The young woman had few words. "You'll see when we get there." Beneath her icy expression, her beautiful large eyes held a trace of excitement.
The two Shrek Academy students on duty at the gate had long noticed the pair. Seeing them standing right in front of the main gate, sizing things up, one of the students strode forward.
"What business do you have here? Please don't block our academy gates. If you're here to apply, you're too late. The enrollment period has passed."
The student who approached looked to be about twenty as well—after all, students at advanced Soul Master academies were generally around that age.
The golden-haired young man exchanged a glance with the young woman in white, and couldn't help but smile. "We're not here to apply. Is Headmaster Flandre here? And the Great Master?"
The student on duty furrowed his brow. "I don't know whether the Headmaster or Vice Headmaster are in. But academy rules prohibit outsiders from entering under any circumstances. If you wish to see the Headmaster, please register first. If you're hoping to use backdoor connections to get into the academy, you can turn around right now—Shrek Academy doesn't welcome students like that."
Judging by the young man and woman's outstanding appearance and bearing, the student was certain they were nobles, and immediately lumped them into the backdoor category.
The golden-haired young man laughed. "Junior brother, you're very dedicated to your duty. However, I don't think I need to come back to the academy for remedial education. Please inform the Headmaster that Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing have returned. I'm sure the Headmaster will welcome us."
This striking pair of young man and woman were none other than the eldest of the Shrek Seven Devils—the Evil-Eyed White Tiger, Dai Mubai—and the seventh, the Nether Spirit Cat, Zhu Zhuqing.
Five years. Neither had forgotten the promise made five years ago, despite all they still had to accomplish in the Xing Luo Empire.
But how could they possibly forget that five-year deadline? The years they had spent at Shrek Academy had left deep, indelible marks on their lives.
The five years were up, and they both wanted to come back and see Shrek Academy, to see Flandre, the Great Master, Liu Erlong, and all the elders who had taught them.
Of course, what mattered even more was the thrilling moment when all seven Devils would gather again.
So they had returned. The excitement in Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's hearts was already spilling onto their faces.
To their surprise, the student on duty, who had been calm and courteous moments ago, now looked at them with undisguised contempt. "You're Dai Mubai? Then I must be Senior Brother Tang San. Spare me—you're the twenty-third batch of people impersonating senior brothers, trying to get into the academy. I'm not falling for it. If you know what's good for you, leave right now. Otherwise, I'll have to remove you myself."
Dai Mubai blinked. He certainly wouldn't pick a fight with a junior brother roughly his own age. He rubbed his nose. "Someone's been impersonating us? Zhuqing, it seems we really left a deep impression on the academy."
Compared to five years ago, Dai Mubai had grown even taller and broader. Standing there, he radiated an effortless authority, an implicit aura of kingship. Zhu Zhuqing had also matured from the naive young girl of those days into a stunningly beautiful young woman.
Though she hadn't yet reached full maturity, she was already the kind of beauty that could bring nations to ruin. The reason the student on duty had remained so polite had a lot to do with their appearance.
The student was finally growing impatient, his gaze toward Dai Mubai tinged with jealousy. "Hurry up and leave. Otherwise I won't be so polite anymore."
"Oh? This junior brother has quite the temper, threatening to get rough with our Boss Dai. You've got some nerve!" A mocking voice drifted over from the side.
Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing turned toward it. Beneath the shade of a tree beside the academy gate, a massive fellow stood there, watching them with a mischievous grin.
The guy gave off the impression of being eight feet tall and eight feet around. Huge and rotund, with a round head sporting a mohawk of cropped hair running down the middle, and a lecherous smile plastered across his face.
Despite the five years that had passed, despite how drastically he had changed, Dai Mubai recognized the fatty in an instant. The little fatty had grown into a big fatty—none other than the fourth of the Seven Devils, the Evil Fire Phoenix, Ma Hongjun!
"Holy crap, you fat bastard, you've gotten even fatter!" Dai Mubai strode over toward Ma Hongjun. Ma Hongjun threw back his head and laughed, spreading his enormous arms wide, and slammed into Dai Mubai with a fierce embrace. The cracking and popping of bones from both of them made it clear just how hard they were squeezing.
"Boss Dai, why are you still so rough? Honestly, I was going to hug Zhuqing."
"Aaaagh—!" A scream of agony...
"Okay, I'm sorry, let me go, boss! This delicate body of mine can't handle your abuse. Do you squeeze Zhuqing like this too? Aaaagh—" More screaming...
Zhu Zhuqing watched from the side, the rims of her eyes turning faintly red.