Bad News (2)

As the moonlight bathed the night in its gentle glow, two figures moved stealthily around Shrek Academy, their movements attempting to be covert, if somewhat clumsy. The shorter figure turned to the taller one, his voice sharp with a whisper, "Shh! Why are you walking so loudly? This is why I said you should have tried harder to learn my Illusion Steps!"

The taller figure, visibly frustrated, retorted indignantly, "Third Brother, who could learn your Illusion Steps? Why did you have to make them so difficult to begin with?" Despite their quiet conversation, their attempts at stealth were far from perfect as they continued forward.

Suddenly, they noticed a figure leaning against a tree up ahead, causing them to freeze in their tracks. The moonlight illuminated the figure, revealing her identity.

"Zhuqing? What are you doing here?" the taller figure, Dai Mubai, asked in surprise.

Zhu Zhuqing scoffed, her cold eyes flicking between Dai Mubai and Oscar. "You were too loud" she answered curtly, her tone carrying an air of disdain. She scanned their surroundings with her keen, icy gaze before refocusing on the pair. "Stop wasting time and learn from Ma Hongjun" With that, she pivoted on her heel and vanished into the shadows without further explanation.

Oscar turned to Dai Mubai, a hint of accusation in his glare. "I knew it! You were clearly too loud" he chastised, his frustration evident. Dai Mubai, lost in thought, didn't respond immediately.

"Anyway, it doesn't matter if Zhu Zhuqing noticed us. Should we get going?" Oscar suggested, oblivious to the underlying message Zhu Zhuqing had tried to convey. To be fair, understanding Zhu Zhuqing's intentions was no easy feat unless she wanted to have a clear conversation or one was familiar with her and attuned to her subtle cues.

"Get going, my foot!" Dai Mubai scolded Oscar, looking at him as if he were an idiot. "Zhuqing clearly warned us that we are being watched. If we had kept going, we would have been beaten to a pulp!" With a resigned sigh, Dai Mubai continued, "Since we can't leave, we might as well do what Zhuqing advises and focus on getting stronger. There's nothing else we can do" With determination in his stride, he began to walk towards the mimicry training ground, feeling his breakthrough to level 40 near.

Oscar watched Dai Mubai's departing figure and muttered to himself, "How am I supposed to understand her like you do? All she did was stand there and say a couple of sentences" Shaking his head in frustration, he turned and headed towards the dormitory. As a Food-type Auxiliary System spirit master, he didn't require a specific environment for cultivation, so he figured he might as well cultivate comfortably on his soft bed.

…

As the first light of dawn illuminated the massive dome, bathing the ice and snow-covered mountain in a golden glow, a blue-haired girl with a hint of purple in her locks slowly opened her eyes. She cast a glance at the red-haired boy beside her, Ma Hongjun, who was deeply engrossed in his cultivation.

Silently, she rose from her spot and descended the mountain, leaving the mimicry training ground behind as she made her way towards the cafeteria.

After some time, she returned, a large tray of food carefully balanced in her hands. Placing it beside Ma Hongjun, she gently nudged him. "Hongjun, take a break and eat something" she urged, her voice laced with concern. Since his return, Ma Hongjun had been consumed by his cultivation, often neglecting meals, a stark contrast to the foodie he had always been, much like herself.

Ma Hongjun slowly opened his eyes, guilt washing over him as he gazed at the food tray. "Chenxiang, you didn't have to–" he started to protest, but Bai Chenxiang silenced him with a gentle finger to his lips.

"If you don't want me to do it, then take better care of yourself, okay?" she said softly, her smile tender. "Didn't the First Brother always say that we should balance rest and work?"

Her words struck a chord with Ma Hongjun, and a bitter smile tugged at his lips. He nodded in agreement. "You're right. I'm sorry" he murmured before beginning to eat. Bai Chenxiang watched him in silence, her eyes filled with a mixture of love and worry.

Once he was done, she spoke again. "If you're really sorry, then let's go to the cafeteria" she suggested, taking his hand and helping him to his feet. She glanced back at him, a playful smile dancing on her lips. "You won't be satisfied with just one tray of food, right?"

Ma Hongjun nodded faintly. "Hmm" he agreed, allowing himself to be led down the mountain by Bai Chenxiang's gentle guidance.

…

"Second Brother!! Second Brother, where are you?!" Oscar's urgent voice pierced the tranquility of the icy mountain, rousing Ma Hongjun and Bai Chenxiang from their cultivation. The urgency in his tone was impossible to miss.

"Third Brother? Why are you shouting?" Ma Hongjun called out as he hurried towards the source of the clamor, his curiosity piqued.

"It's Tang San and Xiao Wu! They've returned!" Oscar exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement as he spotted Ma Hongjun and Bai Chenxiang approaching.

"What?! Tang San and Xiao Wu are back?" Ma Hongjun's face broke into a wide grin, his heart leaping with joy at the news. Without hesitation, he dashed down the mountain, Oscar and Bai Chenxiang following closely behind.

When they reached the base, they saw a crowd gathered around Tang San and Xiao Wu. Among the familiar faces were Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong, all beaming with happiness.

Ma Hongjun's heart felt lighter as he broke into a broad smile. He hurried forward and embraced Tang San and Xiao Wu. "Tang San, Xiao Wu! You are alive!" He exclaimed, patting them both on the shoulders with overwhelming relief.

Tang San's mouth twitched into a playful smile. "What? Did you think I was dead?"

Ma Hongjun laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "You know that's not what I meant" He then turned his attention to Xiao Wu, his eyes softening with genuine concern. "Especially you, Xiao Wu. Although I'm glad you survived, it is still a bit shocking. Can you tell me what happened?"

Xiao Wu's face fell slightly, a guilty expression flashing across her features unnoticed by anyone as she began recounting her incredible tale of survival. The others listened intently, their expressions shifting from shock to admiration. Her story of escaping the Titan Giant Ape was nothing short of miraculous.

"That's unbelievable" Dai Mubai remarked, shaking his head in amazement. "What kind of luck is this?"

As the chatter continued, Ma Hongjun glanced around, his earlier joy giving way to a slight frown. "Tang San, where's Brother Jun?" he asked, puzzled. He couldn't believe Sheng Jun wouldn't survive if Xiao Wu had managed to return. Did he need to attend to something at his company again? At least show up before you go, he complained silently.

The mood shifted as Tang San's face fell, and Xiao Wu's complexion turned pale. "This... he hasn't been found yet," Tang San said slowly. He explained that the teachers had gone back to search for him.

"How can this be?" Ma Hongjun muttered, disbelief etched on his face. He sighed heavily, feeling a mix of hope and worry wash over him. The return of Tang San and Xiao Wu had lifted his spirits, but the uncertainty about Sheng Jun's fate cast a shadow over his relief. Still, he clung to the flicker of hope burning in his heart. If Xiao Wu could create such a miracle, who was to say Sheng Jun couldn't be found?

"We have to trust the teachers," Tang San added, attempting to reassure everyone. "They'll surely find him"

Ma Hongjun nodded slightly, his expression easing a fraction. "You're right" he agreed, his gaze drifting to the horizon as if searching for a sign of Sheng Jun's return. 'Brother...' he thought silently, a silent plea echoing in his mind as he turned his attention back to Tang San and Xiao Wu, eager for further explanation.