Douluo Continent: My childhood sweetheart Xiao Wu, I feel very guilty towards Tang San

Chapter 71 Sister Xiaowu, I'm Innocent

The next day, as dawn broke, five figures quietly left Shrek Academy.

Flander stood by the window of the dean's office, watching them leave, his teacup already cold.

"Are we just going to let them go like that?" Zhao Wuji appeared at the doorway at some point, his voice low and deep.

"Otherwise what?" Flander smiled wryly. "Forced relationships don't work. And..." he paused, "perhaps leaving Shrek is actually a better choice for them."

"But what about Xiaogang..."

"I'll explain to him." Flander turned, his gaze sharpening. "Old Zhao, from today onwards, the academy will strengthen its management. Incidents like Tang San's sneak attack on his classmate must never happen again."

Zhao Wuji nodded emphatically. The two looked out the window; the five figures had vanished into the morning mist, as if they had never been there.

Meanwhile, in a dormitory on the other side of the academy, Tang San stood by the window, toying with a new hidden arrow in his hand. His eyes were colder than the glint of the arrowhead.

"Yan Zu...we will meet again. When that happens, I will show you who the real genius is."

The hidden arrow twirled between his fingertips, reflecting the unfathomable gloom in his eyes. Outside the window, the sun was rising, but it could not dispel the darkness in his heart.

In the morning light, two distinctly different roads are slowly unfolding.

The outline of Soto gradually became clear in the morning mist. The ten-meter-high blue stone city wall resembled a lurking beast, and the city gate was crowded with people, with noise coming from afar.

Five figures walked side by side on the official road. The young man in the lead had a small jade-colored beast perched on his shoulder. It was Yan Zu and his group who had left Shrek Academy.

"I'm back here again." Ning Rongrong looked at the familiar city gate, her tone filled with emotion.

In just half a month, my mindset has changed from initial curiosity and pickiness to returning as a "dropout".

Xiao Wu skipped over to Yan Zu's side: "Ah Zu, where are we staying this time? Are we going to the Rose Hotel again?"

"Okay." Yan Zu nodded. "Let's settle in first, then make further plans."

Upon entering the Rose Hotel again, the receptionist was still the same woman in a cheongsam. When she saw Yan Zu and his group of five, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, followed by a professional smile: "Welcome back, distinguished guests."

Ning Rongrong, with her generous spending, paid the room fee, and the five of them went up to the top floor. The suite was still luxurious, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking most of Soto City, and sunlight filtering through the sheer curtains onto the soft carpet.

After everyone had settled their luggage, they gathered in the living room.

Yan Zu's gaze swept over Zhu Zhuqing and Oscar, and he said in a deep voice, "Zhuqing, Oscar, since you have chosen to follow me, I will naturally not hold back. I have a unique cultivation method that may help you improve your strength more quickly."

Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful eyes lit up, a hint of anticipation flashing across her cool face. Oscar was even more excited, almost jumping up and down: "Really? Boss Yan! I knew following you was the right choice!"

Yan Zu nodded, his expression turning serious: "However, before I begin, I must emphasize that this technique originated from a reclusive senior, is extremely precious, and must never be passed on to outsiders. I need you to swear by your own martial spirits that without my permission, you will never pass on this technique to anyone, including your closest relatives."

The room was silent. Oaths made with one's martial soul are extremely solemn in the Douluo Continent, concerning the very foundation and reputation of a soul master.

Zhu Zhuqing stood up first, her right hand on her chest, and the phantom of the Netherworld Cat appeared behind her. Her eyes were solemn: "I, Zhu Zhuqing, swear by my martial soul, the Netherworld Cat: I will strictly keep the secret of the cultivation method passed down by Ancestor Yan that I have obtained today. Without his permission, I will never teach or reveal it to any other person. If I break this oath, my martial soul will be shattered and my soul path will be destroyed."

The cold voice was resolute and unwavering, carrying an unquestionable determination.

Oscar stood up, his sausage martial soul appearing in his palm. He put away his usual playful demeanor and solemnly declared, "I, Oscar, swear by my sausage martial soul: I will cherish the techniques taught by Ancestor Yan as if they were my own life, and I will never divulge a single word of them without his permission. If I break this oath, may I never make any progress in my life and be forever trapped in the Soul Venerable realm."

Yan Zu nodded in satisfaction: "Good, I trust you."

He turned to Zhu Zhuqing and said, "Zhuqing, your Netherworld Cat follows an agility-based attack route. Extreme speed and attack are your advantages, but correspondingly, defense and sustained combat ability are weaknesses."

I will teach you the Bone Forging Chapter, Internal Energy Chapter, Healing Chapter, and Movement Technique Chapter of the Nine Yin Manual, as well as a claw technique called "Nine Yin Divine Claw." The Bone Forging Chapter will strengthen your bones and physique, making your body more able to withstand the load of high-speed movement;

The Internal Energy Chapter can optimize your soul power circulation, making it more condensed and longer-lasting;

The healing section helps you recover quickly after an injury;

The movement technique "Spiral Nine Shadows" can greatly enhance your evasion and dash abilities;

The Nine Yin Divine Claw, with its unpredictable and fierce attacks, targets vital points and complements your Netherworld Hundred Claws. If they can be combined, their power will be multiplied.

As he spoke, Yan Zu handed the pre-prepared manual of martial arts techniques to Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing flipped through the manual and subconsciously circulated her soul power according to the route in the manual. She felt that her originally somewhat restless soul power had become much more docile and solid, and there seemed to be a trace of cold and sharp aura around her fingertips.

Zhu Zhuqing, born into the Zhu family of Xingluo, possessed extraordinary insight and instantly understood how precious these techniques were, far surpassing the meditation methods passed down by the Zhu family.

Such a precious cultivation technique, yet Yan Zu entrusted it to her without reservation. Zhu Zhuqing, who was usually aloof and self-possessed, felt a surge of heat welling up in her chest, which she could hardly contain.

She glanced at Yan Zu, then suddenly stepped forward and kissed him on the cheek before pulling away, her ears turning red.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

"Zhu Qing! What are you doing!" Ning Rongrong was the first to explode, her scream shattering the silence as she sprang up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She rushed forward, grabbed her sleeve, and began wiping Yan Zu's face, indignantly shouting, "I haven't even kissed him yet! Why did you get to do it first?!"

Yan Zu's face was almost distorted from her rubbing, and he helplessly raised his hand and flicked her forehead: "What nonsense are you talking about? Zhu Qing is just too excited."

Ning Rongrong covered her forehead, glaring at him with teary eyes: "Does being excited mean I can kiss you? Then I'll get excited too!"

Before he finished speaking, a sinister aura emanated from behind Yan Zu.

Two slender fingers precisely pinched the soft flesh of his waist and twisted it hard.

"Hiss—" Yan Zu gasped, frozen in place, too afraid to move.

Xiao Wu's face peeked out from behind his shoulder, smiling sweetly, but her pink eyes flashed with a dangerous light: "Little brother Azu, are you flirting with other women again?"

"Sister Xiaowu, I'm innocent..." Yan Zu was on the verge of tears.

"Injustice?" Xiao Wu pressed harder. "Then who initiated the hug?"

"It was Zhu Qing who carried me..."

"Then why didn't you dodge?"

"I……"

"Um?"

"I...I was wrong!"

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