed crystal glasses, the frames a kind of rigid squares.
Just like the original, the man before them was none other than, Flender. He started by greeting everyone and introducing himself before saying a few things but despite such normal greetings, Lev, who was listening carefully felt like he was observing him.
Not long after that, Flender then said, "For your newly arrived five junior brothers and sisters, later tell them about the Academy's regulations. After that, each should return to rest and as far as possible recover their peak level states. Today's first class will begin in the evening. Oscar, you, and Ning Ronrong are exceptions. You two follow me."
Following the instruction, Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun left the place while Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Lev decided to remain on the field wanting to listen to what plans Flender had for Oscar and Ning Rongrong for them to be instructed to stay behind.
Without minding the presence of the three, Flender started explaining to Oscar and Ning Rongrong how an auxiliary spirit master should fight. He also explained that they have another way to cultivate and told them that their class for today was to run twenty laps around the village. Hearing such an arduous task, Oscar and Ning Rongrong could only left reluctantly, especially the latter.
The next moment, Flender then looked at Xiao Wu, Tang San, and Lev especially the latter as he had already known about him from Zhao Wuji and Teacher Li's report. Though he wanted to know more about it, he remained collected and decided not to rush things which he then shifted his attention to Tang San. He said, "You, I have something to talk to you. Follow me."
Tang San was surprised by the sudden instruction. He was actually just curious about some things so he decided to stay behind but he didn't think that Flender would talk to him and given the way he was walking away, he felt like his intention was to talk things privately. He looked at Xiao Wu first before seeing her nodding and his gaze shifted to Lev but seeing his uninterested expression, he could only sigh as he followed Flender.
As there were now only the two of them left, the atmosphere suddenly became awkward as no one was making any sound. Not long after, Lev's attention then focused on Xiao Wu. He was thinking that he could finally start his hidden agenda upon seeing that no one was around.
Meanwhile, Xiao Wu also felt Lev's gaze which made her suddenly freeze up. Though she was interested in knowing who he was, there was something telling her not to be nosy. It was not a random feeling but an instinct as a girl from which she then became feeling nervous.
"Your name was Xiao Wu, right? For how long do you plan on hiding that spirit beast identity of yours?" Lev suddenly asked with a smile. Though it was a simple and ordinary question, it made Xiao Wu stand up and move a distance instantly while activating her spirit powers at the same time.
Seeing Xiao Wu's reaction, Lev was surprised before he scratched his head while sighing. He thought, 'Am I a little straightforward? Looks like this would end as a failure. This will also probably pose a little problem later on. This is my first probing and yet it ended for the worst. Sigh.'
"Y-you!! H-How did you know?" Xiao Wu nervously asked while being surprised and afraid at the same time. Her identity as a spirit beast was a secret that she was hiding all day and even Tang San had no way of knowing that she was one however, with just a couple of words from Lev, she immediately takes him seriously since he was not talking like he was guessing, she felt like he was sure about it, the only problem that bugging her was how he found out easily.
"I'm sorry if somehow I surprised you, but I really just asking without any bad intention. I'm just a little curious, you see." Lev replied with a false reason while scratching his head since everything had already fallen into a complete mess. He didn't think that it would be this hard just to try to convince his first target.
"Cut the crap. Do you think I will be swayed by such a petty lie? Tell me! What are you planning to do now? Kill me or tell them that I'm a spirit beast?" Xiao Wu asked while looking at Lev ready to do anything if something really happened. She knew how her fate would result if everyone knew that she was a spirit beast but she was still very reluctant to leave after living in this world for how long and so she wanted to see Lev's intention first before doing anything.
"No, no, no. I don't really care about your identity. Also, your soul bone was of no use to me. However, unlike me, who was not interested in you, everyone might consider you a living treasure. Do you really think that only I know that you're a spirit beast? How naive of you to think about it that way." Lev replied without holding back. It was true that he was not interested in her soul bone as he had already walked on the path of a Dragon however, thinking that all his preparation had become to waste, he felt like he would just have to go with the flow and say anything that he wanted.
"I'm sure Tang San has long known that you are a spirit beast given his special eye technique." Lev followed then followed. Though he didn't like what he was doing right now, he found himself feeling amused by the fact of what would happen after this since something like this would probably be bound to change the original story.
Xiao Wu was shocked by Lev's words however, she still remained positive and then denied, "Even if he knew. I know he won't hurt me."
"So, you really trust him that much. However, did you know that Tang San's father was a Titled Douluo?" Seeing Xiao Wu's constant changing of emotion, Lev then brought up something while smiling. His mind was very eager to see what would happen if she knew about Tang San's father being a Titled Douluo this early in the story.
This time around, Xiao Wu's eyes widened after hearing what Lev had said. She then replied, "Lies! Tang San never said that he's father was a spirit master. I also knew of him as an ordinary blacksmith ever since we became close. Stop talking nonsense! Tang San would never lie to me."
"That is of course a fact. However, what if Tang San's father was lying and keeping it a secret to him? You may not know this, but Tang San's father came here last night to teach Zhao Wuji a lesson." Lev then said. With this, it will all come to Xiao Wu if she believes it or not. If she really trusts Tang San, then he would promise to keep her identity a secret and promise to not bother her anymore.
Xiao Wu could not understand what was happening right now as her mind started getting chaotic with every word that Lev had said to the point that she was starting to believe him. She did not even realize that tears started dropping in her eyes as she thought about it. She looked at Lev and said, " T-There is no way that your words are tru---."
"Xiao Wu!! What happened, are you alright?" Tang San, who had finished talking to Flender, came back running but he didn't expect to see something unexpected upon seeing Xiao Wu's tears falling down her cheeks while looking at Lev with great shock.
Meanwhile, Xiao Wu stopped looking at Lev as she stared at Tang San. Though they had lived together for six years and treated him like a brother, however hearing Lev's words this time woke her up to reality as doubt started building up inside her. She could not find the words to reply as she just looked at Tang San without saying anything.
"Did you do something to her? Answer me?!" Seeing Xiao Wu's situation, Tang San frowned before he dashed forward grabbing Lev's sleeves, and released his spirit pressure toward him with a hint of killing intent. He had never seen Xiao Wu cry again while they were living together and seeing her in tears right now ignited his anger.
"Aarrggh." On the contrary, Tang San's voice echoed with groaning in pain as Lev grabbed his hand and took them from his sleeve. He looked at Lev with complete shock thinking how could he have such strength.
"I only talk to her for a bit. Don't overreact. If I were you, I would tend to Xiao Wu first before taking out your anger to someone else without knowing the reason why. Tsk." Lev said as brushed off his sleeve. He looked at Xiao Wu for the last time before leaving with a sigh as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, Tang San woke up after hearing Lev however, the anger inside his heart was still present as no matter how you see it, Lev undeniably had something to do to make Xiao Wu cry like that since he was the only one present beside her.
"Brother San. Just like Lev said. Nothing really happened." Xiao Wu, upon seeing Lev leaving, immediately interrupted Tang San not wanting to escalate the problem. Though Lev shocked her today, her trust in Tang San still presides inside her and so she wanted to trust him more.
Upon hearing Xiao Wu, Tang San then calmed himself down as he looked at Xiao Wu worriedly before taking her back to her dorm wanting to know what really happened while he was away as he decided that he would look it up no matter what happens.
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Meanwhile, as Tang San and Xiao Wu left the place, Lev continued walking through the place before he passed by a building. Though his first probing ended as a failure, there will still be many chances to do it more in the future. Also, she was not only his target since there was a more appropriate candidate on his list.
"I hope you will keep it a secret since someone's life was at stake." Lev muttered. He has known about Zhu Zhuqing being nearby and probably heard it all, but he doesn't really care as he trusts Zhu Zhuqing's personality more than anyone here. With that, he then passed the place deciding to head back to Suotuo City.
On the other hand, Zhu Zhuqing was completely surprised after getting busted. She was not really supposed to be in this area however, unknowingly, she somehow came back and accidentally heard such a great secret. Understanding what Lev was saying, she really wasn't the kind of person who would blackmail and betray her companion. It's just that she felt like Lev really was becoming more mysterious the more she knew him.
With such a great secret in mind, Zhu Zhuqing looked at Lev leaving before she sighed and also left the place. No matter how she looked like it, knowing this would not really help her with her problems. With that, the field then becomes dead silent after everyone's started minding their own business.
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Nightfall,
Suotuo City, Great Spirit Arena,
Following Flender's instruction, Lev and the rest then gathered on the field once again from which the conversation and argument between Ning Rongrong and the Flender also happened reprimanding her on how pitiful and weak she was with everyone listening to every word he said.
Not wanting to waste more time, Flender then brought everyone to Suotuo City specifically in Great Spirit Arena to do their first-ever task for today. Souto Great Spirit Arena was entirely oval, its height reaching one hundred twenty meters, the interior divided into one Lord Spirit Arena and twenty-four Spirit Arenas, able to simultaneously hold six thousand spectators, among these were one hundred VIP boxes. This was not only an area for Spirit Master to exchange pointers, but also a place for powers to display their own strengths.
Flender's task was to allow them to have experience fighting in the arena. He started by explaining the rules and remaining simple circumstances in the arena before finally giving them an assignment. That is to hold a silver fighting spirit badge before graduation. Right after that, he then leaves the other explanation to Dai Mubai.
As the group wandered the arena, Lev looked around and saw many spirit masters in the vicinity. Though he had been staying in Suotuo for some time now, he didn't still visit this place and he then felt regret upon forgetting such a place as he thought that this place was like a treasure trove that would greatly boost his strength further.
Very quickly, each and everyone finished sorting their identifications and started a few battles with other spirit masters. Unlike the others, only Dai Mubai's opponent was Spirit Elder rank, while the others were all Spirit Grandmaster level as he was already familiar with this place and had made a name for himself here even before.
In the rest area, Lev's group's arrival immediately aroused the other Spirit Masters' attention, after all, their age truly was too young. Especially when they saw how Lev defeated his opponents without using any spirit abilities and relying only on his strength to win.
Right now, Lev could be seen resting while looking at Xiao Wu and Tang San participating in two against two matches in the arena. He observes them for a while before concluding that their connection and trust weren't that easy to break. With that, just as he promised, he would no longer meddle with them since it was probably their fate.
After waiting for a while, an announcement then echoed throughout the arena which stated that the next battle would be between Zhu Zhuqing and Lev which boils the audience with excitement since they are both known to be young and comrades. They were excited to see which one was stronger between the two of them.
'Hmmm. This is interesting.' Lev, upon hearing the announcement, looked at Zhu Zhuqing while the latter also looked back at him before she walked out and started heading to the spirit fight passage. Lev also followed behind, but suddenly Dai Mubai grabbed his shoulder.
"Could you go a bit easy on her?" Dai Mubai awkwardly said.
"Why though?" Lev replied as he moved his hands away and continued heading out. Even without his reminder, he was not cruel enough to hurt Zhu Zhuqing since aside from Xiao Wu, she was also someone he was aiming for, and this coincidence only gave him the opportunity to start his second operation.
Hearing Lev, Dai Mubai's gritted lips while clenching his fist. His hate towards Lev only increases as he really finds him annoying, but he cannot do anything about it since strength really speaks it all.
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In the arena,
Unbothered by the excitement of the audience, Zhu Zhuqing and Lev looked at each other in the arena. It was their first time facing off against each other, however, unlike Lev, Zhu Zhuqing was looking forward to it as she wanted to see how much gap the two of them really had.
"I don't know what kind of relationship you have with Xiao Wu but if you want me to keep silent about her secret then you must make me do it. Hell Civet Body Enhancement!!" Immediately after saying that, Zhu Zhuqing's pair of eyes changed simultaneously, her left eye turned dark green while her right eye turned clear blue. Following that, a pair of cute cat ears also stood up slightly, both her hand's ten fingers lightly flicking from which spike-like claws sprang from the tips while two yellow spirit rings at the same time appeared on her body.
[Initial Skill: Hell Civet Body Enhancement has been learned.]
"Hmmm." Lev looked at Zhu Zhuqing with anticipation. He never expected her to act like this just after he gave a warning. He doesn't know why but he seems to feel a great excitement building inside him which he then puts on a battle stance ready to take her on.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone