Chapter 48: What a Good Kid, How Did He End Up as a Simp?

Since Ah Yin didn't seem ready to fully face reality yet, Yun Feng had no choice but to go along for now.

Early the next morning, the four of them left the Rose Hotel and exited from the southern gate of Soto City, heading toward their destination.

After the events of yesterday, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing had at least become acquaintances. Especially after learning that Zhu Zhuqing was also heading to Shrek Academy to enroll, Xiao Wu was even more delighted.

"Benefactor, do you know where Shrek Academy is?"

They left Soto City and followed the road south. On both sides of the official road stretched vast fields of farmland. Soto City's reputation as the grain capital of the Balak Kingdom was well-deserved.

However, apart from the expansive farmland, there was no sign of any academy buildings as far as the eye could see.

According to the directions they received from passersby, they should have seen Shrek Academy shortly after leaving the southern gate of Soto City.

But the four of them had been walking for a long time now and still hadn't seen the academy, making them all start to doubt whether they were on the right track.

"Is this really a proper academy?"

"I'm not sure either. Let's keep heading south; we'll find it eventually."

"And don't call me 'Benefactor' anymore, it sounds weird. Just call me Yun Feng from now on, we're friends after all."

Zhu Zhuqing hesitated for a moment but nodded.

She already knew Yun Feng's real age now, so calling him "Benefactor" did feel a bit strange. She had only kept calling him that out of habit.

Seeing Zhu Zhuqing and Yun Feng talking, Xiao Wu felt a pang of jealousy rise in her heart for some reason.

After thinking about it, she took a running start and leapt onto Yun Feng.

Sensing her approach from behind, Yun Feng sighed. He bent slightly forward, caught Xiao Wu, and let her ride on his back.

It had always been like this back at Nuoding Academy.

Xiao Wu was light, and carrying her was no burden for Yun Feng at all.

Even though Xiao Wu didn't really get tired from walking, she still enjoyed being carried by Yun Feng.

As she lay on his back, she pointed around excitedly, her silver-bell laughter echoing through the air.

She even gave Zhu Zhuqing a deliberate glance once she was settled on Yun Feng's back.

Zhu Zhuqing, however, showed no reaction. Her long years of suppressed emotions had made her indifferent to these kinds of things.

Besides, she didn't have any romantic feelings for Yun Feng. She just wanted to survive and didn't want to drag him into her own struggles.

Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing wasn't reacting, Xiao Wu clung even tighter to Yun Feng.

But Yun Feng noticed Tang San's expression.

His face was so dark it looked like it was about to start raining.

Yun Feng couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Tang San.

What a good kid, how did he end up as a simp?

After a while, Tang San finally averted his gaze. Despite his gloomy mood, the sight of Xiao Wu's bright, joyful smile made his heart feel lighter. No matter how monotonous cultivation could be, as long as he saw Xiao Wu's smile, any frustration he felt would melt away.

Even if that happiness wasn't caused by him, but by Yun Feng.

After walking for a long time, Xiao Wu suddenly shouted excitedly:

"Look! There's a village up ahead!"

Following the direction of Xiao Wu's finger, they saw a small village about a mile ahead. Thanks to his spirit power, Yun Feng could clearly see that the village had about a hundred households, making it even smaller than Holy Spirit Village.

The village was surrounded by a wooden fence, seemingly to guard against wild animals.

There also seemed to be quite a few people gathered at the village entrance, though it was unclear what was happening.

Tang San, responding to Xiao Wu's words, quickly suggested:

"Let's go over and ask. Maybe the villagers know where Shrek Academy is. A Spirit Master academy should be famous."

As Xiao Wu pointed excitedly, she clung to Yun Feng's neck, squirming restlessly.

"Yun Feng, speed up!" she giggled.

Yun Feng, half-exasperated, lightly patted her on the rear and quickened his pace toward the village.

As they got closer, the group began to sense that something was off. There were indeed many people gathered at the village entrance, most of them around their age, accompanied by their parents.

Yun Feng said nothing. Although he knew what was going on, there were some things better left unsaid.

A table was set up at the village entrance, and behind it sat an elderly man in his sixties. What stunned Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Tang San was the sign hanging above the wooden archway at the entrance. It was a rather shabby plaque, inscribed with five simple characters: Shrek Academy.

In front of those five characters was a green logo that looked like a monstrous human head.

The old man behind the table also wore a similar green round badge on his chest, likely the Shrek Academy emblem.

"You've got to be kidding me."

Xiao Wu jumped off Yun Feng's back, staring at the sign in disbelief. She turned to look at Tang San, as if asking, "Is this the academy you recommended? Are you joking?"

Even Nuoding Junior Spirit Master Academy was way bigger than this place. It clearly looked like an ordinary village, with the wooden gate not even a third the size of Nuoding Academy's.

And this was supposed to be a Spirit Master academy?

"Tang San, could your teacher have made a mistake? I mean, look at this place. It can't really be an academy, can it?"

Even Zhu Zhuqing was confused. Was this really a Spirit Master academy?

Had Dai Mubai really studied in a place like this?

Tang San smiled bitterly, avoiding Xiao Wu's gaze as he muttered:

"Well, since we're already here, we might as well take a look."

But even as he said it, Tang San's confidence wavered.

He couldn't figure out why Grandmaster would send him here. Wasn't he supposed to be Grandmaster's most prized disciple?

As they stood in line, they heard a nearby conversation between a boy and his parents.

"Is this really a Spirit Master academy? And it's supposed to guarantee graduates become nobles?" the boy's father said uncertainly.

"This is what the Spirit Hall officials said, so it shouldn't be wrong. But this academy sure looks run-down," he replied.

The boy, looking upset, added, "Dad, I don't want to study here. It's too embarrassing. I'd rather go to Soto Intermediate Spirit Master Academy. After all, I was considered a genius at the junior academy."

The boy's father frowned and said, "Since we've already come this far, let's wait a bit longer. Maybe this is some sort of test. The real academy might not be here."

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